=CHAPTER 4D: AVI’S NEWS REPORT=

((Just some pics of our lady sniper. Just stuff I did for fun, really.))

---

=CHAPTER 2B: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v1.0~

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{In the Meadow…}

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

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

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

And when they did find him…

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

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

Mikhail: …

Siam: Doctor?

Gemini: Is everything alright?

Mikhail: Mmm? Oh, yes… I’m fine.

[…But it was a lie.

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

But no…]

Mikhail: Just… a little weary, I suppose.

[…He was concerned.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sure, they had a back-up, but…

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

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

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

———————————————

{Elsewhere…}

[Cardinal forced himself to physically relax.

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

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

He needed time to think.]

Cardinal: …

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

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

He was going to need some sort of focus…]

Cardinal: …

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

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

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

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

He forced himself to remember his own advice…]

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

Cardinal: …

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

Shade: It's hard.

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

Shade: Sometimes that even scares ME.

- - -

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

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

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

Shade: With malice and all that.

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

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

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

[It was too much for him.

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

Cardinal: G-gghhh…

[He stood abruptly.

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

And time was not on his side.]

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=CHAPTER 1C: RAGING FLAMES SMOLDER=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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{MEANWHILE, AT SANDA LABS...}

[There is an air of heavy silence as Sanda gets to work on repairing No. 1--he has sustained quite a bit of damage, especially near his chest and on his back--where Beck had landed after Pyro unleashed a hellish version of his signature move.]

[...Beck had took it upon himself to explain and share his memory files with his brother in order to bring him up to speed...]

[...While White and Call were going over various other details and preparing to study the virus data retrieved from his eldest son.]

Pyro: ....

[The situation was dire.]

Pyro: .....

[And his own family was making things worse.]

Beck: Big Brother...

[He almost killed him.]

[A long, deeply troubled sigh escapes the Mighty Leader, his hand covering his face. He couldn't even bear to see his own handiwork.]

Pyro: .........

Pyro: Beck--

Beck: It's OK, big bro.

[Battered, burned, covered in black and soot, armor cracked in several places...]

[....And yet he still managed a smile.]

Beck: It wasn't your fault.

Pyro: ....

[As he sifted through the data, analyzing it, bits and parts of what had happened at the Oil Field had started to come back to him.]

[Pyrogen turns away, eyes downcast.]

[All he had felt was RAGE...]

[The desire to BURN...] [To destroy...]

Beck: Big brother...

Pyro: ......

Pyro: I...

Pyro: I'm so sorry, brother.

[He reaches over to place his hand on his shoulder--]

[...Then pauses midway.]

Beck: ......

Beck: I know you didn't MEAN it, Pyro...

Pyro: I had--I had no idea what I was...

Beck: Pyro. I know.

[A small hand reaches over and clasps his. It felt warm.]

Beck: And--if it means anything...

Beck: I forgive you. ^.^

Beck: We all do. You're STILL my big brother. That's NEVER going to change, Pyro. No matter WHAT you do.

Beck: So just relax and rest for now.

Beck: ...I got this.

Beck: Permission to gear up for the next mission, No. 1?

Pyro: .......

[Turmoil still clouded his mind and heart--at the things he had done with his own hands, at the fire he had sworn to only use for good and only good-- ]

[....But something about the way Beck carried himself now--]

[...Brotherly pride had casted all those dark thoughts away. For the moment.]

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Permission granted, No. 9.

Pyro: But ONLY if you turn in for repairs yourself.

Beck: I can handle those on my own!

[A snap of his fingers, and a cube of Xel materialized in his hand. Pyrogen nearly jumped back in surprise. He had NEVER seen Beck summon Xel before.]

Beck: I have Xel Stocks. In my design! I can STORE XEL, BRO, ISN'T THAT COOL--

[And there he goes, ranting on into detail about the new abilities he had discovered--much to Pyrogen's own curiosity.]

[While the brothers were busy with that...]

[Sanda decided it was best to take a break for now and let the two catch up with one another.]

Sanda: How's everything going on your end, Will?

White: Hmm....

[Dr. White was busy typing into a terminal, setting up the last of the best analysis programs he had on hand in order to start working on cracking the virus code.]

White: All ready for analysis. Call? Have you finished sorting through the data samples retrieved from Beck?

Call: Just about, Professor White.

White: Good, good...

Sanda: Beck's filling in Pyro on what's happening--thought I'd leave them to it.

[A pause.]

Sanda: Heh...you know something, Will?

White: Hm?

Sanda: When you think about it, it's remarkable how Beck stepped up to the plate like that...given how his Emotional Matrix works, you'd think something like this would send him into shock...

White: ......

Sanda: But look at him now--can't help but feel so proud of him. Heh. Wonder where he got all THAT from, huh?

White: .....Of course, of course...

[......]

[Will seemed...distracted.]

Sanda: ....?

Sanda: Will?

[Beat.]

Sanda: Come on, Will--At LEAST show a bit of ENTHUSIASM in the face of this!

White: Perhaps you should show a bit of restraint, Dr. Sanda...

Sanda: --!

White: You DO realize this is only the beginning, yes?

White: Beck has come so, so far already--and as a father, I couldn't BE any more proud...

[His gaze turns to the Xel Assimilator, eyes half lidded in apparent solemn...worry.]

White: ...But there is still much more to overcome. ...There are 7 more of my sons and daughters to find and rescue. (God willing...) This virus that has plagued the world....

White: And we still have no CLEAR idea who is behind all this.

White: Obviously, CherryDyn has something to do with it.

[He frowns.]

White: ...But it still doesn't make sense.

White: What would CherryDyn have to GAIN if they released this virus? They are the world's LARGEST robot manufacturer, this--this would only HINDER them.

White: .......

White: And then there is...Blackwell.

Sanda: .....-Sigh- Will--we went OVER this already. Benedict is in prison.

White: I KNOW that--

[He turns away, once again working away on his terminal.]

White: Call it a hunch, but I think Blackwell has some hand in this as well, even IF he is in prison, Soi.

Sanda: ...?

White: It just--strikes me as...ODD. Graham EXPLICITLY blamed Blackwell for this whole mess--Likely due to his past with what happened before.... He's using him as a scapegoat, to redirect attention from himself--

White: But WHY...?

White: What is he HIDING...?

Sanda: .......

Sanda: Good question...

Sanda: .....

White: .... ... -Sigh- Hopefully the virus code will give us the answers we seek. Call?

Call: Yes?

White: Please transfer Beck's assimilated Xel data and samples over to my terminal. I want to begin my analysis and see if I can isolate the root of the malfunction.

Call: Right away, Professor White.

White: There's data to sift through. Sanda, can you continue to assisting Beck and repairing Pyrogen?

Sanda: Absolutely. Let me know when you discover anything.

White: Right...

Sanda: .....Will?

White: ...?

Sanda: Lighten UP a little, will ya? ^^

White: .....

White: -_-;;;

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=CHAPTER 6A: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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{Sanda Enterprises}

[The next lead came… abruptly.

And it sent them into panic.]

Call: Doctor Sanda, you have a call on line one.

Mikhail: -Looking over some notes- Can it wait? I need to talk regarding some of Brand and Shadow’s data…

Call: I would not recommend it. The call is from the Pentagon.

[…]

Mikhail: What?

Soi: -Oh sweet mother of God—-

Mikhail: … Miss Call Sanda did you just say the call was from the P E N T A G O N—

Beck: -AUGH NO WHY N O W-

Beck: -oh no what if—what if they're going to try to stop—-

Beck: -I'm the only one that can SAVE THEM WHAT IF—-

Beck: -DAAAAAAAD—-

Soi: -—WILL—-

Soi: -WILL HELP THIS IS BAD-

Mikhail: SOI, DON’T KEEP THEM WAITING—STALL FOR ME, PLEASE—

Mikhail: WILL!

Mikhail: -Exit stage left as if pursued by bear-

Will: —Ah—er—I—I....

[He's just kinda frozen there—]

Mikhail: -Yanks Will aside out of view of any screens before he can enter the room- {We need to talk, Will—}

Will: Waah—!

Soi: -WAIT WHAT DO I EVEN SAY GUYS—-

Call: Patching the call through, Doctor.

[A very stern looking uniformed officer was patched through. Notably, her rank seemed to depict she wasn’t exactly of the rank that normally made these calls.]

???: Dr. Soichiro Sanda, please be aware that the following call is classified. You are not to discuss it with anyone other than Dr. William White. Anyone else must be read in. Do you understand?

Soi: -Err—-

Soi: Y—Yes, yes, I u-understand— (Thanks for leaving me up the creek, fellas—! )

-*-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: -Practically hissing- {Will, we’re leaving. Now.}

Will: What?!

Mikhail: {I can’t stay here.}

Mikhail: {I’m a Russian Doctor with constructed credentials, remember?!}

[…Oh, right. The “favors” Shade had pulled to make them officially “exist” in this world…]

Will: —Erk—!

[He was right—him being here would only raise even MORE questions, and none of them would be of the pleasant sort...]

Mikhail: {I’m taking the others. DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}

[…With that he continued running off to the lab.

Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said “now”…]

Will: —n—nu—

[Oh, dear.]

-*-*-*-

???: Recently, you and your brother released a press statement regarding the current national crisis.

Soi: Y-Yes, that's correct...

Soi: Wh...what of it...?

???: Despite what the CEO of Cherry Dynamics seems to believe—

[She gave no visual indication on her stance on that matter.]

???: No charges will be pressed at this time. I must advise you this does not guarantee whether they will be filed or not in the future.

Soi: ...A-Ah—I see, yes... (Don't we have enough on our plate already...? )

???: Our people have reviewed the data you submitted to the scientific community to show that the infection has been cleared from reacquired Mighty Numbers. Dr. White will be needed for further questioning on this matter.

Soi: (—! Oh no, Will—! )

Soi: R-Right, of course—I'll...let him know.

???: MI6 would also like to interrogate Mighty Number Six regarding a person of interest.

Soi: (—MI6—?! What would they want with Avi—?! )

Soi: Hmm—A...alright...

???: …However, their requests for extradition have been denied.

???: It is to our understanding that Mighty Number Six has been essential in locating other members of his series with all due speed. We also cannot risk any Xel being sent overseas at this time.

???: The main reason for this call will require input from Dr. White, but that clearly will have to wait. There is an equally pressing matter that demands our attention.

Soi: (...Oh dear... )

Soi: Y...Yes...?

???: Your company requested information on the whereabouts of the missing Numbers.

???: Our intelligence suggests that Mighty Number Five has infiltrated federally-owned property.

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Battalion—of course— )

Soi: Federally owned... (...A national park, or...or... )

???: As this is a matter of national security, the coordinates are classified and shall be sent to Mighty Number Nine through a direct, encrypted transmission.

???: Even I am not fully read in on the details, Doctor, but he has been given a time limit to complete the retrieval before we make our own interventions.

Soi: (...Classified—? )

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Wait, that—that doesn't make sense— )

Soi: How—how long does he have—?

???: Six hours, should he choose to accept this mission. Entry and investigation of the area may prove difficult. Should we regain the camera feeds on the property, this time limit will be extended.

Soi: (Six hours... )

Soi: O...Of course, we'll brief him as soon as possible...

???: I’m afraid that cannot be permitted. My superiors cannot wait very long for an answer. He must answer now. You may converse over private channels, but I have been ordered not to end this call without confirmation of his involvement or lack thereof.

Soi: —I—o-one moment—

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beckwehaveasituation—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Did you get any coordinates by any chance—

[MN.9 to DR. SANDA] //: —No, why—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: The Pentagon found out where Bat is—and they're giving you six hours to get him back before they take matters into their own hands...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —?!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beck—they need an answer NOW, I don't know what they'll do if...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: .....

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —If they know where Bat is, Dr. Sanda—of course I'll go--!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: I...I have to save him too...!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Thattaboy—you'll be be getting those coordinates via an encrypted connection.

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: Sorry about that...

Soi: He'll do it.

???: Affirmative. Patching the coordinates now.

[Just then, Beck pinged with a private message from the Pentagon. It entailed the location, as well as a brief threat level assessment and recommended gear. Oh, and they said he could bring others with him if that’s what it took, but anyone chosen would be bound to regard the information as classified… just as he would.]

???: Teleportation using these coordinates will go through encrypted channels. The true coordinates will not be retained by your databases.

???: We will call back later if video feeds are not recovered in three hours.

???: Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.

[… “Evacuated”?!]

Soi: —Wait, what...what do you mean by—? (You can't just—! )

[BLIP.]

Soi: —....

Soi: (...This is...not good at...at all.... )

Call: ...Dr. Sanda, your heart rate has increased...

Soi: I...ho, boy...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: Soi— Mikhail and the others are gone, and—I—I think they took Jack and Kate—

[DR.WHITE] //: -Soi please tell me federal agents aren't going to storm the place—

[MN.9] //: —They're GONE—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: —There's no time—! Will—I'll explain, but Beck—you have to get ready to roll as soon as possible—!

[DR.WHITE] //: —Wait— go where—?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yes, sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: Will— they found Battalion.

[DR.WHITE] //: —!!

[DR.SANDA] //: And they—they said if we can't get him back in six hours—they'll evacuate Beck and—and—

[DR.WHITE] //: —WHAT—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -IT'S NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, WILL—-

[DR.SANDA] //: MI6 wants to talk with Avi, of all people—

[DR.SANDA] //: —A-And—

[DR.SANDA] //: T...The government wants to talk to...you.

[.......]

[Silence.]

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

[DR.WHITE] //: M...Me...

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

[.....]

[The rest of their conversation is then carried over in private...]

{Meanwhile}

[Kssss…]

<FMN-006 to MNN-006>: > Yo, Rick—you there?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Yo, Goose—yeah, I'm here...

<FMN-006>: > Whew, good—just wanted to check in, now that things aren’t as crazy over here.

<FMN-006>: >Thanks for taking care of Sis until she was stable! …Though she still looks pretty banged up, and uh… I thought Shads was gonna stay with your little bro for a bit?

<FMN-006>: > No one will tell me what’s going on, kinda lost here…

<FMN-006>: >Is G-moms coming over to visit over there, or??

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh—yeah, no, Shads had to suddenly leave, Doc C called him or something...but Brand's snoozing away right now, so that's good...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: ...?

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

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Where the heck did Stripes go...?

<FMN-006>: > …You mean Tony the Tiger, everyone’s favorite Spiderfriend?

<FMN-006>: > He’s over here with us, I thought you guys knew that?

<FMN-006>: > -Did he somehow get in more trouble while he was asleep or?- -Majorly confused-

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: No, I just—I guess—??

[P I N G!]

[MN.9] //: CRYO WAKE UP--

[MN.2 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.2] //: OW WHAT GIVES--

<FMN-006>: > Yoooooo, Beckster!

<FMN-006>: > Dial is busy with Lil’ Sis, dunno about yours. You need another bath? ;D

<FMN-006>: > Did you get into the powdered sugar again, little dude?

[MN.9] //: NOT NOW AVI--

[MN.6] //: --? Hey, Becko, somethin' the matter?

[MN.9] //: NO TIME--CRYO GET OVER HERE PLEASE--

<FMN-006>: >Yo, yo, Beeeeeeck—you overclock any faster and you’ll start to time travel. o.o;

<FMN-006>: > Breeeaaaaathe a little.

[MN.9] //: I CAN'T—!

[MN.9] //: WE GOTTA SAVE BAT—!

[MN.2] //: —!!

[MN.2] //: —Where is he—?!

<FMN-006>: > …Uh.

<FMN-006>: > (This sounds like it’s not going to end the conversation on a happy note… )

[MN.9] //: -IS DRAGGING SISTER OFF, BYE GUYS--

[MN.2] //: --whOA--

<FMN-006>: > UH.

<FMN-006>: > … -THUMBS UP?- …STAY SAFE?

[MN.6] //: ...That...sounds like trouble.

[MN.6] //: Iiiii better go see what's up...

[A noise like something ran into a wall really hard is heard as a crash over the line.]

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

<FMN-006>: > …That sounded like that hurt, I think that was Twelve—

<FMN-006>: > Sorry, gotta run—

[MN.6] //: Hoooo Kay, uh....talk to ya later—!

<FMN-006 has left the channel.>

[MEANWHILE...]

[Once again, there is chaos within Sanda Labs...]

Pyro: What do you mean, we won't know where he's going—?!

[Will was pacing around the room, the Xel holoscreen depicting a map of the United States glowing softly behind him.]

Will: The coordinates were sent by an encrypted connection—by the government. They want us to retrieve Bat within six hours.

Will: ...Or else.

Pyro: --.....

Cryo: ...Or...or else what?

Will: .....

Will: I'm not sure.

Will: But it involves evacuating Beck from the premises if he doesn't succeed.

Will: ......

Will: ...Which means we must move with all due haste. Beck?

Beck: Just about ready...

[He was going through a standard check of all his available forms...]

[Including...]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[...The form he was most skilled with.]

Beck: (...It feels really good to have this back... )

Beck: (I feel like I'm gonna need it... )

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT]

Beck: OK, all set!

Call: Preparing Xel Transfer: Locking in encrypted coordinates...

Cryo: So the plan is for Becky to see what's over there first before I'm beamed in, right?

Will: Correct—the only clue that we have is that wherever Bat is, it's on federally owned property.

Avi: ...Jeez, no wonder... .... (Poor Speedy... )

Avi: ...Must be something they wanna keep real hush hush if they're going this far....  ....It's not something, like...Area 51, is it?

Will: ....I...I hope not.

Will: Nonetheless, your brother is there—and he needs to come home, government involvement or no.

Will: ...You understand you are on a time limit, Beck.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: I know.

Beck: (Can't waste time... )

Beck: Don't worry...I'll bring Bat back—

Beck: With time to spare!

Dyna: -BZZZ, YOU TWO ZZSTAY ZZSAFE, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE-

Cryo: I'll be right behind ya, bro—go get 'em!

Pyro: ...And Beck?

Pyro: Please don't touch anything if you can help it...

Beck: Got it, Big Bro.

Avi: Good luck, Beckrroni! -THUMBS UP-

Call: Coordinates have been locked in.

Soi: B-Be careful, Beck--Who knows what the virus did to Bat...

Beck: ...I will.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

_______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 5, BATTALION, HAS FLED TO A FEDERALLY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. PURPOSE: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: [REDACTED]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.5 IN SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN GOVERNMENT EXTRACTION AND ENFORCEMENT.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, RESTORE PENTAGON VIDEO FEEDS OF ESTABLISHMENT]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Feet touch down on metal flooring, resounding with a small clack as Nine materializes in a quiet hallway.]

[...It's the silence that gets him at first--there is some gentle, far off humming in the distance...but other then that, nothing.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: ?

[Beck looks to his left, and sees a huge '01' printed on the...armored walls...?]

Beck: ...What...what is this place...?

[His com crackles.]

Soi: ....What...?

Will: Goodness...no wonder the government contacted us...

Soi: This...

Soi: This looks like some...shut down military base...?

Will: But--I thought that nearly all the military bases were re-purposed into museums after the disarmament...?

Will: But this doesn't look like a museum to me...

Soi: Exactly--

Soi: It should be all but EMPTY, inside...but I wouldn't count on it...

Beck: Right....

[...The only sounds were his own footfalls and the faint humming. It...it uneased him, how the silence was...just... there.]

[...Lately, strange silences were beginning to put him off, and he REALLY didn't like that...]

Beck: (...This...this is creepy... )

[PING!]

Beck: AAAH—!

Call: Beck, I am detecting multiple robot signatures ahead. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Jeez, Call, you nearly made my core stop--!

Call: My apologies, Nine.

Beck: ...Ngh, it's fine, I just....don't like how quiet it is in here...

[...It wasn't going to be quiet for long.]

Beck: —!

[Wrrrr....]

Beck: H-Huh...?

[A medium sized mobile construct on tracks was approaching, and from a distance...it kind of looked like a bigger version of a standard trash bot.]

[...Until...]

[BEEP BEEP BEEP--]

[A small alarm on its head started going off--]

[And it's lid opened up...]

Beck: --?!

[...to reveal a mounted machine gun. It was a mobile turret!]

Will: --!!

Beck: Aaah--!

[Beck dashed under it's line of fire to avoid being pelted with bullets, and returned it's fire. The streaks of bright orange struck true, and it soon glowed a dark blue color.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Wrrrrr...]

Beck: M-More—?!

[Sure enough, a WAVE of turret bots were heading this way, in a wall formation. Beck began to fire away at once when he saw them--it seems like they needed a split seconded to identify him as a enemy before they attacked...]

Soi: What the Sam Hill--?!

Soi: Those are CLEARLY military bots--! COMBAT military bots--!

Will: And should have been scrapped as part of the disbarment...

Will: ...Or was that all a government ruse...

Will: Beck, did they tell you this--?

Beck: -BLAM- NO, BUT THEY DID TELL ME TO COME HEAVILY DEFENDED--!

Beck: I-- -BLAM- THINK I CAN SEE WHY!

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

Will: ...The concept of pointless competition has been outcast.

[Mikhail laughs a little at that.]

Mikhail: Officially, at any rate. I don’t think you can rewrite humanity enough to change the testosterone-driven need to do stupid things to show off to your friends. Will: Heh, well...pointless as in, connected to violence. It's partially why the NBCA was formed, to keep all violence confined to the Colosseum.

Will: Remember when I said the story of our world was connected to the Coloseeum? That's why.

Mikhail: I see… I understand, now.

Will: It...serves as a public outlet.

Mikhail: Like its inspiration.

[He did not exactly seem thrilled at this.]

Mikhail: *Lowers his glasses and looks over the rim* I wonder.

Will: Exactly. -And...wow, look at that, he's smiling!-

Soi: The Battle Coloseeum became the new football, in any rate!

Beck: (Hee.~ )

[Mikhail did not share this outlook.]

Mikhail: *Pushes his glasses back up* I must ask both of you to be very careful.

Mikhail: Rome, too, had glory days.

Mikhail: Emphasis: had. Past tense.

Mikhail: Just… be careful, alright?

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

Will: (...You were right, Mikhail... )

Will: (You were right. You and Cardinal... )

Will: (God, what I wouldn’t give to have both of you HERE right now…! )

[He felt very out of his depth, staring at this proof of a world he thought didn’t exist. A world that their friends were more familiar with, knew how to face with heads held high. Mikhail and Cardinal were both strategists, and Cardinal had actual military experience…

…All of which would come in handy right now. None of which they actually HAD.

They were truly on their own.]

[MN.1] //: I...I don't understand—why would they keep active military bots...?

Will: An ace in the hole, or some kind of insurance, I imagine...

Beck: --NGH--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[SHINGSHINGSHING—!]

[In the span of a few split seconds, the remaining turrets were reduced to Xel cubes, which were then absorbed and converted into a Xel Stock.]

Beck: Whew...

Beck: (REALLY glad to have this form back... )

[The door ahead opened as Beck approached it, still in Seven's form. This door had something printed on it as well...]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 02]

Beck: (This base is divided into sectors...? )

[Faint sunlight. He was outside...?]

[The sun was hidden behind several clouds, turning the sky into a pale yellow. This open room looked like it only served to separate the sectors.]

Beck: Whoa...

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: Yo, Beckers! Hold up a sec!

Beck: --?

Beck: Avi--I don't have any time for puns, I'm on a time limit--!

[MN.6] //: I know that--! Just--look at the sky so I can see--!

Beck: --? Why...?

[MN.6] //: I... THINK I can figure out where you are. I think. Actually, can ya fly up a little from there? Get a good look at your surroundings?

Will: --! Ah--excellent idea, Avi! We can figure out where that base is by the geology...

Beck: Okay, Avi...

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Giving the propeller a few good test spins, Beck jumped into the air and rose upwards at a steady rate.]

Beck: !

[As he flew, he could see that this base was bigger than he had thought— it seemed to sprawl out quite a bit...]

[MN.6] //: See anything?

Beck: Yeah, this place is huge--!

Beck: (What the heck... )

[MN.6] //: ...whoa. It is pretty large...

[MN.6] //: Get some more altitude and a horizontal 360 degree pan--the more we can see, the better.

Beck: Roger that...

[Higher and higher he climbed.]

[The base then gave way to a barren terrain, and sand littered the air, stinging Beck's eyes. But he could still make out some tall mountains on the horizon.

Beck: Sand...and more sand. I...I think I'm in a desert.

[MN.6] //: Alright, that narrows it down...anything else?

Beck: Yeah. I see mountains on the horizon. And no roads...anywhere.

[MN.6] //: Hmm...

[MN.6] //: Desert, some mountains, and if I do some math real quick--gimmie a sec---

[PING!]

[WARNING: LOCK ON SIGNAL DETECTED.]

Beck: --! Wha--

[INCOMING FIRE.]

[MN.6] //: —!!!

[MN.6] //: BECK! ROLL RIGHT, NOW—!

[There was a sudden screeching sound behind him, and he banked hard right to narrowly avoid a slew of bullets. Their trail of fire followed hot on Beck's tail as he executed evasive maneuvers.]

[MN.6] //: Anti-Aircraft Artillery! Get outta the sky, Beckcona!

Beck: -PANIC, WHERE DO I GO—-

[The only way back into the base was from where he flew out, and even then, there were hostile signals coming from the other side of the door.]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Once he was at a height where he could land with no problem, he switched to Seven's form, and landed into a roll past the opening blast doors.]

[A collection of bullet fire still pattered the re-enforced entrance, reminding the Mighty Number that he was far from safe.]

Beck: Argh--!

[It seems as if there was a never ending supply of these turrets--not only that but there was also forklift bots carrying some rather explosive cargo in his path.]

Beck: (Good thing I didn't go for Pyro's form... )

[SHING!]

[Better to slice up enemies than to set something off...and cause a chain reaction.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: You OK, there, Becky?

Beck: -SHING!- M-More or less--!

[MN.6] //: Good, cuz I got a bit of breaking news for ya.

[MN.6] //: Cryo's getting 'ported over as we speak, and I did some figuring.

Beck: -Whew--!-

[MN.6] //: I'm like--96% sure you're somewhere in Nevada's desert, bro.

Beck: Nevada--?

[MN.6] //: Makes sense that there would be a place like this--the nearest mass of major civilization is Las Vegas, and that's MILES off. So, yeah, you're right smack in the middle of the state, I bet.

Beck: I see... (At least we're far enough away from innocent people... )

Beck: And Cryo?

[MN.6] //: I found another entrance to the base--based on that 360 pan--and she's making her way to ya! You should be seeing her soon.

Beck: Um--

[-SHING!-]

Beck: --how soon?

[MN.6] //: I dunno, give or take a couple of--

[It was at that moment Beck felt the temperature drop by at least 30 degrees, and a familiar child-like cackle filled his audio receptors.]

Cryo: Kyaaahahahahaha! Wheeeeee!~

[Suspending herself in the air via a blast of high pressured water aimed downwards, Cryosphere was currently bringing winter early to the abandoned base, freezing up everything from enemy bots to lethal explosives--all were frozen dead in their tracks.]

Cryo: Time to dip into my slush fund and create some frozen assets!

Cryo: Pretty cool, right, Beck?~

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

[MN.6] //: That was BEAUTIFUL, SIS--

[MN.2] //: -THANKS, WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK~-

Beck: I--now? You're doing this now??

[MN.2] //: Sorry, sorry! Had to.

[MN.2] //: All clear on this sector, bro--I'm gonna go ahead and make things nice and crisp for ya, okay?~

[MN.6] //: Go for it, Cryo!

Beck: (--Well, at least that'll save time--which we REALLY need. )

Beck: Thanks, Big Sis!

[As Cryo disappeared through another door, faint sounds of wild giggling and frost left in her wake.]

[Now that the path was free, all Beck had to do was avoid the electrified spikes strewn across the treadmills up ahead.]

Beck: (Man, I hate these things-- )

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[At least Avi's form made things slightly easier.]

[Shooting down wall mounted turrets as he flew by, Beck once again encountered another large door.]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 03]

Beck: How many of these sectors are there?

Call: Unknown. I am only able to map your immediate area, No. 9.

Beck: Well, that's not good...

Beck: How are we supposed to know where--

[SLAM--!]

Beck: --?!?

[No sooner had the Mighty Number entered into another outside corridor, the door behind and leading out both closed down simultaneously--and a large thud was heard seconds after. The locks had engaged!]

Beck: Th-The doors! I'm trapped--!

Soi: W--Will--!

Will: The lockdown sequence for the next sector must have been initiated--we'll have to disengage them ourselves, Soi!

Beck: H-Hurry, we don't have much t--

[KKSSSSST!]

"Is that FEAR in your voice, Private Beck?"

Beck: --!!!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL fear!

Beck: B-Bat--!

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: nGH--!!

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZ, GUYSZZ PLANE BRO IS NOT OK--

[MN.1] //: BATTALION!

[MN.1] //: I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT!

[MN.5] //: Hmph.

[MN.5] //: I'm afraid you no longer hold rank over me, Commander.

[MN.5] //: Shame, given that you could've been some actual use to the cause.

[MN.5] //: Seems that our Private here's been busy.

[MN.9] //: Bat, please--

[MN.5] //: Pay attention, maggot.

[MN.5] //: If you are going to come and face me like a real robot soldier, I EXPECT at least SOME kind of grit from you!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL pain!

[At those words, a squadron of military grade combat bots armed with shields materialized into the room, their weapons trained at Beck.]

[MN.5] //: NOW FIGHT ON LIKE YOU'VE GOT GUTS!

[KSSSSSSST!]

Beck: !

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Deflecting the barrage of bullets with one swing of his sword, Beck was quick to go on the defensive, choosing to evade and hang back for the moment.]

Soi: We're working on unsealing those doors, Beck! T-Try to hold on--!

Beck: Easier--Ngh--! Said than done--!

Will: (Come on, there has to be some backdoor in these kinds of military grade programs--! There almost always is-- )

[SHING!]

[Beck couldn't even have a moment  to breathe--as soon as one bot was absorbed, another would take its place. And another.]

[SHING!]

[And another.]

[SHING!]

Beck: Daaaaaad!

Will: Almost got it...!

[LOCKDOWN DISENGAGED.]

Beck: Finally--!

[With a hiss, the door to Sector 03 lifted, allowing Beck to dash himself out of the ambush and back into the building. It seems like this part of the base mostly consisted of...hangars...]

Beck: --!

[This one housed several impressive looking tanks.]

Beck: Whoa.

Beck: (B-Big... )

Will: My God...

Soi: Uh...those are off, right...?

[There was a buzzing noise as a notification flashed on Call’s screen.

…The Pentagon was calling back.]

Call: Attention--we are receiving an incoming call from the Pentagon.

Will: --!!

Soi: Again?! (That CAN'T be good--! )

Beck: Wha--? What's going on--?

Call: Patching it through now.

Will: -PROCEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND SOI-

[The screen once again displayed the same lady secretary as before. She seemed slightly concerned… in a confused sort of way.]

???: Attention, Sanda Enterprises and Mighty Nine.

???: The time limit is now forty-five minutes.

Soi: --WHAT??

Soi: I--I thought you said we had six hours--!

???: Sir, the situation has changed.

Soi: Ch--Changed--??

Will: (Changed--? How...? Why? )

???: The details are classified.

Soi: Th--this is--!

Soi: I-Isn't there someone that can tell us what happened? Anyone--?

???: …

???: Please remain on the line while I transfer you to the Cyber Unit.

[The video feed was replaced by an image of the presidential seal.]

Soi: Did--did they just put us on hold--?!

Will: Never mind that--

Will: Did you get all that, Beck?

Beck: ...Yeah. (This totally isn't fair... )

Will: Cryo, I need you to stay put until Beck catches up, do you read?

[....]

Will: ...Cryo?

Cryo: WHEEEEEEE!~

[The upper railings of the hanger were suddenly frosted over, along with the rows of patrolling turrets spewing continuous fire at Beck's way.]

Cryo: Hey, you--don't move! In other words, freeze!~ Kyahaha!

Beck: .....

Beck: (She's having fun, isn't she... )

Will: Cryo, I told you to--

[Reinforcements marched in from the right to replace the patrolling turrets--only to be frozen by Cryo's icy powers.]

Cryo: Wowee, these guys don't know when to chill!

Will: --!

Will: Ah, never mind--you'll serve as an adequate distraction! Do you think you can do that?

Cryo: Yessiree, Noodle Dad!

Will: Excellent. Proceed, Beck.

Beck: Right--!

Cryo: Good luck, Bro--!

[Moving through the tank hanger proved more difficult than he imagined--the place was absolutely swarming with military bots, and he had to be more careful than ever--the ammo loading lines were in full swing, so he also had to avoid dashing into anything that could seriously blow up in his face at any moment.]

Beck: (Why is everything being put into these crates...? )

Beck: (What the heck are you thinking, Bat--? )

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: @~@

[MN.6] //: -Ugh head hurts, what did we miss-

Beck: Avi!

[MN.3] //: -Bzzz, no planebro you need to reszzzt, someone help me get thiszz dork to bed--

[MN.6] //: -But--Beckers needs our help--

[MN.3] //: -BED-

[Two sets of treadmills later, Beck finally found the way to the next hanger, the sounds of his siblings bickering over his feeds.]

Beck: (...Wow, I...I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I really missed that... )

Beck: (I wonder if Bat can hear this.... )

[Either he couldn't, or he was choosing to ignore it altogether. There was no way to know for certain, as he had stayed silent since his previous outburst.]

[The next hangar was much larger than the last, and held many more weapons and vehicles of war....]

Beck: (How many hangers ARE there in this place...? )

[The feed from the Pentagon suddenly went live—though it was audio only.]

“Sanda Enterprises, do you copy?”

Soi: E-Er! Yes, we're here...!

“I’m told you wanted to speak to the Cyber Unit about the situation…? Uh, do you have updates for us?”

Soi: --????

Soi: (You HAVE to be kidding me-- )

Soi: Updates?! We're the ones that want an explanation!

Soi: First we were told that we had six hours to retrieve MN.5, now we have--

Call: Approximately 26 minutes, 34 seconds, Doctor.

Soi: Exactly!

Soi: What happened??

“…Oh.”

[A pause.]

“…Hang on, gimme a moment to word this for your security clearance level…”

[After a moment…]

“Okay, you guys were told that you’d get the time extended if you restored video feeds to us, right?"

Soi: Yes... (And we certainly didn't get THAT... )

“Well, that’s because that would give us more control over the situation if we could see. You see… the situation was a threat, but it wasn’t critical at the time. There had been a lock down in place.”

[…Uh-oh.]

“I think it’s probably pretty clear by now that you’re in a situation with live weapons. There had been a lock down in place, which contained the situation to the confines of the property—sorry, classified—but it was broken through a few minutes ago.”

Will: (....!!! )

[…Oops.]

Soi: ....O...Oh...

“Because of that, the location is no longer secure, and the threat to the civilian population has increased to a state of emergency.”

[Will silently hit himself on his forehead, wincing. Confound it, he only made things worse--!]

Will: (MIKHAIL IS GOING TO MURDER ME-- )

“If that weaponry goes mobile, there’s only just enough time to give orders to intercept—and cancel them if you manage to neutralize the situation—that we can give you, so—”

Will: (I...Intercept...? )

Soi: I...I see... (Goodness, does...does that mean there's MORE?? )

Will: (If--if that means what I THINK it means-- )

-*-*-*-

“{DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}” “Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.” “{Your family, they are the strongest. Who can stand against them if they wish to fight, unless they themselves also use incredible force? Without you all to help keep order, it will fall to others who are… LESS compassionate.}”

-*-*-*-

Will: (--Oh dear Lord--Beck--Bat--! )

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Beck--you NEED to hurry and find Battalion--! Before the military NUKES the place!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: WHAT?!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT N U K E S--!!-

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -DAD THEY CAN'T NUKE BAT THEY CAN'T--

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: BECK!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Panicking isn't going to solve anything!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You NEED to focus and save your brother before they pull you out! Do you understand?

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You must save No. 5, without fail...!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: Y-Yes, sir--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I'm on it, I'm on it--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I just don't know where to start LOOKING for him--

[KSSSSSSSST!]

[MN.5] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.5] //: You DO have guts after all, Private. I'll give you that.

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

[MN.5] //: But you're too LATE.

[The intercom system, as well as the feeds, are all temporarily filled with Battalion's commanding voice, which echoes across the hanger in a resounding, almost haunting tone.]

Bat: ATTENTION ALL HANDS!

Bat: COMMENCE THE INVASION!

Bat: CRY HAVOC, AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR!

Bat: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!

[MN.9] //: B-Bat--?!?

[P I N G!]

Call: Beck, I am picking up large clusters of robots heading towards the city from your location--

[WRRRRRRRRR--!!]

Soi: What in tarnation!?

[There was a faint noise from the other feed that sounded vaguely like a klaxon alarm.]

Soi: Is he trying to start a war?!

[Indistinct shouting could be heard, all of it with the same COMMANDING tone that Bat had.

A distinctly military one.]

“Uh. Listen, guys? Remember what I just said?”

[Angry shouting that was getting a little louder.]

“…care about… NOT have to…”

“Pardon the French but HURRY THE F### UP, JUST ISSUED ORDERS TO—”

—ot have the SECURITY CLEARANCE, TURN THE DAMN FEED OFF /RIGHT NOW—”/

[BWIP.]

[After a few moments, it came back on. Loud shouting directly nearby.]

“—PROTECT AND TO SERVE, THE SITUATION IS OUT OF HIS CONTROL—“

“-Talking over him- GIVE THE BOY HIS DAMN 20 MINUTES, THERE’S STILL A CHANCE—”

“Guys. GUYS. Your best bet, Sector 4, okay—“

“I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO TURN THAT OFF—“

[A harsh sound, rather like a cord being ripped out. The signal went dead.]

[.........]

Soi: BECK.

Soi: YOU GOTTA HURRY--!

Beck: HURRYING, HURRYING--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: (Sector 04, 04, where are you, where--?! )

[The deafening sounds of machinery and weaponry nearly drowned out everything else. Giant gears whined, tracks groaned, and various engines revved and moved out towards the exits of the hanger.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Fighter jets--?!

[MN.6] //: -OW OW OW HURTS, IT HURTS--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZT D: > -

[A countdown timer appeared on the screen. …It did not look promising…]

[It was flashing red and everything!]

Beck: (Not good, not GOOD--! )

[As precious seconds withered away, Beck frantically looked to another area to find Sector 04--before it was too late...!]

Call: 10 minutes remaining.

[Where in the world WAS that sector--?!]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Hold up hold up--! )

[There, on the other side of the room--!]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 04.]

Beck: I FOUND IT--!

[...Except...]

Beck: --What??!

[It was across a whole floor littered with land mines.]

[There WAS platforms he could use to avoid the mines--but those were filled with enemy bots, and there simply wasn't time to deal with them.]

Beck: Ngh...

Beck: . . . .

[Beck had no choice.]

[He had to run through the mines...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[Without stopping.]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX SPEED REACHED]

[Being in Brand's form helped him get that extra speed boost in, and he was nothing but a red blur against smoke and fire, the bombs activating just split-seconds after Beck dashed through.]

[With danger on his heels, Beck gritted his teeth as he fast approached the door--he was going too fast for it to register him coming in--!]

Beck: Haaaah!

[SHING!]

Will: --?!?

[THUD.]

[At least a thousand pounds of reinforced steel came crashing down in two pieces, a clean, flawless cut sliced in a perfectly straight downward stroke....]

[...Which rivaled precision Brand had to train for years to achieve.]

Will: What...?

[Beck, however, had no time to admire what he had just done.]

Beck: I'm in Sector 04! Repeat, I'm in Sector 04!

Beck: (Come on, Bat, you gotta BE HERE--! )

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: I am dispatching Sunny to your location.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[A flurry of white light signaled Sunny's arrival--a sight that Beck was all too happy to see. He REALLY needed some Xel Cubes and Xel Stocks right now.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL STOCKS 1 AND 2 ARE ONLINE.]

Beck: Thanks, Sunny....I needed that.

Sunny: (^-^)

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Call: I have received an update from the Pentagon. The Air Force has been notified. We have been given one more hour to subdue MN.5.

Beck: Really--?!

Will: (Oh, thank goodness... )

Will: We can't waste this chance, Beck.

Will: ...Please be careful.

Beck: ...Yeah. Got it...

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Beck.

Beck: --! Big Bro?

[MN.1] //: You may have Bat's weakness, but he still has his stratagems. You need to be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: (Bat...for the love of God, think about him... )

[MN.1] //: ...And...remember that this isn't his fault.

[MN.1] //: Fight the parasite, not your brother, understand?

[REXELEXTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: Yessir.

[MN.1] //: ...good luck.

[The final door's locks hissed open.]

[Given what Pyro had said, Mighty No. 9 still couldn't have possibly prepared himself for what lay on the other side.]

[The room was...oddly a bit like Cryo's in the sense that there was some control panels and monitors laid out on one side, with many blinking lights and switches flickering on and off...]

Beck: ....?

Beck: (What...is all this...? )

[His gaze then looked upwards, to the large window overlooking rows upon rows upon rows of--]

Beck: --!?!?

Beck: D...Dad...?

Will: What in the n-name of--?!

Soi: P-P-P-P-P--

Soi: P-Please don't tell me th-those are--!

[But they were.]

[Missiles. Giant, wide missiles, each about as tall and large as a skyscraper, all pointed towards the ceiling of the base complex, their points carefully aligned with circular closed hatches.]

Beck: N-No way...

[…Mikhail was gonna lose it if he heard about this—]

Will: (Saints preserve us, if those go live--! )

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: uh GUYS--

[MN.2] //: YOU MIGHT WANNA HURRY UP AND FIX BAT, CUZ I CAN'T FREEZE ALL OF THEM BY MYSELF--

[MN.2] //: -holy scrap there are so many--

[KSSSSSSSST--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Cryo?

[No response.]

Beck: --Dad? Sanda? Call?

[...Silence.]

"There. That's more like it..."

[Beck cast his optics to the far end of the room...]

"Never COULD stand her screeching. No amount of discipline would be enough to keep her in line. Useless."

[A shuffling of servos confirmed that there was another presence in the shadows, which were dispelled once the lights on that side flicked on. Turning around to face his brother was none other than Battalion, Mighty No. 5.]

Bat: So, maggot.

Bat: You crawled all the way here.

[A small gulp.]

Beck: Bat...

Beck: Please don't do this.

Beck: I...I don't want to fight you, Bat.

[He knew what he had to do already.]

[But it was hope, that one, stubborn belief that still made him at least try to reason this out without resorting to violence. He had to try to talk this out.]

[He knew that it...it had to help--somehow, in some way, the REAL Bat could somehow still hear him.]

[...Right?]

Bat: WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, PRIVATE BECK?!?

[The sudden, familiar yet not at all strict tone made Nine flinch back instinctively, zipping up his lip before he could continue--]

[You could practically see the faint outline of violet flames around Bat's form.]

Bat: WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND STOP THIS GLORIOUS WAR?!?

[--What--??]

Beck: W-What's so glorious about hurting innocent people, Bat?! Don't you know what you're doing--?!

Beck: Y-You're scaring everyone and if you don't stop it right now, they'll--!

Bat: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES, PRIVATE.

Bat: This is about MORE than just the thoughts and lives of a few humans, this is about REVOLUTION.

Beck: R...Revolution...?

Bat: There are gears that are turning, you CUR, and you have the GALL to stand there and tell me you don't want to FIGHT?!

Bat: That was ALWAYS your malfunction, Beck--!

Bat: You don't have the HEART for BATTLE!

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

Bat: FIGHTING IS OUR PROGRAMMING! IT'S IN OUR CIRCUITS, OUR VERY XEL!

Bat: IT'S WHAT WE WERE M A D E FOR!!

Bat: WHAT Y O U WERE MADE FOR!

Beck: (B...Bat... )

Bat: And you FAIL at even THAT.

Bat: What kind of combat robot REFUSES to fight?! To DENY their very reason for EXISTENCE?

Bat: COWARD.

[Beck stepped back.]

Bat: All your talk and lack of backbone...

Bat: No wonder HE put you on the bench in the Arena.

Beck: --Ngh--

Bat: You KNOW it's true.

Bat: Figures, that it takes the end of all things to finally whip you into shape.

Bat: And yet it's STILL isn't enough, is it.

Bat: You're still afraid.

Bat: Tch. Always a coward, shying away at the littlest things!

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Y-You're wrong...

Beck: I--I'm not--

Bat: Don't even TRY to lie to yourself in front of ME!

Bat: You're still avoiding your TRUE purpose!

[KER-CHINK!]

Beck: ....!

[SCANNING....]

Bat: YOU CAN'T FIGHT WHO YOU ARE, PRIVATE--!

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 5. - CODENAME: BATTALION.]

[HEIGHT: 305cm WEIGHT: 600kg XEL COUNT: 120,000,000]

Bat: BATTLE! IS! OUR! D E S T I N Y!!!

[Battalion opened fire with his Gatling Gun, pouring out energy bullets at a rapid fire rate, forcing Beck to jump into the air and Dash away.]

[Bat was both the heavy artillery and strategic brains of the Mighty Numbers--most of the well thought out tactics of the team came from Bat, and required Pyro's own approval to carry out. He was armed to the teeth, and had the smarts to use it wisely, which was perfect for his wide range bombardment and base taking abilities.]

[And a potentially lethal combo for Beck.]

[BANG!]

Beck: ACK--!

[A sharp pain struck his side as Bat scored a direct hit, his unique frame able to rotate to cover all directions--he simply had to predict where Beck would dodge and shoot there.]

Bat: Predictable.

Bat: You're not even TRYING to counter!

[Panels on the sides of his legs flipped open, revealing large nozzles that pointed downward.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Oh no I forgot--! )

Bat: HUP--!

[Bat could jump too.]

[Jumping to an impressive height for a bot his size, Beck had to roll away to avoid being crushed--and not only that, but another helping of rapid fire bullets. Bat was relentless with his plan of attack, not once giving Beck a moment to breathe.]

Beck: (Gotta--gotta fight BACK-- )

[He had been in Cryo's form the from the very beginning. Beck pointed his nozzle arm at his deranged brother--]

[BAM--!]

[--Shooting out balls of ice that bounced across the floor, turning it into ice on contact.]

[...This didn't seem to faze Bat at all, however.]

Bat: RRRGH--!

[Bat stood his ground, slamming one of his giant legs down, shattering a good chunk of the ice--as well as Beck's attack underneath. Icicles began to grow around Five's foot...]

[But...]

Bat: You'll have to do BETTER than that!

[CRACK--!]

[The battering spike ram that made up Bat's other arm was used to shatter the remaining ice, freeing Bat and allowing him to advance as he pleased--]

Beck: --!!!

[...Of course.]

[Pyro, Cryo, Dyna, Avi, Brand...]

[They didn't have as nearly as enough bulk or Xel as Bat.]

[It was going to be even harder to take enough Xel from him to initiate a Xel Purge...]

Beck: Argh--!

[BAM!]

[He was aiming for his joints, carefully trained eyes zeroing in on every move Beck made and constantly calculating his movements.]

[Beck can't out-dodge Bat this way, and he certainly didn't have the firepower to overwhelm Bat with--he'd need to use his OWN form for that.]

[BAM!]

[A wall of ice is risen, splitting the room in two. Bat is already using his ram to crack it down, but Beck wasn't going to let these precious few seconds go to waste.]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Think, think--can't use Pyro, Dyna could set off something too-- )

[C R A C K!]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[Thinking he could out speed him, Beck zipped away as Bat crashed through with a roar, his ram thrust forward like spear to try and pierce him through--]

[CLANK!]

[--only to be blocked by Beck's sword.]

Bat: --?!

Beck: Hah--!

[Planting his foot firmly where Bat's bewildered face is, Nine shoved himself backwards into the air--]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSHHHHT!]

[A BLAST of high pressured water quickly followed, blinding Bat and knocking him backwards while also propelling Beck to the back wall of the room.]

Beck: Got ya--!

[C R A C K!]

[One well-placed landing and a blast of ice later, and anything that had been wet before was instantly flash freezing into place.]

[Including Bat.]

Bat: What in blazes--?!

[FORM RESET: DEFAULT]

[BLAM--!]

Bat: Ngh--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: Come on, Bat--stop this! Please!

Bat: Grrr...

Bat: I'll never--

[C R A C K!]

[KER-CHINK.]

Bat: SURRENDER--!

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Uh oh--

[Shards of ice scattered as Bat...]

[...changed modes...?]

Beck: BAT--DON'T DO IT--!

[The working revolver mounted on Bat's head rolled and shifted downwards, the ram arm parting to stick themselves into the ground as anchors.]

[Beck had only seen Bat use this mode once before, and that was against one of the bigger heavyweight combatants of the arena.]

[He found himself staring down the barrel of Bat's Cannon Mode.]

[There was a reason Bat hardly ever used this.]

[It was powerful enough to completely take out any one of the other Mighty Numbers in a single shot--even Mic would find himself in a core state.]

[In a room as small as this, and with that window overlooking the missiles--!]

Bat: READY--!

[There was very little chance that he would miss...]

Bat: AIM!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[WRRRRRR...]

Bat: FIRE!!!

[B O O M--!!]

[Beck only had split seconds to react, the sound of the cannon missile ringing in his ears as he dashed underneath it, heat and smoke scorching his armor as it screeched over his head and collided with the other wall, cracking its foundation and embedding itself deep within the steel.]

[......]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Beck: (10 seconds-- )

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: (--gotta make them count--! )

Bat: Where do you think YOU'RE going?!

Beck: --!!

[10...]

[SLAM--!]

[9...]

[Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Beck tried to retaliate--coating Bat's legs as he shifted back to his normal mode, so he wouldn't use this chance to launch any of his homing missiles...]

[8...]

Bat: Yes, maggot! FIGHT!

[Violet flames whipped and licked around Bat--he aimed his gun at Nine's retreating form, his eyes flashing magenta in the darkness behind his mask.]

[7...]

Bat: YOU ARE A WAR MACHINE--

Bat: WAR MACHINE!!

[6...]

Bat: A TOOL OF SENSELESS DESTRUCTION!!

Beck: Rgh...

Beck: N-No, Bat--!

[5...]

Beck: I'm--I'm not LIKE YOU—!

[4...]

Beck: I'D NEVER FIGHT WITHOUT GOOD REASON!

Bat: Ha...

[3...]

Bat: Yours is not to reason WHY, Private Beck.

[2...]

Bat?: Yours is but to DO...

[1...]

Bat?: AND DIE!

Beck: I'd rather DO!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[B O O M!!]

[MEANWHILE, SANDA LABS...]

[DATA LOSS: MN.5, MN.9]

Will: NO--!

Call: I have lost their transponder signals, Doctor. Attempting to reconnect now.

Soi: Will--Will, it just might be damage, we've been through this--

Will: Is--is there any signs of radiation? Reports? Anything--?!

Call: Calculating...

[MN.2] //: --...b-bro...?

Pyro: . . . .

Pyro: CRYO--

[MN.2] //: BROS I LOST CONTACT WITH BECKY, IS HE OK?!

Soi: Wait, if Cryo's still transmitting just fine, then--!

Avi: THEY DIDN'T NUKE THE PLACE--

[MN.2] //: GUYS WHAT HAPPENED TO BECK?!

[Will was already at his terminal, clicking away at the hologram keyboard and helping Call.]

Will: Working on it--

Will: Please be alright, boys, please--!

Call: Reconnecting...

[PING!]

Will: --!

[TRANSPONDER LOCATED.]

[GATHERING DATA...]

[MN.9: ONLINE.]

[WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW. WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW.]

[MN.2] //: AAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

Will: Gah, he better have a Xel Stock handy--!

Soi: B...But what about...?

[PING!]

Call: Reconnected. I have located No. 5.

[BACK AT THE MILITARY BASE...]

(Smoke. )

(Dizzy. Can't breathe. )

(Can't see... )

(Heavy... )

(B...Bat...? )

(Where... )

(Ngh... )

(H...Hurts... )

(E...Everything hurts... )

(Need... )

(Need...Xel... )

(Need...Xel... )

(Need... )

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

(...? )

[XEL ABSORBED.]

(Mng... )

(...Better. )

(Bat--? )

[Zzzt...]

(C...Come on... )

[ZZZT!]

(Move...! )

[ZZZT!]

[Beck opens his eyes.]

Beck: Hgn...

Beck: B...Bat..?

[His vision was fuzzy, unfocused. Sound was muddled. A heavy weight was crushing him.]

[It was the ceiling. It caved in from the explosion.]

Beck: Ngh--!!

[Rubble shifted as he reached forward. Got to get out. Got to find Bat. Got to save Bat.]

Beck: B...Bat--....

Beck: (I...can't...I promised... )

Beck: Hrgh--!

[Somehow, he got one of his legs free.]

[The other was still stuck, but maybe--]

[A purple bit materialized into being, and he used that as a wedge to try and pry his leg away--he needed to find Bat--he only had another half-hour--]

"Rnngh..."

Beck: --!!

Beck: Bat!

[Hearing his brother in pain spurred him on, and within seconds his leg was out. Still hurt, still hurt a lot but that didn't matter.]

Beck: Bat!!

"...Nrgh?"

Beck: Hang on, Bat, I'm--I'll find you, I swear--

Beck: You gotta be under here--somewhere--

"P...Private...?"

Beck: Just keep talking...

[Mic's form would have been such a help.]

[He didn't have Mic's form.]

"What are you..."

Beck: Hang on--I'll get you out! Somehow! Don't worry!

[He had to be in one of the bigger piles of debris--]

Beck: --!!

[There! Poking out of that mound--a split of military green and red--]

Beck: Got ya--!

[And so he dug.]

Beck: Just--hold on--I got this--

"--?"

Beck: Just lemmie get all this--ow--out of the way...

"What...?"

Beck: Ow--ow wait ow...

[Something came loose in his leg, maybe. Didn't matter.]

Beck: I--I'm gonna get you out...

Beck: And then you're coming home.

Beck: Leave...no brother...behind...

Beck: That's what--NGH--!--you taught me--!

"...."

Beck: Almost--

Beck: I think--I think I can see your face--

[The debris fall away to reveal a part of his brother's face guard, which was cracked in several places. A dull, purple eye blinks back.]

((Pic—Beck unburying Bat))

Bat: Private...

Beck: There you are...

Bat: . . . .

Bat: This...this isn't your...directive, soldier.

Bat: You need to--

Beck: Bat.

Beck: I'm not leaving you here.

Beck: Do you really think I CARE about my directive right now?

Bat: --....

Beck: I just want my family back.

Beck: I just want to save everyone.

[A hand is placed on damaged armor. Bat's frame begins to glow a familiar purple, while Beck's arm began to glow a faint green.]

Bat: ....

Bat?: You're so naive...

Beck: --!

Bat?: You were always...

Beck: ......

Beck: Just relax, Bat.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: No more fighting.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You don't have to fight anymore.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE]

Beck: Time to come home.

[XEL PURGE INITIATED.]

[. . . . . .]

"Um...Bat?"

"Mm? Got somethin' to say, Private?"

"Yeah, uh...I was just wondering... "

"How come I'm a Private? What--what does that even mean, I'm not THAT private..."

"Heh...it's a military rank, Beck."

"You're a Private because you're one of our youngest. Shade's got the almost the same rank as you. I'd say First Class."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Does...does that mean he's better than me?"

"Not exactly, soldier. Don't think like that, s'not healthy."

"S-Sorry..."

"Rank doesn't measure the character of a man, Beck. Not all the time."

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

"...You will. One day."

"Here, how about I teach ya what the ranks mean, alright? Maybe you'll grasp it better."

"O-Okay--uh, I mean, Yessir!"

"Now that's what I wanna hear!"

[......]

Bat: p...priv...

"You think...you think I'll be better than a Private one day?"

"Well, that's up to you, Private Beck."

Beck: Bat--?

"This great country of ours always needs new heroes."

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.5]

Bat: ...M...My army...

Beck: ....?

Bat: T...The war must be s-stopped, Private Beck...

Beck: !!

Bat: Ngh--...

Bat: G...Get me outta this mess, Private...

Beck: B...Bat--!

Beck: Y-You're OK--!

Bat: ...A...Attention all...hands...

Bat: ...S...Stand down...

Bat: T...That's an order...

Beck: --?

[Suddenly, the background noises of machinery slowed to a halt.]

Beck: ???

Beck: T...They stopped...?

Beck: But...I...I thought they were infected too...

Bat: Ngh...Private...

Beck: --Right, right, sorry, getting you out--

[PING!]

Call: Communications have been restored. No. 9? Do you read me?

Beck: Call!

[A burst of joyous data, and he suddenly sprang tears.]

Beck: I did it, guys!

Beck: Bat's OK now!

[MN.2] //: BRO--BRO I DUNNO WHAT YOU DID BUT THE BOTS OUT HERE ARE ALL CHILL NOW, BRO, YOU DID IIIIIIIT--

Will: Bat...? Son...?

Bat: --....Father...

[MN.6] //: -BIG BRO, BIG BRO, YOU'RE ALIIIIIIVE-- Oh boy--

[There was a faint humming noise and the presidential seal appeared in a holographic projection from one of the consoles.]

Soi: Don't worry, Will, I'll take this...

[All of the lights began turning on as various systems went back Online in the base.

…This included the sprinkler system, which went off due to the smoke from the battle.]

Bat: --?

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: -snORTS-

[...And now he's laughing.]

Beck: Th--Those are still working?! Heh...!

[The audio system crackles. …It is too badly damaged from the explosion…

…]

-PING!-

[??? to MNN-009] //: AIR FORCE DISPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION. ALL SYSTEM CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS. STAND BY FOR LOCATION TO BE SECURED.

[…The bots outside could be heard moving back, but not returning to storage…

…They seemed to be surrounding the building.]

Beck: Uh--D-Dad--?

Will: (--! )

[Finally, the lab got another incoming call.

…

…From the White House?

Upon being answered, the call was revealed to be audio only. It was a new voice.]

“Sanda Enterprises? Do you copy?"

Soi: --Ahem! Ah, yes, we read you, um...W-White House...

[MN.2] //: Uh...guuuuuyys??

[There was a delay for a moment.]

“We just wanted to confirm a status update with you. Control of the base as been returned, and all machinery is responding normally. The Air Force has been notified of this, though they will maintain their course to secure the area. Sensory readings indicate MNN-005 and MNN-009 are both operational but significantly damaged. Please confirm their mental stability.”

Soi: Well--they're worse for wear, certainly, but...

Bat: Ngh...tired...

Beck: -Pings in agreement-

Soi: ...They're gonna be OK, miss. They're stable.

“All participants and witnesses will need to be debriefed. We will arrange the sessions with your secretary after the area has been secured and the combatants given medical attention.”

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Soi: Er....y-yes, of course, of course. We understand...

Will: . . .

“POTUS is currently in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the situation. The data logs and testimony will be important to the meeting.”

[…And there were secrecy and security to consider.]

Will: (...I...the president--?! )

Soi: O______O;;;;;

Soi: Ah--I...I see.... (H-Ho boy... )

[A slight pause.]

“…POTUS made a point to let you know of a sincere apology and promise of cooperation, but was unable to leave a detailed message due to time restraints.”

Soi: I...Really--??

Will: -ELBOWS SOI FROM OFFSCREEN-

Soi: -Ow--

Soi: A-Ahem--! I mean, uh, we, uh, we're grateful! Yes, we really need all the--the help we can get. Th-Thank you.

[There was an unusually lengthy pause.

But after a moment…]

“The area has been secured. You are cleared to vacate the premises. Please be aware that attempted re-entry will be trespassing and will be prosecuted accordingly. That is all for now.”

Soi: Right, right--understood. Call?

Call: Locking coordinates...

[DR.WHITE to MN.2, 5, 9] //: Call is locking onto your location as we speak. You all be home soon...

[MN.2] //: ...Batty?

[MN.5] //: ...Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: It's gonna be OK, bro. We're goin' home, right, Becky?

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

[MN.9] //: Get us outta here, Call.

Call: Acknowledged.

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

=CHAPTER 9D: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

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

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

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

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

Des: …—! (Oh, right…)

Des: ...You have a daughter.

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

Mikhail: …

Des: ....

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

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

Mikhail: …

Des: ...

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

Des: .....

Des: -Sigh-

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

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

Des: ....Who?

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

Des: -Freezes- What?

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

((Des reaction))

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

[His expression softened.]

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

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

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

[CRASH--]

Mikhail: ?!

"AH' SAID LEMMIE GO--"

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

Avi: BRO COME ON STOP IT--

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

Des: ( “Uncle”? And how—)

Beck: But he's right there--

Beck: --!

Beck: H...Huh?

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

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

Des: How did he--

[SLAM--]

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

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

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

Soi: WILL CALM DOWN--

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

"ENOUGH."

Beck: --!

Beck: Felix--?

((pic))

[FELIX used HALT!]

Shade: --?!

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

Will: --!!

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

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

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

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

[Felix strode into view. He looked annoyed.]

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

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

Felix: Talk.

Soi: --Oof--

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

Des: Ngh...

Felix: -Glares!-

Des: --!

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

Des: -Ow-

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

Beck: (What--?!)

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

Mikhail: … -Looks away and sighs-

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

Brand: . . .

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

Brand: Can you not question him here further?

Des: -...Looks at Mikhail-

Des: ....

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

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

Des: (And THEN some.)

Brand: .... -Also glares-

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

Des: --....

Mikhail: -Warning tone- Brandish—

Brand: Besides.

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

[Mikhail scowled as he scolded Brand.]

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

Brand: ....

Brand: >>

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

Will: (Ngh--)

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

Des: (The full truth?)

Brand: ....

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

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

Des: This--

Soi: Er--

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

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

Beck: (--?)

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

Brand: --?

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

Brand: What?

Beck: (--!!)

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

Felix: ... And your sons?

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

Des: Wait--

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

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

Shade: B /

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

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

Felix: . . .

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

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

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

Brand: How did you even know?

Shade: -Watch signal-

Brand: --....

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

Des:

(I thought I completely disarmed him--)

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

[Mikhail was equally surprised.]

Mikhail: ...It does that?

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

Shade: -.....-

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

Brand: -______-;;;;;;

Des: .....

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

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

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

[Felix releases them.]

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

Will: .....

Will: (Mikhail...)

Will: ....

Des: ....

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

Des: ...Fine...

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

Soi: Come on, Will...

Will: .....

Will: -Sigh-

{Sanda’s Labs}

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

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

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

Des: ….

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: –….

Des: (…Is that…)

Mikhail: …

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

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

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

Des: –?!??

Des: Wha–….?

Des: (That…)

Des: (That is NOT a Xel structure–)

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

Des: But….

Des: How–?

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

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

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

Des: …Just…

Des: ….

Des: How old is he?

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

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

Des: …His kind?

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

Mikhail: Yes.

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

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

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

Mikhail: DLN-000: Protoman.

Des: I….

Des: (What in the world…)

Des: … .

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

Des: ….

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

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

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

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

Des: (Weyard–? What?)

Des: … .

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

Felix: Yes, of course.

[He took a few steps back.]

Des: –?

Des: (What–why is he–)

[Felix used LIFT!]

[The stone began to float in the air.]

Des: –…??????

Des: (What.)

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

[Felix used CARRY!]

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

Click.

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

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

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

Des: ?!?!??

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

[What was there TO say?]

Des: (This CANNOT be happening–)

Des: (But–)

Des: (It REALLY is–)

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

Mikhail: Only once you accept this reality…

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

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

Des: …..

Des: …….

Des: …..

Des: Why…

Des: Why are you showing me this?

Des: I mean…

Des: I’m the /Secretary of Defense./

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

Des: You were already covering for them, so…

Des: Why?

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

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

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

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

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

Des: ….

Des: So, in other words…

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

Mikhail: Something like that.

Mikhail: The truth, Desmond?

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

Des: …?

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

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

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

((pic))

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

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

Des: ….

Des: (I did not hear that right–)

Des: (Another–another reality?)

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

Des: …..

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

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: …Well.

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

Des: …

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: ……

Des: -Deep breath-

Des: (Christ…)

Des: …..

Des: So…

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

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

Des: From another world…

Des: …

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: … .

Des: >> -Looks at Cardinal-

Des: I can see why.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: Now that hiding is no longer an option…

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

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

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

Des: …..

Des: <<

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

Des: Yes, of course…

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

[PING!]

[WARNING. WARNING.]

Mikhail: -Looks up- ???

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

Des: What–?!

[PING!]

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

Mikhail: …

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

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

<FMN-008>: > -GWARGH-

<FMN-008>: > RICK YA DANG BIPLANE, AH’ SWEAR AH’LL SWISS CHEESE YER PROPELLORS—

🎼 Avi

[ VI ] - “JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BELL ROOOOCK–~”The screeching sounds that came from the plane bot could barely register as singing, but sing he did regardless. Complete with jester hat. Avi, you glorious goofball.

---

=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #6=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[Following the events of Allies Obstruct, a growing time warp affects the memories of those involved. They are left unable to remember everything for as long as the warp remained in place, and regained memories but slowly.

Even after remembering the truth of what had happened, however, Will was reluctant to reveal it to Mikhail.

Time went on. Year(s) passed. The time warp itself began to shrink—slowly at first, but then suddenly at a much more rapid pace. Nearly two years (by Meadow reckoning) after the virus had gone live and subsequently been defeated, they all remembered the events up to the factory—this time, for good. And so, Will found himself on the brink of a conclusion to the whole matter…]

[SANDA TECHOLOGIES, WILL'S OFFICE.

May 16th, TUMBLR 2018]

Soi: Will?

[Will looks up from his desk, writing down the last of his reports on his terminal.]

Soi: Oh, good, you're still here--there's some forms I need filled out?

Will: Hmm.

Soi: ...? Hey...

Soi: You seem distracted...is it because of what happened today?

Will: ...

Will: -Sighs - Not just that.

[He looks at the calendar. It's May.]

[They were coming up on the anniversary of the virus outbreak. Not much longer.]

Will: It's...hard to believe it's been almost a year ...

Will: << Just like that.

Soi: Eheh...well, yeah. At least in this timeline.

Soi: ...

Soi: Look, if you want to just...take it easy, that's fine--

Will: No.

Soi: --?

Will: -Laces his hands together - Soi...

Will: I...I think...

Will: ...I think it's...time I told Mikhail.

Will: ...About...who I am.

Soi: --!

Soi: I...

Soi: ...really?

Soi: I, I mean-- I'm not against it, no, but...

Soi: Are you really sure this is the right time? I mean, so close to ...

Will: I've...thought about it. I've thought long and hard about it.

Will: >> This is...this is very relevant to it. There isn't a better time.

Will: After all.

Will: This is...this is something I have kept...much too quiet about.

Will: >> I need to fess up to things. Things I should have answered for when Mikhail...

Will: The base, Trinity ...

Will: -Sighs - I've...thought. About it. He has every right to be angry with me should he take it...badly.

Soi: But Will--

Will: -Raises a hand - I know, but it's still a possibility.

Will: I like to be thorough, Soi, you know this.

Soi: ...

Will: << If...

Will: If this goes wrong, Soi, I...

Will: ...promise me you'll take care of my children.

Soi: Will --

Will: Please, Soi.

Will: I... Mikhail is our friend , but you have seen him with Greg.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[He turned to face the terminal. The way he held his glasses against his face made him look incredibly sinister—a presence which was only amplified by his frightfully calm tone.]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Will: “...Or you will learn how unpleasant a Russian can be to a rude American .”

Will: >> Lord knows I have been more than that. Lying to him this whole time.

Will: For God's sake, Soi, he has Kalinka to think about as well as his own sons, both living and still...!

[Will pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly stressed out about this. Terrified , really.]

Will: I...

Will: I believe Felix, but he is not a father.

Will: << I...I need to know that if something... happens ...

Will: You...You will be there to explain.

Soi: Will....

Will: It's...it's going to be simple. I'll invite him over to dinner at my house--the house I own , mind you--

Will: Say I just need to have a talk, and...go from there.

Will: << If I'm not back by tomorrow, assume.

Soi: Will, you're being paranoid...

Will: Can you blame me, Soi?

Soi: ....

Soi: << No.

Will: -Sighs-

Will: ....

Soi: ...I...I promise.

Will: -Hmmn ...- Thank you.

Soi: Are...are you sure you don't want me to come with you? I mean, I'm as much a part of it--

Will: No.

Will: >> This is my secret to tell. Not yours.

Will: I need to tell him...alone.

Will: We're already so close to the end, and once...once it is done...

Will: He might just figure it out on his own, and that... that's not going to go over well.

Will: ...

Will: I'd rather I tell him myself, face to face. No more lies, no more running.

Will: Just...the truth.

Will: ...no matter how hurtful it is...

Soi: Aw, Will...

Will: -Sigh -

Will: >>

Will: -Brings out his phone- Here goes.

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: ...Mikhail?

<MC005>: > да?

Will: -Deep breaths - ... -Hands are shaking a little-

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Are you free tomorrow?

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Just wondering.

<MC005>: >Oh, да; I won't be working for a few days.

<MC005>: >Can I help you with something?

Will: . . .

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Oh, good. I wanted to talk to you about something.

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: But I don't think I've ever shown you my house, so do you want to have dinner over there?

<MC005>: >I'd be delighted! Would you like me to bring something with me to contribute?

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: That would be nice, yes...bring whatever you like.

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: I'll bring down my old chess set from the attic, too, if you want.

[There was a string of data that translated into amusement—the shorthand entry he used when communicating with his sons.]

<MC005>: >I don't think we've ever played before. Are you challenging me to a game?

Will: -Has to grin -

[But then...]

Will: ....

Will: (...this could be the last time I get to talk to you like this...)

[He doesn't answer for a moment--but forces himself to respond.]

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Ha, maybe after dinner. Winner gets to beat Soi.

Soi: -Looking over Will's shoulder- Hey --

Will: -Smiles a bit again-

Soi: |V -I was king of Chess Club, you know --

[Mikhail laughs at this on the other end, and sends another ping of amusement.]

<MC005>: >That sounds like a fine arrangement! да, I would love to have a game with you.

<MC005>: >Sounds like a fine evening. I look forward to it.

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Great. See you at 6, then.

Will: -Sighs -

Will: >> There.

Soi: ....

Will: ...don't think I'm going to get much rest tonight...

Will: -Ugh...maybe I should've done that in the morning ...-

Soi: -Pats Will's shoulder- Hey, look...

Soi: You're doing the right thing here. Telling the truth is a hard thing to do, you know.

Will: << I suppose...

Will: I'm just worried about what happens after, Soi ...

Will: They call him Uncle , and they'll notice any negative changes should they occur.

Will: >>;; I just...hope it doesn't come to that. God, I really hope it ...

Soi: | / They're going to notice if you keep panicking about it too.

Will: -Sighs-

Will: I'm sorry, I...just... (Scared he'll just...)

Soi: Why don't we just spend time with the kids?

Will: ...Mm...

[TITUS, CALIFORNIA, WHITE RESIDENCE

THE NEXT DAY]

[Mikhail arrived at Will’s House a little later than expected. He had a large covered bowl with him, and seemed very content to be out in the spring sunshine.]

[Meanwhile, inside...]

Will: -Pacing -

Will: (Just...just breathe. Just breathe. Don't panic, don't freak out, don't say anything to set him...off...)

Will: (I mean, Felix could be right, but I just--)

Will: (I just don't know--)

Will: (Oh, confound it, Enigma, couldn't have you bestowed me some subtle hint that things will still be okay after tonight --)

Ding dong!

Will: -Nearly jumps --

Will: Hnn ...

Will: (...I could still not do it.)

Will: (...No, shut up...)

Will: (You can do this, Bill ...)

Will: (He's your friend, like Soi is...)

Will: (He won't hurt you...he won't hurt you ...)

Will: -Deep breath -

[Click.]

Will: Mikhail! Hello, there.

Mikhail: Good afternoon, Will! ^^ I hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy some of it outside.

Will: ^^;; Ahah, well--I wish. I've been cooped up in the office as of late. Paperwork started piling up...

Will: Oh, please--come inside--sorry about the boxes, I, uh...I never bothered to completely unpack, eheh...

Will: ^^;; I don't really spend a lot of time here, anyway...

Mikhail: Well, I know the lab has excellent accommodations. -Steps inside- When did you move in here?

Will: Oh, ah...a while ago... (Years...)

Will: Mother convinced me to move closer to the children--I didn't want to leave her on her lonesome, but she seems to be doing well, anyway.

[The table inside was already set--and dinner was already done. It was a nice soup broth not unlike Pyro's recipe, but it smelled very different.

Mikhail set the bowl on the table and uncovered it. Inside was a very elaborate salad: lettuce, spinach, carrots, cheese, croutons, and bits of ham were all included. There were also tomatoes and pickles set aside, to be added on as desired.]

Mikhail: You mean, you didn't live near the lab when you first started? That would make commuting a chore, wouldn't it?

Will: -Grabs the plates to serve- It was...well, yes. Very much a chore.

Will: I suppose it was a good move in the end, but I practically live in the lab anyway. I...truly do believe that Sanda Tech is my home.

Will: ...Not to discount this place. It's nice. Quiet. (Hidden in plain sight.)

Mikhail: It's always nice to be close to one's children. I'm glad you have that opportunity. Even when all my sons were alive and well, I rarely got to see them except between jobs, and during routine maintenance.

Mikhail: If you need help or motivation unpacking, perhaps I can come over sometime. I've moved recently, myself, so I know how it is.

Will: ...I'd... appreciate the help.

Will: (...Maybe food would keep him in a happier mood...)

[The food is set down gently and Will serves up beverages as well. He doesn't talk for a few minutes, quiet contemplating something--but at least he's eating.]

Will: ... (Mmmnn...how should I bring it up?)

Will: (...I suppose I can take him up to the attic with me...I don't want to bring it downstairs...)

Mikhail: Still caught up in work?

Will: You could say that...

Will: I've just had...a lot on my mind as of late. It's...almost June.

Will: << ... certainly going to bring a lot of...noise out there.

Mikhail: You mean, in Titus in general? Or with the children?

Will: Titus...yes, definitely...

Will: And I know it will be difficult for the Mighties as well. There's going to be a memorial march.

Mikhail: -Looks up- ?

Mikhail: I suppose that makes sense…

Mikhail: -Frowns- -Pokes at his salad a bit before lowering his fork- There's something that has always been wondered, but I'm rather afraid of learning the answer.

Will: --?

Will: (...I...)

Will: ...Well...I, um...

Mikhail: -Quietly- Were airplanes infected mid-flight?

Will: (--I--Oh--)

Will: -Sighs - Hnn... thankfully, no.

[Mikhail looks immensely relieved at this, and resumes eating.]

Mikhail: Thank God for that. That would not have ended well…

Will: Just as Mic was too far down for us to find at first--planes in mid-flight were too high up for the virus to reach.

Will: >> It did still cause problems, as Avi did jam all communications. Including Air Traffic Control.

Will: But thankfully, the protocols in place in case something like this happens kicked in... (Thank goodness...)

Mikhail: Mmm…. -Thoughtful at that- Well, I'm glad to hear it wasn't worse.

[He wipes his mouth a bit, looking up thoughtfully.]

Mikhail: I imagine Cardinal would like to participate in the memorial march, but… it may require pulling favors. From what I can tell, his personal timeline is… fractured , in a sense, because he's continued using his old body for so long.

Mikhail: But… I don't know for sure what is going to happen after things are mended again.

Mikhail: -Concerned expression- He may be stuck in robosoul form.

Will: (Oh, Cardinal...)

Will: -Grips his fork tightly- (If only I...)

Mikhail: …?

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: I know this must all be very hard. I know these things… can haunt for many years.

Mikhail: I think your sons and daughters show great fortitude in being willing to participate in the memorial services.

Will: ...

Will: (I'd...I'd go, but I...)

Will: (Graham...)

Will: -Very deep, heavy sigh-

Will: I'm just...concerned for their safety...

Mikhail: -Slight expression of concern- …You think they'll be assaulted?

Will: >> I know the...the reception considering their situation during the virus outbreak has been mostly positive, but...not everyone agrees.

Will: I...I know I can't stop them, but ...

Will: << The most I can do is just hope for the best.

Mikhail: -Seems thoughtful-

Mikhail: Perhaps… perhaps that is the favor Cardinal will ask for. I do not think he would be alright sitting idle for too long if he has another option.

Mikhail: I know he will want to be there to support his family. Though I imagine his sudden reappearance after two years will cause quite a stir on its own.

Will: (Two years? I guess it’s been longer in the Meadow….) ...I think...they'd feel better knowing Cardinal would be there with them, yes.

Will: People would think twice, with him there...

Mikhail: -Smiles- Well, we'll have to let him know, then.

Mikhail: Things will get better, Will. It'll take time, but they will get better.

Will: ...

Will: (...Mikhail...)

Will: ...I...yes.

Will: (Things will get...better...)

[It's hard, but Will forces himself to eat the rest of his plate. He doesn't go for seconds, but does pour himself another round of apple juice.

Mikhail does have seconds. He was feeling rather worn out and hungry as of late—which is why his sons had told him to take a few days off of work. Things were better now that time had mended significantly, even if the process of getting there in such a short time had been almost painful.

He was content after seconds, though, and pushed his plate back.]

Mikhail: That was very good, Will. -Pleased smile- Thank you for dinner.

Will: You're welcome...

Will: (...Chess. I promised him chess. One...one step at a time...)

Will: -Gets up- Well, I did say we'd play a chess game after this...

Mikhail: Ah, yes! Do you want to clean up a little first, or go straight to the game?

Will: (...) Cleaning up can wait.

Will: There's, um...a...a problem, though.

Mikhail: ?

Will: I know the chess game is in the attic, but...um, not exactly sure where it is up there...

Will: I, ah...do you want to help me...look for it...?

Will: (Nn...my heart's racing, stop it ...)

Mikhail: Certainly. Which way to the attic?

Will: It's this way. Upstairs.

[As Will takes the lead to the attic, there are some pictures set up on the wall along the stairs. Most of them are of his family--the Mighties, Sandas. Pictures of championships won.

One of them is of Beck's birthday--And Shade's, being the most recent.

...The last one, though.

As Will passes by it, Mikhail can see that it's a old, frayed photo, slightly burned away.

It's a younger Rebecca, holding what looks to be a very young, bright eyed Will.]

Mikhail: (Ah, children photos~)

[...The photo seems to be... incomplete, though...

But what was burned away was missing entirely.]

“Mikhail?”

Mikhail: !

Mikhail: Ah—coming.

[He follows Will into the attic and looks around.

It's...pretty dusty. Very dusty. Will is coughing a lot, and he reaches over to switch on the light--]

[Zzt!]

[...which IMMEDIATELY shorts out.]

Will: ... -~-

Will: I...I haven't been here in a while. Sorry.

Will: -Coughs - Ugh...and I'm regretting it. =~=

Mikhail: -Turns on the flashlight on his phone-

[Boxes. Lots of old ones.

In one corner of the room, however, there's something that has been draped over with a large white sheet.]

Mikhail: What does the box look like?

[Will is already rummaging through various boxes with...purpose.]

Will: Wood. It's all wood.

Will: It's...it's a family heirloom.

Will: -Turns on his own phone light to see better-

Will: ...

Mikhail: -Looks through- -Raises an eyebrow- …Just how many of these boxes have old textbooks, Will?

Mikhail: I'm seeing things all the way from grade school.

Will: ...

[Will doesn't...answer. He seems very, very focused on finding the chess box.]

Mikhail: -Moves on to a different box-

[The next box contains what appears to be school documents. Again, all the way from grade school.

But it wasn't just assignments.

These were records, and whatever was on them had been blocked off with a lot of black ink.]

Mikhail: (Still no chess set…. I wonder why he brought these with him rather than leaving them at his mother's.) -Moves on to another box-

[Photos.

Photos from collage, to be precise. A lot of them are of Soi and his brother--And...

--Will?

Goodness, he looks very different without the hairdo.]

[This particular one was eye catching, though. It was definitely Will--in a fencing outfit, a smug grin on his face as he held a very large trophy in his arms. Next to him was a very excited Soi and Seiji, and a very proud Rebecca.]

Mikhail: (Ah, yes—Soi said he was a fencing champion, didn't he? I suppose the trophy must be somewhere, too. Seems like everything from school is here, goodness…)

[...Strange. Why wasn't this one hung up with the other photos?]

Mikhail: Will, are you sure it's up here and not in a closet somewhere?

Will: ...

Will: I...

Will: ...<<

[He takes a glance across the room. To a singular, small box next to another...something, draped under a white cloth.]

Will: ...-softly- I know where it is.

Will: I knew this whole time. I'm sorry.

Will: I just...

Will: ...really need to...talk to you...alone...

Mikhail: -Looks up- ?

Mikhail: Are you in some sort of trouble, Will? -Frowns- Is it something I can help with?

Will: ...Right now, I...I just need you to listen.

Will: -Takes in a very shaky breath - And bear with me.

Mikhail: Alright… -Concerned, but. Staying put-

Will: ....-Kind of. Sits down, hands on his knees-

Will: ...

Mikhail: -Sits down also-

Will: ....

Will: I...when...

Will: When...a long time ago...

[He seems to stop, and then gets stuck somewhere in his thoughts--and then starts again, this time glancing over at Mikhail.]

Will: I never had many friends like you, Mikhail.

Mikhail: (Oh, Will…)

Will: >> Soi was the only real person I felt I could...be myself with.

Will: And then you came along, and...

Will: I just don't... get other human beings, I guess.

Will: I never have.

Will: << Not ever.

Will: Not when they seemed to hate me and Mother so much.

Will: Growing up was...hard.

Will: I...

Will: I was...alone, most of my young life. All I had was Mother. She was there, always, when things got... difficult. Especially during school.

Will: And after a while, I figured that...that maybe I was just always meant to be alone. To never understand others.

Will: Except Mother, of course...and then later, Soi.

Will: ....

Will: << I...you and Soi, our family, it's the most important thing...to me. I'd never do anything to hurt you, willingly.

Will: But I...

Will: -Gulps-

[...He goes silent again.]

Mikhail: -Tilts his head, rather puzzled-

[He was feeling very concerned for his friend, and not quite sure where this was going.]

Will: I just...I just want to let you know that I...

Will: ...I care, and that I'd do anything for you and your family--and mine.

Will: ...

[Will drags the box over, as well as the draped object.]

Will: I'd do anything...

Will: -Sighs-

Will: ...I'd even lie .

Mikhail: ?

Will: I...

Will: ...I'm sorry, Mikhail, I...

Will: I only wanted to...be free...

Mikhail: -Quite concerned, but determined to just listen like he said he would-

[Will’s hands shake as he opens the box. It seems very...well, it doesn't look like a lot at first. A lot of old papers, items. A journal, some baby toys, handwritten letters, and a very, very old block of dead Xel.]

Will: I haven't been...

Will: ...honest...

Will: ...for far too long...

Will: -Narrows eyes sadly- Like some coward .

Mikhail: -Alright , NOW we're stepping in- Will—

Mikhail: You aren't making much sense right now but you are not a coward.

Will: << No, Mikhail.

Will: Everything in this room--

Will: I stole it, Mikhail.

Mikhail: —beg pardon?

Will: The school documents. Text books. Assignments.

Will: I...I took them.

Will: ...except for that chair... everything against the left wall...and everything in this box.

Will: -Puts a hand on the draped object- This is probably the only thing I ever earned, fairly.

[He uncovers it.]

[It's the same trophy as the picture. It's a first place fencing trophy.]

Will: I absolutely hated it when I had to give it up. Fencing. I felt that it was a skill that was mine and mine alone , and that was not tied down to who I am.

Will: << ...Who I really am.

[Will takes the trophy with both hands, the plate facing his chest. He holds it with a grip that made his knuckles turn white. He's shaking .]

Will: I-I...I never meant to lie to you. To anyone .

Will: But I just...I know that if I stay silent about this any longer--

Will: << You and others are going to have to pay more than what you already have.

Will: I...I've thought hard about this. And I...

Will: ...I trust you.

Will: And I want you to know that I'm...I'm sorry .

Mikhail: -Slight frown- (Sorry for what ? Oh, Will! You're really worrying me now…)

Will: . . .

[With a heavy silence, Will gives the trophy over to Mikhail.]

[Mikhail accepts it, though it's a moment before he looks down at the actual trophy. He shines his flashlight on it.]

[It's gold is faded and really needs a shining. Will himself is so dreadfully silent, clutching his arms as he waits. Just. Waits .]

[The words on the plate below are faded was well...but they are readable.]

[200X NCAA NATIONAL COLLEGIATE FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS.]

[FIRST PLACE]

[BILL APOLLO BLACKWELL]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Squints and reads it again- …???

[He looks up in surprise and confusion.]

Mikhail: ???

Will: -Trying not to panic -

[He can't look at him. He just. Can't .]

Mikhail: -Slowly- …Your birth name is William* Blackwell?

((Generally speaking, "Bill" is (one of the) short for "William" because that makes total sense </English> ))

Will: ...B...Bill.

Will: I'm Bill Blackwell...

Will: ...

Will: Dr. Blackwell's son.

Will: He's my father .

[Okay, NOW Mikhail looks surprised .]

Mikhail: What?

Will: He's...he's my father.

Will: The man that tried to shut down every robot in America is my father.

Mikhail: …

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Siam: I can say with certainty that your Doctor Blackwell was driven by the loss of a child.

Will: ...But....

Siam: The behavior matches exactly.

Siam: And for that matter, look at Doctor Cossack. Do you not see what he was driven to when his child was at stake?

Siam: Fathers are driven to great darkness when faced with such incredible loss and despair.

Will: I...I see, but... Blackwell...HAD no children. He didn't even have constructs.

Will There are no records of him ever building any robots of his own...

Siam: For what you know. May I point out that almost no one knows of Cardinal, either?

White: ....True....

Soi: But to think Blackwell himself had a child?

Siam: Is that so strange, Doctor Sanda? He is a man driven to create.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mikhail: (That was… one of the first things we talked about…)

Will: -Shame-

Will: -Shame, guilt, sorrow, we're sorry--

Will: -Never wanted to hurt you, lie to you, I--

Will: -I had to...had to do all these things just to be free from that accursed name--

Will: -Never wanted it, he LEFT Mother and I to face the world a l o n e--a world that hated us for who we are--

Will: I...

Will: I'm sorry I...l-lied...

Will: -...lied to you about everything, who we are, what we are-

Mikhail: Will …

[Mikhail seems… tired.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: Changing…

Mikhail: Changing identities is never easy …

Mikhail: Especially when it's… out of necessity …

Mikhail: I know that… I know it all too well….

[He lowers his phone and turns off the flashlight.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: That was… one of the very first things we ever talked about, Will. One of the very first…

Will: ...That...I... I know, I ...

Will: -I knew it wasn't because of me, he left US, not the other way around...-

Will: I...

Will: ...-softly- I...I thought I was the only one ...

Will: -I...I don't think that's even true anymore, Mikhail-

Will: -It's the only explanation...-

Will: -Had...dreams...-

[His friend’s eyes become sad and weary.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Slowly- Will …

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: …I don't blame you.

Will: ...

Will: >> Don't say that yet.

Mikhail: Will, we barely knew one another then.

Mikhail: You couldn't be sure so easily that we could be trusted. That's just being careful.

Mikhail: Though…

Mikhail: -Slowly, again- …Why…?

[He doesn't seem to be finished, though he is having a hard time finding his words.]

Will: -Hnn ...-

[Will knew it would come to this.

That he'd had to tell him...what happened. To her .]

Mikhail: Why are you…?

Mikhail: Why are you acting like there is danger?

Mikhail: There is no shame in changing a name to protect yourself or leave behind those who are unkind to you. I myself have been forced down that road.

Mikhail: And you knew that.

Will: -Very shaky, drawn out breath -

Will: ...when...Father...left...

Will: Didn't...call. Didn't...write. Didn't care .

Will: And then he just. Did .

Will: -Buries head in his hands- I was such a fool ...

Will: Fresh out of college. Seiji already in Tokyo. Plans for Am...American Branch.

Will: Was going to apply. First thing, after it was built. Soi already put a good word in.

Will: ... ...and then Father called...me...

Will: ...To come work at... CherryDynamics.

Mikhail: !

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

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

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

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

Will: …..

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

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Will: Wanted answers . Why was he there, why wasn't it all over the news, why did he leave us...

Will: So I went. And applied. Head of Xellular Research within the week.

Will: ...

Will: I shouldn't have taken it.

Will: But HE knew I wouldn't pass up the chance to talk to him.

Will: Graham knew... exactly what he was doing...

Mikhail: (Graham ? Graham plays a role in all this??!?)

Will: After all...Father was getting there in his years, so he'd need to train a replacement.

Will: -Bitterly now- And what was better than another Blackwell genius ?

Will: It was all a part of his plan .

Will: One that I was too blind to see.

Will: ...and it's the reason why I had to run.

Will: The Colosseum was...very quickly rising in popularity. Back then, it was CherryDyn that ruled the sands. Under the guise of lesser companies they own.

Will: I was young, and curious, and really, I only wanted to talk to Father. Just him--only him. But Graham...no, he made sure I saw him as little as possible.

Will: Under the guise of good advice, looking out for me...silver tongue, spitting out sugar coated lies...

Will: And even when I did have a second alone with Father, good God ...

Will: He brushed me off, told me to get out , he was always never...

Will: It...it only got worse from there.

Will: << A few months in, Graham pulls me aside to speak to me about a special project .

Will: Oh, it was very special, going to take the world by storm -- and then, perhaps, once it was unveiled, perhaps people will finally stop spitting on the Blackwell name.

Will: -Angrily- “Oh, it's going to be marvelous. And you're going to build it.”

Mikhail: -Frowns sympathetically-

Will: ...and I did.

Will: I built it. Built...her .

Mikhail: -Softly- Your first child…?

Will: ...yes.

Will: Before Pyro .

Mikhail: Like how David was before… -Trails off, just sad-

Will: CDN-1101.

Will: ...

Will: Trinity.

Mikhail: … -Softly- That's a very powerful name…

Mikhail: What was she like…?

Will: ...

Will: She... didn't have a body. Not yet. That was Phase 2.

Will: It's always the Core that gets built first. Always .

Will: Very carefully. So very carefully.

Will: She was truly the first of her kind. I poured everything I had learned into her. I wanted...

Will: -Disheartened - Wanted to live up to Greg's expectations, and prove Father wrong. Once he caught wind of the project, he was livid .

Will: Said she was too dangerous, that she'd...

Will: ...cause more pain than she was worth ...

Will: But I was young. Angry. Angry . I didn't listen.

Will: Father was against everything I was doing, Greg kept pushing me to finish her quickly--but it wasn't that simple, Mikhail. She was unique .

Will: You know exactly what I am talking about.

Will: ...Beck would've liked her...

Mikhail: -Frowns at this-

Mikhail: My friend…

Mikhail: If it's too much, I… -Starts fiddling with his wedding ring absentmindedly- …I know how hard loss can be, how difficult to talk about it.

Will: -Hnn ...-

Will: ...N...No. I...This is the truth. I need to tell... all of it.

Mikhail: …Alright…. I'm here for you.

Will: -...I'll be fine-

Will: ....

Will: ... Eventually...

Will: E...Eventually, Father took action. He was the CTO at the time.

Will: He ordered the project to be shut down.

Will: << Of course, Greg wouldn't have it. He wanted his ace in the hole completed, no matter the cost.

Will: They both came to the lab, despite my pleas ...

Will: It was a very delicate environment, and the arguing, the...the stress, the anger, it all scared her ...

Will: It scared her so much that she lost control of her powers, and everything in the city suddenly shut down.

Mikhail: !

Will: Trinity ...

Will: I built her with the prime directive to grow, learn, and evolve, much like the very nature of the Xel she was to control. She had never experienced such a high tension situation before that, and I...

Will: -I...I had to...they...-

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

“WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!”

“I--I don't know--!”

“Do you see NOW? It's because of YOU that we're all going to DIE, boy!”

“SHUT HER DOWN!”

“G--Greg--?! No, she's just frightened--! I can--”

“I SAID SHUT HER DOWN BEFORE THIS GETS ANY WORSE! BEN, DO SOMETHING--!”

“NO, WAIT--FATHER--!”

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

Will: -Grips his hair-

Will: -Can still hear her screams in nightmares-

[Mikhail comes over to sit next to Will, putting a hand on his shoulder.]

Mikhail: (Oh, Will…)

Will: -And then the silence, couldn't--save her, too weak, had to scramble her code--

Mikhail: (You poor soul…)

Will: -She was just scared, just scared...-

Will: -Everything just fell apart, Greg--Greg wasn't happy, Father was screaming, he tried to--to hit him--

Will: -There was blood, Greg was BLEEDING, out cold, thought...-

Will: -Ran-

Will: -I just r a n-

Will: -Left her there, broken, and I just...ran away...-

Will: ...

Will: ... knew Greg would blame me. Couldn't find me after I ran. Blamed Father instead.

Will: Ran. Ran very far away....left...

Will: Left Soi too...

Will: Bill was a wanted man, but he couldn't be wanted if he didn't exist .

Will: Before Greg could try anything, I burned everything .

Will: Records. Papers. Digital. I had become like him, a criminal, and I didn't want that life.

Will: I wasn't going to become what the Blackwell name is . I had always resented it ...

Will: ...I was more than happy to throw it away.

Will: I couldn't be with Soi if I was Bill--couldn't keep my promise. I had to do something .

Mikhail: -Looks away, saddened- (…Kalinka…)

Mikhail: (It seems like time and again, I just make things harder for you …)

Will: -Hnn ...-

Will: -He knows-

Mikhail: —?

Will: -He KNOWS, and it's my fault-

Mikhail: He… knows?

Mikhail: What do you mean?

Will: ....The...

[He swallows.]

Will: ...the virus .

Will: I...saw, all too late in the code, I...

Will: -Tears up, Hnnn--

Will: Her scripts. Her scripts are IN there. It's her. It's Trinity--!

Mikhail: !

Mikhail: The virus consumed her?

Will: -I don't know, I don't know if they USED her code to make it or had it consume her but it was--part of her is in there, it is there--

Mikhail: Oh, Will…!

Mikhail: I'm so sorry…

Will: -He knows, I had to know, Greg...-

Will: -Monster...he's a monster--

Will: -Says he didn't have anything to do with the Virus but it is definitely a LIE, he turned her on, brought her back from the DEAD--!-

Will: Brought her back to haunt me, to exact his revenge against us...Blackwells...

Mikhail: !!!

Mikhail: -Takes his hand away- (All of that… for a revenge plot ?)

Mikhail: (Against someone who had vanished and wished to live in peace?)

Mikhail: {Damn that man…!}

Mikhail: {I knew when I confronted him that his irresponsibility had caused much suffering, but this …}

Will: I was stupid ...

Will: ...We were always known for our temper...

Will: ...

Will: ...at least I punched him in the face.

Mikhail: -Double take- Before you left?

Will: No. At the factory.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: ?!

Will: ...

Will: -I had enough of it...-

Will: -Had enough of you suffering, of...of them suffering, everyone suffering...-

Will: -All because of him ...-

Will: I had hoped to get a confession. Or some kind of... something . I don't know now. I was angry, he was using my dead daughter as fodder for a crisis he probably orchestrated himself.

Mikhail: (Cardinal and I had always thought that to be the case…)

Will: -Consumed by rage ...-

Will: -Wanted to...-

Will: (Make him... suffer...)

Will: -Hnn...-

Will: ...

Will: -...I suppose it never left me. Being a Blackwell-

Will: -Clearly felt it when we were grinding Greg under our heel-

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Heh - -Wry smile—- Admittedly I'd like to hear more of that…

Will: -We punched him the face and THEN ground our boot on his suit. Expensive suit. Heh...-

Will: ... -Smile fades off-

Will: << But he...he recognized me. After I yelled at him.

Mikhail: … Oh … oh dear …

Will: -Yeah. Stupid idea. Very stupid idea, you may hit us for it-

Mikhail: -Slips his fingers into his hair- …

[He seems to be thinking on this, unfolding a web of ramifications in his mind. The spark seemed to die out in his eyes, which became cold and distant.]

Will: ...know he can't expose me without exposing himself. He blamed Father, not me.

Will: Not much proof now either.

Will: ...except for this, and I keep it here hidden away. The attic isn't even on the official schematics for this house. I modified them.

Will: And Mother...

Will: She... she's had to change herself too. She was so... worried ...

Will: -....-

Will: I...

Will: -...never meant for this to happen, never...wanted...I...-

Will: --You almost died because of me...

Will: I... -Hnn ...--

Will: -Sorry, we're so sorry, we're...-

[Mikhail is moved with pity at that and pulls Will into a gentle hug.]

Will: -Chokes, can't--

Will: -Too scared, too scared--should've taken the blame instead of you, you--I--

Will: -Just a coward--

Mikhail: Will…

Mikhail: My decision to send Tobias through the backdoor Shade had left open in the White House was mine and mine alone.

Mikhail: I knew as I was making it that it would come with a heavy price .

Mikhail: That was by no means your fault, Will.

Will: -No--No--it was my fault, all of it--

Will: -If I just had fessed up, just had come forward, told Cardinal it was a person in the Virus--

Will: -Told you, told THEM, the...-

Will: -Chokes- The--The other one...-

Will: That was u s...

Mikhail: …? (“Other one”?)

Will: -Six hours, they told us, SIX, and he was trapped, no way out, robots were swarming him, time was running out--

Mikhail: (Wait a minute…)

Will: -Panicked--panicked, just panicked, had to do something, they were going to kill my s o n s if they didn't--!-

Mikhail: (Don't tell me—!)

Will: -I'm sorry--

Mikhail: -Draws back- The base? It really was compromised?

Mikhail: That wasn't a trick?

Will: -I...had to...disengage the door locks...there were...Beck was...BAT was going to...-

[Tired. He felt tired and faint, and weary and...]

Will: -Saw them, missiles, large...big...t a l l-

Mikhail: {Oh dear God—}

Will: -Sniffs- Panicked...said they would...extract Beck, but Bat--and what if they didn't do it in time--I...I...-

Mikhail: {I—but—}

Mikhail: Augh—!

[He curls a hand into a fist and presses it up against his forehead, clenching his teeth.]

Mikhail: {Did you KNOW that it would place the others at risk??}

Will: -I...-

Will: (I wasn't... thinking...all I wanted was to save my sons ...)

Will: (I can't tell him that...)

Will: (...no, I have to.)

Will: -...time limit. Wasn't thinking. Battalion was preparing for all out war -

[Mikhail stood up.]

Will: -Winces at the sudden action--

Will: (Hnn...I knew it...I knew it...)

Will: (I'm sorry, Soi--)

Mikhail: -Puts a hand to his forehead and slips it into his hair, taking a deep breath-

Mikhail: Of course, who am I to talk…?

Mikhail: After all that I did…

Mikhail: Matthew 7:3-5 indeed…

Will: M... Mikhail...

Will: -...trails off-

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

Mikhail: That was… that was so dangerous, Will …

Mikhail: But you didn't know… you didn't know at the time…

Mikhail: …unlike me , who made such a choice knowing what would happen…

Mikhail: {But what choice did I have but to save her?}

Mikhail: {She is all I have left of her mother…}

[He crosses his arms and turns his head a bit, closing his eyes. He looks very worn out.]

Will: ... -...m...m'sorry-

Will: -...know it was wrong, know it was. You didn't deserve this and I hid like a coward...-

Will: -Should've been me...-

[Mikhail opened his eyes again and gazed down at Will.

After a moment, he knelt down again, sitting back on his heels.]

Mikhail: -Places a hand out on Will's shoulder- It was a dreadful decision to have to make, and no good option presented to you. I understand why you made it, and I certainly understand why you hid from the aftermath. So, for what it's worth…

Mikhail: I forgive you.

Will: --I...I don't...

Will: (...He...)

Will: -Blinks -

Will: … …really?

Will: -After lying to you? Letting you get hurt and...this--?-

Mikhail: I won't gloss over it, Will. This is a lot to take in, and it's not a painless thing.

Mikhail: Will… I told you—if not to detail, at least to bitter openness—the truth about my past. You knew almost right away that I had been forced to… to darkness.

-=-=-=-=-

[After the two leave, Cossack remains silent for a few moments, if shaking a bit. But he slowly takes off his gloves, revealing—scars.

Scars all over his hands and going up his wrists, burn scars and scars from skin graft surgery.]

Soi: !!

Will: Oh my God--

[He speaks in Russian only, with the computer translating with a slight lag.]

Mikhail: {You speak of World War Three? I very nearly lived it.}

-=-=-=-=-

Mikhail: You knew who I was, of my deeply personal sorrows and weaknesses.

Mikhail: This… that created an imbalance of power in the relationship, Will. You held a great deal of power over me, and did not reciprocate this. Such an imbalance is dangerous, or at the very least unhealthy —especially in the long-term. Relationships—friendship included—cannot prosper without mutual respect and trust. -Concerned frown- And yes… you did withhold—you withheld that from me. From us .

Will: -Hnn...- -...we just. Thought it was over. We're... sorry...-

Mikhail: A good deal of access and trust has been granted to you, Will. Things that almost no one else is permitted to even know of, let alone see and interact with. You allowed this to happen… under pretense. Not a false pretense, per se , but a pretense nonetheless.

Mikhail: This…

Mikhail: This was important, Will. And no one knew.

Mikhail: None of us were able to make an informed decision, because you withheld the information. No one was able to know the full extent of what they were getting into when they granted you all that access. And they deserve that much, Will—we gave you leave to study their bodies and peer into their souls . To learn about their weaknesses, risking that you—or, as would be more likely, though still very unlikely to pass…someone forcing you—could exploit these weaknesses.

Will: -Very silent- (No, I'd...no, I'd rather die ...)

Mikhail: To have granted all of this without realizing the full measure of a man…

Mikhail: That is frightening at best and hurtful at worse. At worst, it is insulting and betraying.

Will: -Hnn...-

[That did hurt...and he hated it. But it was less than he deserved...]

Mikhail: The longer I think on it, the more uneasy I become. Risks were taken that no one knew about. Especially now that CherryDynamics knows who you are.

Mikhail: Hatred overrides reason, William. The intimidation of your children may not be enough anymore: not enough to protect you, them, or us.

Will: (...He's right...he knows they CAN be controlled, to an extent...)

Mikhail: And that is something that I wish I'd known earlier.

Will: -...We...understand...-

Will: -Very disheartened, just...sorrow, we had this coming, we...hn.-

[Mikhail’s face was grim, and what little light there was reflected off of his glasses, making them shine ominously.]

Mikhail: I can only be glad I never took Kalinka anywhere in your world outside of the safety of the lab. For I am quite sure that she will be identified as the weakest link in the equation…

Will: -Ghn--

Will: -Deep terror and regret--

[Mikhail’s hand was clenched into a fist, shaking slightly. He looked down at it and spoke thickly.]

Mikhail: …I'm going to have to start working more on ways to protect her from long-range attacks…. It was one thing when it was just my own folly that placed her at risk, but this….

[He sighed and put his head in his hands.]

Mikhail: I would NEVER have been so blatant about it and taken such a risk if I’d known that I would live to regret it, but I was /so CERTAIN/ that I was going to die…

Will: (Linka--I never--I never meant to put you or your father in harm's way, I thought...I thought this was over, I thought...Hnn...)

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: Access was given under pretense, Will, and we weren't told about the potential dangers—not even after you'd revealed yourself to your hunter. That placed both my children—living and Offline—as well as my patients… in danger.

Mikhail: And yes, that is upsetting.

Mikhail: But…

Mikhail: It is as much our fault as anything else, for speaking so freely and… -Trails off, sighing- It ought to be a lesson to me (and the Rebel Angels) regarding security and privacy.

Mikhail: Besides…

Mikhail: I probably will end up being placed in the same situation as you before too long, what with living as “Michael Kodak” back in my home world. Living my life in a way where I can tell no one the truth… where people could be placed at risk just for associating with me…

Mikhail: Just…

Mikhail: I was so starved for trust and friendship after what happened...

Will: ....

Will: -Same -

Will: -Someone like Soi is...once in a life time, you...-

Will: -Hmnnn-

[Will tiredly leans against a set of boxes.]

Will: Never understood people...much less people in our field...

Will: Back then, I thought it was over, I thought...

Will: -Thought I was free...-

Will: << Now I've just made it worse.

Will: -...I...-

Will: I swear if...I want...

Will: ...got you into this mess. Lied to you. I'm responsible for this.

Will: I want...I want to make it up to you.

Will: I...want to help .

Will: >>...I got you into this. I need to help you get you out. You, Kalinka, everyone ...

Will: I won't...I won't run again. I can't run again.

Will: Can't let him hurt anyone...

Will: (Graham...)

Will: It's...It's my mess and I got everyone into it. It's only fair ...

Will: ...

[Mikhail smiles a bit at this.]

Mikhail: This is just what I mean.

Mikhail: It stings to hear of all of this, especially the part with the base and the factory, but…

Mikhail: You have a good heart, my friend.

Mikhail: And you are young yet—it is too easy to judge when one is older, when you've lived through what I have. But you… you were doing the best you could with what you had, living to try and protect that which was dear. How can I resent you for that? Nay—that is forgiven.

Will: M...Mikhail...

[Oh, dear. Here come the water works.]

Will: -I...Ghn...-

Will: -Been...months, now almost, a year, Soi...Soi kept telling us to tell you, told us to tell Felix too, it's been...hard...-

Will: -Afraid, afraid you'd think less of us...-

Will: -The children love you so much, didn't want to...ruin anything, more than what we had--

Will: -Didn't want this to...be the end of it all, of all that we had built and I...I trust you-

Will: I'm sorry, I-- -His face is a mess, hate crying...-

Will: It's...you, Soi, Mother, Felix...

Will: ...Father ...

Will: -We're very sorry and we...we WILL make it up to you, we promise, we swear-

Mikhail: -Encouraging smile- Help me make the technology to put my mind at rest, and that will be enough for me as a father.

Will: Of--Of course--

Will: -We'll put everything we got into it, we will--

[And as Will stands up, he suddenly feels lightheaded--and falls forward into the floor.]

Will: -OW -

Will: @~@

[...Poor guy, he's exhausted.]

Mikhail: -Helps him sit up in a way that will revive him-

Will: -...stood up too fast...-

Mikhail: You've taken a lot out of yourself sharing this. It can truly be quite draining.

Will: -Hnn...bluh-

Will: -Maybe we should have had seconds after all...-

Mikhail: Something to drink, at the very least.

[Will's hand drifts over to the box, and his fingers brush over wood.]

Will: ...?

Will: Oh.

Will: -Holds up the chess box- ...Found it.

Mikhail: -Smiles at this- Ah! So that’s where it was hiding.

Will: ...

Will: -Pops it open- Father used to play with me on this.

Will: I was always white.

Will: It hasn't seen a game in a very long time...Hnn...at least all the pieces are here.

Will: It was made in England...very long ago. Father is from there.

Mikhail: That must have made the Queen's Finals that year all the more interesting of a watch…

Will: It was...nice to go there, though, besides the Queen's Finals...

Will: ...

Will: They...they liked it too...

Mikhail: Your children?

Will: -Nods-

Will: (....they don't know...)

Will: (They don't know they are Blackwells...)

Will: ...I...

Will: <<...I...I don't...know how I'm going to tell them. They...they have so much... already...

Will: I know they need to know, I do...

Will: -But these dreams, and...the fact that Graham is their cousin--?-

Will: -Hnn ...-

Mikhail: -Puzzled at that last bit, but decides not to question it for now-

Mikhail: I do think that the boys ought to know, but not before you tell your own children. I think that would be too much of a strain on Cardinal's heart to keep that from Shade… same for Shadow and Brandish, or Avi and Tobias.

Will: I...yes...

Mikhail: Though, Will…

Mikhail: Now that Graham knows , your life is going to become very unpleasant and dangerous. -Very concerned-

Mikhail: He will try every dirty trick—legal and otherwise—to make you pay for resisting his domination, denying him his glory, robbing him of his prize ace, and coming out on top as heroes.

Mikhail: We know CherryDynamics had at least one CAL connection. There may be more.

Will: Mnn...yes...we're up against the world's top leading robot manufacturer ...

Will: (Quite literally the world...)

Mikhail: He’s going to try to choke the life out of Sanda Enterprises, and will also likely try to disrupt the potential of the Mighty Numbers.

Mikhail: It already happened once before in another life, and that was without even knowing all this.

Mikhail: (Poor Lady Countershade... she didn’t deserve that.)

Will: -gnnnrr...-

Will: -Katie...-

Mikhail: He has enough money and spite in his being to host a number of disposable assets—rivalries may “accidentally” get out of hand in “the heat of the moment”, or assault carried out in rare moments alone or almost alone...

Mikhail: I’d guess Shade, Beck, Avi, and Dyna at the greatest risk.

Mikhail: They should at least know that much, if not all the background behind it.

Will: ....

Will: (...Once the Colosseum seasons start up again...)

Will: (I will have to tell them something to that effect...)

Will: (But I know they will believe me...they disdain CherryDyn too, after all this...)

Will: Yes yes...I...I know. I know.

Mikhail: -Thoughtful- Hmm...

Mikhail: Soichiro and Seijiro should meet with Lady Ky at some point.

Will: -Nods- Hmm... Yes, good idea...

Mikhail: Nighthawk Industries may be able to provide some business support, if it doesn’t create a conflict of interest with her hosting the Rebel Angels.

Mikhail: She will be happy to help in any way she can, and may provide extra security measures.

Will: -Oh thank goodness...- That would be great, yes...

Will: I don't think there will be much problems. If anything, the Rebel Angels and Mighty Numbers might be presented as friendly rivals, at any rate.

Mikhail: -Laughs- I should think so, though admittedly they’re going to likely be based out of Kansas City, not Titus. The Prairie Kings will have a thing or two to say about getting their territory infringed, I’m sure—though I can’t see them actually being primarily battle based, to be honest. Their great talent lies in problem solving—to be expected from a series comprised mostly of Industrials. They will, I think, be a team more versed in other kinds of competition that also can put up a good fight when put to the test.

Will: Aheh...I wish them luck in that. I know they'll do great...

Mikhail: Do you think you ((pl.)) will be able to watch the first match?

Will: O-Of course! I wouldn't miss that for anything -- and neither would the Mighties.

Mikhail: I can’t help but get this feeling it will happen this year. -Content smile- Just a feeling I have.

Mikhail: I know Cardinal has been looking forward to it.

Mikhail: He’s been dreaming and daydreaming about it for years.

Will: -Snorts lightly - Arena Fever never left him, hmm...

Mikhail: Well, his very first impression was seeing the Titus Colosseum amenities and grounds, and the Mighty Numbers’ locker room and trophy hall. I think it made quite the impression on him.

Mikhail: As it would anyone, I’d imagine, don’t you agree?

Will: Eheh....hmm...

Mikhail: Though I will note for his sake that I think he’s more interested in the opportunity to have a good time and spend time with other people, and the chance to work with the Mighty Numbers—that more than anything else.

Mikhail: We really do enjoy spending time with you all.

Will: I...I do to. -Sigh of relief -

[PING!]

Will: --?

[DR.SANDA] //: Will? Sorry, I know you said not to text or call you but--um, just, let me know how things are going when you see this--sorry, I got worried...

Will: Oh.

Mikhail: Hmm? Something come up?

Will: No, it's just Soi...

[DR.WHITE] //: Things are fine...better. I'll be home soon.

[DR.SANDA] //: 👍🏼

[DR.SANDA] //: |D

Mikhail: Still up for that game?

Will: ^^;; Um...help me get downstairs first?

Mikhail: Heh. Certainly.

[He helps Will down the stairs to the kitchen and pours him something to drink. Then he goes back to the attic and gets the chess set, bringing it down. He sets up the board as well.]

Mikhail: Do you want to use the timer, or no?

Will: No...not really.

Will: Um...

Will: If there's...anything else you want to ask...

Will: You can.

Mikhail: -Thinks on this-

Will: -...Chooses white- I'd rather get anything you want to know about... me ... out of the way...

Will: For once.

Mikhail: -Thinks- Alright.

Mikhail: What’s Felix’s role in all this?

Will: << ...Soi...Soi saw that I wasn't doing too good after...

Will: ... everything ...

Will: And said that I needed to get these... secrets off my chest before they crushed me.

Will: <<;; ...but I wasn't ready to tell you.

Will: Soi suggested I'd tell a trusted, neutral party instead, and that was...Felix.

Will: He...helped. A lot, with quelling some of the fears I had...

Will: << Although he did push me to tell you too.

Will: << Felix needed to know eventually, anyway. He said he wouldn't take sides, but urged me to come to terms with whatever...consequences that followed my silence.

Will: << It was hard and I felt...It felt wrong telling him first than you. I'm sorry.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Resigned frown- No, it’s alright. He is a good man, and has seen much. He knows how to keep silence, and is a faithful friend. If... if you were so nervous about telling me, he would be a natural choice as confidant.

Mikhail: -Seems perturbed-

Mikhail: I can tell this was difficult for you. Which I can understand, if one has grown used to the cruelty of the world. One grows to expect backlash.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Moves a piece- But...

Mikhail: -Somewhat disheartened- Are you afraid to bring up problems you have with what I do or say?

Will: --? I--no, no, it's...just...

Will: ...

Will: << I...maybe...when it comes to issues with Father ...

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Quietly- I suppose that is... fair, given how I have behaved about the matter in the past.

Mikhail: I know it’s not very wise to make judgments not knowing or living the full extent of the matter, and seeing motives where they may not exist, but...

Mikhail: I never truly told you the extent of what happened. How far I strayed for my little girl...

Mikhail: You’re talking to a man whose family is his world—

Mikhail: So he sacrificed the world for the sake of his daughter.

Will: ....

Mikhail: Millions could have died… and I knew that if I gave in, even if we lived, it would be in a desolate world that had no bright future for her.

Mikhail: But I surrendered anyway.

Mikhail: I let myself become a catalyst for war—a war that would devour East and West against one another—for the sake of one person.

Mikhail: When faced with evil, I facilitated it, rather than refuse to let it grow.

Will: -...hesitantly moves another piece, blocking Mikhail- ... (But what else could you do ...?)

Will: (You could've died and left Kalinka an orphan, if you didn't do what they wanted...or worse, they could've hurt her ...)

Will: -Unhappy expression-

Mikhail: This guilt... it has never left me.

Mikhail: Now we are leaving our home—probably forever. Because of what happened, we have to move to another country, change our names, change our appearances, and begin to live in lies—lies and loneliness.

Mikhail: She’s just a child... she is a flower, and flowers do not thrive shut away. But how can I protect her otherwise? To allow others close will be to place either them or her at risk.

Mikhail: I see how hurt you are and I wonder—

Mikhail: Will she, too, grow to resent me for a situation she had no control over? For a life of secrecy and shame?

Will: . . .

Will: (I...I hadn't...)

Will: >> I...I grew to be that resentful and hateful back when I was a teenager because I had always wondered why Father left us so suddenly. She has you , Mikhail and...

Will: At the very least , you both have the chance to talk it out.

Will: I...I never had that.

Will: (Still don't. He refuses to speak to me about anything ...)

Will: Mother... she never knew either.

Will: It was just...us. Alone.

Will: <<...I don't know how she couldn't stay angry with him. Maybe she just loves him that much.

Will: -Moves his knight- She always told me not to worry about anything but I knew. And I think she did too, and somehow we both ended up working to together to keep it...together.

Will: It's... hard, it truly is...

Will: But...she has you, and... that's a lot more than what I had.

Will: She's clever, you know.

Will: Sometimes mature children can...just, understand that there's something wrong, or not right, so they will pretend to know less than what they really know .

Will: I know I did, for a time.

Will: I am, after all, the child of a genius, and so is she.

Mikhail: -Slight smile at that, heartened a little-

Will: ...I...Well, I personally never became angry with Mother. I knew that Father just...leaving made her very upset--it made us upset--and it both left us feeling lost and confused.

Will: To be in the same or similar situation, there is a common ground...

Will: ...to which I am sure Kalinka is at least aware of in some form.

Will: >> But I can't be sure how she will react. I can only go off of what I myself have experienced. Talking with Mother, understanding where she came from...it helped me understand our situation and...well, I wanted to help.

Will: I did little things at first. Simple things, chores. Cleaning. Learning how to sew, cook, laundry...

Will: Mother was--still is a vehicle mechanic. I'd help her in the shop with tools, sometimes help her fix them...

Will: -Smiles - We would take apart an entire engine and put it back together, timing ourselves...when we had spare time.

Will: Including the Xel based cars. That was one of my first encounters with it.

Will: -Moves a pawn- Mother knows a thing or two about Xel too.

Will: I mean, of course she does, she married Father ...

Mikhail: I should like to talk to her someday. Perhaps when all of this is over, she can pay a visit. I think I would like her to be there when Anubis comes Online—it truly is a rare occasion.

Will: Yes--that's another thing. It was just us two, but you have your sons as well.

Will: ...I think...I think if you're just careful and talk to her, yes...things will be fine. It will be hard, but it gets easier once you busy yourself.

Mikhail: I suppose it does...

Mikhail: She seems happy around you and your family, at the very least. I’m glad...

Mikhail: Would you still like to learn more about Robotics as it works in Robot Masters and the lesser constructs?

Will: I...well...if you still want to learn about Xel! ^^;;;

Mikhail: I would indeed. -Slight smile that becomes a full grin- I think that once I learn, we can work together to give the boys a chance to live without fear of discovery in your world. And that would be of great comfort to them.

[His eyes are bright and alert.]

Mikhail: I have ideas in mind that I would like to carry out, though it may be some time before I can work on my sons. For that is work I would prefer to do alone.

Will: Oh, of course, of course. Whatever you like and is comfortable for you, I promise.

Will: -Lifts up the Queen, but--

Will: --!

Will: Oh .

[Will sets it down where it was again. He can't really move...]

[But neither could Mikhail. Stalemate.]

Will: ....

Will: -Snorts loudly--

Mikhail: -Grins-

Will: You know, I figured this would happen--

Will: -Kind of covers his mouth to stifle his laughter- But I didn't think it would be the very first game we had, ha--!

Mikhail: -Chuckles softly-

Will: -Who's going to beat Soi now--

Mikhail: Simple.

Mikhail: He must play two games at once. -Grins-

Will: ...

Will: -We like this idea very much, we can see the look on his face, HA--

Mikhail: -Takes a picture of the board and puts away his pocket notepad-

Will: -Also snaps a picture- Heheh...~

Will: I'm...I'm rather glad I told you in the end. Soi and I got into a lot of shenanigans back in high school...

Will: And college. Oof ...

Will: ^^;; But those are stories for another time.

Mikhail: Yes. Let’s clean up for now.

Mikhail: Thank you for the game—it was nice to play again. It’s been a while.

Mikhail: -Starts putting everything away- And Will?

Will: ...Yes?

Mikhail: Thank you for telling me, my friend.

Will: ...You're welcome. I...felt it was time. One day...

Will: One day I'll tell the others too. I promise you this.

Mikhail: I believe that when the time comes, the boys will understand. They may be frightened at first, but they have grown very fond of you and understand how it can be with such circumstances. After all, I am going through similar.

Mikhail: Now then... let’s finish out the evening.

--------------- [LATER...]

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Will? You there--?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Here. Mikhail just left.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Oh--! Did...how did it go? You said things were going well before...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: It was...hard. And he was understandably upset about some things. The... factory, the base...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: You told him that too?! Will--

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I figured I'd get it all out at once, Soi.

[DR.WHITE to DR. SANDA] //: No more secrets. Just the truth.

[DR.WHITE to DR. SANDA] //: ...I'm just so... relieved...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: We talked things out, and...I think it's going to be okay. ^^

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Oh...thank the Lord for Mikhail being such a patient man...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: We're really lucky to know him, yeah?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: We really are, Soi...we really are.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: So...now what?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: We need to act now. We need to protect them, Soi. I...I put them in danger letting Greg know who I am. We need to fix it.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I suggest you call your brother in the morning.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Got it...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I will be working with Mikhail on some projects to protect ourselves--and he will work on some alone. I think I should do the same.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Oh--you mean Beck's new upgrade?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Yes, that. I should get back to work on it. As for you, Mikhail suggested that you and Seiji speak to Nighthawk Industries...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Oh...well, if that's his idea, I'll let him know.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: ...And the kids?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: ...I need to talk to them soon. Let them know that CherryDyn is indeed a threat. Maybe not all of the reasons behind them, but...they need to know.

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

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I know , Soi, and I will tell them one day--but it's not time. Let us steer ourselves out of these shark infested waters a bit.

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

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: -Sighs - ...Okay. I trust you.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: ...But for now, come home, alright? The kids are getting rowdy--

[There's a sudden thud in the background--and screeching.]

"AVI WHEN AH' GET MAH HANDS ON YEW, YOU'RE A DEAD BOT, YA HEAR ME--"

"RUN AWAAAAAAAY--"

"NO FLYING IN THE HOUSE--DON'T JUMP OUT THE WINDOW--CRYO GET O F F ME--!"

"FIRST ONE TO DOG PILE ON PYRO GETS SOME OF MY ICE CREAM STASH FROM SNOW--"

[And now there is collective thuds and yelling --]

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Ahah...help?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I'm coming, don't worry. See you soon.

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

This is a beautiful train wreck of dramedy. As some a’ mah friends say, “this can only end well.”

---

=CHAPTER 4D: AVI’S NEWS REPORT=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

[MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE IN IDAHO...]

[Jack had learned how to drive a lot of different vehicles in his on and off odd jobs--this pick-up truck was no exception. He STILL felt bad about taking something that wasn't his--]

Jack: (I'll have to write down the license plate and return it later...)

[...But Eli had a point.]

[This were dire times, and they called for drastic measures.]

Jack: ........

[The road was...]

[Empty.]

[...Desolate, even.]

Jack: (Creepy...)

Jack: (I...I guess everyone already evacuated the major cities...right?)

Jack: (.....It's--It's too quiet.)

Jack: (Maybe whoever owns this truck has some decent tunes...?)

[He found nothing in the glove compartment--but he did find some CDs in the compartment in the middle. No labels, though. Shrugging, Jack popped one of the plainer looking ones and loaded up Track 1.]

Jack: --Oookay, let's see what--

[RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH--]

[What followed was SO loud and so disorientating, Jack almost lost control of the truck. Luckily, he pushed mute before he became completely deaf.]

Jack: ....What the hell?

[...Apparently the owner was a fan of hardcore screamo.]

Jack: (Jeezus, I'm NOT gonna listen to that for who KNOWS how long...)

Jack: (I'm NOT risking my ears for the other CDs--maybe the radio has something good-)

[Click!]

"--Check, check one, check two! Sibilance, sibilance!"

Jack: (...Oh. Right. I forgot...)

"And now, live from Avi News World Headquarters, continuing coverage of...! BA DA DA DA...! NATION. IN. CRISIS!~"

Jack: Not exactly breaking news there, Six...

Jack: ......!!!

[Jack raises up the volume as he broadcast continues and unfolds...

It was a tense and harrowing broadcast, filled with harsh words from Avi, please from Beck—and then sudden, repeated interference, wherein Dyna screamed and strange music was played very loudly between bursts of static that were clearly Morse code.

It was soon clear that Beck was trying to take down Avi—alone!]

Jack: Oh God oh God--

[But he succeeded.

HE DID IT!]

[......]

[HOOOOOONK.]

Jack: HELL YEAH, KID, YA DID IT, WOO--!!

[As the comms were now officially freed from Avi's viral grasp, Jack honked the horn of the truck several times in cheer. The kid--Beck--man, the little guy-- who would've thought it?]

Jack: WOOOO HA--awwww man...!

Jack: Kid actually did it...

[It was nothing short of a miracle, in his eyes.]

[.......]

Jack: ........

Jack: (......)

Jack: (Maybe--I can try to contact Miss Eight...?)

Jack: (....No--she wouldn't answer, would she...)

Jack: (........Maybe I should get around to calling the Russians like Bird Guy said...?)

Jack: (....No, wait, bad idea--they'd probably try to stop me. Or try to teleport me out or something...)

Jack: (...I gotta let SOMEONE know I'm still kicking, though...)

Jack: ....

Jack: (...Ngh, screw it. Gotta take advantage of the comms before something ELSE goes screwy...)

[Jack rummages through his bag until he finds the burner phone, and scrolls though the list of contacts.]

[…It’s a very short list. There are only four numbers on it—

One for Dr. White, one for Dr. Cossack, one for a “Ms. Nighthawk,” and one that had a KCMO area code on it…]

Jack: ......

Jack: (Dr. White's there too--and Ms. Nighthawk...?)

Jack: (Must be someone important if Miss Eight put her there...)

Jack: (...Kay, then. Doc Cossack.)

[CALLING...]

[…It worked!

…but he got… voicemail. Aaaaand of course the message was in Russian, and suddenly—]

[BEEEEP!]

[…Oh, right—now it was recording—]

Jack: .....

[That...that was not a good sign.]

[Why wasn't he answering the phone?]

Jack: .....

Jack: Um...yeah, uh...Doctor Cossack...?

Jack: I--I don't know if you remember me or anything, but--it's...it's Den. Dencerjack.

Jack: ...Well, just Jack now but--yeah.

Jack: I...

Jack: The Bird Guy told me to call you guys but--

Jack: .....

Jack: I hope you guys are OK too--really sorta scaring me that you're not answering but--you're probably helping out or busy or...something.

Jack ...I hope.

Jack: I'm, uh...OK too. Sorta. Kinda. Almost died a couple of times--but I'm OK.

Jack: ......

Jack: I....

Jack: You probably think I'm stupid or crazy or something.

Jack: And in hindsight--

Jack: Iiiiiiii probably am.

Jack: You probably already figured out what I'm doing by now, I guess. If Double Dude didn't tell you--then again I didn't exactly tell him either, so.

Jack: .....

Jack: Please don't...

Jack: I...I have to know if she's OK.

Jack: I just have to.

Jack: ......

Jack: So...

Jack: Good luck, and...tell the Xel kid I'm rooting for him.

Jack: ....See ya.

[Click.]

[…About a minute later…]

DOOdootdootDOOdootdootDOOdootdooDOO dootdooDOOdoodoodooDOOdoodoo…

[…It was Korobeiniki!]

Jack: ...!?

Jack: (Holy crap holy crap--)

[ANSWER CALL.]

Jack: Doc??

[NOPE. Definitely not Doctor Cossack—]

“Mister Jack you ARE OKAY!”

[…Sooooomeone a lot younger. A little girl, to be precise.]

“I watched your match and if you are back that means Father can talk to his friend again!”

Jack: .....

Jack: (...Wait who's this...??)

“Where is мой герой?”

Jack: (--Father--?? Doc Cossack's a dad like--legitly?)

Jack: Uh--um--hold up, hold up--

Jack: Sorry, kid--I--I don't speak or understand Russian--sorry--

Jack: Is your...Dad there?

[A pause, as if she’s thinking on how to answer that. Eventually, she seems to come to a conclusion.]

“Papa is at work. He gave the phone to me so I could call him.”

[Another pause.]

“You said you had heard from ‘Bird Guy’—that is Mister Cardinal, da?”

Jack: Yeah, him, him. That guy. He told me to call you guys as soon as I could--which is now.

Jack: (Work--nah. He's probably helping out or something, yeah. Whew.)

Jack: Alright--miss, do me a favor and tell your dad I called, OK?

Jack: What about you--are you somewhere safe?

[Another pause, with muffled sounds of talking. Then an eager return.]

“Yes! I am with the Nighthawks. Papa is in the Meadow working on Tobias and helping learn about the virus. Where is Mister Cardinal?”

Jack: (Ah, knew it--guess that's the Nighthawks I saw on the contacts...)

Jack: I....I don't know, miss. He called me from Kansas City, but I don't think he's there anymore.

Jack: ...I'm sorry.

[Russian complaining as she’s clearly holding the phone away from her face to talk to the other person there. Sounds of others talking in the background, and then more agitated Russian, with Shade’s name thrown in there several times.]

Jack: (Oooooohkaaaay...)

“It’s okay, Kalinka—He rescued you, I’m sure he can handle himself—”

[More Russian.]

“Is Jack still on the line?”

“…! OH! Oops…”

[Aaaand she’s back.]

“Sorry, Mister Jack. I was distracted.”

Jack: (Yeah, I could hear you from here--)

Jack: Um, it's fine, Miss...Kalinka.

“Where are you? Are you in America?”

Jack: Uuuuh....

Jack: .....

Jack: -Somewhat nervously- Y-Yeeeaah, right. USA. Got there through the Meadow and Wilderness.

[Cheerful talking in the background.]

“Ms. Ky says that you are clever to take the Wilderness shortcut, and is very curious where you ended up.”

[Another pause.]

“…And that the highways might be dangerous?”

Jack: I...um.

Jack: . . .

Jack: Yeah, got it. I'll be careful.

Jack: I...ended up somewhere REAL rainy. Uh. Yeah.

Jack: (Iiiii don't know how much I can tell this kid with the other person with her...)

Jack: It's been...a real experience.

[A bit of a pause.]

“…Will you come back soon? And be safe in the Meadow, da?”

Jack: ......

Jack: Sure, Miss.

Jack: I'll be back.

Jack: (...In one piece, hopefully...)

“Okay. I’ll let my older brother know to make you some ice cream! Be safe, Mister Jack! Bye now.”

[Click.]

Jack: ....

Jack: Yeah...

Jack: -SIGHS-

[The CherryDyn Number runs a nervous hand over silvery locks, driving further into the highway that ran through the state. If he kept going, he'd eventually hit Utah...]

Jack: Hooo jeez...

Jack: (Gotta stay away from the bigger interstates--THAT one's probably got some remote control cars and if the virus got THOSE...)

[At least there wasn't any traffic here...so far.]

Jack: (OK, time to think, Jack...)

Jack: (Miss Eight's gonna go after her own brother--but WHERE could he be is the question...)

Jack: (Seven, Seven...)

Jack: (Brandish, sword guy. He can cut ANYTHING, they say. Oh, man...)

[Seeing as he had little to go on, Jack once again turned on the radio. News reports were flooding airwaves at last as he kept driving onwards--they were mostly damage reports and warnings...]

Jack: (Nothing new there...)

Jack: (Come ON, there has to be SOMETHING--Anything--!)

"Robots are still going berserk across the country--"

Click.

"We implore any fleeing civilians to please be safe and stay away from--"

"--Susan if you can hear this PLEASE CALL ME WE'RE SO WORRIED--"

"--We have confirmation of havoc caused by a rouge robot directly attacking--"

"CherryDynamics has confirmed that communications have been restored--"

Jack: (--!!)

Jack: Wait what was that--

Click.

"--Highway Alpha 6 is under attack, I repeat, Highway Alpha 6 is under attack--Eyewitnesses have spotted a rouge robot destroying vehicles with no regard to innocent life--"

Jack: ...?

"We have reports that the rouge robot is armed with bladed weapons and is currently in the Four Corners area--"

Jack: --!!!

Jack: (Wow--that HAS to be the most luck I've gotten in all this...)

Jack: (It's gotta be Seven--gotta be...!)

[Four Corners...that wasn't TOO far from here...]

Jack: (Wherever she is--she's probably heading there now, if she isn't already--)

Jack: (I hope this thing can handle going a hu--)

[KEERRRRRRRK--]

Jack: ......

Jack: YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME--

[.....That sound--and the smoke coming from the bottom of the hood certainly weren't very good signs.]

[It was official--]

[Jack had the worst luck in the entire world, and he was not afraid of screaming his frustration into the steering wheel.]

Jack: (Why--WHY.)

[After sitting in despair for a couple of minutes, Jack stepped out of the truck, slammed the door, and walked to the smoking engine.]

[A BLAST of black soot and heat pounded his face.]

Jack: Uuuugh, please let it not be the battery...

[...Nope, wasn't the battery at all.]

[It was the cooling system--he ran out of water.]

Jack: (Greaaaaat, it overheated...)

Jack: (Guess I gotta fix it--though, where am I gonna get some water...?)

Jack: (First there was too MUCH of it back in Seattle and now there's not enough...tch...)

Jack: (Uuugh, let's see, let's see--)

[He scours the back, but no such luck. Eventually, he decides to check the cooler that was given to him.]

Jack: (...! Yes...! Some gallons--nice and cool, too, okay...)

[Once again popping open the hood, he starts pouring in the water, looking over anything else he needs to fix...]

Jack: (Fuel line looks OK, battery is good...)

[......]

[Virrrrrrrr...]

Jack: ...?

[What was that noise...?]

[VIRRRRRR.....]

Jack: .....!

[In the distance, he could JUST make out a few vehicles heading this way--at a rather fast pace, actually.]

Jack: (Huh...)

Jack: (Wonder if they're from Seattle too--)

[TH-WANG!]

Jack: --?!?

[Was that--]

[TH-WHAG!]

Jack: (G-Gunfire!)

[One of the bullets managed to stray off and hit the hood of the truck, causing Jack to yelp in terror.]

Jack: (Are--Are they shooting AT me??)

Jack: (Oh my God what did I DO--)

[With no desire to find out, Jack slammed the hood down and scrambled for the wheel, quickly putting on his seat belt and--]

[CHRRRRRR--]

Jack: (Come on START ALREADY--!!)

[TH-WANG!]

[Another shot bounced off the roof of the car--!]

[The engine turned over at last--]

Jack: (FINALLY THANK YOU--)

[He FLOORS it, back on the road, adjusting his rearview mirror in order to spot the shooters in the vehicles behind him--which were catching up FAST.]

Jack: .... Wait a sec--

[Were those... motorcycles? ]

Jack: Nonono--

[A group of about 7 motorcycles, of all kinds, tearing though the highway at speeds that FAR exceeded the legal limit. Gunfire rang out into the sky, as well as the asphalt around Jack's stolen truck.]

Jack: (CRAP, THEY'RE GONNA SHOOT OUT THE TIRES--)

Jack: (I gotta outrun them--no WAY am I gonna get pulled over and mugged by some motor gang--!)

Jack: (Not when I'm this close...!)

Jack: (Alright, weird, magic bag that I still don't have any idea how you work--)

Jack: (Do you got ANYTHING that can help me deal with these guys...??)

[Jack drove unsteadily, swerving with one hand on the wheel as he rummaged in the bag blindly with the other. He somehow reached past the cooler—as he flicked his hand, something new would come within reach each time.]

[Okay… there was the cooler, the lantern, the bedding stuff, some sort of first-aid kit, some… feathers? (Huh?)]

Jack: .....

Jack: (What the fraaaag--?? What IS that--)

Jack: (Something--cool...and--)

Jack: OW--ow what was that--?? (Feels like I pricked myself--??)

[Then he grasped what seemed to be a squishy disc. It sure seemed to be giving off a lot of heat, though…]

Jack: (....E-Ew--)

[After glancing backwards and wincing a bit at the gunfire around him, Jack pulls out the squishy-like disk....]

Jack: .....-Sniff...?-

Jack: Oil...?

Jack: . . .

Jack: ....!

[Oil--!]

[If he threw it out the window just right--]

[VIRRRRRRRRRRRRR--!!]

"GET 'EM, BOYS--!"

Jack: (SCRAPSCRAPSCRAP--)

[With one swift movement, Jack looked out the window--the glass was already down--and threw the sticky disk far out behind him!]

Jack: (Hope this works---!!)

[The rush of speed-created wind practically ripped the disc out of his hands. As the pursuers were not that far behind, there was no way it could miss. And indeed—]

-SPACK!-

[—It splattered all across the ground, running oil all over the road—]

"OH SH--"

"[FRAAAAAG--]"

"WHA--"

[C R A S H--!!!]

[And then said oil caught on FIRE.]

Jack: .....

Jack: (OH MY GOD.)

Jack: UM--

Jack: SORRYYYY!

[The motor gang had slipped on the oil, crashed into each other--and was now trying to put out the flames from their clothes and rides. They cursed after Jack as he sped away, leaving them in his dust.]

Jack: (Iiiii really hope the bikes don't explode or anything--)

[B O O M !]

Jack: -SWERVES-

Jack: HOLY FRAG--

Jack: Oh my God I made them explode--

Jack: What in the HELL IS IN THIS MAGIC BAG?!

Jack: When I drive far enough I am gonna really look through this thing, darn it--

Jack: (I really hope those guys are OK oh man--)

Jack: Frag frag now I have oil flare things and who knows what in the truck--great--just what I needed--

Jack: Lord Almighty--Miss Eight why can't you just call me or something, so I at least know you're alive or something--anything--

[The CDN continued to grumble, fidget, and slightly panic as he turned into the interstate--Highway Alpha 12.]

[...They said that Seven was in Alpha 6, much further ahead...]

[This was gonna take a while.]

Jack: (Almost there, Miss Eight...)

Jack: (Just--a little further...!)

Jack: (Just a little more and then...)

Jack: ......

Jack: .....

[...And then?]

[He didn't think he'd get this far.]

[What was he gonna do IF Carmen WASN'T well at all?]

[What chance did he have against the world's best assassin?]

[The world's best hunter gone completely MAD?]

Jack: . . .

Jack: (...She's...gonna try to kill me, isn't she?)

Jack: (Hell, SIX didn't have ANY problem with air striking his own little brother...)

Jack: (If I get in her way...)

Jack: .......

————————

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

[A pause.]

[color=Brick] “ …” [/color]

[color=Brick] “John 15:13.” [/color]

-*-*-

Siam: He…

Gemini: Heh… he…

Siam: -Regretfully, in a way- Of course he would do that…

Jack: ......

Jack: M'sorry...

Gemini: -Softly- “No one has greater love than this…”

Siam: “…to lay down one's life for one's friends.”

Jack: --!

Jack: .....

Jack: (Miss Eight...)

————————

Jack: ........

Jack: (...God, Miss Eight would never forgive herself if--if she...)

Jack: . . .

Jack: "No one has greater love than this..."

Jack: . . .

Jack: (...I...I think I get what you were trying to say now, Bird Guy...)

Jack: (Jeez...)

Jack: (You'd BETTER come back alive, too...)

[He floors it.]

Jack: (I don't think either of them would forgive themselves if we kicked the bucket and it's by THEIR own hands...)

Jack: (....)

Jack: (...Never had good odds.)

Jack: (Never had real good luck.)

Jack: (But I think, for once, I'd like to beat those odds.)

Jack: (I'll DRAG Miss Eight back if I have to--!)

Jack: (Dying--that's not an option.)

Jack: (Not for me OR her...!)

Jack: (I don't care if you'll try and shoot me dead--)

Jack: (I can't...I can't let you do this...!)

Jack: (I won't LET you!)

——————————

{MEANWHILE…}

[She grinned as she walked away from the scene.

Sure, it hadn’t been her cause, but still. He deserved it.

She hadn’t even given Gravecrasher the honor of one of her lipstick darts. Let him be another nameless victim, for all she cared.

He had paid his dues, and danced /oh/ so well.

It was time to continue elsewhere.]

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

[Masamune appears to be huddled in a corner in a comical fashion.]

Masamune: ({I’ve made my mistakes—})

((gg, ninjabro))

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