=PROLOGUE D: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

Allies Obstruct

=INTRO A: COLLAPSING PEACE=

((Courtesy of @codedhopes & @super-tired-robot))

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---

=CHAPTER 5B: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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[INTERSTATE ALPHA 2, FOUR CORNERS BORDERS...]

[Night. Night as night can be, in the pouring, pouring rain...]

[The wipers didn't work, so Jack had to make do with the weather. The radio was set to a news channel tracking the 'rogue robot's merciless rampage' across the state.]

Jack: Stupid RAIN...

"The armed robot is currently moving into New Mexico, on Interstate Alpha 1--"

Jack: ...--!!

[SCKREEEEEEE--!!]

“Local pizzeria reports theft of entire stock of cheese pizzas, police confirm unrelated to the current rampage—”

Jack: --?!

Jack: --What the--?!

[Jack swerved left and right, nearly causing himself to flip over several times--]

[These cars--they were going the other way in the wrong lane--!]

Jack: (GREAT, THIS IS ENGLAND ALL OVER AGAIN--)

Jack: --FRAG--

[He needed to get to the other lane--]

[A digital sign overhead blinks in the misty glow of the building's nightlights...]

[NOW ENTERING INTERSTATE ALPHA 1.]

Jack: --!

Jack: (I can switch lanes on the ent--)

[HOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK--]

Jack: !!!!

Jack: Oh, SH--

[The truck interior was flashed with the bright overhead lights of an entire semi-cargo truck on a dead set collision course with Jack...!]

Jack: (CRAP--)

[Jack knew he couldn't avoid something like that.]

[Grabbing the magic Weyard bag he was given from across his seat, he kicked open the driver's side door--]

[ZIIIIIP!]

[His wires attach themselves to a street light and he is pulled away moments before the truck was overtaken by the semi with a loud, sickening CRUNCH.]

Jack: AAAAAAAAAA--!!

[He swings to the other lane and onto a passing car, right onto the hood. The windshield mostly cracks under his weight as he slams into it with a sharp yell.]

Jack: Ow...

[The car, however, still keeps going with little to no resistance with the road...]

Jack: .....?

Jack: Huh...?

[After sitting up with a groan, he realized he was on one of the fancier, newer hover models--the ones that floated above the ground and were MUCH faster than those with wheels.]

Jack: (Wait--if this is one of the new models then--)

[He looked into the car.]

[There was no one inside. The car was driving itself, and WAY too fast for any human or bot to control.]

Jack: (The...the cars ARE infected too...!)

[At the speed they were going, if one of these cars went off road...!]

Jack: This is a giant Highway Delta just WAITING to happen...

[MISSION DETAILS: FIGHTING MIGHTY NUMBER 8, COUNTERSHADE "KATE" WHITE, HAS GONE MIA IN THE MIDST OF A VIRAL PLAGUE. SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN ENGLAND THE NIGHT BEFORE THE VIRUS WENT LIVE, BUT IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN IN AMERICA WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED SHE IS INFECTED AND TRACKING DOWN INDIVIDUALS TO ASSASSINATE THEM.

MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE FMN-008. PREVENT UNIT FROM ENGAGING WITH MNN-007. SURVIVE.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: EVADE SURVEILLANCE.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

Jack: (But where is...?!)

[…Wait.

There was something… odd… about the cars below.]

Jack: ....??

[There were large dents along the roofs of the cars, where something several hundred pounds heavy had landed hard.

With the chaotic nature of the highway, they didn’t show a direct line—but they did give a general direction.

Almost like footprints.]

Jack: .......

Jack: Oh no way--

[Up ahead in the distance, another large dent appeared.

Silently.]

[She wouldn't--SHE IS--on a highway--?!]

Jack: God, you're REALLY putting me through the wringer, Miss Eight--

[Carefully, he rose to his feet, trying to maintain a good balance before putting on his goggles and looking for another street light--fortunately, they were placed evenly over the interstate.]

[ZIIIIIP!]

Jack: Ngh--

Jack: KAAAATE!

[There was an abrupt and sudden ping.]

<FMN-008>: > Jack?

[CDN.7037 to FMN.8] //: MISS EIGHT--!

[CDN.7073 to FMN.8] //: Oh man finally--FINALLY found you...!

<FMN-008>: > What the hell…

[She seemed… confused, somehow. Surprised.]

<FMN-008>: >Jack— what are you DOING here? For God’s sake—

<FMN-008>: >You need to leave— this is no place for a Civvie!

[CDN.7037] //: OH JEEE, YA THINK?!

[CDN.7037] //: KINDA FIGURED THAT OUT A WHILE AGO, THANKS.

[CDN.7037] //: This isn't any place for YOU either...!

[Kate was clearly growing impatient. When she spoke again, her voice seemed…

…darker.]

<FMN-008>: > I’ve got business to attend to.

[CDN.7037] //: ......

Jack: (.....n....no...)

[....So...she was...]

[CDN.7037] //: .....

[CDN.7037] //: ....Figures you do...

<FMN-008>: > Augh— INCOMING!

[There was a swarm of sign bots headed his way. As if infected cars weren’t enough—!

At this speed, they could—]

<FMN-008>: > Stay…

<FMN-008>: > AWAY FROM HIM!

[Shots were fired, and bounced crazily off of incoming reinforcements and into the foes that had already swarmed the Cherry Number. Bits and pieces fell away, the parts going flying as the whole thing continued to speed along at over ninety miles an hour.]

Jack: HEY--!!

[Jack covered his face as parts and Xel flew away, nearly falling over on the current vehicle he was on--]

[CDN.7037] //: YA COULD HAVE SHOT ME--

<FMN-008>: > Nnngggh…! N-no… c-can’t hurt—

[Her voice was dark again—but also strained, as if she were struggling against something painful.]

<FMN-008>: > Augh… Get out of here, Jack, before—

[There was a horrific sound up ahead—followed by a fast approaching large metal object—]

WHANG!

[There was a loud thud as something tall and teal appeared out of nowhere and fell to the surface it was standing on.]

Jack: --!!

Jack: MISS EIGHT--!!

[ZIIIP!!]

[He swings over closer to her, to get a better look at her condition--]

Jack: ARE YOU OK--?!

[The Fighting Mighty Number Eight wasn’t out of the fight just yet—but the hit had done quite a lot of damage. She couldn’t resume her Active Camo anymore—no matter how much she tried.

And tried she did, crackling from the effort. Xel was dripping from some wounds, and she shivered as if wracked with fever.]

Kate: N-no…!

Jack: (She doesn't have her invisibility...)

Jack: MISS EIGHT--?!

[A low growl.]

Jack: --!

[The lady hunter staggered to her feet, a demonic purple aura about her. Now, she spoke aloud—and there was a clear overlay to her voice, as if it were being applied through a filter.

…A disturbingly familiar one.]

Kate: I don’t need your help.

Jack: --!!

___________________

"FORFEIT, OR THE ELECTRIC MAIDEN'S HEAD ROLLS!"

____________________

Jack: (I....no...it can't be...!)

Jack: (She--the...)

Jack: (The crosses....)

Jack: KATE--LISTEN TO ME--!

Jack: There's something--something in your head that's making you angry--and it's not your fault...!

[She seemed briefly very concerned, the aura fading from around her. She lowered her head, shivering again.]

Kate: Hhhh… hhhhh…

Jack: —! (No way—it's working?! I'm getting through to her—!)

[She suddenly looked up, alert, hissing as more sign bots approached. She shot at an angle off of a car in a different lane, the shots making wild pinball-like bounces to tear them to pieces.]

Kate: I don’t need protecting. I /REFUSE/ to be put on a leash and shut in a tower! I’m no damsel in distress— AH’ AIN’T MADE A’ GLASS, Y’ALL—

Jack: KATE--!!

Jack: FOR LIFE'S SAKE--STOP--

[He ducked as more debris flew over his head, avoiding the edges of the vehicle as he swung on after her.]

[It was as if she’d never heard him.

She lifted her head, her one eye glowing a violent hue the color of blood. Now her rifle was pointed in Jack’s direction.]

Kate:   -SCREAMS-  AH’ NEVER HAVE BEEN!

Jack: --!

[.....]

[When he saw her pointing his weapon at him...]

[He froze.]

[The deadly cowgirl would have none of it.]

Kate: Back off, Puppetdancer! Ah’ have no quarrel with y—

[She wavered, as if she were going to fall. The color of her eye briefly went from crimson to yellow.]

Kate: A-ah…!

[She was forced to a knee to steady herself and keep her balance. She turned her head to the side, the purple aura fading for a moment.]

Jack: Kate--I don't want to fight you either--CRAP--!

[Zip, swing, land, repeat--don't fall--]

Jack: I JUST WANT TO TALK--

[Kate spoke faintly, as if barely awake. She didn’t seem to be talking to Jack, either.]

Kate: Can’t… can’t hurt him…

Kate: (Everything hurts…! Everything… HURTS!)

Jack: Just—! Just WAIT a sec—

Kate: S-stay… stay away…!

[Aaaaaaand then she was not only back on her feet… but also on the move!]

Jack: MISS EIGHT--aw, come on, really?!

[ZIIIIIIP! ZIIIIIIP!]

Jack: STOP--!

[There was a LOUD thud as she leaped over to the truck in front of them.]

Kate: -Yelling over the whistling wind- Get somewhere safe, Jack! I don’t want you in the way.

Jack: I CAN'T--!

[Another loud thud.]

Jack: You think I'm gonna TURN BACK after all I've gone through just to FIND YOU?!

[Kate wasn’t about to stay put for anyone. She jumped through the air, landing hard on the vehicle in front—which happened to be a big rig.

And the Spider Puppeteer only followed suit.]

[ZIIIIP!]

Jack: Kate, PLEASE...!

[Kate looked angry again, the demonic aura returning. Once again, her rifle was pointed at Jack.]

Kate: What is it with men and directions? WAI DO YA /NEVER/ LISTEN T’ REASON?! Ah’ SAID that Ah’ have a job t’ do—an’ I won’t let ANYone stop me! So… BEGONE, Dencerhound, a’fore Ah’ show you what Ah’ DO to men who try to chase me—!

[THAT made Jack take a couple of steps back.

His hands shook, his face twisted in a expression of concern and fear.]

Jack: . . . .

[Upon seeing that, her eye flashed yellow again, and she shook, changing her aim with great strain.]

Kate: N-not you…! C-can’t…!

[The purple returned.]

Kate: Can’t waste time…

[She turned to leave again.]

Jack: ......

Jack: . . .

[No one has greater love than this...

...Than to lay down one's life for his friends.]

Jack: No.

[ZIIIIIIIIP!]

Kate: —?!

((Pic—Kate v Jack))

[Kate found herself held fast with wires. …Unusually strong wires—not so much the strength of steel as of… spider silk?!]

Kate: What the—

[He yanks her backwards--which took quite a bit of effort, given her weight...]

Jack: I can't let you DO THIS--!

Kate: GIT OFFA ME—

[She bared her teeth at the former Civvie, her eye displaying cross-hairs over the blood red color.]

Kate: AIN’T GOT TIME FER THIS, M’ TARGET MOVES FAST AS FRAG, HE’S GETTIN’ AWAY!

Jack: THAT'S--

[Yank--!]

Jack: --A GOOD THING, MISS EIGHT--!

[Kate screeched in a seething disgust.

She fired off a trick shot which bounced off of the big rig into the sky, hitting a camera drone. She started yelling—and then screaming— skyward…

…as if it wasn’t really Jack she were talking to anymore.]

Kate: AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH—!

[She thrashed.]

Kate: You never wanted me. NEVER! /You think I’ve forgotten that?!/ If they’d had your way, /I NEVER WOULD HAVE EXISTED—!/

[There was horrific screeching over the feed along with her shouting.]

Kate: -Enraged-  You lock me in a cage and treat me like glass. ME, the gal BUILT for things more dangerous than you could EVER imagine!

Jack: --?!

Jack: (What...)

Kate: When Ah’ came back that night with m’ arm missing, did you even try to help me get back on my feet?

Kate: NO! You blamed it on ME, you said I’d been CARELESS, that I couldn’t HANDLE going outside by myself—

Kate: YOU PUT ME UNDER PERMANENT PAROLE, /YOUR OWN SISTER—!/

Jack: (I...)

Jack: M...Miss...Eight...

[The aura was now almost like a consuming fire, flaring more intensely in this rage.]

Kate: You, who were supposed to be BETTER! Supposed t’ see I wasn’t just a number, not just the youngest! Not just a GIRL! You’re no better than the scrap that clogs up the arena, calling me names and spreading those lies—!

[.....]

[Lies--lies and slander...]

Jack: . . .

[His core lurched in sympathy for her, his heart cracked with every pained word, every agonizing sentence...]

Jack: (God, Miss Eight, no...)

Kate: I hate you.

Kate: I HATE YOU /BOTH/ SO DAMN MUCH—!

[The aura died down. Kate’s breath was ragged, and her readings were low. Even with a raging inferno of fury to fuel her, she was still badly injured… and it showed.

But she looked up with a glare. Her eye changed from blood red to the same demonic purple as the aura that surrounded her.]

Kate: Grr—! …I’ve got no quarrel with you, Cub—so let go!

[YANK.]

Jack: I--I CAN'T!

Jack: YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING--!

Kate: Don’t know what I’m doing? DON’T KNOW WHAT AH—

Jack: FOR GOD'S SAKE, KATE, SHUT U P FOR TWO SECONDS--!

Jack: YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT C A R E S ABOUT ME IN THIS LIFE!

Jack: I'M N O T GONNA LET THAT GO!

[A pause.]

Jack: .....

Jack: Kate?

[…Uh-oh.]

Kate: Oh, so you wanna play NOW then, do ya—

[HER EYE DISPLAYED CROSS-HAIRS CENTERED OVER JACK’S SPIDERWEB SYMBOL.]

Kate: You wanna DANCE, do ya?

Jack: (Oh--OH SCRAP, I'M DEAD.)

Jack: U-Uh--!

[Kate suddenly dashed forward and RAMMED right into Jack.]

Jack: OOF--!

[Jack was tackled RIGHT off his feet and onto the rig, with the wind knocked out of him. He was a wheezing mess for a couple of seconds--]

[But he still held fast.]

Jack: N-Ngh...

[Kate stood, glaring down at Jack—or so it seemed, given her menacing stance. The places where eyes would be in the face of any other Xelbot were cast in a deep, dark shadow.]

Kate: Tch.

[She sounded unimpressed.]

Kate: If ya won’t let me go… Ah’ll just have t’ bring you with me! Now be a good boy… an’ HEEL.

Jack: N...

Jack: I can't...do that...

Kate:  Ah’ said HEEL, not SPEAK. Now get yer act t’gether, we’re goin’ hunting. MOVE IT!

[.......]

______________________

"For [Frag's] sake, Den. I'm starting to wonder why I even picked you off the street in the FIRST place."

"I--"

"You can't even DODGE or take a hit right--you're NEVER going to survive out in the arena if you keep being WEAK!"

"B-Boss, it's ju--"

"I don't want to HEAR it."

"Now be a GOOD boy and do as I say."

"But--"

"MOVE IT, PUPPET!"

__________________________

[That was it.]

[He was SICK and TIRED of this.]

[Sick and tired of being treated as a throwaway mutt--!]

[When Jack raised his head, his eyes were GLOWING a bright purple. Not at all like the virus's evil glow--this was strong, and defiant, and angry.]

Jack: THAT'S IT--YOU KNOW WHAT?!

Jack: I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU BOSS ME AROUND--NOT Y O U!

Jack: NOT ANYMORE--!

[...Strange...he...didn't seem to be talking to Kate...?]

Jack: I'm NOT backing down--

Jack: And I'm NOT going anywhere with you--!

Jack: No...

Jack: NO WAY, MISS EIGHT.

Jack: YOU WANNA DANCE?! FINE!

[A HARSH YANK.]

Jack: LET'S D A N C E.

[She gave a wicked grin. …A shark grin that was disturbingly like her vampire witch sister’s—Dyna’s.]

Kate: Thought ya’d NEVER ask~

[She YANKS hard, moving quickly to the side. It becomes apparent why soon enough—there are more debris headed their way, and she was trying to get the wires right between them!]

Jack: --!!

[Was she--well, yes, actually, she WAS crazy.]

[His arms swing backwards, so that the strings straighten out like fine lines, almost invisible to the naked eye...]

Jack: (Can't let them get tangled...!)

[It…

…didn’t work out the way Kate had hoped.]

Kate: ?!

[She just STARED in astonishment as the debris cut cleanly through the wires—as if it were cheese run through several dozen slicers.]

Kate: -Meepface- . . .

Jack: .....

Jack: Woah.

[Jack seemed to be as EQUALLY surprised...]

[And THEEEEN Kate surged with panic.]

Kate: (OH M’ GOD THEY’RE ALL AROUND ME—HE COULD SLICE ME RIGHT IN HALF WITH THOSE GAROTTES—)

[.......]

[She....wasn't the only one going into panic.]

Jack: (OH GOD--OH SCRAP IF I EVEN M O V E WRONG I COULD TURN HER INTO RIBBONS OH MAN OH NO--)

Kate: -Glitched screeching- AH WON’T LOSE ANY MORE LIMBS, DAMMIT—!

Jack: NO--I SWEAR I WON'T HURT YOU--!

[She moved in closer in her long strides, but it was clear from the fluid motion and calm control that she just wanted to slack the lines a bit. She pivoted aside to look at him, a loading icon displaying on her eye as she tried to think of something—anything— that would work here.]

Kate: (Glitchfrag it…!)

Kate: (Ah’ know…)

Kate: (Ah’ KNOW I’ve lived through missions in situations just as bad or worse—)

Jack: OK--um--uh--I...OK just don't move--

Jack: I swear I'll get us out of this--!

Kate: Why…

Kate: Why can’t I remember…?

Jack: ....!

Jack: (Remember...?)

Jack: K...Kate...!

Kate: Nnngh…!

[And again a semi-collapse to her knees, her head turned to the side.]

Kate: (Lord help me, the HEADACHES…)

Jack: Kate...!

Kate: Hhh… hhh…

Kate: Hhh…heh…

Kate: Heh…hel… hel… help…

Jack: Kate—! (I knew she was still in there—!)

[The aura surged again, and she looked up, angry.]

Kate: Grrrr…!

[She returned to her feet.]

Kate: A Mighty NEVER loses on their knees!

Jack: --!!

Jack: Eep--

[He backs up again, careful to not tug on his wires too harshly now--]

[He didn't want to hurt her that way...!]

Jack: K-Kate...please....

Jack: Don't....don't you remember me?

Jack: I--I don't want to hurt you, please, stop...!

Kate: Jack…!

[She paused, shivering. After a moment, she staggered again, going down on one knee once more.]

Kate: J-Jack, please…

Kate: Can’t…

Jack: —! (No, don't give up—!)

Kate: ’m tryin’, but Ah’ can’t…

[The virus wasn’t ready to give up such a prize. The aura surged again—and again, the demonic overlay as she pushed herself to her feet.]

Kate: I remember a terrified civvie in way over his head who ran t’ mah heels from just a few /words/.

Kate: I remember someone who… who DIDN’T have th’ strength t’ face the forces of darkness…!

[A glare.]

Kate: /I don’t recognize this—this steadfast WARRIOR in front a’ me—!/

Jack: .......

Jack: Well, to be honest--I don't really recognize the woman in front of me either.

Jack: But I KNOW that isn't your fault.

Jack: .....

Jack: I'm no warrior.

Jack: I'm just a normal guy trying to save his friend with what he's got.

Jack: I'm just a guy with REALLY bad luck and way too many regrets and mistakes on his head.

Jack: .....

Jack: But I'm not gonna let that stop me.

Jack: Not you, Kate...

Jack: And certainly not YOU .

[A glitched screech at that.]

Kate?: WHY, CDN-7037?

Kate?: YOU. CANNOT DEFY FATE!

Kate?: YOU KNOW. TOO MUCH!

Jack: --???

Jack: What are--

Kate?: AND YOU ARE. TOO LATE!

Kate?: NOTHING LEFT…

Kate?: BUT ANGER! PAIN! AND FEAR!

Jack: Whoa—!

Jack: (Anger? Pain? It—it feels scared?)

Jack: (But—that doesn't make sense—!)

[Kate paused to take a firmer stance, but then, suddenly—

The aura faded and her eye turned a pale gray.]

Kate: Aw glitch—

[Jack tuned around to see what Kate was more concerned about--]

[...That...was his mistake.]

[WHANG!]

[…Kate had seen it coming, and had even tried to duck.

But she was tall, injured, and neither of those things made it easy to dodge in close quarters.

She hit the entrance to the tunnel head-on.]

WHANG.

[Jack's systems were jostled, and he could see nothing but static for a good half minute.]

[Pain, dizzy, what, where is...]

Jack: Aaaaaaawfraaaaaaaag....

Jack: Can't...

[Bright, dark, bright, dark...]

[The static finally clears out...]

Jack: A-Ah...

Jack: What...was...

[Though he was still seeing stars, he could tell from the orange glow of lights that they had entered...a tunnel?]

Jack: (Did...did I seriously get hit by...?)

Jack: Ah--!

Jack: (Can't...hurts to...think...ow...)

Kate: J-… Jack…

Jack: ...!

Jack: K...Kate...?

Jack: (Miss Eight...is she...?)

[The aura was still there, but very faint. …It wasn’t hard to see why.

She’d hit the overpass SO hard that it had cracked her radar dish—and maybe even the rest of her skull. There certainly was a lot of sickly-looking Xel pooling beneath her head.]

Kate: -Weakly- Jack…?

Jack: .....!!!

Jack: (X-Xel--she's...no...)

Jack: M...Miss...Eight...!

[With some reserved strength he never knew he had, he crawled his way towards her, and pushed himself up on his elbows to get a better look at her.]

Jack: Oh no...

Kate: …Can’t…

Jack: Miss Eight...it--you're gonna be OK...

Jack: If ya can't move--

Kate: Can’t… see…

Jack: ....!!!

Jack: Y...You can't...?

[Back into the glaring light of the rising sun.]

Kate: He’s going to get away…

[Her anger couldn’t sustain her through the damage.]

Kate: Can’t… can’t see… ANYTHING… can barely hear, so fault…

Jack: Kate...

[Jack placed a shaky hand on her shoulder, so she can at least feel his  presence somehow, with her sight and hearing so shot...]

Jack: I-It's OK...I'm...here...

Jack: (Everything hurts, ow...)

[She tried to get to her feet. When it didn’t work, she shifted into her civilian form. This stopped the Xel loss, but didn’t help the pain.]

Kate: God help me, this headache…

Jack: Y-You and me both, ow...

[She suddenly pushed herself to her knees—but the eighteen wheeler LURCHED.]

Kate: -YELPS-

Jack: WHOA--!!

[Jack saw why—there were bits of wreckage EVERYWHERE in the road ahead. And they were approaching cars that had been literally sliced in half.]

Jack: Oh FRAG...

Jack: WE NEED TO GET OFF THIS RIG N O W--

[There was a rough and violent bit of turbulence before the truck briefly went flying and then tipping over—]

Jack: AAAAAAAAH--!

[At first, the only thought on his mind was Kate.]

[So the first thing he did was grab her.]

[And the next?]

[ZIIIIIIP!]

[His wires wrap around another street light, and the two of them are sent swinging onto another passing rig on the opposite lane.]

[....There wasn't as much grace in the landing, though.]

Kate: Hrgh…

Jack: C-Crap...

Jack: OK...ah...um--ow...

Jack: Gotta...get...

[A faint, choppy noise seemed to cut through the ambience of the highway.]

[…

…Seemed to be getting louder…]

Jack: .......?

Jack: (What...what is that noise...?)

Jack: (S...Sounds...like...)

 “FINALLY!”

Kate: …Th’ hell—Beck…?

Jack: ....!

Jack: K...Kid...?

[There was a slight THUD as Fighting Mighty Number Nine landed next to the beleaguered Cherry.]

Pup: Man, you are HARD to find!

[Kate shifted back into her combat form.]

Kate: You…!

Jack: --!!

Jack: Kate, no--!

[She was losing Xel fast again, and sounded like she was on the brink of passing out.]

Kate: You’re here on One’s orders, to drag me back to confinement—!

[Pup didn’t seem fazed. He shifted forms—]

[ZZT.]

[…It was almost comical how that tiny zap put her back down.]

Kate: OW—

Pup: No more hide-and-seek, Sis!

[He shifted back to his default… glowing… green, now?]

Jack: ....!

Jack: Wait, what are you--

Pup: TIME TO COME HOME!

[There was a bright green flash as he thrust his arm forward—causing Kate to glow as well—]

Kate: G…GYAH—

[… … …]

“Come on out, Pup. No need t’ hide from me.”

“S-sorry—”

[He stepped out from behind a street sign that Kate had in her room for some reason. His sister was polishing her boots, humming a song.]

“What’s on your mind?”

“… … …”

“C’mon, now.~ Yer alright.”

“…Sis…”

“Mmhmm?”

“Why do you make up those stories?”

[Silence.

Long, awkward silence.]

“S-… a-ack, I-I— I’m sorry—”

[A pulse of relaxing data.]

“…Easy now, hon. …Ah’ ain’t mad at ya.”

“…Y-… you’re… not?”

[She clicked her tongue.]

“Yer the most honest soul on God’s green earth. ‘Course ya can’t understand the workings of lies.”

[Another pause.]

“…Y’ know… I don’t know if I’ll ever tell anyone what happened.”

“Not… not even Dad?”

“No.”

“But—but it’s Dad—”

“Shhh…”

“Lemme tell you something, Pup. When you go through that kind of darkness, there are only so many things you can do with what’s left, after.”

“You can choose to let it haunt you. To define you. To become your obsession. You can go off the deep end into denial, even more of an obsession. Or you can just say, ‘I don’t like talking about that time’ and take things in your own control.”

“People are never gonna stop asking, hon. Never. Even if I ever were to be made whole. Maybe Ah’ COULD tell the truth every single time—maybe, maybe not. For all you know, I’m sworn to secrecy.”

“You… you could tell US if you were, though… right?”

“Heh… not the point, Puppy. The point is… the answer doesn’t change what happened then. So I choose not to give that answer any power.”

“I shall defy it, mock it, scorn it— Trivialize it, so that it’s not in control. No room for self-pity—not at work, and not at m’ other job, either.”

“But…”

“You know the kind of people I work with. And you know that sometimes, I meet people who are really scared. Why focus on what you don’t have—what you’re not— When instead you could be movin’ forward with a healing touch with the vast strength you DO have?”

“Helpin’ others means putting them, first. Whether yer scared, or troubled—”

“We don’t have to be in the spotlight, Beck, to make a difference. Sometimes, the most important things are done where only Heaven can see.”

[… … …]

[XEL PURGE COMPLETE.]

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM FMN-008.]

Kate: Nnnn…

Jack: !!!!

Jack: (What in the world was that...green...?)

Jack: Kate...?

Kate: …What… what…?

Kate: Jack, is that you…?

Jack: Y...Yeah...?

Jack: Are...is...oh my God...

[The lady assassin felt very out of it. Everything was darkness… but she had to reach out for that voice, confirm that it wasn’t all a dream…]

Kate: -Reaches up with her hand to touch his face- Ah’—Ah’ can’t see you right now—

Jack: Y--You...it's...

[.....]

[Were....those...tears she felt on her fingers...?]

Jack: It's...it's you...!

Kate: …

Kate: …Are we… what…

Jack: Oh God it's really you Miss E--

Kate: Where are we? Avi’s wind tunnel or somethin’?

[HONK HOOOOOONK.]

Jack: ...!!!

Jack: oH--

Pup: Yikes!

[…Oh. RIGHT.

They were still in the middle of a pack of crazed cars heading who knows where at over 90 miles an hour.]

Jack: Kid--We gotta get off this crazy--

Pup: UH—

Pup: UM

Pup: -AAAAH I CAN’T CARRY YOU /BOTH/, SIS IS SO—uhhhh… TALL.-

Jack: FRAG--!

Jack: UH--UM--

[A search light suddenly illuminated the area around them.]

Jack: --Wha?!

“YOOOOOOO!”

"HOW'S IT HANGING, BROS?"

Jack: ....?!

Jack: SIX?!

Kate: AVI!

Pup: TWO AVIS—

Goose: -Swoops in closer to perform a cursory check on the stability of the platform- Well, Avi, looks like Spiderman and Wonderwoman landed in a… sticky situation!

Kate: …

Avi: Ooo, looks like you're right, Avi--it's a real TANGLED MESS.~

Kate: . . .

Pup: But—I thought One told you to stay behind—

Goose: AW, C’MON, BECKY

Goose: DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD LET THIS CHANCE

Goose: PASS UP? ; D

Kate: . . .

Jack: ......

Avi: HA! I get it!

Kate: (Lordy Ah’ musta done somethin’ horrific t’ suffer THIS as my punishment—) -Weakly- Goose, ain’t… got th’… energy t’ yell at ya properly fer that right now…

Goose: I know, right :^D

Avi: Heheh...

Avi: Hate to cut this short--but we REALLY need to make an exit, don't ya think? ; D

Jack: (Wow...they are REALLY showing no mercy...)

Avi: Any longer and we'll have to ride them up for going over the speed limit--

Jack: UM, GUYS--

Jack: NOW'S NOT THE TIME--

Goose: Truuuuue enough! Time waits for no one! 8^D

Kate: -Faintly- Lord help me but He sure knows Ah’ve earned this sufferin’…

Goose: Seems like you guys could use a LIFT out of here! ^.^

[The chipper plane scooped his solid younger sister right off the roof of the rig.]

Pup: —! WOAH WOAH WAIT—

[Oops.

The strings were still attached.

Jack got yanked along about a foot, like a pull toy.]

Jack: FRAG FRAG FRAG S T O P--!!

[There was a sudden red blur.]

-SHING!-

[THUD.]

Jack: Ow...

Ninja!Pup: Whew…

Goose: … -Just kinda. Blinks for a moment-

Goose: …Um.

Goose: WELL! If everyone’s checked in, time for Avi Airlines to get you out of here!

Kate: Uggh…

Kate: Ah’ suppose Ah’ deserve your puns. But no weight jokes or Ah SWEAR Ah’ll take ya down with me, got it?

Goose: Love ya too, Sis! ^.^

Jack: Ha...

Jack: Oweverythinghurts....

Avi: I got ya, Jackie!

[Avi hovers over Jack as he grabs both of his arms to lift him up, then hoists him further into the air with relative ease.]

Avi: All set, yo! Let's hit it!

[Pup shifted into Avi’s form to follow after them, the three fliers headed off away from the highway.]

Goose: -Touches down gently- Theeere we go.

-Ping!-

<MC005>: > Augh, why is there still no signal?

<FMN-001>: > This IS Shade we’re talking about…

Kate: -Groans- (…Brother?)

<FMN-007>: > …I think it is more that her transceiver is damaged…

Avi: Yeah, you guys don't look so good...

Jack: Tunnel...

Avi: ???

Jack: Didn't...see it...

Avi: OW...

Jack: ...Mng...

<MC005>: > …I have an idea…

<MC005>: >Will, you don’t mind a lot of sand near the teleporters, do you?

[DR.WHITE] //: Er, no--why?

<MC005>: >I’m going to do a spherical transportation.

<MC005>: >Call, if you please…

[DR.WHITE] //: Ah--! Yes, that will do the trick...

Jack: ...Is that Doc White...?

Avi: Yup. And Dr. Cossack. Say hi, Jackie!

Jack: Heh...hi...sorry I don't look my best right now...

<MC005>: >Heh… don’t worry about that.

Kate: Daddy…

[DR.WHITE] //: It's alright now, Shade.

[DR.WHITE] //: You'll be home soon.

Kate: … ‘kay, Dad.

Kate: I’mma… I’mma just…

Kate: …sleep, nao—

<FMN-008 has entered Deep Sleep mode.>

Jack: . . .

Jack: H...Hey...Docs...

Jack: She's...she's gonna be OK now, right? Dunno...dunno what the kid did but...

Jack: She's...not crazy any more, right...?

Goose: Bro. Bro.

Goose: Not in the way you’re talking about, no.

Goose: But… her being okay eventually means being back to doing her crazy, ridiculous stunts. …Just part of who Eight is.

Jack: Heh....

Jack: Wouldn't...have it any other...way...

Jack: Just...wanted to...make sure...

Jack: So tired--

[INSUFFICIENT POWER SUPPLY. SHUT DOWN INITIATED.]

[CDN.7037 HAS GONE INTO DEEP SLEEP MODE.]

Goose: …

Goose: Looks like Mister Sandman paid them a visit :’^D

Avi: You said it, mirror...

Pup: -Sighs inwardly- (Yep. Definitely back to normal.)

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

=CHAPTER 10A: THE MACHINE DRAWS NEAR=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—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: (As IF.)

Mikhail: …

Des: …

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

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: (I left… Jack instructions regarding this.)

Mikhail: (…Bitterly, this is not the first time she and I have gone through this…)

Mikhail: (She shouldn’t have to understand, she is a child, but…)

Mikhail: (She does.)

Mikhail: (After what we’ve been through, she does…)

Des: …..

Des: -Sigh-

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

((Pic—Mikhail & Des (arrested) ))

Mikhail: …I didn’t bring her with me. She’s with some family friends 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: You... (What in the world were you THINKING, Doctor? At a time like THIS?)

Mikhail: -Snaps at the tone- Yes, I know, but what more do I have to lose at this point? He scares me a lot less than YOU do, Mister Secretary!

Des: …

[He gave a sharp huff and then calmed down.]

Mikhail: …I'm sorry. But I can only see darkness closing in, with no escape.

Mikhail: As long as she's safe, the rest doesn't matter… not anymore…. {There is no hope left for me here.}

Des: …

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. There is evil within that company, and there are multiple people I know personally that have suffered because of it. There must be countless “nameless” if that is the case. 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–

Mikhail: -Would be BURNING IN SHAME if we weren’t so damn TIRED—-

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–?

[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. Like Mikhail, he walked with an alpha gait—a bold leadership that DEMANDED obedience from lessers, respect from equals, and recognition from superiors.

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-

Mikhail: (Dammit, I didn’t want any of you to SEE me like this…)

Mikhail: (Cripes is this humiliating.)

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?)

Mikhail: (Prison I can deal with. Torture, even. I’ve been through both before. And even as hellish as those are, at least what you say will be seen as truth or lies…)

Mikhail: (As opposed to an asylum, where EVERYTHING is taken to be madness.)

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-

[As the Whites and Sanda all file into the meeting room, there is a thick air of both tension and confusion--as well as still simmering anger from some members of the family.]

Soi: -Ahem—-

Soi: I know some of us are...Er...not in the best of moods...

Will: -Nnn...-

Brand: -Cold, glaring data-

Shade: -...-

Cyro: Yeeeeaaaah, no chill, definitely--

Shade: -Please don't.-

Pyro: Don't snap at your sister, Eight.

Shade: -Mmnf...-

[The second youngest of the Mighties grumbled and leaned his full weight against his largest elder brother--Mic, who was more than happy to provide support.]

Mic: -It's okay, Mic confused too.-

Shade: Tell me about it...

Shade: What the yappin' hell does CherryDyn want with us?

Shade: An' why is Uncle Mikhail under arrest?

Soi: >>....

Will: -Siiigh- Shade...

Will: I swear we will explain later. But right now we need to focus on the situation at hand.

Shade: ...

Soi: ...

Soi: << Will...

Soi: Are you sure this is a good idea?

Soi: Last time he fought Cardinal, he was out for three days, and he just fought Cardinal AND Beck…

Shade: -Hn...-

Shade: ...m'fahn.

Will: ...Son...

Shade: M'fahn, Dad.

Brand: ....

Beck: -Ping!-

Beck: Whatever's going on that CherryDyn had to call us has to be really important.

Beck: I can heal up Shade and myself if he needs it. And we do have the supplies from the Meadow.

Will: ...

Will: (...true...we do still have that supply of E-Tanks...)

Beck: What's the situation?

[Beck seemed very focused--and didn't waste time getting straight to the point.]

Soi: There's a massive malfunction at CherryDyn's Robot Factory. Their defenses were overwhelmed--and now their automated systems are infected with the virus.

Bat: ...Automated, ya say?

Will: Correct.

Will: The factory operates completely on it's own--and it's now generating infected units and unleashing them into the city. We have to stop it.

Dyna: -Bzzzt- Are you sure thiszzz isn't another one of their intentional zzzscrew upszz—

Dyna: -Points a clawed finger at her father- They wanted uszzz to clean up the messzz in Highway Delta too and go catch the Deszztroyer while we're at it!

Beck: (Urk—!)

Beck: -Quickly changes the subject—- Th-That could be true—but—!

Beck: It doesn't really matter, the city's in danger either way!

Beck: <<;; Even if they are really mean...

Will: ...

Soi: R-Right! This is the largest Robot Factory in California--if it isn't stopped, we'll be drowning in infected bots by the end of the day.

Soi: Now--this factory is big, and I mean big. This is going to take all of you to take it on--and while most of CherryDyn's Industrial units are made there, they're no match for all 9 of you!

Will: ...12.

Soi: --Ah, right...

Brand: --?

Will: Jaden and Speedy will be joining you.

Beck: !

Beck: : D! Really?!

[As if on cue, there was a swirl of colored spheres as Felix teleported in with both of the aforementioned Second Gens. They were in their partial battle armor, eyes glowing faint green in alert preparation.]

Beck: Jaden! Speedy! : D!! -HI GUYS--

Cryo: -AW YEAH, MORE FIREPOWER—-

Shade: -Mnnn....-

Cryo: -Oh come on, that wasn't even a pun—-

[Felix quietly slipped off, heading for the lab.]

Jaden: Yeah, we're… happy to help, but…

Speedy: What is going on, exactly?

Avi: -PING!-

Avi: Breaking News: CherryDyn Catastrophe at Compromised Factory!

Avi: ... Basically we gotta go clean up their mess. -Eye roll-

Jaden: Wha— again?

Bat: -Grunt- As much as I hate to admit it, yes. Their factory's gone haywire.

Shade: -Annoyed data, can't we just deal with the bots themselves.-

Speedy: -Looks around- …

Speedy: ?

Speedy: I don't get it.

Will: It's better to take it out at the source--otherwise we'd only be fighting wave after wave of infected Industrials.

Speedy: No, not that.

Will: --?

Speedy: If we're going on a field trip to trash a CherryDyn landmark…

Speedy: Where's Cardinal?

Shade: -Hnnn...-

[No, don't, don't—]

Shade: (Cards...!)

Mic: -Data, shhhh...-

Will: ...

[...well, THERE was a drop in mood if any...]

Will: ...

Will: ...Cardinal is still undergoing repairs.

Will: He's in no condition to go. And--

Will: Since this is nothing short of a full scale assault, with several Combat bots capable of causing widespread damage...

Will: You two are more suited to this given the current circumstances.

Jaden: …

Jaden: -Slightly coldly for him, head bowed a little- So. That was why we were given filler data.

Shade: (...nnn...M'sorry, Ah'...Ah'...)

Brand: ....

Jaden: -Softly now- I understand, now. I'm sorry it had to be like this.

[When he looks up again, his eyes are bright green. He looks over at Shade with a piercing gaze.

Shade very much looked like he wanted to sleep, or at the very least, turn invisible--but he didn't.]

Shade: (Ah' tried, Ah' did, Ah' swear—!)

Beck: Jaden--

[But no. Jaden was not enraged.]

Jaden: You look terrible. You should be in bed. ,': |

Shade: -Nnn...-

Shade: Ah' know. | [

Speedy: -Shifts his weight- Are you seriously coming with us?

Speedy: We can see about getting Nico to come over if you guys need more firepower so that you can rest—

Shade: -We are fahn—-

Beck: -Interrupts- --And the factory's systems are infected. Either I need to purge it or help destroy it.

Beck: I am not letting everyone go there without me.

Beck: I've made up my mind, Speedy.

Speedy: -Holds up his hands- Fair enough, Mighty Nine. Never doubted you for a minute there.

Beck: (...huh. That...didn't take much...)

Beck: (Thought I needed to argue for a sec there...)

Speedy: But if you insist on bringing along your sniper after he's gotten his life wrung out of him…

Speedy: -Toss!-

[Brandish smoothly catches the E-Tank thrown at him, not once taking his eyes off of Shade.]

Brand: ...

Speedy: Might want to give some of that vitality back.

Brand: ...Yes.

Brand: -Tosses to Mic-

Mic: -w-

[Mic doesn't even wait for an answer--he just pops it open and pours the contents over Shade's head, which does make him jolt up a bit.]

Shade: -OI, give a guy a warnin' next tahm—-

Mic: -w-b

Beck: -Snorts-

[He's dry afterwards, though, his systems already absorbing the contents of the E-Tank. Shade stands on his own now--inner turmoil still brewing within, but at least he wasn't ready to keel over.]

Shade: -Let's just get this over already-

Beck: ...yeah...

Soi: Alright then--I'll be uploading a map of the factory for you all to go over, as well as the points to hit hardest. Will's got the plan of attack all figured out, so--

[PING!]

[WARNING. WARNING.]

[Alarms suddenly go off all over the building--!]

Beck: --?!

Will: What—what now—?!

Speedy: Are we under attack or something??

[TITUS CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED. TITUS CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.]

Bat: —!!

Pyro: Again—?!

[PING!]

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

[CALL] //: We have another situation in development.

Will: Good Lord it NEVER ends—!

Will: Quickly! Everyone to the lab this instant!

[When Mikhail, Des, and Felix got there, The Mighty Numbers were gathered around the main screen, which had two live feeds.]

[One was of the main entrance of the CherryDynamics Factory, blown wide open. CherryDyn Models were pouring out by the dozens.]

[And the other feed…]

Speedy: Holy glitch is that a PRISON?!

Will: ….

Will: …Yes.

Will: There’s been a break-in.

Jaden: Seriously? At a time like THIS? Who would want to break INTO a prison?

Mikhail: ({—! No—! They DIDN’T—!}) Where are my sons?!

Jaden: Hmm? They’re still aslee— -Turns around-

Jaden: —!!!

<DWN-013 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

[His full battle armor rapidly shifted into place. He looked scared.]

Jaden: HOLY glitch, Doctor WHY ARE YOU TIED UP—

Speedy: -Whirls around, shifting also and taking a defensive battle stance out of instinct as he speaks in alarm- Wait, what?!

Des: I’ll uncuff him later!

Des: What is going ON?!

Call: CherryDynamic’s Robot Factory has been mass producing infected models at an alarming rate.

Call: There has also been a reported break-in at the maximum security Prison, and all communication with them has been lost.

Call: CherryDyn Models have also been reported trying to swarm the Prison.

Will: …

Mikhail: What? Why? Who’s being kept there?

Will: ….

Will: Dr. Benedict Blackwell.

Mikhail: … What?

Mikhail: -Now just CONFUSED- I though we discussed this a long, long time ago—

Mikhail: Who would want to go after him? This can’t be his doing. You said he’s been there for ages, and even Dr. Wily isn’t THAT patient! After Rock finally corners him a second time, he’ll only wait a few months before—

Mikhail: … (Wait— he… w-will…?!)

[He doubled over in a sudden, overwhelming headache, with the Robot Masters present doing likewise. Felix managed to catch Mikhail before he hit the ground, despite being alarmed and startled—but Jaden and Speedy were not so lucky.]

Will: –!!

Will: Mikhail–?!

Beck: Guys?!

Jaden: Ow… (Feel like I had the wind knocked right out of me…)

Mikhail: Ghh… gah… not this again…

Will: (–?? Again–?)

Mikhail: This… this happened… or will happen… before…

Felix: Side note—Master Desmond knows the truth now.

Will: ……I…see.

Des: ….

Will: (…Ngh…)

Speedy: Ugh, worry about Dad and what he WILL do in the future later—let’s deal with the now, what do we do?

Will: Mngh…. (…. They’re not going to like this.)

Will: We now have not one, but two major situations we must deal with.

Beck: So we split up?

Will: No.

Will: At least, not you, Mighties.

Jaden: …What? Surely you don’t plan to send us off away from them. -Looks over at Desmond nervously- What if we’re… stopped, and…?

Speedy: -Suddenly notices, and seems to freeze up, then look pained- We’re not gonna get experimented on, are we? The first time people took me apart for science was bad enough.

Des: | /;;;; -No, and frankly we are rather appalled at that notion-

Will: That’s, um… not quite what I meant, you two.

Pyro: –?

Will: You’re more effective as an entire team, rather than in two parts. Not only that, but you have the endurance and skill needed for combat on a massive scale.

Will: It’s only logical that you all will be sent to the Factory. There’s no telling how many infected models are on site.

Will: …Not only that—

Jaden: But—!

Jaden: Doctor, that’s a contagion hazard! D:

Speedy: Oh, shut up, Beck’s on our side and you can tank anything anyway.

Jaden: Why take that risk, brother?! After everything that’s happened?! What do you think would happen if—! What would that do to them?!

Jaden: You and I are immune and make to take this sort of fight—we can handle ourselves! If we must split ways—

Will: Jaden.

Will: I...I know the risks, but the very fate of Titus lies in this. I won't split this family apart anymore than it has this past week. We see this through, together. We will overcome this, together.

Will: ...As..

Will: As long as you do not let any infected Xel into your systems, you all should be fine.

Will: I’ll also be implementing a prototype XelFilter.EXE program into our server before I go.

Beck: ….

Beck: Go?

Mikhail: {What?} Will, what— go where?

Will: ….

Will: CherryDynamics’s Robot Factory is all automated.

Will: The way the system is set up, it can produce models with little to no human help.

Will: Because of this, any and all changes to their Manufacturing Operator Mainframe– The M.O.M units…

Will: …Must be done on site.

Will: Though a certain, mainframe terminal with the ONLY authorized access.

Mikhail: —…

Mikhail: And… you’ve already determined there’s no one else— that’s why it took time, even after I left…

Mikhail: …

Felix: (I hope he doesn’t demand to take Will’s place. I don’t know much about the machines of this world, but I DO know that he’s going to make himself sick if he doesn’t get some rest very soon.)

Mikhail: At least take the sensory defense mechanism with you, Will!

Mikhail: I’m begging you—

Mikhail: You and Sanda are the ONLY friends I have ever since we were relocated in the protection program! PLEASE don’t get yourself hurt!

Pyro: Father–

Beck: Dad, wait–

Mikhail: Boys!

Mikhail: There’s an American saying you people have. “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”

Mikhail: He wouldn’t be doing this unless he knew it were the best option—we don’t have time for further delay! Mighties, Angels—get ready to go, you must act quickly!

Beck: ….

Beck: –But what about the Prison?

Will: Sanda’s going there with Call.

Soi: Yes, of–

Soi: Wait, WHAT?!

Felix: -sNORTS-

Will: Sanda.

Will: I know I ask too much of you…

Will: But if someone is going after Blackwell, someone must go and ensure his safety.

Will: …As well as get some answers, if any.

[Speedy gave a loud, annoyed ping of disagreement.]

Speedy: You want answers from him?

[He points at Mikhail (who is standing to the right of him) using both hands, without even looking over. He maintains eye contact with Will the whole time.]

Speedy: Try having him talk to the guy! We’ve more or less known for ages that Blackwell went nuts for the same reasons my Dad did! : /

Will: I will NOT put any more in danger than I HAVE to, Speedy.

Will: …..

Will: …Soi…

Will: If…

Will: If you really don’t feel like you can, I–

Soi: ….Ngh.

Soi: …W-Well…Under the circumstances, I…Suppose this is the only way to talk to Blackwell…Hoorf…

Soi: A…Are you sure you don’t want to swap missions? ^^;;;

Will: You want to go to a factory full of infected robots instead?

Soi: –….

Will: (…Besides.)

Will: (I would prefer it if I NEVER have to see or hear of Blackwell ever again for the rest of my life.)

Des: Are you kidding me–

Des: This is INSANE, you’re civilians, you can’t just–!

Will: On the contrary, Mr. Desmond.

Will: I am not as helpless as I appear to be.

Will: I have means to defend myself.

Des: –…

Will: Brandish?

Brand: –Yes, Father?

Will: Remember that box I gave you? Before you left to train?

Will: The wooden one.

Brand: Yes…?

Will: Please bring it to me.

Mikhail: I still insist you take the sensory device mechanism with you. >>

Will: I didn’t say no, Mikhail. -Chuckles-

[Mikhail walks over and slings his arms over Will’s head to pull him into a hug—as much of a hug he can, given his current condition.]

Will: –!

Mikhail: Be careful out there, alright?

Will: ….

Will: Eheh….

Will: I will.

Will: I have the world’s top fighting team on my side, don’t I? ^^

Cryo: -YEAH I’LL PUNCH ANYONE THAT TRIES TO HURT NOODLE DAD-

Mikhail: -Grins, pulling his arms up and over again to release his friend- And then some. I think you will all be surprised at what Jaden can take and what Speedy can do.

Jaden: As long as Avi doesn’t get me caught in a crosswind unfriendly fire, I can take just about anything.

Jaden: …

Jaden: …I wish Cardinal could come with us.

Will: ….So do I.

[A moment later, Brandish returns with the box in question.]

[…It’s a stained black wooded box. It almost looked solid with no visible way to open it.]

Will: Ah…

Soi: –!

Soi: Wait a sec…

Brand: ….

Brand: You told me to never open it unless I was in real danger.

Speedy: Bro, I’m pretty sure now qualifies. >>;

Will: Yes…

Beck: ?

Beck: But what’s in it?

Will: Hmm…

[Will runs his hands over it, an almost…Far away look in his eyes.]

Will: (…I never thought I’d have to use this again.)

Will: (Or if I even… Remember how…)

Will: Soi…

Soi: –!

[The box suddenly opened–either by voice or by some hidden mechanic only Will knew, was hard to say.]

[Inside was some kind of…]

[… Rapier handle?]

Soi: (…You still kept that–?)

Speedy: …

Speedy: Is that a classy light saber, or—

Will: -Laughs-

Will: Not quite, but that’s a good guess!

[With one hand behind his back, Will grasped the handle.]

[As if by magic, Xel began to appear out of the hole where the blade should Be–slowly settling into that very sharp steel-like point.]

Will: I must admit, I…

Will: …Haven’t quite fenced in a while…

Brand: ….

Brand: You knew how to FENCE and you didn’t tell me–

Will: Eheh…

Will: Oops? ^^;;

Felix: …

Felix: -I want to spar—-

Brand: -So do I–

Soi: -SNORTS-

Soi: Ah, ah! I’d think twice if I were you!

Soi: -Pats Will on the shoulder- Will here won the National Collegiate Fencing Tournament for FIVE years running!

Beck: WHAT–

Will: I, uh…Eheh. That was college, Soi…

Soi: -STILL COUNTS-

Felix: And I trained under Proxan Warriors for five years, give—

[Mikhail gives a hearty laugh.]

Mikhail: You boys can have all the spars you could want once this nightmare is over. Felix, you and Brand are next, if I remember correctly?

Brand: -Winner gets to face Father-

Felix: -DEAL-

Mikhail: Go on. Go out there and end this, to make those happy days once again a reality.

Des: -You guys are NUTS-

Will: Mikhail…

Will: I trust you’ll hold down the lab while we’re gone.

Felix: -Brought back to the now at this- -Frowns- …

Mikhail: I’ll do my best. Mr. Desmond, will you help me with that?

Des: I…don’t really have a choice…

[RING!]

Des: –? (That’s my cell–)

Des: -Takes out phone–

Des: –….

Des: (Oh.)

[CALL FROM: MINNIE MOUSE]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: ???

Des: Uh.

Des: I have to take this—

Des: Good luck!

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

Goose: I TRAVEL THE W—

[Oh.

WELP—]

<FMN-006 has entered Sleep mode.>

[There was a loud WHONK as he crashed onto the floor of Shade’s room, snoozing LOUDLY, as only a plane with engines can.

Great. Now not only is he STILL making noise, he’s not awake enough to leave.]

((NJ, SHADE, BWAHAHA—))

😪 Goose —> Shade, re: Jingle Bells

[ VIII ] - “Nnngh, ya dang pun plane AH’M TRYIN’ T’ SLEEP–”Cue Shade aiming his rifle–and a second later a dart whizzes past Goose to lodge itself in the wall. Looks like Shade didn’t take so well to be awoken via bad Christmas caroling–“Next one’s goin’ right where the sun don’t shine if ya don’t shut up and GIT–”

=PROLOGUE A: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[….]

[XELFILTER.EXE PROGRAM CYCLE COMPLETE. ALL MALWARE HAS BEEN FILTERED AND NEUTRALIZED FROM ALL SYSTEMS.]

[REBOOTING…]

[MN.9 IS NOW ONLINE]

Beck: ….Uuugh…

Beck: What…what happened…

[……]

[At first…nothing.]

[Then….]

“PYRO! BRAND! SHADE! GUYS! S T O P!!”

Beck: ……!!!!!

[MN.9 to MN.1-8] //: GUYS! GUYS!

[MN.9 HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY MN.1-8.]

[MN.9] //: …??!?!

Beck: What…?!

Beck: Why would… They…

BOOOM!

[…And that is when he noticed where he was. No longer was he within the Colosseum walls; he was now on some rooftop by a NBCA advertisement. It looked like he was simply DROPPED here, but the means of how and why were far from his mind.

At the sounds of the explosions, Mighty No. 9 ran across the rooftop…]

Beck: !!!

Beck: N-No!

[Screams. Fire.]

Beck: What—

[The whole of the city in absolute chaos: citizens screaming in terror, fleeing from literal hordes of rampaging robots, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.]

Beck: What is happening?!

Beck: …!!!

Beck: DAD!

[His creator. His father. Doctor William Apollo White. He was somewhere in this madness…

Without another thought, Beck jumped down from the rooftop. He had to find him. He had to know if…!]

Beck: PROFESSOR! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?!

Beck: DAAAAD!!

[… …

… … …

… … … …

…!! There! In the distance—! That puff of hair that could only be—!]

Beck: Dad!

Will: Beck!

[The sheer relief couldn’t have been any clearer on their faces as Beck ran up to his father, who seemed to have had better days; his lab coat was torn here and there, and his face was covered in black soot.]

Will: Ah, Beck—thank God—and functioning normally, it would appear!

Beck: Yeah…yeah, I’m fine, Dad. I’m fine…

Beck: I am so glad you’re OK—

[Beck clutched his father's leg as hard as he could, and Will bent down to give his youngest perhaps the tightest hug he could muster.]

Will: Good Lord; what on earth has happened? It’s chaos, everywhere!

Beck: I… I dunno. I dunno, Dad…

[Tears filled his emerald green eyes.]

Beck: I… I can’t contact the others; Pyro, Cryo, Dyna…! They… they blocked me!

Will: What?!

Will: Why on—…

Will: …

Will: ohhhhh God—nononoNO—

[He fumbled with his bag. He clumsily pulled out his laptop and opened it as quickly as he could, and—]

Will: Gah, it’s DEAD—!

[He forgot, he didn’t charge it on the way back to America—]

Beck: —!!!

Beck: INCOMING!

[Several airborne delivery bots had spotted them—and their load was less than helpful. They were carrying explosives.

Beck pushes his father out of the way with a strength he never knew his default form possessed.]

Will: ooF–

[The blast knocked both father and son back some ways, but Beck’s quick actions had saved them both from sustaining serious damage.

Thankfully, the trio of delivery bots had no more cargo to dispel, and flew back the way they came—probably to get more of their ammo.]

Will: Ngh…

Beck: Dad—Dad, are you OK?!

Will: Y-Yes, mostly…

Beck: Dad—Dad, it’s not safe—

Will: I’m alright, Beck, really. Just give me a second…

[Beck looked forward.]

Beck: (This street almost seems… familiar, somehow…)

[…! Wait! He knew where he was! Just a few blocks from here was home!]

Beck: -Ping- Look!

Will: …

[After catching his breath, he stood, brushed himself off, and looked to the distance where Beck was pointing. There, on end of this long street…

Sanda Enterprises.]

Will: … …

[He was silent.]

Beck: Dad…?

[Dr. William White's expression hardened.

His sons, his daughters…

What was happening to all the robots…

…He couldn’t do anything from here.]

Will: -Starts closing up the laptop after setting up the short-range frequencies to run via private hardware rather than the public towers- We won’t figure out anything from here, Beck.

Will: We must make for the laboratory–and quickly!

Beck: …!

[But between them and home?]

((Pic—Will and Beck overlooking streets of chaos))

[Was little less than a war zone.]

Will: Beck…

Will: I can’t get through this by myself.

Will: You MUST forge on ahead and clear a secure path.

Beck: —!? Wha—

Will: Don’t worry—I’ll follow, and monitor your process. We only need to make it to the end of this street!

Will: Do you think you can do that?

Beck: … …

[He’s walked down this street countless times—he’s just never had to do it amidst gunfire—not even in a simulation! In all honesty, it was extremely frightening; he wished he had his siblings here now, more than ever. This wasn't something he had trained for, let alone something that he'd been built with in mind!

But his father…

His family… Dr. Sanda… Call…! They all needed him!]

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: Yes sir!

[…Seeing that smile on his face, and the will that clearly shone beneath those eyes…]

Will: Alright…

[…There was hope.

They could not lose that—not now!]

Will: Let’s move!

[OBJECTIVE: ESCORT DR. WHITE TO SANDA ENTERPRISES UNHARMED.]

[SYSTEMS READY.]

[INITIATING COMBAT PROGRAMS….]

[Getting through the overturned vehicles and debris was easy enough, and provided good cover for the young Doctor. But it wasn’t long before Beck got a rather harsh welcome party…]

Beck: —!!

[There was a bright flash of purple, and a standard CherryDyn Security Model robot materialized in his path. After spotting him, it began waving its arms around wildly; its weapon made a priming noise, clearly getting ready to fire.]

Beck: Gah!

[He ducked behind a bit of debris, causing the lock-on to disengage.

Dr. White’s voice filled his comm link—as long as they were near each other, they could speak above the chaotic noises that filled the blue sky.]

[DR.WHITE] //: A security bot—and it’s out of control, like all the others…

[MN.9] //: Y-yeah—! Stay back, I'll—!

[The CherryDyn bot, however, didn’t notice Will at all—rather, it moved on ahead. Beck fell back closer to his father, still tense and ready to fight.]

Beck: Are you okay?!

Will: I'm fine.

Beck: (Where did it go…?)

[He looked around nervously. He didn't fancy being ambushed at a time like this!]

Beck: …!!

Beck: Professor! Look!

Will: !

[There, on a large public screen that overlooked the street…]

[Gregory Graham.]

[KKKST!]

“Once again, the President as declared a country-wide state of emergency. This, based on reports of haywire robots rampaging out of control in all 52 States. I’m being told we have a comment from Gregory Graham, CEO of CherryDynamics.”

Beck and Will: WHAT?!

“CherryDyn, of course, being the world’s largest robot manufacturer. Let’s go there now, live…”

Graham: Ahem! Hello? …eh, hello…? Is this thing on?!

[The CEO seemed… panicked.]

Graham: Ah! Ahem—…My fellow Americans…in this time of crisis, we at CherryDyn would just like to express….

Graham: That this isn’t our fault!

Beck: What the—is he SERIOUS?! He's interrupting to say tha—

Graham: It’s that Dr. Blackwell—HE’S the one that’s behind all this! BLAME HIM!

Will: ….!!

[Will tensed at this in disbelief.]

[Graham then composes himself…]

Graham: Ahem—we at CherryDyn are doing ALL we can to help fix the situation… BUT IT’S BLACKWELL’S FAU—

[KKKKKKSSST!]

“Heeeelllloooo! Is this thing on?”

Beck: …Avi?

[He tries pinging his brother, but Avi doesn’t answer--not even to his comm line. Will himself is just as confused--both father and son stare flabbergasted at the helibot’s image on the news screen as he continued…]

“Ahem! And now, let’s go live to our eye in the sky, Avi, for today’s Avi News traffic report!~”

[And in a completely not so different voice–]

“Thanks, Avi! As you can see, we’ve got a few accidents eastbound on, well–”

“EVERYWHERE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Beck: —?! A—Aviator—?

[He’s NEVER heard him laugh like that before—]

Will: S...Son…! No—!

“Yup, we’ve got chaos here, chaos there on this BEEEEEAUTIFUL June 21, 20XX! Here on Avi News today, we’ve got exclusive coverage on today’s top story!”

“THE END OF THE WORLD, BABY!”

Will: MIGHTY NO. 6! STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!

Beck: A-Avi…

“Our nation is on TOTAL MELTDOWN, and Xelbot crime is on the rise! Can NOTHING stop this madness?!”

“Short answer? NO! BWAHAHAHA!”

[There was a brief pause as the crazed laughter died down unexpectedly, and the flying punster got a distant look in his eyes, which calmed down momentarily to something more like idle curiosity… before shifting to something more fitting in a cruel smirk.]

“Well, would you look at that! I got a caller!”

[The screen cuts out to another camera while Avi switched his attention to some other force, leaving Beck and Will to gaze in horror at the bird’s eye view of their city…]

Beck: Dad? W-what’s Avi DOING? Why was he all…? -Trails off-

[To that, Will had no answer… at least, no answer yet. But he could hazard a guess based on the evidence all around him, and it did NOT bode well for anyone.]

Will: We... we can’t stop now, Beck. In order to find out what exactly is going on, we need to get home—now.

[After traversing more of the war-torn street, Beck and Will were just one more block away from the entrance…]

Will: We’re almost there…

Will: …!

Beck: …? What is it, Dad?

Will: Dr. Sanda’s calling us over the comms!

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda? What’s the matter–

[DR.SANDA] //: WHAT’S THE MATTER?!

[DR.SANDA] //: WHAT THE BLEEDING HECK DO YOU THINK IS THE MATTER?! ARE YOU OK, WILL?!

[DR.WHITE] //: …Oh, fine. More or less.

[DR.SANDA] //: ….

[DR.WHITE] //: And yourself?

[…Yep. He was his usual self, alright.

Dr. Sanda, however…]

[DR.SANDA] //: Good Lord do you EVER stop being tactless—

[…LOUD clanking noises in the background of his feed.]

[DR.SANDA] //: Oh my God—

[DR.SANDA] //: I’m less than fine–MUCH LESS! These robots gone wild are TEARING THE PLACE APART!

[DR.WHITE] //: What—in the building, too?!

[DR.SANDA] //: I’ve sealed myself in the lab—but who knows HOW long before they break through!

[DR.WHITE] //: Ah, I see. Understood. We’re already on our way!

[DR.SANDA] //: …We?

[MN.9] //: -PING!- Dr. Sanda…!

[DR.SANDA] //: …!! Beck? BECK? IS THAT REALLY YOU?!

[MN.9] //: Yeah—it’s me! I’m OK, I’m not crazy!

[DR.SANDA] //: THANK THE LORD–

[BANG!]

[DR.SANDA] //: -sCREECH–

[DR.WHITE] //: Just try to hold them off for as long as you can! We’re coming!

[Soon enough, after what seemed like hours had passed instead of minutes…]

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The front door was completely blown open.]

Will: Oh no…

Beck: I… I don’t see Call anywhere…

Will: … …

Will: Beck. We have no time to waste; calculate the fastest possible route to the lab!

Beck: Yes sir!

Beck: … …

Beck: This way!

[BWAN BWAN BWAN BWAN–]

Beck: NEVER MIND, THIS WAY–

[The elevator down to the lab was out. They would have to take the other way down.]

Will: –!!!

[He halted in his tracks as he heard something distinctly familiar: Sanda models, heading their way. Specifically, trash bots. These models were designed to recycle waste and paper; harmless enough under normal circumstances… but something had caused them to open and shut their lids with the force of a vise. Now they were on the prowl, looking for anything to chomp on.]

Beck: Uh-oh—

Will: Get back, Beck!

[The Industrial models were heading right for them, but oddly enough… their target wasn’t Beck, as evidenced by the fact that they ignored him.]

Beck: —?

Will: -Adjusts the strap of his laptop bag- Let's not question our fortune! If they aren't hostile, then we need to focus on—

[The bots made glitched beeping noises, and Will took a step back.]

Will: —!!

[He moved his hand over to the side, as if reaching for something out of instinct—but there was nothing there.

And all of a sudden, he felt very cornered.]

Will: BECK!!

Beck: !!

Will: They’re locked on to me—!

Beck: NO!

[The two of them tried to make a run for it, but the trash bots were faster than they looked. Before they could make it out of harm's way, Will tripped over some debris.]

Will: Gah—!

[He scrambled to get to his feet, moving back as quickly as he could. This brief falter had cost them dearly, though—they weren't going to make it—!]

[ANALYZING….]

[THREAT CONFIRMED.]

[EMOTION MATRIX RUNNING…]

-*-*-*-*-

Felix: Let me tell you something, Master Beck. It is your heart and your build, your purpose, to help others. That is where your greatest power, I think, will always lie.

Felix: When you truly believe in your cause, the strength comes to you.

Felix: I can tell you THAT from experience.

Beck: …R-Really…?

Felix: Of course.

Felix: And after all.

Felix: You are MIGHTY.

-*-*-*-*-

[ACTIVATING WEAPON SYSTEMS.] WEAPON SYSTEMS: ONLINE.]

[XEL ABSORPTION SYSTEMS… ONLINE.]

[In an instant, Beck’s arm had transformed into his default demolecularizing arm cannon–capable of breaking apart substances right down to the molecular level within a few shots.]

Beck: STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

[The Trash Bots were nailed right in the face, and soon they were…glowing. Their Xels were being broken apart, floating around them…]

[ZOOOOM!]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[A white-blue glow had enveloped Beck as he dashed forward, the Xels of the weakened robots being absorbed into his own body, seamlessly clicking into place.]

[Shocked from the sudden Xel loss…the Trash Bots shut down.]

[ABSORPTION BOOST: ONLINE.]

Beck: —!!

[A soft red glow shined around him, energy SURGING through him in a way that he’s NEVER felt before…]

Beck: Ah—

[It all seemed to pool into his arm cannon.]

Beck: …..

Beck: WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED.

Beck: -pANIC-

Beck: WHAT WAS THAT?!

Will: !

Will: Beck—did…

Will: Did you just…absorb the Xels of a weakened robot and—my goodness—assimilate them?!

Beck: I DON’T KNOW—YOU TELL ME!

Will: Alright–alright–just CALM down, Beck–breathe, breathe!

Beck: …….

Will: Beck–I DESIGNED you with this capability.

Beck: ….!! W-Wait–

Beck: …So–THIS is my…my power? My OTHER power?

Will: Yes, Beck. I designed you with THREE central powers: Xel Manipulation, Xel Transformation…

Will: …And Xel Assimilation.

Will: (But…)

Will: (This is the first time I’ve seen it…active…I hadn’t thought it functional yet…

Will: (…So why now…?)

Will: …!

Will: (Of course…)

Will: (Seeing me like this, in danger. Amidst madness and chaos, his emotional matrix must have activated his latent abilities… in an effort to protect me.)

Beck: … …

Beck: Whoooooa…

Will: …!

Beck: … …

[The glow subsided… along with the surge of power.]

Beck: —? Uh… what happened?

Will: —Ngh! I’d love to explain but we have more robots incoming!

[As they headed deeper into the building, more and more robots appeared within moments.

The security system had also gone haywire, and the very same measures used to protect them were now being used against them.]

Will: Almost there, almost there…! Hold on, Soi!

Beck: Owowowow LASERSHURT OW–

Will: …Right—the Lab is just ahead…

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda?

[…]

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda, are you still there?

[… …]

[DR.WHITE] //: … ….

[DR. WHITE] //: Have the robots torn you to pieces…?

[MN.9] //: DAD–

[DR.SANDA] //: Criminny! Tactful as ALWAYS, Will… -n-;;;

[DR.SANDA]//: I’m FINE, but for PETE’S SAKE, HURRY–!

[DR.WHITE] //: Don’t worry, we just need to go through the–

[There was a LOUD scream across the feeds. Not just once, but twice—a distorted cry of sorrow and pain. An angry woman’s shriek, lower in tone than his two sisters, yet all too familiar just the same…]

[B A N G.]

Beck: ?!?

Beck: What was THAT…?!

[They weren't given time to dwell on it.]

[WWRRRRRRRRRRRRRR–]

Will: —?!

[Literally CRASHING through the side wall was a huge, round robot nearly seven times Beck’s size, crushing anything underneath it’s round steel flattener…]

Will: A CherryDyn demolition unit?! How on EARTH did it manage to get DOWN here?!

Beck: Oh CRUD—

[The destructive CDN CHARGED right into Beck’s path! He dove out of the way in time, but the shock of the impact with the other wall forced the door to close… leaving Will trapped on the other side.]

Beck: DAD!

[DR.WHITE] //: I’m fine!

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, quickly—you MUST stop it, before it destroys the whole laboratory!

[MN.9] //: M…ME?!

[MN.9] //: DAD, THIS THING CAN CRUSH ME—

[DR.WHITE] //: YOU HAVE TO TRY! SOI IS STILL IN THERE!

[DR.SANDA] //: COME ON, BECKO—DO IT! OR WE’RE ALL TOAST!

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: I'm so dead—

[SCANNING…]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[ E N C O U N T E R ]

[CDN. 502 – MODEL CODENAME: ROUND DIGGER]

[HEIGHT: 300cm] [WEIGHT: 450kg] [XEL COUNT: 90,000,000]

[The CherryDyn Number 502 charged once more, rolling across the room at RAPID speeds. Beck once again had to dodge, THIS time using his new AcXelarate Dash.]

[…It certainly was… fast.]

[SPLAT.]

[…A little too fast.]

Beck: O-Ow—stupid wall—

[DR.WHITE] //: Your AcXelarate Dash is EXACTLY that, Beck! An acceleration! Use it wisely!

[DR.WHITE] //: You must weaken it with your weapon to destabilize its Xel before you can absorb it with your Dash!

[MN.9] //: SO I JUST SHOOT AND RUN INTO IT?!

[DR.WHITE] //: YES!

[The Round Digger reared up to charge once more—like a bull would.]

Beck: Crudcrudcrudcrud—

[WRRRRR…]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

[Direct hits–but it didn’t stop the CDN from charging.]

Beck: -nOT AGAIN–

[ZOOOM!]

[…And yet another splat.]

Beck: OW—

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck—are you alr—

Beck: NO IT’S NOT WORKING—!

[DR.WHITE] //: Perseverance, Beck! Aim for its joints and head! Destabilize its Xel structure!

Beck: Aim and shoot, joints, head—

[WRRRRRRRRRRR—]

[A panel opened up on its back, revealing—

Bombs!]

Beck: –oh NO–

[Of course; it was a demolition unit!]

[BOOM!]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAH—

[There he goes, dashing this way and that to avoid being blown to pieces!]

Beck: -SCREAMING-

Beck: DAD HELP ME—HELP ME!

[DR.WHITE] //: I can’t—! Not from here—!

[DR.SANDA] //: THE SYSTEMS ARE ALL SCRAMBLED FROM HERE, I CAN’T DO ANYTHING—!

[BOOM! BOOM!]

Beck: -I'M GONNA DIE OH MAN-

[Nine keeps shooting–but they are wild and panicked shots, some hitting their target, some missing completely.

Eventually, however…]

[ERROR—ERROR—XEL STRUCTURE UNSTABLE—]

[…The CDN’s head starting glowing purple! ]

[DR.WHITE] //: NOW, BECK!

[As soon as Beck saw it…

…He knew exactly what to do. As if it was instinct.

As if the thought was there all along.]

Beck: Here GOES!

[ZOOOM—]

[XEL ABSORBED. CDN XEL COUNT LOWERED 20%—]

[WARNING! WARNING! VIRUS DETECTED!]

Beck: –?!?

[RUNNING XELFILTER.EXE…]

[XEL FILTERED. ALL MALWARE HAS BEEN NEUTRALIZED.]

[ATTENTION: MORE XEL IS REQUIRED FOR A FULL XEL PURGE.]

Beck: (Xel…Purge…?)

[DR.WHITE] //: BECK! ABOVE YOU!

[The CDN had stopped charging—and, oddly enough—used its extending legs to grab onto the ceiling…?]

Beck: ….???

[A panel UNDERNEATH it unlocks and—]

[PSSSSSSSSSH!]

[A HUGE high pressured blast of water SLAMMED into the Mighty Number, knocking him back into the door with a loud CLANK!]

Beck: AAGH!

[DR.WHITE] //: BECK!

Beck: Uuugh….

Beck: …Ooooowww…

[…? What’s this?

…All that did was… Just DAZE him, at best…]

Beck: That was…almost as hard as Cryo, ow…

[PSSSSSSSSSHHH!]

Beck: -gARBLING NOISES-

[DR.WHITE] //: MOVE, BECK!

[A bit shaky, Beck dashes away from the stream—]

Beck: sTOOOOOP—

[Buuuut of course, his foe didn't listen.]

Beck: (There's GOT to be an easier way to do this! C'mon, what would nii-san do—?!)

[…]

[OH! Wait—why didn’t he think of this before?! He might not have his siblings by his side—

…But he had their FORMS, right?

…Right?]

[…]

[ERROR//: MN.7 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND. FORM WAS ERASED AFTER HARD RESET.]

[…Wrong.]

Beck: WHAT?!

[He tried again.]

[ERROR//: MN.1 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND. FORM WAS ERASED AFTER HARD RESET.]

Beck: NONONO!

[ERROR//: MN.2 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND….]

[ERROR….]

[ERROR…]

[ERROR…]

[…Gone.

They were all gone.

He had nothing. No forms except that STUPID golden one, and what good would THAT do?!]

Beck: NO!

Beck: DAD—I CAN’T CHANGE FORMS—!

Beck: I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO FIGHT WITH—!

[DR.WHITE] //: YES YOU DO, BECK!

[DR.WHITE] //: You have tools of which this world—or ANY world—have only just begun to see!

[DR.WHITE] //: USE THEM!

Beck: …..

Beck: –Shoot, dash, shoot, dash–

[The Round Digger let out a deafening R O A R, charging again.]

Beck: Shoot and dash, shoot and dash—!

[Repeating this mantra, Beck circled the CDN…

They both traded blows, neither of which seemed to be giving in or showing sign of fatigue—

…But…slowly, slowly but surely—]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

-PING-

[XEL QUOTA ACHIEVED.]

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

[DR.WHITE] //: …!!!

[…A circle of white began to glow around Beck’s feet…]

[A stream of Xel floated outwards, forming a large circle along with three dots and lines—his symbol…]

Beck: Come on—

[His arms started to shine a pure white!]

Beck: SNAP OUT OF IT!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

Beck: NOW!

[A burst of green Xels flow out of the circle, and RIGHT back to the CDN! Rings of purged Xel encircle it, and slowly–it’s…purple, tainted Xel fades…]

[……..]

Round Digger: ….????

Round Digger: -BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEP BEEP-

Round Digger: -CONFUSED DATA, THIS IS NOT OUR DESIGNATED AREA-

Beck: …!!

Round Digger: -DISTRESSED BEEPING-

Beck: Hey–Hey…

Round Digger: -THIS IS NOT WHERE I’M SUPPOSED TO BEEEEEEEE-

[…Beck…cautiously approaches the CDN…

Closer…Closer…]

Beck: Hey…. Are you OK?

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEEEEP!-

Beck: Hey—Hey, it’s OK…

[…Pat. Pat…]

Beck: You’re OK now, don’t worry…

Round Digger: -SAD BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEEEEP-

Beck: ….! Uh…hey—do you think you can help me?

Round Digger: ….? -beep?-

[MN.9] //: Dr. Sanda?

[… …There was no response at first. Both Doctors were still STUNNED at what just happened.]

[MN.9] //: Dr. Sanda!

[DR.SANDA] //: …! Erm—ah—y-yes, Beck…?

[MN.9] //: You said the systems were haywire, right? So you can’t unseal yourself…

[DR.SANDA] //: Well—I… oh.

[MN.9] //: So—I guess there’s only one option, right?

[DR.WHITE] //: —! Of course! The Round Digger!

[DR.SANDA] //: W-wait—! Wait a min—

Round Digger: -PING-

Round Digger: -DIRECTIVE RECEIVED. COMMENCING DEMOLITION.-

Round Digger: -WARNING BEEPS, STAND CLEAR-

[DR.SANDA] //: -SHRIEKS, RUNS TO THE FARTHER ROOM-

[WRRRRRRRRRRRRR–]

[C R A C K!]

[With one powerful charge, the CDN Demo unit reared back once more and charged into the other wall, making a hole large enough for even MIC to walk into.]

[DR.SANDA]//: Did you REALLY have to do that?! This place is falling apart enough as it—

[DR.WHITE] //: We can worry about it later! Beck—neutralize any other threats in the building while I work with Soi to get at LEAST some of those systems back online…

[MN.9] //: Yes Sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: B-b-but—! The lab is unsealed—

[DR.WHITE]//: I don’t think we have to worry about that for now.

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEP-

[MN.9] //: Yeah, you can stay down here and make sure nothing gets past you, OK? That way you don’t get hurt too. ^.^

[CDN.502] //: -BEEP BEEP, NEW DESIGNATION AREA CONFIRMED-

[DR.WHITE]//: Good, good. Be careful, alright?

[MN.9] //: Yeah. I will.

[Beck went back the way he came—through the recently re-opened door—while Will stumbled through the opening, patting the CDN on it’s side as he passed by.

It took a while to find where the other Doctor had taken cover, but eventually—]

Soi: Will!

Will: Soi!

[Without another word, Soichiro Sanda threw his arms around his best friend, quite literally giving him a crushing hug—]

Will: -Hurk—!- Soi—!

Soi: You have no IDEA how glad I am to see your face, friend—

Will: Th-the feeling is mutual, Soi, but c-could you PLEASE let me breathe—

Soi: —? Oh— OH. S-sorry, William! Eheh, excuse me—

[William White takes in a few deep breaths once Sanda lets go, once again brushing himself off—but to no avail, as his clothing was more or less ruined at this point.]

Soi: Great Ceaser’s Ghost, Will; you look like you’ve just been put through the wringer!

Will: That’s… not inaccurate, Soi: not at all…

Soi: I can only imagine—I could hear everything from down here!

Will: Ev…everything?

[He glanced around them, a concerned expression on his face.]

Will: …Did… did you hear the broadcast…?

Soi: Broadcast—?

Will: -Sighs- Right, the systems are still scrambled; you wouldn’t get anything…

Soi: —….

Soi: -Doubtful tone- Well—I… did hear…. screaming—

Will: Screaming? Well, Beck was rather sc—

Soi: No, no, not him—

“Dr. Sanda!”

[Passing through the crumbling wall, Beck reappeared. His pristine white armor was slightly singed in several places, probably from laser fire.]

Beck: Dr. Sanda—!

Sanda: Beck—! Come here, you—!

[In a well meant hug of his own, Beck latched on to Sanda’s leg, burying his face into it. Muffled cries of ‘I’M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU’RE OK’ and 'SANDAAA’ were heard while the Doctor fondly gave Nine a noogie.]

Sanda: Ha Ha! I KNEW you could do it, Mighty No. 9!

Beck: -MUFFLED NOISES-

Will: Yes—well done, Beck. But I’m afraid we still have work to do; have the other robots been taken care of?

Beck: I… did my best; some of them went outside, but I managed to absorb most of the ones on the upper floors.

Will: That will do for now. Come on, Soi; let’s TRY and get this lab running again—

[The larger Doctor put a hand on the shoulder of his worried friend to keep him from darting off before answering an important question.]

Soi: W-Wait a minute!

Soi: I see here that BECK is functioning normally…

Soi: But what happened to the OTHER Mighty Numbers? Are they still OUT there…?

[… …]

[… … …]

Will: …Sanda…

[Will sighs and takes up a straighter posture.]

Will: Based on empirical evidence, I believe that they might be suffering from this… robot affliction that’s been going around and causing all this chaos.

Soi: W-What—?!?

Soi: You mean—Pyrogen, Cryosphere…

Will: …Yes, Soi. I…

[It almost hurt to say it.]

Will: I think they’ve been hit with a virus. That’s the only logical explanation.

[As Will brings a terminal back online, his fears are confirmed. Both of the Doctors and the lone Mighty Number present stare at the screen with equal parts dread and horror…]

Soi: No…!

[MN.1 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.2 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.3 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.4 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

[MN.5 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.6 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.7 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.8 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

[MN.9 STATUS: ONLINE, COMBAT MODE, CONDITION: NORMAL.]

[After a moment…]

-PING!-

<RMDC>: >REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGED. SENDING STATUS UPDATE TO MODERATOR DR.WHITE…

[…! Data from the RobotMaster® Database (Cossack Server) in the midst of this—?!]

Will: It’s…!

Soi: The RobotMaster® Database—we’re still connected—!

<RMDC>:> SYSTEM ERROR: DATABASE MAINFRAME NOT RESPONDING. ACCESSING BRANCH SERVER…

Will: …It seems something is wrong.

Beck: They… they didn’t get infected too, did they?

Will: I’m… not sure. (I sure hope not…) I wouldn't think that they could be affected by Xel-based viruses, but then again, we don't know much about how the virus works—and they ARE able to receive and process other data just fine…

Will: Unfortunately, we have other things we need to worry about!

[There was a stream of “SIGNAL NOT FOUND” updates… followed by two small notifications, almost as if they were an afterthought.]

[DLN-000 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE]

Will: (He’s in lethal—!)

[FMN-008 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE]

Beck: —?! Kate and Cardinal—?

Beck: Why only them? :c What about the others?

Will: -Frowns- Well, I'm not entirely sure. Kate's in England—OUR England—so that might be part of it…

Beck: But… but what about Cardinal? Do… do you think he's in trouble, or—? D:

Will: -Puts a hand on Beck's shoulder- I… I-I'm sure he'll be fine, Beck. (The system USUALLY gives an SOS cascade if they're in deep trouble.) He could just be in Lethal out of instinct, remember?

Beck: O-oh, right…

Soi: -Working at another terminal- I can try to restore the connection, but for now we’re in the dark on their side of the fence. So far all the comms are either shot or very shaky...

Soi: But we REALLY need some help…

[After a moment of tense silence and rapid typing, Soi finally gets an idea.]

Soi: -SNAPS FINGERS-

Will: ?

[Soi works away on his terminal, Will looking over his shoulder to see what he was doing. Meanwhile, Beck was still trying to contact his siblings—to no avail, of course, but it didn’t stop him from still trying.]

Soi: It’s a long shot, but while Avi is still distracted—

Will: -Somewhat curious- You have something in mind?

Soi: I’m going to see if I can contact Seijiro at the head office in Tokyo…

Will: …! Ah, yes—

Will: Your twin brother…

[Seijiro Sanda, the head and CEO of Sanda Enterprises and Technologies. No doubt he had heard of what had transpired in Titus by now…]

Soi: I just hope he’s alright. I know this whole mess only seems to be centralized here in America, but you never know…

[… … … ….]

[-PING!-]

???: {-PANICKED JAPANESE YELLING-}

[A holoscreen feed was brought up, and a man almost identical to Soi appeared on the screen, looking less than calm. The only key differences were the slightly different hairstyle and the sharp business suit.]

???: {SOICHIRO—CAN YOU HEAR ME?!}

Soi: {Seijiro–}

Seiji: {OH THANK THE STARS YOU’RE ALRIGHT—! I’ve been trying to contact you for HOURS but most of the signals and feeds are down—WILL!}

Will: -AHEM takes a moment to remember our Japanese-

Will: {I’m alright, Mr. Sanda. Please, take a moment to calm down; though we might not have much time on our hands…}

[Seiji takes out a small handkerchief to wipe his forehead a bit, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.]

Seiji: {Yes, yes… I apologize, I was just so worried after that… broadcast…}

Seiji: ……..

[He switches to English.]

Seiji: Is it… true? Has Avi really…?

Will: … -Quietly, though still loud enough to be heard- Yes. Unfortunately so. He seems to be distracted with a “caller,” but… he will likely finish up before too long.

Seiji: Yes, yes, of course; I understand. What is the current situation?

Will: There appears to be some kind of virus outbreak that infected CherryDyn servers here in America—which in turn, infected our servers and the like. It’s causing nearly every robot to malfunction and act aggressively—even Civilian and Industrial models have been affected. The only robot that is immune to the ongoing virus is… Mighty No. 9, Beck.

Beck: …Hi, Mr. Sanda…

Will: Sadly, it… i-it affected the rest of the series. They appear to be… dispersed.

Seiji: ….

Seiji: So… even the Mighty Number line…

Will: …. Yes. They’ve… all gone somewhere else, it seems. I don’t know where they are at the moment, and some of the other numbers have no status whatsoever… such as Mic.

Seiji: …

Seiji: And… Call?

Will: I—

Will: -Blinks- ….

Will: Soi, where IS Call?

Soi: She’s in the east wing. Offline, at the moment—

Beck: Offline?!

Beck: Why is she OFFLINE?

Soi: Well, before this all started—several minutes before, in fact—

Soi: She was due for a firmware update today, so… I shut down her systems for it so it would install properly.

Will: Wait.

Soi: —?

Will: Are you saying she was in technological isolation when this happened?

Soi: In a way, yes, but… since the lab’s systems are mostly down, I can’t know for sure if she’s been affected, or even IF the firmware update completed before it all started…

Will: Hmm….

Soi: … …

Seiji: … …

Will: -Lost in thought- We’ll have to bring her back online in a Faraday cage. A sealed room, if possible. If she IS infected, Beck can bring her back to normal using his assimilation and filter program. We will definitely need her support, Soi.

Soi: I know, I know…

Beck: I can go do that with her right now, Dad. If anyone can handle Call in combat…

Soi: Hnnn…

Soi: Beck?

Soi: …If she is… not well… please be careful, she’s my little girl—

Beck: I will. Promise.

[As Beck moves away from the terminal, Soi turns back to his brother.]

Soi: Seiji…we could use all the help we can get. Can you do anything for us right now? Anything at all?

[… … …]

Seiji: …I….

Seiji: I’m sorry, Soichiro. Please understand; if things are as bad as you say they are, then….

Seiji: The Japanese government won’t let us intercede unless we know the exact CAUSE of the malfunctions, and how to combat the virus en masse.

Soi: ….

Soi: …I… I was afraid of that. -Sighs- But it makes sense…

Soi: If you send more robots overseas, THEY could get infected too—making everything even worse. And there are few enough human resources to go around…

Will: … …

Will: Just to confirm, Mr. Sanda.

Seiji: Yes?

Will: If we can isolate the cause of the robot rampage—you WILL send aid?

[Seijiro nods.]

Seiji: Absolutely. Anything we can do.

Will: Alright…

Will: And after the cause has been found, how long will that take?

Seiji: Well, even after proving things, getting into Japan will still be subject to the quarantine, since you've all been exposed to the virus—

Soi: -Groans slightly- {That takes WEEKS—}

Seiji: —but sending emergency aid FROM Japan should take less time. Likely still a few days at the very least, though I imagine that your government will be all too eager to help expidite aid once they are in a position to receive it.

Will: … >>;;; Riiight…. Might need to get Shade on that, if things are still held up in red tape by then…

Seiji: …It sounds as if you already have a plan in mind, Will.

Will: More or less.

Will: I would like to have No. 9 present as soon as he—

[-PING!-]

Soi: ?

[CALL IS NOW ONLINE. STATUS: NORMAL.]

[MN.9] //: GUYS GOOD NEWS SHE’S OK! :D

Soi: CALL—

[Theeeeere he goes!]

[CALL] //: …

[CALL] //: I detect distressed emotions in various vocal patterns of all present. Is something wrong, Dr. Sanda?

[MN.9] //: Lemmie fill you in on what’s going on, Call; it’s… not good.

[UPDATING…]

[CALL] //: … … …

[CALL] //: Analyzing….

[CALL] //: … … … …

[……]

[-PING!-]

[CALL] //: I have been informed of the current situation. I will assist in any way I can, Doctors.

Soi: Attagirl! ^^

Seiji: -Turns his attention back to Will- You were saying?

Will: -Ahem- We will be sending Beck to save all of his fellow Mighty Numbers, as he is the only combat model available to face them at the moment—

[-PING-]

[CALL] //: I am also registered as a combat model.

[.....]

[MN.9] //: Call—I’d really like for you to have my back…

[MN.9] //: …But this is WAY too dangerous and the Doctors need you here. No one can sort through data like you can, you give even AVI a run for his money.

[MN.9] //: ….Plus…you don’t have my assimilation ability.

[MN.9] //: …and I don’t want you REALLY getting infected either…

[CALL] //: … … Confirmed.

[CALL] //: I shall remain here and assist with data analysis and navigational support for No. 9.

[MN.9] //: …. Thanks, Call.

Will: Right. As I was saying…

Will: Beck will be tracking down his fellow Mighty Numbers. His assimilation ability should filter any and all irregularities in his siblings’ programming.

Will: If we can gather and study multiple samples of the virus’s coding from the Mighty Numbers themselves…

Will: Perhaps we can isolate the cause of the problem.

Will: Once we’ve identified the root of the malfunctions, we can work on some way to combat it: be it in the form of a anti-virus program, or whatever else we can come up with. Meanwhile, Soi can help repair the rescued Mighty Numbers while I study the code.

Soi: -Nods- Hmm. I’ll do what I can with the non-infected Xel we have on stock.

Seiji: ….But…

Seiji: Are you SURE you will have sufficient Xel for ALL the Mighty Numbers?

Will: We’ll just have to scrape by with what we have, and—if Beck refines his abilities, we could see about purifying any infected Xel we come across as well.

[…He paused for a moment, as if to mull over that for a second—when he remembers something from earlier.]

Will: Incidentally, I did manage to catch a bit of news on the way here. It’s something I don’t think I’ve told you yet, Soi.

Soi: …?

Will: The president of Cherry Dynamics is insisting the cause of the malfunctions is… Dr. Blackwell.

Soi: What??

Seiji: Dr. Blackwell—? The founder of modern Xel robotics—?

Soi: That’s– -sputters- –poppycock!

Soi: Dr. Blackwell may be a genius, but he can’t POSSIBLY be behind this! Not THIS time, at least—

Will: -Tersely- Soi. You must admit, there ARE similarities to his LAST plot to… shut down every robot in America!

Soi: Will—he was caught and arrested! Even Ben isn’t clever enough to pull this off from inside a maximum security prison!

Will: You shouldn't underestimate the likes of what he can do, Soi, and how little regard he has for ANYONE else!

Soi: Will. Will, listen to me—

Soi: If… if he wanted to do something… something like this, then why… why wait so long? You KNOW that doesn't make sense. From, er… from all accounts, he was… not exactly the most patient person when aggravated…

Will: … …I know, Soi. But we must consider all possibilities. And why was Graham so certain, even after—

Seiji: Will…

[Seijiro stops the two Doctors from going on, with a… sympathetic look on his face.]

Seiji: -Gently- Dr. Benedict Blackwell is the least of our worries. We need to focus on the now.

Will: … …

Will: -Calmer, now- Right. Right. I’m sorry.

[MN.9] //: (—? That was weird…)

Will: Soi, for now, you should tend to any minor injuries Beck has sustained in that last battle. I’ll sift through the data he acquired from the Round Digger Model. After that, we need to work on getting the mainframe in working order so that we can start tracking down the other Mighty Numbers.

Will: Seijiro—if you see ANY sign that the virus might jump the ocean gap, PLEASE let us know.

Seiji: Don’t worry; Japan already closed all her ports in accordance with procedure. I'm afraid that it will probably hurt us all if it stays on too long after this is over, but… it is what it is. I'll try and get in touch with someone who can give regular updates and maybe even help push through the approval to send aid, once that's possible. That's all we can do for now, though.

Will: Thank you.

Will: (I won’t…)

Will: (I won’t lose them, not THIS time...I won’t let my family fall apart again--!)

Will: Then let’s get to work.

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

=CHAPTER 7A: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

[SANDA LABS, MIDDAY...]

“Tracing....”

[ACCESSING DATA LOGS. PLEASE WAIT.]

[.....]

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

[.....PING!]

[LOCATION DATA FOUND.]

Call: Tracing...

[READING LOCATION DATA...]

[GENERATING COORDINATES....]

[CALL] //: -Mass Ping!-

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

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

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

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

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

<DLN-008>: > -PROCESSING…-

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

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

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[PING!]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[CALL] //: However.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.9] //: Right!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: >Hmm.

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

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: > Nyet.

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

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

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

[CALL] //: Fortunately, there is.

[MN.9] //: Sweet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

<DCN-003 has left the channel.>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________

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

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

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

SYSTEMS READY?

GO!

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

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

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

[PING!]

White: Beck? Do you read?

Beck: Loud and clear, Professor!

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

Beck: Roger--

Beck: --!

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

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

Beck: Digger?

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

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

[…He also… had a Xel signal?]

Beck: --?????

Beck: Uuuh--?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: --Oh--

Bat: Indeed.

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

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

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

[He turned to face Beck.]

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

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

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

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

Bat: Acknowledged.

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

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

Beck: Ah...

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

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

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

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

Beck: Yes, sir!

Digger: Rule one!

Digger: Never dig straight down!

Digger: Rule two!

Digger: Never dig straight UP!

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

Bat: One more thing.

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

Beck: Yes, sir.

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

Beck: Right, got it....

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

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

Beck: ....Huh....

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

Beck: ...Squaaaaare...?

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

Beck: Thanks, Digger!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: --Hm?

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

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

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

White: Beck?

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

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

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

"Bzzz..."

Beck: --?

Beck: Did you say something, Dyna?

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

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

Beck: I heard buzzing...

"Bzzzzzz..."

Beck: --! There it was again!

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

"BZZZZZZ...."

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

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

"BZZZZZZZZZZ......"

<DCN-003>: > …

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

Beck: Wha--someone's still drilling?

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

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

Beck: Maybe...someone left one on?

White: Mmm...

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

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

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

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

Beck: Understood...

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

Beck: Good idea...

[SCANNING....]

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

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

"BZZ! BZZ!"

Beck: ...?

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

"BZZZZZZ!"

[SHINK!]

Beck: WHOA--!

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

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: > …

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

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

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

Beck: ......

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

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

Beck: . . .

Beck: O_O;;;

"BZZZZZZZZZZZ!"

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

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

Beck: AAAAAAAAH--

[SHINK SHINK SHINK!]

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

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

[BLAM!]

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

Beck: Too many, too many--!

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

Beck: --!

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

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

Beck: Whew...

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

Beck: ....

Beck: Yeah...they're infected.

White: Are you alright?

Beck: Uh-huh....

Beck: ....

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

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

Sanda: Gnh...

Beck: Call? Can you pick up anything now?

Call: I am detecting faint signals ahead.

<DWN-018>: > …? Plural?

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: > …

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

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

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

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

<DLN-005>: > Yay~

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

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

Beck: --!

Beck: Uh oh....

<DWN-013>: >Uh…?

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

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

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

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

Beck: Okay...

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

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

<DCN-003>: > -PROCESSING…-

-PING!-

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

Beck: ....Oookaaaay....

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

Beck: So...?

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

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

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

Beck: Hmm....

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

Beck: ...!

Beck: I got it!

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

Beck: Uh, close enough?

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

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

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

Beck: But I do have this!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

((pic))

<DLN-005 has left the channel.>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[CHUNK!]

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

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

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

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

Beck: -FIRE IN THE HOLE--

[BOOM!]

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

Beck: -ACKPFFPH, bleh--

[MN.5] //: Private?

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

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

[Clearly, he appreciated a good explosion.]

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

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

[MN.9] //: Yessir!

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

Beck: I wonder if Mic felt that...

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

Beck: How deep IS this place...?

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

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

Beck: ?

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

Beck: Huh.

[Hmmm.

Jaden seems a little antsy at that.]

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

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

Beck: Got it.

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

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

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ....

Beck: WHOOOA--!

[KSSSSSSSST--]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

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

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

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

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

[Static.]

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck!

_______________________________

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

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

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ... (Oh no--)

Beck: WHOOOA--!

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

Beck: (The drills ARE infected--!)

[KSSSSSST--]

Beck: Ow--!

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

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

Beck: Dad?

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

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

[KSSSSSSSST--....]

[Nothing. Static.]

Beck: Bat--? Digger!

[....]

Beck: Anyone! Hello?!

[.........]

Beck: . . .

Beck: (Not again...)

Beck: -Sigh-

Beck: Well...No turning back now.

Beck: I've gotta find Mic! ________________________________

[MEANWHILE, AT SANDA TECHNOLOGIES...]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

White: ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: -Things will be alright, trust me-

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

[Nine minutes...]

White: ...Alright...

Call: Your hot drinks, Doctors.

White: -Thank you-

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

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

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

White: .....

[White frowned.]

White: ...Drat...

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

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

White: (Which means...)

Mikhail: That’s curious.

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

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

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

White: Strange...

White: Why would they do that?

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

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

<DCN-003>: >Mmm.

<DCN-003>: > … {When I was… changed…}

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

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

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: > {Possibly…}

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

White: !

White: Seismic...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Tick. Tock.]

Mikhail: Son. Your status?

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

Mikhail: Good.

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

White: Excellent...

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

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

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

<DCN-003>: > …

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

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

[MN.1] //: I--

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

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

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

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

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

[…]

[…And then suddenly…]

[Sorrow….]

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: Diveman?

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

Mikhail: …

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

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

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

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

-PING!-

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

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

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

WOW, does he work fast!]

BZZZZZZZZZ!

[MN.5] //:

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

<DWN-018>: > -sNORTS-

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

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

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

Mikhail: Apologies, Major!

Mikhail: He gets very enthusiastic about his work!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[—…which abruptly came to a halt…]

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

[.........]

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

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

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

[DIGGER used DRILL BOMB!]

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

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

<DCN-003>: > .-.

[MN.5] //: ???

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

[MN.5] //: !!!

[....Wait...]

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

[It sounded like...]

[...Screaming?]

"aaaaAAAAAH--"

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

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

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

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

Digger: BECK!

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

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

Bat: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

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

"BAT?!"

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

"DIGGER?! IS THAT YOU?!"

Bat: PRIVATE!

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

"WHERE ARE YOU--"

Digger: TCHAH! -Agitated Russian of mild annoyance-

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

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

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

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

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

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

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: Got it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MEANWHILE, DEEPER WITHIN THE MINE...]

Beck: BURNING--

Beck: SPIRIT!

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

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

Beck: Hooo...

Beck: (Tired...)

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

[RRRRRR--!]

Beck: Waaah!

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

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

Beck: What the...

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

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

…oh dear.]

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

Beck: (Nnngh...)

[RRRRRR--!]

[Oh, gosh, another earthquake--!]

Beck: !

[BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]

Beck: O.O;;;;;;

[...That...]

((Pic))

[...Was a BIG drill--]

Beck: ....

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAAAH--

[SMACK.]

Beck: --Ow--

Beck: --!

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

Beck: Aaargh!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

[KERCHUNK!]

Beck: Out of my WAY--!

[BOOM!]

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

[BOOM!]

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

[BOOM!]

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

Digger: …

Digger: I don’t think that’s it.

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

Digger: AND you told him not to go overboard.

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

Digger: Unless he has to…!

[PING!]

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

Bat: BECK!

Digger: !!! -TIME TO SCRAM—-

BZZZZZZZZZ!!!

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

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

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

Beck: No no no--!

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!

bzzzrrrrr…

Beck: !!!

rrrr…

BZZZZZZZZZ—

RRRRWHRRRRRRRR—

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

Beck: -PING PING PING--

[B O O M--!]

[A series of chain explosions following—]

WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRR—

[C R A C K!]

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

"READY--"

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

"AIM--"

BZZZZZZZT--

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

Beck: --!!?

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

[KER-BOOM!!!]

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

[KER-BLAM!]

[--Followed by another explosion.]

[Beck stops being carried downward.]

Beck: !

[In the pause, some glowing eyes blink.]

[…]

-Ping-

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

Beck: DIGGERRRR--!

[PING!]

[MN.5] //: HOORAH!

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

<DCN-003>: >Up we go~

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

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

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

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

Beck: BAAAT--

Bat: Private--

Beck: BAT--

[CLANK--]

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

Beck: -Broooooo-  < 3

Bat: Heh.

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

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

[He places his feet in a firm stance.]

Digger: Beck! Do you need some healing?

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

[…They weren’t QUITE E-tanks…]

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

Beck: -AW YES-

Beck: -Grabs the Xel Cubes--

[XEL STOCKS REPLENISHED.]

Beck: ...?

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

Digger: That is what twin cousin found! ^^

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

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

Beck: Ooooh...

Bat: Could use a top off. Gimmie that.

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

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

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

Beck: Coooool....

Digger: c:

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

Bat: Private.

Beck: ?

Bat: I've cleared the way for you.

Bat: Haven't seen or heard from Mic?

Beck: No...

Beck: But we ARE pretty deep...

[Digger hums thoughtfully.]

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

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

Beck: Yeah, but...

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

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

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

Digger: Tsk.

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

Beck: Hmm...

Beck: Do you think maybe something hap--

[RRRRRRRRRRR--]

Beck: -oH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN--

[Amusingly enough…]

[Despite it jostling the others QUITE a bit…]

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

Bat: -Gnrh--

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

Digger: {That registered pretty high.}

Beck: @~@

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

Beck: Ugh...

Beck: That was so not a drill...

Digger: Nope! Drills make THIS noise.

Digger: -Drill twirl-

Bat: Sounded like it came from deeper in.

Beck: ....

Beck: It's gotta be him...

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

Digger: Hmm!

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

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: ...

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

Digger: Door?

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

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

Digger: Da. Hup hup!

Bat: Sounds like a plan.

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

Bat: Bring our brother back to home soil.

Digger: Oh, he shall!

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

Digger: BUT.

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

Beck: Eheh...

Bat: Hmm. Too right, comrade.

Bat: Go get'em, Private Beck.

Beck: Yessir!

Digger: We go~

Digger: -Already starting to drill, WHEEEEEE-

Beck: ...Wow, he works fast.

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

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

Beck: Heh...

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

Beck: ....

Beck: -Intake of air-

Beck: Here we go...

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: !!

[Then...]

[The passage suddenly opened up.]

[A lot.]

Beck: !

Beck: Whooooa...

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

Beck: (Huge...)

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

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

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

[WRRRRRRRRRRRR...]

Beck: !!?

Beck: Aw, come on--!

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

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

[RRRRRRRRRRR--!]

Beck: --!!!

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

Beck: -WAAAH, WHAT IS--

[SMACK--]

Beck: -Muffled pained groans-

Beck: Guh...

Beck: M...Mic...?

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

Beck: !

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

Mic: GRRGH!

Beck: MIC! And still operational--!

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

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

Mic: -STOMP-

[C R A C K!]

Beck: --!!!

[Oh dear.]

Beck: M...Mic?

[This didn’t look good.]

Mic: GRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

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

[WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM--]

Beck: AAAH--!

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

Beck: Mic--!

Mic: . . . .

[WHANG.]

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

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

Beck: Ohhh...You too?

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

[He sighed.]

Beck: ....

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

[SCANNING...]

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

[SCAN COMPLETE]

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

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

((Boss pic))

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

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

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

Mic: .....

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

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

Beck: --!!!

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

[But they just bounced harmlessly off.]

Beck: Wha--!

[BAM!]

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

Beck: -Disorientated Data--

Beck: Guuh...

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

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

Beck: --?!

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

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

Mic: -Ggrh--

Beck: (Sorry, Mic!)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

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

[WRRRR--]

Beck: !!

Beck: ARUGH--!

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

[WARNING: XEL LOSS IMMINENT.]

Beck: --!

[The ground was stained with a glowing blue.]

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

Mic: GRRRRRRGH!

Beck: -GNH--

Beck: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

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

Beck: -Ngh...-

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

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

[ XEL ABSORBED. XEL COUNT NORMALIZED. ]

Beck: Stop it, Mic! Please! I don't want to fight you!

[.......]

Beck: Mic--?

[Why wasn't he--]

[C R A C K.]

Beck: !

[The whole floor gave away.]

Beck: WAH--

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[As the floor collapsed to a lower level, Beck heard a loud buzz just below where he was hovering--]

[WHAP!]

Beck: --!

[It was another drill shot, but at a angle--in which instead the cable wrapped around Beck's leg instead of impaling anything--]

Beck: Hey--!

[YANK!]

[WHAM!]

[Beck was brought back down to the earth, slammed into the ground without mercy. He was hit so hard that he reverted back to his default form.]

Beck: -Nngh...-

Beck: -Can't...-

Beck: (If he keeps hitting me like this...)

[Mic rose from the ground glaring at Beck with darkened eyes, still not saying a word.]

((Pic))

Beck: (I'm not sure how long I can hold out...)

Beck: (Gotta...Gotta think of something..)

Beck: (I can't get through Mic's defense, so I gotta outsmart him somehow...)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

Beck: (Gotta hit back where it hurts...)

[His skewed gaze sweeps across the room, until finally settling down on the fallen pillers...]

Beck: --?

Beck: (Wait--that's it!)

Beck: (I just gotta hit him with something bigger--)

Mic: RRRRRRRRRRR--!

Beck: MIIIIC!

Beck: Just hang on a little more--

Beck: I'll get you thinking straight, and back to the Professor, and everyone else!

Beck: I PROMISE!

Mic: -CHARGE--

[Beck leaves another missile in the ground before dodging, and then detonating it, making sure Mic got caught up in the blast--he had to at least chip away at his stamina before he could get this plan to work...]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

Beck: Heeeeey!

Mic: --!

Beck: Up here! You can't touch me up here!

Beck: c:

[As expected, a drill shot attempts to hook onto him to drag him downwards--]

[He nimbly avoids it, and the other that soon followed it--he had two, of course.]

Beck: Nope! Try again!

Mic: RRRRGH!

[It goes on like this for a while, with Beck just avoiding the drill shots and taunting Mic to come after him...]

Beck: Over heeeere--!

Mic: RRRRRGH--

[SHUNK!]

[For some reason, the drill does not retract--?]

Beck: (Yes!)

Beck: You still got the other one, though! C:

Mic: -R O A R--

[SHUNK--]

Mic: --???!?

[Mic furiously kicked it in reverse once he saw that his drills were stuck into something metal, following Beck as he flew in behind him just out of his reach.]

Beck: Oops.

Beck: Are you stuck?

Beck: Sorry about that.

Beck: I kinda figured that I needed to get you to stop hitting me so hard?

Beck: It really hurt.

Mic: RRRRRRRGH!!!

Beck: By the way, uh.

Beck: You might wanna look at what you're pulling.

[He points up.]

Mic: ....!

[Creeeeeeeeeeek--]

Beck: SORRY, MIC--

Beck: See ya next fall--

[Beck speeds through the air out of the looming shadow of the giant pillar Mic had lodged himself and pulled out of alignment, tipping over just enough to--]

[C R A S H!!!]

[The resulting collision was enough to rock the whole mine, and even register as seismic activity on certain monitors.]

Beck: -COUGH, ACK, DIRT IN MOUTH AGAIN-

[As he lands, he uses his propellor arm to blow away the dust clouding his vision.]

Beck: Okay I may have over done that--

Beck: MIIIC?

Beck: Brooo?

Beck: Um...Mic?

Beck: Sorry about kinda crushing you?

Beck: Miiic--

[CRASH--]

Mic: RRRRAAAAAAARGH!

[An arm suddenly SHOOTS up from the earth, and Beck is pulled downward with a SCREAM.]

Beck: -SHRIEK--

Beck: -ZOMBIE--

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[The arm retracts, only to reappear again to grab Beck's other leg--]

Beck:

-NO, STOP IT, HORROR MOVIE FLASH BACKS-- [REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

Mic: -REACH, MUST BRING HIM DOWN--

Beck: I SAID STOP IT!

[B O O M!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[There was a deep, deep rumble, and once Mic resurfaced, it was clear he took on quite a lot of damage.]

Mic: Rrrrgh....

[And running out of steam, to boot.]

Beck: (Almost--)

[KERCHUNK.]

Beck: One more should do the trick...

Mic: Rrrrgh...

[He was clearly in pain...]

Beck: .....

Beck: -Shuts his eyes---

Beck: Sorry, big brother...

Beck: Time to come topside.

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT.]

[BLAM!]

Mic: Rrrrgh--!

[WHUMP.]

[XEL ABSORBED]

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

Beck: So SNAP OUT OF IT--NOW!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

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

"Wow..."

"I-I can really have this?"

"Hmm hmm. Mic got special rock for you."

"It Quartz. ^w^"

"Wow...You always bring home so many neat rocks, Mic!"

"...But um...I got a question..."

"I know you got a rock collection and all, but--Dad says that some of the stuff from your mine is, like...Really expensive?"

"Why don't you sell them?"

"Mic do. Not all, though." "More important things than money. Mic like these rocks." "Why?" "They special TO Mic."

"They have special memories. ^W^"

"And Mic got special rock for special brother."

Mic: ....Rgh...?

"Aw, Mic...You really think I'm special?"

Beck: !!

"Hmm hmm!"

"Beck more special than any shiny rock on Earth!"

Mic: ...?

Mic: Beck...?

Beck: BIG BROTHER--

Mic: Ow...

Mic: Why... Why Beck HERE...?

Mic: ....Why Mic here--

Mic: -Why do we feel hurt all over??? Ow--

Beck: MIIIIIIC!

[CLANK--]

[Instead of answering his brother's confused questions, he simply glomped into his fallen form, looking even smaller next to his giant sibling.]

Beck: -MIIIIIIIIIC--

Mic: ?????????

Mic: -...Wait, we are underground, WAS THERE A CAVE IN--

Mic: Is--Is Beck okay?

Beck: -Sniff-

Beck: Y-Yeah.

Beck: I'm okay...

Mic: -Nnngh--

Mic: M...Mic can't move--

Mic: -What happened, why can't we remember the last week--

Mic: Beck--shouldn't be here, it dangerous--

rrrrr…

Beck: !!

Mic: ? -Drill?-

RRRRRR…

RRRRRRRR…

“aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA—”

[WHANG!]

Mic: OW--

Digger: @.@

Mic: .....??????

Mic: D--Digger?

Mic: Why Drill Brother here--

Mic: -What is going ooooooon-

Digger: …

Digger: -Perks up- HELLO YOU BETTER?! YES GOOD—

Beck: YEAH I DID IT--

Digger: -Civ form now, patpat as sprawlhug-

Mic: -Oh, okay, hugs now, apparently-

Mic: -No objections here-

Digger: MAAAAJOR YOUR BROTHER BETTER NOW YES GOOD

Bat: -From farther up the tunnel- HOORAH!

Bat: MIC! YA HEAR ME?

Mic: -PING!-

Mic: -Baaaaaaat-

Bat: NICELY DONE, PRIVATE!

Beck: ^.^

Bat: DON'T WORRY, SOLDIER, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO RETRIEVE YOU!

Mic: -Again, confusion, but we're going to assume there was a cave in so, okay-

<DWN-018>: > Nice of you to make such a nice path to get through.

<DWN-018>: >We should be down in a few minutes. I’ll carry you out.

Mic: -PING, okaaay-

<DWN-018>: >You’ll have some proper rest. And plenty of companionship.

Beck: Yeah...

Beck: -Hooof, we're also gonna rest on top of Mic bro- -Is very sore-

Digger: HOKAY THEN, yes good—

Digger: OH! Any news of Felix? Is he better?

<DWN-018>: > …

<DWN-018>: > One thing at a time, cousin. =__=

<DWN-018>: >We’ll get you both back, and worry about the other rescues later.

Mic: --?????

<DWN-018>: >So everyone hang tight.

Beck: Got it!

Beck: Try to relax for now, okay, bro?

Mic: -Deep rumbles of thought-

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

=CHAPTER 4D: AVI’S NEWS REPORT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—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 to let them know where I went…?)

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 six numbers on it—

One for Dr. White, one for Dr. Cossack, one for a “Ms. Nighthawk,” one for her brother Goose, one for Kate herself, and one for Cardinal…]

Jack: ……

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: …..

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 that Piers guy didn’t tell you–then again I didn’t exactly tell him everything 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.]

“If you are back, that means Father can talk to his friend again!”

Jack: …..

Jack: (…Isn’t this the kid from earlier…??)

“Where is мой герой?”

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.]

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 my brother still. Papa is in the Meadow working on Tobias and helping learn about the virus.”

Jack: (Ah, knew it–guess she never left…)

“Where is Mister Cardinal?”

Jack: I….I don’t know, miss.

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.]

“Mr. Verde 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, да?”

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 Kate 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: …….

[He really didn’t want to think on it, but he couldn’t help but picture it. He’d already felt the brush of death once before….]

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 do 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—>>

=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #4=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

((Incomplete prewriting: 07/04/2016T medal ceremony and speeches))

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

{July 4th, 20XX}

[The sky was clear and bright on the morning of Independence Day as the Mighty Numbers took their seats in the crowd.]

((Pings between them as someone—maybe Beck—asks if they know what’s going on. Jack adds that it’s a good question.))

[They were not alone; Jack, the Rebel Angels, the Sandas, and the Cossacks were all there with them. The Robot Masters were in their armor, looking very much uneasy and feeling out of place.]

<DWN-024>: > {All we know is that President Morandi is making a speech. Why we have to be here, I do not know—but Mikhail seemed to think it was important.}

((Some back and forth about this))

<DWN-019>: >Well, I for one find it rather impressive <DWN-019>: >that they put together the setup so quickly!

[They were all gathered together in one of the city gardens. There was a large, grassy field where tables and chairs had been set up, as well as a small platform and a podium. The garden was decorated in red, white, and blue, with the Old Glory proudly on display in the form of small flags in the centerpieces on the tables, and as a large flag near the podium. The garden seemed untouched by the chaos of the last two weeks: indeed, it was as if it had never happened here.]

((Someone remarks that Felix must have come by in the night to restore the gardens to their former glory.))

[The man in question was seated at a nearby table, quietly playing with string. He was hard to recognize at first; he wasn’t wearing his usual gear, and was dressed instead to fit in with the rest of the crowd as much as possible.

Beside him sat several others that they had met on their journey or otherwise knew well—some having traveled for the occasion, and others having returned home to Titus itself.]

Beck: (There’s Mao, Felix… that must be Eli with Gwen and the baby…. And I’ll bet that’s Drake there with them, too.)

[He could see other Xelbots in the crowd as well—most he recognized from advertisements, though a few he had met in person.]

Beck: (Plume, Cassidy, Laura… not sure who the one with the wolf outfit is, but I know I’ve seen her before…)

[There were many dozens of other people he didn’t recognize, and the reporters—]

Beck: -Double take- (Goose?)

[MN.9] //: Goose, is that you?

[The mirror punplane give a winning smile and a thumbs up in the distance. He was in his Civilian form, and only recognizable to those who knew him. He seemed to be standing in for Avi, as far as Beck could tell.]

Beck: (I guess Kate must be here, too…. I don’t see her, though…)

[He turned around to sit back down in his seat, swinging his legs a bit beneath the table.]

Beck: (I wonder what everyone’s here for…)

[He didn’t have long to wait to find out. Soon, the music from the live band faded, and the chatter started to die down. When everything was quiet, the person at the podium began speaking.]

“Would everyone please rise for our national anthem…”

[There was a slight rumble from chairs being pushed back and people standing up. Attention was given to the flag as the song began to play, and the woman at the podium sang in a clear voice. Emotion flickered through the crowd, and the public channels became an almost stifling sea of pride, devotion, sorrow, joy, anxiety, and hope. Even with tuning all but his family out, the channel was still filled primarily with Bat’s rather strong emotion stirred up by the anthem, which overpowered the others’.]

[MN.2] //: Careful there, Batty! Don’t go all waterworks on us when we’re on TV!

[MN.5] //: ((Some sort of retort to this))

[MN.1] //: Settle down, you two. Secretary Donald is about to speak.

[The Secretary of Defense was sharply dressed, and gave off an air of authority.]

[MN.3] //: I wonder when he got hiszz other clotheszz. He didn’t have that uniform with him when you brought him back from the White House, did he?

[MN.7] //: Quiet—

[MN.3] //: Oh, pleaszze—he’szz juszzt introduczzing Madame Prez. No biggie.

[MN.5] //: Look sharp! He just said for the audience to be seated!

[There was a moment of quiet whispering as President Minerva Morandi came and took the podium. A hush fell over the crowd, and then she began speaking.]

Min: Thank you all for coming here. Some of you have traveled long and far to be here, and I assure you—each and every one of you is appreciated and welcomed here today.

[She spoke in a relaxed tone, one that was informative in nature. The same kind of tone you might find in a classroom.]

Min: Today we celebrate and honor Independence Day. This living memorial to the American spirit dawned this year on the tail of one of the most devastating disasters in our nation’s history: arguably the worst crisis in living memory for many of us here today.

Min: A fortnight ago, a crippling virus went live and swept across the nation. This plague of violence and destruction lasted eleven consecutive days. During this time, many homes were destroyed, families scattered, and priceless lives lost forever. We stand here today in a nation recovering from grievous injury: a desolation that has not been seen outside of times of war or terror. The scale is a likes of which has never before been seen in our nation’s history, and will be remembered in the tides of time along with 9/11 and Pearl Harbor. We are all—at most—only one or two degrees of separation from loss. Truly, it has been an ordeal that we will never forget.

[There was a moment of somber silence out of respect for the honored dead, leaving them alone in their thoughts.]

((Reflection on this))

[Min spoke up again.]

Min: And yet, the sun rises. It rose today on a free nation, full of brave men and women who stood tall against the darkness. It rose today on a people of unbroken spirit: a people unconquered by fear or despair. It rose today on a nation that still retains her greatest assets: the dream of a bright, prosperous, and peaceful future… and the people who live to carry out this dream through their force of will.

[She spoke more intensely now.]

Min: You all have heard tales of our countless heroes: from those who serve in an official capacity, to the everyday man brought up to the challenge. For every report of chaos, there is a report—or several—of great deeds. But the greatest story has yet to be told: and that is one we must write ourselves. A story we will write together, standing truly united.

Min: And that is the story of how we rose again, like a phoenix from the ashes, to stand once again as the shining city on a hill.

Min: This is our story. It does not end with desolation and despair—instead, it carries on past the dark and into the dawn. Yes, the sun rises: and it shines down on potential. From the clouds we will spin our own silver linings. We are not a people who break under terror—not in the dismal moments of our distant past, and not after the dark days of the present.

Min: We are a people of spirit: the drive to produce, to create something new. The burning desire to secure a safe and eager future for our friends and loved ones has not diminished, and this fire will carry us through as we pull together and rebuild.

Min: We will work together, side by side. Not just with each other, but also with our friends and allies. Together, we will bring life back to our cities, and peace back to our people!

[There were loud cheers at this, and much applause. Minerva smiled and looked down over her glasses.]

Min: It will not be easy, but nothing worth doing is painless. There will be obstacles—for that is the way that life is.

Min: But we shall overcome them, just as our ancestors overcame the great trials of their pasts. Working together, we will reach for the stars—and together, we shall thrive.

Min: I leave you now with the words of one such hero—words we all can live by.

Min: “Hope LIVES.”

((Undoubtedly some reaction to this))

Min: As long as we hold on to that hope, and do not let it die… working together, we can travel the roads wherever our dreams take us.

Min: Let the fire of hope burn brightly within each and every one of you not only this day, but in the days to come. Do not be afraid to pitch in—no good deed, however small, is without meaning.

Min: And remember: greatness starts with you. It cannot be done without you.

Min: Thank you.

[There was another round of applause, and Minerva stepped down and off to the side, speaking with some individuals who were standing near a table in the back. Meanwhile, Desmond came back up to the podium. He began to speak when the noise died down.]

Des: As the President alluded to, the past few days have been filled with tales of heroic deeds, great and small. The greatest of these have caught the media by storm, and their stories have been heard across the community. Today, we shall recognize these heroes, and give them the full honors that they have earned.

((Some reaction and excitement as they suddenly realize THAT'S why they're there today))

[As they were talking among themselves, Desmond began calling off names. As each person was listed off, they came forward to the platform. There, after Desmond gave a brief description of their bravery and heroic deeds, Minerva presented them with medals and shook their hands.]

((More excitement, Avi recognizes half these stories, Bat’s explaining what the medals are for, etc. etc.))

[There were now only three boxes left on the table.]

Des: ((Calls off Jack’s name))

Jack: —?!!?!

((YAAAAY JACKIE))

[An invisible hand yoinked the stunned CDN out of his seat and gave a prompting nudge forward, almost causing him to stumble.]

<FMN-008>: > Congratulations, Jackie. <3

Jack: ((STILL VERY MUCH ALL ???!?))

((Pic—Jack receiving his medals))

Des: ((Gives an account of Jack’s daring and heroic venture to evacuate the Space Needle in the midst of a rainstorm while under fire, and awards the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor and Presidential Citizens Medal))

[There was a loud round of applause and the Mighty Numbers cheered.]

((Various more YAAAAAAY JACKIE, and then he goes off to his seat again rather stunned))

[There was a moment of silence after the applause died down, with Des taking a pause. It seemed to draw and heighten attention.]

Des: With heroism comes sacrifice—the sacrifice of self for the sake of others. Not every tale of heroic deeds is without price—and it is such a sacrifice that we recognize now.

((Reaction to this))

Des: At this time, we ask that Cardinal Light’s representative please come forward to receive the medals in his place.

[There was a sudden burst of anxiety across the feeds.]

<DWN-012>: >Wait—one of us has to go up there? On international TV?

<DWN-011>: >Who?

<DWN-013>: >Well, with Cardinal gone, Nico's the acting head of the family…

<DWN-018>: >I don't—!

<DWN-018>: >Can't— can't someone—

<DWN-018>: > -HELP, CAN'T SOMEONE ELSE DO THIS— -

[Aww, that was very much pleading data being sent to the Mighty Numbers—]

[MN.2] //: ...UH, OKAY, SHADE BRO—

[MN.8] //: -Grumbles- -Me goin' up there is gonna stir up trouble-

[MN.5] //: -THEN WE WILL—-

[MN.1] //: Stand down, Bat.

[MN.1] //: As head of this family...I think I should go. From one leader to another.

[Pyro strode up to the platform, standing at the ready. He looked very snappy in the fireproof suit that Felix had made for him, which had finally been put to good use.]

((Pic—Cardinal (as a ghostly entity) being presented with his medals))

Des: When the virus broke out, Cardinal Light set about personally evacuating all of Kansas City’s major landmarks, fighting his way non-stop through several days of combat before he succumbed to internal injuries. This did not deter him from setting out to find his best friend—a journey which took him to the White House. Working under fire, he successfully evacuated the White House of all visitors and personnel with only one casualty—himself.

((Reactions to this))

Des: Although he is sadly not able to be here today, we recognize Mr. Light’s great efforts in helping the heartland and the nation’s capital. He is hereby awarded: the Presidential Medal of Freedom…

[Minerva began pinning the medals to his suit.]

Des: …the Medal of Honor…

Bat: ((Remarks on how he is getting REALLY high honors))

Shade: ((Reflects on this))

Des: …the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal…

Shade: ((More internal commentary))

Des: …and the Purple Heart.

Shade: ((Final—likely wistful or rueful—commentary))

[There was another round of applause, and Minerva shook Pyro's hand firmly.]

Min: When he wakes up again properly, let him know that we'd like to see him, hmm?

Pyro: I will make sure he knows.

[After the applause died down, Pyro took his seat again.]

Pyro: -Touches the medals lightly- ((Internal commentary/reflection))

[Murmurs ran through the crowd with excitement. The air seemed charged—and not just with Tobias and Dyna being on the edge of their seats in anticipation.]

Des: Finally, we recognize the hero who made today possible. The young man who saved not only his family, but the lives of everyone across this nation—and the welfare of those in nations beyond it.

((EXCITED CHATTER))

Des: ((Calls Beck forward))

[Loud cheers erupted from EVERYBODY there as Beck took the stage, creating a din that Des didn’t even try to talk over.]

Beck: ((Reaction to this))

[The noise _eventually_ died down.]

((Pic—Beck getting his medals))

Des: ((Goes on to summarize and praise BECK, THE HERO, going over how he rescued his family and those that had been trapped, cleaning up Titus, purging the virus once and for all, and restoring everyone back to their healthy selves. He is awarded with: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor, and Health and Human Services Secretary's Recognition Award.))

Beck: ((ALL THESE FEELS, HOW TO HANDLE THEM))

[The crowd roared and cheered again, and he got a standing ovation. Fireworks went off overhead.]

((YAAAAAAY BEEEEEEECK, OUR HEROOOOOO

HEROOOOOOOO))

Beck: ((PEOPLE BELIEVE IN ME NOW, AAAAA))

((HEROOOOOOO))

Min: Congratulations, Mighty Number Nine!

((HEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO))

Beck: ((Concluding thoughts on the matter, hope lives))

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

=CHAPTER 5C: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

{In the Meadow…}

[It was indeed a long day.

They had done what they could to stabilize the newcomers, though they eventually had to call Siam out of his room to make sure the injured fighters had been properly stabilized. Skull was left to take watch over one of them, while Digger went off on his own, seeming troubled.

By now, the news of FMN-009’s decision to pursue his older sister was well known, and some had gathered around a video feed to watch his progress. Skull had chosen not to.]

Skull: -Vents a soft sigh-

[The temperature had been increased much higher than usual, and there is a sound machine playing the ocean waves. Skull flicked at an iPad every so often, as it’s his turn to keep watch on the recovering Xelbots—Plume in person, and Landcrusher through remote camera observation.]

Skull: ({I would have thought that since Mic can fit in here, he could too, but… I suppose it was deemed he’d feel more comfortable among the earth and terrain rather than inside a lab.})

[He looked over at Plume again thoughtfully.]

Skull: ({I wonder whatever happened to the other gynoids? Father said there were survivors—AI&As, even… if only partially realized…. …I get the feeling he knows far more than he has told anyone else.}) … -Soft snort- ({Four is going to flip when he sees her. And Dyna, for that matter.})

Skull: … ({I think he’ll be terrified of Fighting Eight for other reasons, though. Mmm.})

[......]

[PING--!]

[IKN.1 IS NOW ONLINE.]

Plume: Mmmn...

Plume: --?

Plume: (Ow…)

Skull: …!

Skull: Ah… Good afternoon. Welcome to the Meadow lab.

Plume: ....

Plume: -Abstract, confused data--

Plume: {Lab...?}

Plume: {Where...}

Plume: -Ow, whyyyyy does everything hurt--

Plume: {I....}

Skull: You have been injured. You were brought here to recover. It is safe here.

Plume: {--But--}

[Eyes furrow as she tried to sift through blank memories...]

Plume: {I don't...remember being hurt...}

Plume: {...B...Brother--where is...?}

Plume: {Is he here...?}

Skull: (She seems to be searching for someone…) There was one other brought here also--the two that brought you here are gone, however.

Plume: {P...Pine...?}

Plume: {No, wait, he...he's still on the island...isn't he...?}

Plume: -Is just--very confused, how did we get here, we were on the island, right--??-

Skull: -data for now, to bypass language-

Skull: -You were brought here upon request, that is all we know, really-

Skull: -We are a bit low on Xel, but more will arrive tonight. If you would like to eat, however, we can get you something?-

Skull: -Or juice or something-

Plume: -That...that would be nice...-

Plume: ({Request…})

————————

{Memories…}

[A cold rain. Sirens back and forth. Some sort of strange rip in the sky itself.]

“He will be back. And then, you will rest.”

[What a strange man… such a formidable design, but he was twirling pool rings…]

“All will be clear in… due time.”

[SANDA LABS, THE NEXT MORNING]

[After Beck’s return with Brandish at his side, the rest of the morning passed mercifully without event. True to their word, Fighting Mighty Numbers One and Six sent over breakfast for everyone—even the injured, who were still asleep.

Dr. Sanda (who had been forced to take a rest by his daughter) resumed repairs at once after breakfast was over. There were three patients to tend to—Brandish, Jack, and Carmen.

Brandish’s repairs proved to be mostly straightforward, as had the other Mighties: exhaustion and a low Xel count accounted for the majority of the trouble. Unlike the others, though, he also had sustained acid damage—and that was something that Dr. Cossack handled personally, as he had more insight into Shadow’s abilities and weaponry.

Jack, for his part, had sustained pretty heavy internal damage—including, but not limited to: damaged sensors, a broken transceiver, and internal Xel loss… all from hitting the tunnel face first at high speed. Luckily for him, his stance had been unsteady enough that he was mostly knocked back at the first impact, making it more of a glancing blow. Patching him up was a fairly straightforward affair, and one that Mikhail was able to handle mostly on his own, once Brandish had been seen to.

Carmen, on the other hand.

Her younger brother had made an understatement in his report of her injuries.

She had been battered by a large piece of flying debris at high speed, which would have taken out lesser constructs on the spot. There were minor irritations webbed all across her torso, where she had struggled against the fine wires that had bound her.

But all that paled in comparison to what had happened as a result of hitting the Alpha 1 Tunnel at 90+ mph.

The impact had split her radar dish and cracked her skull, and caused some of the thin wires to bite into her skin. The whiplash in falling to the hard surface she had been standing on had compounded the internal damage further. The shift into a civilian form had quite possibly saved her life—it had either stopped most of the Xel loss, or at least slowed it down.

Her father had been reluctant to allow her to stay under someone else’s care, but had to admit that she had sustained serious enough injuries that would make a sudden transfer a cause for concern. He turned most of his attention—when he wasn’t looking after Plume and Landcrusher—to learning more about timespace and different worlds.

This delighted Siam, who took advantage of the situation to completely lose himself in his research. He was no longer actively responding to anything less than a direct order or emergency alert… slightly to the annoyance of his older brothers.

As for Shadow…]

-Ping.-

[Sure enough, just as Dr. Cossack had predicted… it wasn’t long before he got back in contact with them.]

-Ping.-

[It would appear his contact of choice was none other than the leader of the Mighty Numbers: Pyro.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -Ping.-

[MN.1] //: --!!

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Shadow?

Shadow: ! -Sort of hunches his shoulders up, feeling suddenly embarrassed/shy-

[The raw data itself would seem to indicate that yes, it is Shadow, albeit not a very talkative one. Not that that’s anything new. More like a reversion, really.]

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Oh, thank goodness, you're alive--

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Are you alright?

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -This, it would seem, is a matter up for debate-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Wait what--

[REN.2] //: -And we can feel the amount of worried Data from Pyro- He is not injured, Number One.

[MN.1] //: --Your Highness?

[REN.2] //: Yes, hello. Shadow would like to speak with you about some...pressing issues.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > I am functioning, although whether or not that is a good thing is a matter of debate. -n-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -What--but of COURSE it's a good thing ugh not you TOO.-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > … -Wait what-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -What do you mean-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ....

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: It's...Seven.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -He is just...ngh, it hurts to see him like this, it wasn't his fault but he just...can't help but blame himself-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: .....

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -Data suggesting a soft sigh and closing eyes-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > Where do I even begin…? Even I do not know the full beginning, and much of what has happened as of late has been lost to me.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > I could not handle—I could not bear—could not take on the burden of such a heavy thing, and so new to me at the time…

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -Despair… was it despair? I cannot know, but that is the only thing I can guess…-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ......

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > For us, you ((pl.)) have always been that rare source of hope… for our world is all but darkness, save for a few who show kindness—but the world itself is dark and without mercy. There is no hope; one must live on without it, and be content with simple blessings of survival and family.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >But such is a darkness so great and terrible that any light that defies it becomes maddeningly precious, overwhelmingly so—if only one can ensure that light staves off the spread of such… suffering, such bleakness in the world—

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > To see the darkness in the one place you were determined not to let it pass…

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > … …It was too much for me. I had never known the loss of hope before, as I had never had it to begin with, until all of you. That loss was more than I knew how to handle, as my Emotions program… -Sigh- We are prone to stupor in times of great distress, but my system has yet to adjust and advance to the level of even very young constructs, for I have not had it very long.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > I suspect my brothers hoped I could speak with Sensei, to buy some time, but…

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > This time, he did not hear me, and I… -Trails off- …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …I did not really know—and even only vaguely understand—what was going on. I was simply… -…Data, we just had to get the swords away from him, and then, perhaps, we could talk or restrain and THEN talk, had to get the swords away-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -Nothing else mattered, I did not care about the anger or aggression, it simply did not matter, it just did not-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ....

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Shadow...

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ....

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Look, I...I'm not angry with you, or what you did--surprised, yes, but...

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > I very narrowly kept on going.

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

“Remember… Cardinal is used to being hunted. And in our world, you DO not stop until you are dead.”

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

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >Such was my intention.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: .....

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Slow, drawn out breath.-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Which is why I am very glad it was narrowly and not the OTHER way around.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Still, if you didn't interfere at that moment...-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > … -If you say so… but personally this is troubling because it is not the first time that we have had to be talked down, this aggression is… very deep, it would seem-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …It was never my intention to destroy. No. … -But I was not bothered by inflicting incredible damage… it is hard to explain-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …I still do not understand why he did not leave right away.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >Why did they linger there? If Lady Sanda had placed him there, surely, she could also have called them away. Why did that not happen?

[MN.1 to DWN-24] //: --Xel Transfer onto a moving location is rather difficult enough--it actually took a bit before he could be transported safely. Call couldn't lock onto him fast enough, and I suspect Beck knew that...

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ...And thus he...he turned to seek aid from the one that was most like his brother.

Shadow: …!

Shadow: …

[…He seems…

…troubled, by that.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …But… when that did not happen, I gave him the amulet, as he stated his goal was to leave safely.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >And still, he did not leave. Why?

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ...Either he didn't want to leave you behind...

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Or he was too....

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: (...Too scared.)

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -Cautiously, as if he is wary—though whether of Pyro, Beck, or just in general is hard to say- If he had left, that would have… helped.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Perhaps...

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Data, you must remember that he is still young, Shadow, and all this is hard enough as it is...-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -With no gentleness or hesitation, being very up forward- Perhaps I may have reminded him of his guiding brother.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > He, too, reminded me of a brother.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: . . .

[DEATH WEARS B L U E]

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …I will not lie to you, Pyrogen. Now is not the time for niceties. This is important.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >He was not the Nine I remembered from before, Pyrogen. He has changed.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >And the change worries me VERY greatly.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >It was terrifying. I was certain he was going to kill me, Pyrogen!

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >When he did not leave like he claimed was his goal, what else was I to conclude in that moment, with ALL MY BROTHERS OFFLINE!?

[DEATH WEARS BLUE]

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Shadow--

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: He's not like HIM!

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -This is OUR brother, and the changes he's gone though so far are great--

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -But he WOULDN'T take a life because that isn't who he is and we would NOTICE if he was--

Pyro: (...turning into something like the Menace...)

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Ngh, the point IS that Beck isn't...-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -.....-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -He isn't the Menace.-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: . . . .

[Shadow seems to recoil and give off acerbic data at that response, but as Pyro calms, so does he. He then seems very worn out.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …Neither is Rock the Blue Menace, Pyrogen. Do you understand?

[Indeed. As had been explained before…]

((Profile pic here with the split screen showing the two sides to the Blue Bomber))

[…The Menace was a program separate from Rock’s Awareness.]

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: . . .

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >During and after the fight… acting like two different people, in a sense. That bothered me.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >To be so bold and… -…mmm, data, participant, almost… Almost Cardinal-like—-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …but then to become seemingly timid afterward.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >That change bothered me, though I could hardly coherently process why at the time.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …At the very least, it is not healthy at all.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >It was as if in the fight, he were a different PERSON.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >It could very well be that my delusion is the mad anxiety of a fugitive, for such could be expected. Things were already strained from the beginning, and all that has happened has reverted things not to that point, but even further back.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >It is… logical and possible that I have misunderstood… everything. …And I am willing to… admit to that.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >But I am warning you now, Master—if I were the head of the family in absentia, what I saw would have provoked me to withdraw everyone back home, where you ((pl.)) could not find us.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: . . .

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Sighs, very, very tired data-

Pyro: (...Dear God, they're...they're going to be terrified of Beck at this rate...)

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …I have not spoken to the others about this, nor have I connected to the database. For sanity’s sake I will have the incident encrypted, and possibly isolated from my next sleep cycle, to be withheld until the matter is further resolved.

[He seems suddenly bitter.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >For what else are the hunted to conclude, especially when they have acted above their station?

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: >We have made things worse, and it only proves to you all that we are not tame, nor shall we ever be safe for humanity.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > -What have I done, this cannot be—-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Shadow.

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > —…

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -For God's sake, Shadow--

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: Please come home.

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -It's going to be alright, just--PLEASE, come home.-

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > …I…

<DWN-024 to MNN-001>: > … -I will… come… home.-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: -Relief-

[MN.1 to DWN-024] //: ...Thank you.

[PING!]

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...Dr. Cossack?

<MC005 to MNN-001>: >Mmn?

<MC005 to MNN-001>: >Sorry, I was just talking with the Sanda twins about making a press release—thankfully, the Sixes stopped FMN-008 from showing up on any news cameras…

<MC005 to MNN-001>: >What is it?

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...It's Shadow.

[MN.1 to MC005] //: He is coming back. Soon. He contacted me.

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > …

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > -Slowly- …Well that is a good sign. It means he is no longer in an active Combat mode. He must have been with Father Cruz, to be able to reach that point so quickly.

<MC005 to MNN-001>: >He doesn’t say anything at all when in an active Combat mode, you see… -Absentminded- Ever. Which is why you all misinterpreted him when you saw it—that is unique, among all the others.

[MN.1 to MC005] //: I see...mmn...

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...Well...While I'm not sure where he is at the moment...

[MN.1 to MC005] //: He and I talked for a bit.

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...and he...brought up some very... very concerning matters...

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...Matters concerning Beck.

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > …

[He sighs.]

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > …Come speak to me in person. We need to talk.

[MN.1 to MC005] //: ...Yes, Doctor.

{Later…}

[Dr. Cossack was waiting in the kitchen, preparing some hot chocolate.

He looked better than he had previously, to be sure—he was improving, now that he was more in control of the situation.

But he still seemed distracted, and also perpetually tired.

There was a signal coming from one of his lab pockets that was slightly disorienting at first—he was actively jamming recording devices, other than Pyro’s own memory, of course.]

[Knock knock...]

[Moments later, the Mighty Leader stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He, too, looked equally as tired, and now even more so as he was plagued with turmoils of all that had transpired.]

[The fact that Dr. Cossack wanted to speak with him privately was even more worrisome...]

Pyro: Doctor...

[Mikhail looked up, blinking a bit as he came out of his thoughts. It took him a moment to remember, but then he set the mug aside, looking at it as he spoke.]

Mikhail: I will first tell you what I know, so that what I have observed will not be influenced by what he had to say.

[…This was a statement, not a request.

He folded his arms and pressed a thumb to his mouth as he spoke, his weary gaze glancing down—but his eyes glazing over, as if he were too tired to stare at the floor.]

Mikhail: I have seen a change in Mighty Nine’s behavior.

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

[It was as Shadow said...]

Pyro: ......

Pyro: What...kind of...change...?

Mikhail: He has become very withdrawn—to the point where he showed no response to affection. That is very unlike him.

[He closed his eyes and sighed.]

Mikhail: I am beginning to suspect he may be dealing with some form of moderate depression.

Pyro: .......

Mikhail: He specifically asked me to make sure no one would see what he is doing. He seems to worry about their judgment. Combined with how he wouldn’t return affection from all of you…

Mikhail: I’m worried about him.

Pyro: .....

Pyro: (Beck...)

Mikhail: This… this sort of behavior is something I have seen before.

Mikhail: Mr. Light became very weary and lifeless by the end of his second round with his brothers, and has become… permanently withdrawn, I’m afraid.

Mikhail: He needs someone to talk to. He cannot continue internalizing this, or it will sink like poisoned snake fangs into his soul.

[...Pyrogen crosses his own arms and sighs into his chest, shutting his eyes tightly.]

[...Hearing it from Shadow was one thing, but from Cossack himself...the thought of his own little brother being anything other than himself was...]

Pyro: ...I can--

Mikhail: And what will you do when he tries to push you off with less than his usual effort at putting on a smile?

Mikhail: You cannot make him talk to you. And neither can I.

Pyro: --.....

Mikhail: He is coming into his own, now, Pyro, and very rapidly, at that.

Mikhail: He is no longer taking orders from you.

Mikhail: You do not have the authority you once did.

Pyro: . . .

Mikhail: So using that context will not make progress.

[The older gentleman looked up, a sympathetic and fatherly look in his eyes.]

Mikhail: I should like to speak to him, ere the hour grows late. We still have several to find, and… I think it is important that I talk to him before he finds Cardinal.

[He placed his hands behind his back and went over to look at a photograph.

It was from Beck’s birthday.

Everyone was smiling and laughing, in costume—you could practically feel the joy from the photo.]

Pyro: . . . .

[There were Snow, Kalinka, Beck, BB8.

There were Felix and Digger and Mic.]

[And in that corner, Skull and Shadow and Brand. And over there, Dyna and Tobias and Avi.]

[Pyro was cutting cake while Keltso handed out slices, Cryo was bouncing Echo like he was a dodgeball, Bat was talking with Nico, who was showing off my making some of the forks start hovering.]

[…]

[…And there they were, grinning shamelessly…]

[The two troublemakers, side by side.]

Pyro: (Those days...)

Pyro: ......

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

Mikhail: …

[He starts using sign language.]

Mikhail: “Tobias tried to stop Aviator from History Repeating. …His Awareness got shattered, and his interference has burned a deep scar into Six that will likely never fully heal—given that such a scar is still raw and red for the rest that carry those same memories.”

Mikhail: “Shadow tried to stop Brandish. He descended into Lethal Combat mode as the situation became more and more dire, and he suddenly found himself a Sole Survivor with his friend now clearly stronger and more resolved than he remembered before. His teacher tried to kill him, and he was close to cutting off Sev’s hands. He would not have stopped… were it not for the willpower and control that Brand himself had given him.”

[He stole a brief, pained rueful glance at Pyro.]

Mikhail: “Do you remember what was then said?”

Mikhail: -Speaks aloud- “It will not stop until EVERYTHING is gone.”

Mikhail: You do not remember, Pyro, because it was not you who said this. But back in the beginning, I tried to contact you. And I succeeded.

Mikhail: The response to my inquiry was a declaration that all must end in fire.

[…He’s fidgeting with his hands as he says this.]

Pyro: I...

Pyro: (I...I said...)

Pyro: I...

Pyro: ...I'm sorry... (Dear lord just--just how MAD was I, when...when I KNOW that...!)

[Cossack’s expression softened, and he walked over, lifting Pyro’s chin up a bit.]

Mikhail: …I understand, Pyrogen. …I’m not holding it against you.

Mikhail: But it is one of a string of occurrences in a troubling trend lately.

Mikhail: Every time we seek to interfere… it is almost like the matter is made worse. That is exactly why I had tried so hard to prevent it, to begin with. Tobias was an incident that could not have been foreseen very well, since we didn’t know what was going on…

Mikhail: With Shadow, we knew something like that would happen. …But I’d never seen most of those abilities before. I did not realize he could shadow walk…

Mikhail: If that has happened so far…

[He looks over at the photo gravely.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: …I can keep the others in line, but it is too late to prevent Cardinal from getting involved…

Mikhail: (With how bad it got between Shadow and Brand…)

Mikhail: (If those two find each other, how much /worse/ will it get…?)

Mikhail: (Especially considering…)

Mikhail: (Cardinal has military level orders…)

Mikhail: … -Sighs and turns his back, grabbing his hot chocolate-

Pyro: . . .

Pyro: (Shade...where are you...)

Pyro: (Where are you hiding...)

Pyro: . . .

Mikhail: -Sips the hot chocolate quietly, relaxing- (Ahh… better…)

[He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs inwardly.]

Mikhail: …Pyro…

Mikhail: What did you make of Cardinal’s departure, and continued absence?

[His eyebrows furrowed in thought for a moment.]

Pyro: ...He...he SHOULD be here.

Pyro: ...I...this might be because I am an elder myself, but...

Pyro: I can't help but feel... angry ...at him just--just taking off like that, and with the scarce supplies you have as well.

Pyro: ....

Pyro: But then again...those two...

Pyro: They're practically the same, and I have no doubt Shade would have...done similarly for him.

Mikhail: … -Mutter- Well that certainly could be a problem in the future…

[He downed a larger gulp of his drink.]

Mikhail: I’ll explain more when I’m done with what I’m working on, but there’s something I want you to keep in mind, Pyro.

Mikhail: The reason Cardinal is as advanced as his brothers is because his system evolved to be that way over time. He was not born with such complexity.

Mikhail: It’s easy to forget with how much he is in command and control of himself and others…

Mikhail: But he is still a prototype, Pyrogen.

Mikhail: He took what he did to ensure his best chance of survival.

Pyro: .....

Mikhail: He left because his mind, body, and soul were all bent toward his mission.

[He drummed his fingers on the side of the mug.]

Mikhail: He had about as much say in the matter as Beck did… probably much less.

Mikhail: He is a military construct, my friend. And the nation is in turmoil.

Mikhail: There is a great deal more to this than what there seems… and that doesn’t just go for the side of the virus.

Mikhail: There are more than two players in this matter…

Pyro: .....

Mikhail: Now then.

Mikhail: What did Shadow say that troubled you so deeply? … … -Gently- You didn’t have to talk him out of…?

Pyro: No, no, no...

Pyro: It's...he, too, noticed that change in Beck and...

Pyro: ......

Pyro: I just...the way he put it just as how DLN-001 isn't The Menace...

Pyro: ...And--how Beck seemed as if a different person when fighting, it just...

Pyro: -...scared him, even.-

Mikhail: -Frowns- …

Pyro: (He isn't the Menace...)

Pyro: (He won't be, he won't...)

Mikhail: I’m a Doctor, not a mind reader, son.

Mikhail: Whatever is going on in the code is something only your father knows. And Lord knows the poor man is working with enough already.

Mikhail: He, too, has become withdrawn, and I think he’s been avoiding me.

Pyro: --.... (Father...?)

Mikhail: Which is why I’m inclined to think Beck’s behavior is due to depression, and not… something else—it’s mirroring your father’s behavior, and he has mimicked Will’s ways before without realizing it.

Pyro: ... (True...)

Pyro: -Sighs- Beck always did spend more time with Father after... (After I benched him...)

Mikhail: …I haven’t talked to Will because… I think that’s Soichiro’s prerogative, as a life-long friend. As strange as it sounds… -Gives a faint smile- It HAS still only been… about six months since we first met, you know.

Pyro: ...Only just been half a year... (Seems....longer than that...)

[He clasped his hand onto Pyro’s shoulder.]

Mikhail: From what I’ve been told about Beck’s coding, I don’t think you have to worry about another force of will growing inside him. He’s been handling infected Xel for days now—when he isn’t fighting or recovering, he’s cleaning more to help repair your siblings. We know that this coding is fast acting and very severe—if there really were a problem? It would have been obvious a long time ago. Coupled with the fact that he has the filter he does…

Mikhail: There’s a saying for that which goes back over two thousand years. “A house divided cannot stand.”

Mikhail: And just as the context in which it was first said—evil does not drive out evil. Only good can do that.

Pyro: (...A house divided...)

Mikhail: No, this trouble is of the heart, not the mind.

Mikhail: I’m going to ask Will if he’ll let Beck have a camping sleepover with Kalinka in the Meadow. Just for the night. He’ll be within reach if we get any news that requires his action—but barring that, it’ll do him good to rest his weary soul. To look at the stars in a peaceful night—to remember what it was to have peace and contentment, to feel again what it is he is fighting for.

Mikhail: -Long sip, peering over rim of mug- It’s hard enough on a soldier, but he’s a young civilian. He needs that, even if he denies it.

Mikhail: And Pyro…

Mikhail: I suggest you go to sleep.

Mikhail: I realize it’s only late afternoon, but you really do need the rest.

Pyro: ....

[Pyro nods in response.]

Pyro: (...That'll be good for him...yes...)

Pyro: ...Alright, Doctor...

Mikhail: Yes. Things will be alright…

————————————

{Later…}

[Shadow did indeed arrive, as promised—though it was more by letting Cossack know where he was so he could be teleported. The Russian Doctor spent several hours running some diagnostics and talking with the star-born ninja quietly, before the latter was finally able to relax and be at peace. Although he was offered a chance to stay in the Meadow, Shadow, for his part, had joined Mikhail and David at Sanda’s labs. He kept a watch in the emergency bay, which was sadly well attended.

There was Brandish, of course. Thankfully, his physical injuries were recovering smoothly—but he seemed dead to the world. It was almost as if he were choosing to sleep to avoid dealing with what had happened. Shadow had hoped to speak with him, but had contented himself with just kneeling on the floor nearby, letting his presence serve as some form of comfort.

Besides Brandish, there were also CDN-7037 and FMN-008: Dencerjack and Fighting Mighty Countershade (better known to most as Carmen). They had both sustained critical injuries, though the nature of these hadn’t been made clear to the solemn ninja. Jack was stable (if practically comatose), but the lady sniper was not faring so well. Shadow had been obliged to leave the lab several times for many long hours as Sanda worked on her repairs.

And that wasn’t all.

Off to the side, behind a strange looking barrier, lay another Number Eight: DLN-008—Wily’s favorite son… Tobias.

He had been placed in strict technological isolation, for many reasons. Avi’s health was one reason. Tobias’s sanity was another. There was also the safety of the lab and the general public to consider—Tobias was infamously impulsive and defiant, and not above using his powers for his own ends.

Dr. Cossack had declared that the wide-eyed idealist would have to be kept Offline until it was clear how the public would react to all that had happened, now that they could voice their opinion. He was advising Will, Sanda, and the rest on that matter even now, which is why Shadow had this time for a bit of quiet and rest.]

Shadow: -Vents a sigh- …

Shadow: -Looks back over at Brandish- …

Shadow: (Oh, Teacher… I am so glad I did not go further.)

Shadow: (…I just wish that I knew what I am going to say—)

[He became distracted when he heard some of the readers beeping in protest at sudden spikes.]

Shadow: …???

[He looked over in slight surprise at Fighting Mighty Eight—]

Shadow: (Is she…)

Shadow: (Is she… dreaming?)

-*-*-*-

[Whimpers. Terrified whimpers.

Rough jerking, leaning in close to whisper—a toxic kind of soothing tone, a gentle purr that held not an ounce of love or mercy.]

“Y’ain’t worth /nothin’/, you know. First yer stupid enough t’ piss us off, an’ then foolish enough to run away, where no one can hear ya scream.”

[Choking noises.]

“Shhh shhh shhh, worm~ Oh, you had so much t’ SAY before… too bad none of it was useful. Even worse for you that ya wouldn’t use that tongue a’ yers t’ sing like a lark ‘bout yer makers…. /Maybe/ Ah’d have let ya keep it, if ya had.”

[Whimpering.]

“Then again… probably not. You dared to touch her, you filth.”

[A click, followed by garbled screaming.]

“Not t’ mention ya sliced up that poor child. You nearly killed him, you understan’? He’s STILL suffering because a’ the likes of YOU.”

[Weak screaming.]

“Aw, don’t give up NOW, Sawblades~ Ya still got a bit a’ dance left in you, Ah’ can /tell/.”

[Incoherent pleading noises.]

“HEH. Now THAT’s what Ah’ like t’ hear. Heh heh…”

[More clicking and locking noises. The babbling becomes more desperate.]

“Doesn’t matter you don’t know me, worm. Ah’ know you, an’ that’s enough. You’re long overdue t’ dance the hangman’s jig—an’ Ah’ am SO tired a’ /waitin/ on orders while the likes of YOU are allowed to run free and cause pain in the meantime.”

[Terrified screeching—]

-KZAP!-

“…Heh heh. Goodnight, Bladeblaster. -Blows smoke away from rifle- Y’ain’t worth mah time t’ kill—haven’t deserved THAT mercy, nope~”

[Cackling nearby.]

“Though OTHERS… may have a /different/ opinion on the matter. Me? Ah’d just as soon ya go get healed so Ah’ can /do this AAALLLLLL over again. And again. For the rest of your miserable little life.~/”

[The click of heels. Far off ripping and snarfing noises.]

“But Ah’ guess we can’t have everything, now can we?~~”

-*-*-*-

[Carmen “wakes” up with a start.]

Carmen: -DATA, ALL THE DATA—- (BRAND. BRAAAAAAND—)

[AAAAND then she was SCREAMING over the feeds—]

<FMN-008>: > BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND—!!!

[ P I N G--!]

[It was as if someone had just flipped a switch. Dead to the world before--]

[MN.7 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[His eyes snapped open in an instant, and he quite literally fell off of his repair table in his effort to race to his sister's side--but once he did regain balance, he was quick to send soothing signals to calm her fears, pushing aside his own pained turmoil in favor of Carmen.]

[MN.7] //: -Shhh...shhh...I'm here, I'm here...-

[MN.7] //: -You are safe, just listen to me...-

[MN.7] //: -Listen to the song of the forest, of the northern winds blowing over a hidden koi pond...-

<FMN-008>: > -bRAND BRAND I THINK I KILLED SOMEBODY wai can’t I remember or sEE NOTHIN’—- -In almost literal hysterics, readings going wild-

<FMN-008>: > -We were threatening a breakdancer and tranquilized him and— and planning gifts for Jack and talkin’ to Pyro an’—-

[Wow, that’s pretty trippy data she’s giving off. She’s clearly not really remembering much of anything.]

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

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

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

[MN.7] //: -Shhhhhhhh we're here, we're here, it's alright, you are safe, home...-

[MN.7] //: -All will be well...trust us, just listen for now, listen to our voice...-

<FMN-008>: > -And we said we’d take a bath and eat all the tacos—and…-

Shadow: .-. (…She sounds like she has high fever. I have not heard anything so… surreal since one of the parishoners back at home in the children’s ward was on a particularly strong cold medicine…)

<FMN-008>: > -…And…-

[She’s calming down quite a lot, seeming just… out of it, rather than panicked.]

<FMN-008>: > -And… Avi was making bad puns… and I made Clint laugh…-

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

[MN.7] //: -Just stop and listen...listen to the rustling of leaves and peaceful winds...-

[MN.7] //: -Calm, soothing data, nothing can hurt you, just think of a soft, burbling brook in a far away forest, where fireflies twinkle in the twilight and the grass blows with the eastern wind...-

<FMN-008>: > -And there were…-

<FMN-008>: > -…were…-

<FMN-008>: > …

[It takes a few minutes, but she does eventually calm down enough to pass out again.]

Carmen: Zzz…

Brand: . . .

[MN.7] //: .....

[MN.7] //: -Siiigh-

[MN.7] //: -You're safe...-

Brand: Carmen...

[His head bows in both worry and relief, although the latter emotion does not last for long.]

Shadow: … -And now we are concerned for Sensei, he kinda fell off the bed onto his face-

Shadow: …

<DWN-024>: > … -Softest of data signals, we are here-

[Brand ever so gently lifts his head, but that is all he does.]

[There is a long silence as Brandish looks over Carmen, the only visible sign of his pain in his dulled, icy blue optics.]

Brand: . . . .

Shadow: …

[....Brandish's hands slowly reach up to unlatch his chin guard, and the mask bandages that are underneath.]

[...The helmet comes off soon after.]

Shadow: …?

Shadow: (Wha…? What is he doing?)

Brand: ......

[A very heavy sigh escapes him, long and sorrowful.]

Brand: ......

Brand: . . .

Brand: {If....}

Brand: {I had...only been...stronger....}

Brand: {Perhaps...}

Brand: . . .

Brand: -This is all my fault, isn't it...?-

<DWN-024>: > Sensei—

Brand: {If my will had been...stronger...}

Brand: {My sister wouldn't be like this, Jack wouldn't have been hurt, my brother wouldn't have to save me...}

Brand: {And you...wouldn't have had to put yourself in danger...}

Brand: . . . .

Shadow: (…I really do not like where this is going—)

Brand: {...This is my fault, is it not...?}

Brand: {If...if I had only just...}

Brand: .....

[Shadow kneels down. His hands are folded inside his sleeves.]

Shadow: -Broadcasting- “{We are so very grateful for your safe return. We missed you and worried so much.}”

Brand: . . . .

Brand: I....

[Brandish looks to the side in solemnity, unable to directly look in Shadow's direction.]

Brand: {...I'm sorry.}

[A hand moves to cover his face...]

Brand: {I tried...to tell you then...that I couldn't...}

Brand: {But...}

Shadow: … (This must be so hard for them. They have not lived in our kind of world….)

Brand: {I couldn't...fight it...hard enough...}

Brand: {Those voices...}

Brand: {Such...rage...}

Brand: {...I...don't...}

Brand: {I don't...deserve...}

Shadow: —?! (Most DEFINITELY do not like /where this is going!/)

Brand: {If I was not...strong enough to overcome that...darkness...and DRIVEN to turn my blades against those I have SWORN to defend--}

Brand: {What USE am I?}

Shadow: SENSEI!

[Shadow didn’t wait, this time.]

Shadow: {I started this life by horrifically murdering my own brother, and putting my father in the hospital.}

Shadow: {Since then, I have attacked almost any that approached me-- including many brothers, and nearly yourself, Pyrogen, and Countershade as well.}

Shadow: {If Doctor Cossack had not stopped us, I would also have been part of the death of Greater Dusk. I threatened poor Dencerjack— scared him to the point of groveling for mercy. On purpose.}

Shadow: {I… expected betrayal, warned so strongly against the only people that have ever made us so alive…}

Brand: --.......

Shadow: {Whatever honor I have ever had… I owe most of it to you.}

Shadow: {To YOU, Sensei!}

[Brand suddenly turns at this, and there is clear... surprise, for the most part.]

Shadow: {You and your family are the best thing that has ever happened to us!}

Shadow: {I promise you, Teacher—with how dark the world can be, and with how grave the danger that is posed—if it had not been for your guidance, there is a high chance I may have had killed again by this point in time. Our family leader was Offline, and division was growing deep between myself and the second-in-command. I was aggressive, and a threat to any that seemed a threat to me. Which was almost everyone.}

Brand: {...Shadow...}

Shadow: {You cannot allow this to undermine the light that has led for relative ages.}

Shadow: {Tell me, Sensei—do you consider the Cossack Numbers to have use? To have honor?}

Brand: ......

Brand: {...I...feel as they are protectors...of a sort...}

Brand: (...Which, of course...of their father, and their sister...)

Brand: {...I do think highly of them...if it was not for Skull, in fact...}

Shadow: {They have been forced unto a darkness which made the world tremble in fear of poison and fire.}

Shadow: {Does this mean they are no longer worthy to live in the world, even though their minds are now their own?}

Brand: --.......

Brand: {I....}

[Seven seems to plunge into deep thought at his pupil's argument, eyes flickering this way and that, but never on him.]

Brand: . . . .

Brand: -...N-no...-

Shadow: {Then why should it be different for you?! There is no sense in such a judgment, Sensei!}

Shadow: {You deem yourself responsible for the actions of another. If the will of one mind makes the victim to blame, where does that place your family, Sensei?}

Shadow: {Do you not remember what it was that the Eldest said to you about this?!}

Brand: . . . .

Brand: {....But I still... failed ...despite his warnings...}

Brand: {....I couldn't...stop it.}

Shadow: {Teacher. You fought. We. We are not even strong enough to fight.}

Brand: . . . .

Brand: {You all fight in your own way.}

Brand: . . .

Brand: {But I...know what you mean.}

Brand: . . .

Shadow: …

Shadow: -Turning head slightly, data showing a bit of anxiety and confusion as he speaks hesitantly- {Do you…?}

Brand: ....?

[His eyes flicker in something akin to… fear?]

Shadow: {I… was not even thinking of an alternative, Sensei….}

Brand: ......

Shadow: {I wanted—no… I was driven to keep going, to keep going until my objective was filled, until I stopped you from using your swords…}

Brand: .......

<DWN-024>: > -…would have kept going, stronger and stronger, if I had not been stopped—-

<DWN-024>: > -I was this close to making an attempt of cutting your hands off, I WOULD have if Beck had not stopped me from becoming…-

Shadow: (…becoming another one of Doctor Wily’s cruelty-filled monsters…)

Brand: . . .

[He’s rather hunched up on himself now with how low he has bowed his head, almost with his face on the ground in prostration.]

Shadow: -We have wronged you and your brother, deeply, among the many others-

Shadow: -We have acted when it was not our place, and without consideration-

Shadow: -And I say WE because I am not the only one involved in the situation as a whole, though this particular instance is mine to blame alone-

Shadow: … -Unless you count that everyone else thought it would be a good idea to leave me to speak with you alone, with no context and the rest of them Offline- >__>; (Siam…)

Shadow: -NOT HIS SMARTEST OF IDEAS-

Brand: ......

[Brandish takes a seat on the floor, flicking his gaze at Carmen for a moment before he did so.]

Brand: .....

<DWN-024>: >I thought…

<DWN-024>: >I did not understand…. I thought… I thought he had…

<DWN-024>: > And all of my brothers were OffLINE, what else was I to [color=blue]think—[/color]

Brand: .....

Brand: That...is not your fault...

Brand: ...Nor...is it that...you interfered...

Brand: {...If you had not, I fear that what I might have done to my brother would have been far far worse.}

Shadow: —…

Shadow: -But we nearly stabbed your hands off—- -STILL A LITTLE DISTURBED HOW BRUTAL HE WAS HEADING-

Shadow: -And then we ran away, like a coward-

Brand: ......

Brand: For us...hands can be replaced.

Brand: ....I don't blame you, Shadow.

Brand: Under the circumstances...no, not at all.

Brand: ...The fact that you had not resorted to it--it shows how much you have progressed, no?

[Shadow shifts his weight slightly, as if he thought of lifting up his head but decided against it.]

Brand: ....

Brand: This darkness...that I had felt...

Brand: It is unmerciful, and it will stop at nothing until all is ash.

Brand: ...And thus it reflects in the darker parts of us, as well, in the darkness in all of us.

Brand: ......

Brand: {...I do not know why it is...this way.}

Brand: {But we...}

Brand: {We...must not falter against it.}

Brand: ....

Brand: {Not now....}

Brand: {Not while we still function.}

Brand: .....

Brand: ...Shadow...

Brand: ...I...have not taken many pupils, aside from my brother.

Brand: ...But you have been one of the best I have ever had the honor of teaching.

Shadow: … -Lifts his head slightly-

Brand: ....

Brand: If...only my own Sensei still walked this earth...

Brand: ...He would have liked you, I think.

Shadow: -Straightens up at this, his gaze distant as he thinks this over- …

Brand: ....

Brand: -...We...we would...still like to teach you, if you still see us fit to do so-

[Shadow looked up in surprise.]

Shadow: -Data, we thought we would be dismissed at best after what happened-

Brand: ......Shadow...

Brand: Who else would I have to teach if not you?

Brand: ......

Brand: ... -that and, admittedly, you are the only one that doesn't fall asleep right away when in meditation.-

[Okay, that makes Shadow snort, and the tension leaves his frame loosely.

Then he sighs and shakes his head.]

Shadow: …I would be honored.

Brand: ...

[Some relief finds it's way to his face, and he nods.]

Brand: ...Thank you.

Brand: .......

Brand: ....Do you...know where Beck is, right now...?

Shadow: …I… I do not know. He was here, but he left before I arrived.

Brand: . . . .

Shadow: After my own diagnostic tests, the Doctors left to discuss something about the data from you with Mr. Seiji and Avi.

Shadow: … -We are not sure WHICH Avi, though-

Shadow: -There are now two of them hovering about-

Shadow: At least your brother is somewhat recovered from the terrible punishment… -Looks over at Tobias with a weary expression- Though I fear it shall never fully leave him. Six has looked into our soul and seen the fathoms of deep suffering…

Brand: --...A-Avi....

Brand: (Nii-san...)

Brand: . . . .

[Shadow now seems panged with sorrow.]

Shadow: We wanted so… we tried so hard… to prevent such a thing….

Shadow: (If only we had not… if only we had not chosen to step aside, but had pursued investigation…. Could… could we have prevented this…?)

Shadow: Wherever we have sought to interfere, great suffering has been left in the wake.

Shadow: …

Shadow: -Darkly- And it is not even over.

Brand: .......

Shadow: There are three that remain to be found, Brandish. There are still three who are missing.

Shadow: Tobias is locked in shadows, held in a slumber ’til the fate of this future is known, for he has already shattered his mind…

Shadow: I shall submit myself, come what may—I, too, shall no longer interfere.

Brand: (Shadow…)

Shadow: The others are not so inclined, for they have seen and they must—they must obey and withstand the lockdown enforced by the Doctors.

Brandish: ….

Shadow: …All, that is. But for one.

Shadow: Three are missing, Mighty blades…

Shadow: Two of your elders.

Shadow: And a younger.

Brand: —!

Brand: N...no...

Brand: (Shade--!)

[...But if he was missing as well....]

[Then that means...]

Brand: ...Cardinal...

Brand: He is…

Shadow: Gone.

Shadow: With everything the lab had to offer.

Shadow: Power Capsules.

Shadow: E-Tanks.

Shadow: Experimental prototypes similar to E-Tanks.

Shadow: My light cycle.

Shadow: Tobias’s radio.

Shadow: Jazz.

Shadow: All gone.

Brand: {It can't be--has...has he gone mad--?!}

Brand: (Shade...who knows what sort of state of mind he is in, and...with Cardinal out there--!)

Shadow: -Looks out of the corner of his eyes- {A lot of people asked the same question. But it is not so simple as that. He remains compelled as much as I—as much as I had been, but with clear intent and purpose.}

Shadow: {He knows very well what may lay ahead. He actually said so, in the final words before he left.}

Shadow: “John 15:13”.

Brand: --.....

Brand: "...No...greater love than this...."

Brand: (Cardinal....)

Brand: . . . .

Brand: {Mngh...we can't let them find each other...}

Brand: (But they are BOTH masters of staying 'off the grid...')

Brand: (What if...?!)

Brand: (What if they end up KILLING each other--?!)

Brand: . . .

Brand: (Shade....)

Brand: (Where are you, brother...?)

Brand: (What are you doing...?)

{Meanwhile…}

[Having acquired another sample of the virus, Will was eager to begin his analysis in order to combat it--the sooner he could figure out how it worked, the faster this could all be resolved.]

[..But before that could happen, there were a few pressing matters that had to be addressed first...]

Call: Transferring Assimilation data to your terminal, Professor.

White: If you can, please start running the proper analysis programs, Call...I'll oversee them after this...

Call: Yes, Professor. Running...

[Sanda was busy speaking with his brother Seijiro--along with Aviator, and going over the footage from Brand's rescue as well as the others....to what end, Will could guess it was rather important.]

Will: ....?

Will: Mikhail?

[...What was he doing?]

[He had recommended the meeting in the first place, but he no longer seemed focused on the conversation. He was intently reviewing something on a different screen, extremely focused on his task.

It took a moment before he responded—without looking up.]

Mikhail: Yes?

Will: Is...is there something wrong?

[...He seemed...distracted.]

Mikhail: Mmm. Maybe. It depends on the source… (If it is what I think it is… then that’s still potentially trouble, but at least not the malicious kind…) Someone has been poking around in the RobotMaster Database.

Will: --??

Will: W...What? Who--?

Mikhail: Well, it was accessed from an actual computer, so it doesn’t leave the same clarity of key logging as if a construct had accessed directly. I have a theory, based on how little was touched.

[He turned to look directly at Will.]

Mikhail: I think it may have been Cardinal.

Will: --!

Will: ....But...why? What did he need from the Database? (Status updates--?)

Mikhail: Information. It seems that the first status update after the servers reconnected was looked over—that would be the current state for all of the DCNs, DWNs, and MNNs. That is the only thing that was looked over.

Will: Ah... (So he knows how everyone is...doing, more or less...)

Mikhail: I’ve been having my sons look over the data and follow the trail. If we’re lucky, we may learn where the information was accessed.

Will: ...I see... (I can only hope it was him...)

[Mikhail sighed, removing his glasses and closing his eyes.]

Mikhail: I’d have Tobias look into it… were it not for the fact that he remains very… precarious. I can’t bring him back Online at this point. Not until we know how the public will handle this.

Mikhail: He already blames himself for the state of affairs in our world. Should it repeat again… (I fear that will break his mind.)

Will: . . . .

Will: I....I'm not very sure how the public will...

Will: ........

Mikhail: Well… I gave what advice I could from my own experience. I know a thing or two about mitigating damage caused by international panic…

[He scowled at this, rubbing at his (gloved) hands absentmindedly.

After “the Russian incident” had been prevented from reaching a nuclear tipping point, Dr. Cossack had still been a person of interest in the case and was under the very real threat of being put to death due to his “involvement”. It was nothing short of a miracle that not only had he been spared the death penalty out of retribution, but he had also managed to have his name cleared beyond doubt.

If anyone would know what sort of thing to say, it would be him.

But the experience weighed heavily on him, and he did still blame himself to some degree for things that had happened—and beyond that, he also carried a troubling defensiveness for those that really HAD gone mad—like Wily, and Blackwell.

That had been a point of slight contention that may have become deeper… had Avi not interrupted it at the start, and the both of them been busy with other things after they regained contact.]

Will: ......

[Will knew all too well--or maybe not enough... of what Mikhail and his family had to endure during the Russian incident.]

[...Hopefully...something like that won't happen this time--the virus seemed to be centralized to only the United States and it's surrounding territories...]

[...But if it ever found it's way to other countries...]

Mikhail: Now that people are talking freely, you’ll need to make a press statement. I wanted to be more involved, but… -Sighs- I have a lot on my mind, and a LOT of work to do. I gave my input, and then left the Sandas and Avi to the details…

[...Ah, so that's what they were discussing...]

Will: .....Mikhail...

[Will places a hand on his shoulder, and a smile--it's a bit tired, but well meant all the same.]

Will: ...We'll get through this.

Will: --With six virus samples, I feel I have enough data to finally make sense of it's coding, at least.

Will: (Perhaps even make a breakthrough...)

Will: I...I just need time.

Mikhail: …I… I know. …I wish I could help you more, but I don’t know enough to be helpful and there’s no time to teach me…

Will: ...It's fine. I can handle this, Mikhail. Call's running the programs as we speak, and--

[ P I N G ! ]

Mikhail: ?

Will: ...Huh--?

[CDN.7037 IS NOW ONLINE.]

Will: ...!! It's Jack...!

Mikhail: ! Already?

[He switched the display to the lab camera.]

[......]

[CDN.7037] //: Mnnngh....ow....

[Jack was slowly coming to, shifting this way and that on his repair table--his eyes blink several times, adjusting to the sudden bright lights of the lab.]

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

[CDN.7037] //: Where...ow...

Mikhail: I better go down to talk to him…

<MC005 to CDN-7037>: >Hold still, Dencerjack. I’ll be right down.

Will: .....

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

[He leaves abruptly, leaving the camera on so that Will can watch if he wants.]

{Lab}

[Mikhail walked in to find Shadow apparently meditating next to Brand—who was either meditating or resting, it was hard to tell. Carmen was still asleep, though her readings remained a bit fitful.

Jack looked veeeeery disoriented.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Turns the lights down, he’s used to working in low light, he was just working on Anubis after all-

Jack: ...-blink blink-

Jack: ....Ngh... (So sore...)

Jack: (Ugh, I felt like I got hit by a truck...)

Mikhail: It’s alright, Jack. You’re safe. Try not to exert yourself too much right now. You’ve really been put through the wringer.

Jack: ...Nh...

[Jack's optics struggle to adjust--but when they finally do, he focuses on the Doctor.]

Jack: ...?

Jack: H...Hey, you're...

Jack: (Is that the Russian Doc Bird guy told me about...?)

Jack: ....Dr...Cossack...?

Jack: (....Wait am I in RUSSIA??)

Mikhail: Yes. I came over to help.

Jack: --...O...Oh...

[He doesn't attempt to sit up right away--his head felt very foggy, as if he had awoken from some long dream...]

Jack: Mnngh...

Jack: H...Here...?

Mikhail: We’re at Dr. White’s lab at the moment. Though as soon as you’re stable, I should like to move you both to the Meadow.

Jack: White....

[White....Lab...stable...]

[...Both.]

Jack: --!!

[Suddenly he BOLTS upright--]

Jack: Miss Eight--

[Carmen tosses and turns a bit before trying to sit up.]

Carmen: -oH GOD I’M LATE FOR WORK—-

Jack: --!

Shadow: -Opens his eyes- ._.?

Brand: --!!

Carmen: -GLITCH I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING WHERE AM I I NEED TO GET TO ENGLAND-

Brand: --England--?

Jack: --....!

[Did...did she still think he was...?]

Carmen: -YES England, gotta keep him safe from Cracker goons and snake brats—-

Jack: M...Miss Eight...

[CDN.7037] //: -Ping- -Hey--hey it's Okay, we're here--we're here--

[This gives her pause, though she’s clearly very disoriented.]

Carmen: …???

Mikhail: I’m sorry, Jack. Her transceiver is still slightly broken, so it may take a moment for her to respond….

Carmen: … Job? -Wha…-

Jack: Uh...

Brand: -...Even I am at a loss how to explain this...-

Jack: ......

[And then it clicks for her.]

Carmen: -Wait, that is Jack’s signal, okay-

Carmen: -Oh and Brand is helping, hi Brand, thank you kindly—-

[This placates her, and she lays down again.]

Brand: . . .

Jack: Uh...yeah...yeah, It's me. I'm okay, Miss Eight. (Mostly...)

Carmen: … -Eeeeverything is okay, then, sounds good—-

<FMN-008 has entered Deep Sleep mode.>

Shadow: .-.

Jack: . . . .

Shadow: …What happened to her? .____.;

Jack: Uh...it's...a long story...

Brand: .....-siiiighs-

Mikhail: She hit a wall going very fast. Think Twelve level of fast.

Shadow: -OW.-

Mikhail: As did you, Jack, so please, lay down.

Jack: ...Yeah...I did, now I remember... But...

[He looks over at her, and sighs deeply, letting himself fall back into the cushioned table.]

Jack: ...She got the worse end of it...

Mikhail: That is to be expected. She’s taller and heavier than you are. Though I wouldn’t bring up the latter if I were you. -Slight smile-

Jack: ...Eheh...yeah, she'd maim me a lil...

Jack: .....

Jack: She's...she needs to sleep that off, right? She's gonna be okay?

Mikhail: She’ll be asleep for quite some time. -Nods at Brand- She’ll become stable soon enough, with the both of you here. She will heal, yes. It just will take a little while.

[...This seems to get Jack to relax, some tension leaving his frame.]

Jack: .... Okay....

Jack: Yeah...I...I can do that. Be right here.

Jack: (...Wow...)

Jack: (...I actually did it...)

Jack: (...Well--not me, but the kid...)

Brand: .......

Brand: That DOES raise a few questions, however.

Brand: You ARE supposed to be in England--how did you...?

Shadow: …

Shadow: I wonder what she was going to tell us.

Mikhail: …Beg pardon?

Shadow: Her memory—whether from injury, illness, or both—seems to terminate shortly after the finals. She had contacted Master Pyro briefly saying she had important information to share. It was the last we heard of her, for all the communications went down.

Jack: .....

Jack: Wait....

[Mikhail holds up a hand.]

Mikhail: …Perhaps we had better start from the beginning.

[He goes over to the computer and types as he speaks.]

Mikhail: The beginning from this end being the first memory entry for you, Jack—invalid timastamp or no, it was important…

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > Jack is awake and we are about to learn something important, I think. I’m patching you through to listen.

[He turned around, crossing his fingers.]

Mikhail: You rebelled against Bladeblaster at that point. It’s not hard to see why in hindsight, of course, but at the time it sparked a great deal of curiosity.

Mikhail: That entered you into the RMDC as a positive entry, which was very unusual and very fortunate for you, Jack. When we had the meeting regarding the match for the finals, Cardinal and I spoke up in your favor because of that.

Jack: .....Really...?

Jack: (...Oh, yeah, Double Dude told me about that, I think...)

Mikhail: Yes. The finals themselves have been rehashed plenty, and I hardly wish to discuss them in great length again. But there are four important details to note from it.

Mikhail: First, that Tobias was very badly injured in public after forcing his way through. This made him and his family very fearful of what would become of them.

Mikhail: Second, the matter of the crosses. It was of such dark importance that even Lord Felix decided to look into the matter personally. I have recently learned that he was handling the closest material to the crosses that he knew of—which is probably why he got so sick and is still sleeping.

Mikhail: Third… FMN-008 was convinced that you were in danger because you had rebelled. She insisted on keeping a personal watch on the matter. She was very focused in the investigation in the fourth point, and very committed to the whole ordeal, treating it like an assigned protection detail.

Mikhail: For the fourth point….

Mikhail: We know that CherryDyn is involved to this to some degree. This has been proven. And we also know that you were taken advantage of, and forced to remain silent.

Jack: . . . .

Mikhail: This displeased everyone, but she had a very personal interest in the matter.

Mikhail: I can’t help but think it has something to do with her own past—and there are only so many unknown things that would make her so aggressively focused on such a matter…

Jack: ..... (Miss Eight...?)

[Another glance.]

Jack: ......

Mikhail: We know that you two were in contact just before all contact was lost until things were already unraveling.

Mikhail: She wanted to ascertain the situation to see how much danger you were in, and learn more about why this had all been set into motion, and how deep the involvement went. In this context, she mentioned that she had something important to share. She was still talking with you at that point.

Mikhail: That’s where our knowledge ends. If you feel up to it, filling in the blanks from there would be helpful, 7037.

Jack: ....Yeah...yeah, I get what you're driving at now...

[Breathe...]

Jack: .......I guess I should start with what I told Miss Eight then...

Jack: ...I...think she wanted to know what happened to Blade after the whole Finals disaster happened, first off....

Jack: I told her that his core might have gotten shipped off back to be rebuilt.

Jack: ...And--oh, yeah, she asked me how I got tangled up with Greater Dusk in the first place...

Jack: And if I was in debt or something...

Jack: ...But, anyway, basically what happened was I punched a guy, gave him a nosebleed and Blade was...impressed since I was just a Civvie then.

Shadow: …???

Shadow: -That is so confusing with no context, but more on that later, I suppose?-

Jack: --Look, the point is--

Jack: ...I think the reason--or PART of it, anyway...I think Blade just picked me off of the street just like that for the team was cuz...

Jack: ...We were both CDN units.

Mikhail: -Russian- {What.}

Shadow: -Japanese- {What?}

Jack: ...Yeah. I...I don't know his CDN serial--but he HAD to be one of the newer models...

Jack: I found out when he signed off something once--I only got to see the CDN part--not the number.

Jack: ....But...yeah. He was a Cherry...

Jack: I...kinda wanted to bring it up with him...would explain why he used GDN.L...

Jack: ....But...ya know. Blade wasn't real nice.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: …Siam mentioned you said Blade was deceased… -Looks over at Carmen-

Jack: . . .

Jack: ....Y...Yeah.

Jack: ........

Jack: -balls up hands into fists-

Jack: ....He...he's gone.

Mikhail: … (He was involved with CherryDyn. She STILL wanted answers.)

Mikhail: (I am now almost certain she was involved.)

Mikhail: (Oh dear…)

Jack: .....Blade was always a chass.

Jack: ....Real secretive too. Especially when the Queen's tournament rolled around, wouldn't let anyone near his room or touch his stuff.

Jack: (I KNEW something was up...)

Jack: ....

Jack: I remember when we got those... things.

Shadow: Out of curiosity. Was that before or after the tournament started?

Jack: ...Before...

_________________

"What the hell is this--"

"It's our ticket to fame and fortune, Den--congrats, maybe NOW you won't be so damn pathetic out there."

"Wha--but--"

"Put it ON."

"I....o-okay..."

"And don't lose it, or I swear to FRAG, I'll make your glitching chass feel a whole new dimension of PAIN, got it?"

"I...s-sure, Boss, I'll...I'll wear it..."

__________________________

[Mikhail still seems lost in calculating thought. Shadow, however, clearly has something else on his mind, but is refraining from asking.

Carmen stirs slightly in her sleep in discomfort, giving off waves of irritation and a dominant demeanor before settling back into deeper rest.

After a moment, however, Mikhail comes out of his reverie.]

Mikhail: Master Brand.

Brand: ....Yes?

Mikhail: For the sake of letting Jack rest as much as possible, I shall summarize the answer to your question.

Mikhail: Dencerjack was contacted by Cardinal after Avi got stunned from his fusion with Tobias.

Brand: --!!

Shadow: What? -This is news to him-

Jack: Yeah. From KC. He told me to go to the Meadow when I got the chance...

Mikhail: From there, if you enter the Wilderness, you can enter any world if the willpower is strong enough. He must have used that as a way to re-enter the States. Am I correct?

Jack: Yup.

Jack: ....I ended up in Seattle.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: My sympathies. >__>

Jack: Doc...you got NO idea.

Mikhail: Enlighten me.

Jack: Long story short, Crazy fire chick, Space Needle, saved tourists and a baby, Landcrusher, and about a few days of nonstop swinging and driving?

Brand: ....

Brand: What?

[Mikhail does a SEVERE double take.]

Mikhail: …You encountered IKN-001? And Landcrusher?

Jack: Encountered?

Jack: Dude she tried to FRY ME UP.

Jack: And don't even get me STARTED on LD, man, those two went AT IT.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: They’re both in the Meadow recovering right now.

Jack: --Wha--

Jack: Wait, but--

Mikhail: FMN-009 brought them in rather suddenly before going off to rescue you ((pl.)). He had given them a thorough detox.

Mikhail: I suspect time warps were involved. (…And Metalman, somehow, for whatever reason…)

Jack: --!

Jack: So that green light was...!

Jack: Jeez...and he calls me the superhero...

Shadow: …What did Cardinal talk to you about? </subtext: why you>

Jack: ...He wanted t' know more about the crosses.

Jack: ...And about Blade, too.

Mikhail: -SIGH- Of course he did…

Mikhail: He was likely hoping to either interrogate Bladeblaster himself regarding assassin hideouts, or else merely go to the one they had frequented together.

Jack: ....But Blade was already dead by then...

Jack: . . . .

Mikhail: Which is really rather unfortunate. Alas… still no leads on that end.

[He shakes his head.]

Mikhail: We have been working on analyzing the virus and preparing a statement.

Mikhail: … -Just lost in thought at the stakes-

Shadow: -Vents a sigh-

Shadow: …

Shadow: -WISTFULLY REMEMBERS THE TAGGING INCIDENT-

Shadow: (I would give nearly anything to have them both back and laughing now.)

Jack: .....Heh...Miss Eight told me about that...

Shadow: Mmm. It was very… them, to be sure.

Shadow: Doctor?

Mikhail: Hmm?

Shadow: …What are they going to say?

Mikhail: …The specifics? I’m not sure. But when we got the data from Brandish and Lady Countershade—but especially Brandish—there certainly was a great deal of enthusiasm.

Mikhail: I would ask Aviator about that if you want to know more, but we should hear and see for ourselves before too long.

Jack: Oh...well, I guess that's good news--I mean, once we all tell them what's going on...

Shadow: …

Shadow: I am sure it shall be.

Shadow: Aviator can talk his way out of most things, if he talks long enough. And he talks a lot.

Jack: ...Heh....I get it...

Brand: -...You tried.-

Shadow: -Humor and feelings are not my thing, oops-

Mikhail: -Smiles a little- For now, why don’t you all rest? We’ll wake you up if it’s something important. But for now, you should get some sleep.

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

=CHAPTER 7C: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

[LATER THAT NIGHT....]

[William White was staring patiently at the same analysis screen for several hours, a full jug of coffee at his side. It had gone cold long ago. Mikhail had left for his own devices shortly after making it, mentioning he had important work to do with Siam before he could return.

And that was certainly for the better…]

White: (Eight...Eight samples.)

White: (This should be enough--this has to be enough...)

[It was in that moment that Soi stepped into the room.]

Soi: --Will?

White: --Oh. Soi.

Soi: Good Lord, man, I thought you went to bed ages ago!

Soi: Didn't Mikhail warn you about staying up too late?

White: Under the circumstances, he's overlooked it for now.

White: I'm so close, Soi, I can just...

White: I have all the pieces, I just have to fit them together.

White: -Turns back to the Terminal- I've already arrange the code, it's only a matter of figuring out what goes where...

White: And hopefully, I can start to finally counteract this nightmare.

Soi: Thank goodness.

Soi: Once we figure out what's going on with the Virus, my brother will send help!

Soi: -Sigh-

Soi: And all we need is Shade back.

White: Yes...

White: I think the others are dreading that, somewhat. Mikhail was...He had that look about him.

Soi: Because Shade is a Hunter?

White: Perhaps.

White: But I think it's something else.

White: Or rather...

((CARDINAL PIC))

White: Someone.

White: ....

White: In any case.

White: -Working as he speaks- You do have a point. This...

White: It's almost over, now.

White: .....

White: Soi?

Soi: Yes?

White: ......

White: I...

White: Do you think that...Maybe...

White: . . . .

Soi: ???

White: ...Nevermind.

Soi: What?

White: No, it's...It was just a passing thought.

Soi: Wiiiiilll.

Soi: Come on, I know you want to tell me something when you suddenly back out of it!

White: I just---

[PING!]

White: !

White: Wait--

White: Soi, I--I think I did it--!

Soi: -WAIT WHAT, REALLY--??-

White: Hold on, let me just run this through one more time--

Soi: Oh, man, this is great!

Soi: -YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN, WILL.-

Soi: I know that it's still processing, but as soon as that's confirmed, I can call Mikhail back--

Soi: And then we can get to--

Soi: --!!!

Soi: --...Will?

[No response.]

[None.]

[The room was suddenly filled with a tense silence.]

[...That is, save for the quiet patter of drops on a keyboard.]

Soi: Will--

[It was as if he wasn't hearing him.]

[William sat there in what appeared to be shock, huge streams of tears falling from his emerald hues.]

[He was crying.]

White: . . .

Soi: Will, are you alright--

White: . . .

White: I...

Soi: Will--oh dear should--should I call Mikhail or--?

[THAT got him out of the shock, but it was quickly replaced by sheer panic--]

[Will bolted straight for the door, fumbling with his keycard to lock it--]

Soi: --???!

[He then proceeded to shut down all the computers, cameras, even his phone--]

Soi: Will--

Soi: Will!

[Soi grabbed his arm before he could do anything else concerning, a firm tone in his voice.]

Soi: What is going on--?! What did you--

White: It's mine.

Soi: --???

White: The virus--it's coding--It's MINE, Soi--!

White: All of this is MY FAULT--!

Soi: Wha...

[Soi was so...so taken back by it that he let go.]

Soi: Wait--

White: -PANICKY--

White: It's all my fault, the madness, our sons and daughters, our own family, HIS--!

White: The whole country is suffering because of MY MISTAKE--!

Soi: WILL!

[Soi claps very hard in front of Will's face, which was enough to bring him out of his panic attack, or at least some of it.]

Soi: Breathe.

Soi: I've known you for more than 10 years and I know that none of this is your fault.

Soi: You--

Soi: You're different, now, Will.

Soi: Remember?

White: ........

Soi: .....

Soi: Let's just...Sit.

Soi: Start over.

Soi: Okay?

White: . . .

[White sits back down with a shivering sigh, his head buried into his hands. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, but it didn't seem to help much.]

White: S-Soi...

White: The...The code, Soi--

White: It's mine. I know it is.

Soi: Really?

[Silence.]

White: ....

White: Not...All of it.

Soi: See, so it isn't--

Soi: --Wait-- not ALL of it?

Soi: I...I don't understand.

White: .....

White: Soi...

White: Remember...

White: Remember when you first hired me?

Soi: I...Of course.

Soi: How could I forget?

White: .....

White: I told you that I had previous experience with robotics before.

White: You know what I mean.

Soi: ......

[Now it was Soi's turn to be shocked.]

Soi: No, Wait--

Soi: You can't mean--

Soi: This--You mean this whole robot rampage--?!

White: --is all my fault, indeed.

White: Or rather...

White: The fault of a robot that I designed long ago...

White: The CDN-1201.

White: ...Trinity.

White: I designed her to evolve by assimilating other robot's capabilities...

White: I found her custom scripts in the virus code we retrieved from each of the haywire Mighty Numbers--as well as...

White: From...Mikhail's database sample...

((Hang on, cutscene time— -Cutscene here about Mikhail and Will talking about the Virus being alive-))

White: The structure is clever, cunning, concise...

White: It's brilliant. There's no doubt it's my code.

Soi: Now wait just a minute--!

Soi: How--How is that even POSSIBLE, Will?

Soi: CherryDynamics shut down the Trinity project AGES ago!

Soi: In fact it was--

Soi: Dr. Blackwell himself, wasn't it--? Back when he was CTO--?

[White stiffens at that.]

Soi: ....

Soi: I...

Soi: I always thought that was the reason you left Cherry to come work with us and make the Mighties here...

Soi: Wasn't it?

White: Of COURSE it was, Soi!

Soi: --Nngh-- (Oh no, he's angry--)

White: After what HAPPENED there--

White: After what I had to do to HER--

White: In the end, Blackwell only saw the dangers, not the potential--!

White: He NEVER gave ME a CHANCE!

White: Never gave HER a...a chance...

Soi: ......

[As quickly as Will flared, he slowly SAT back down again, tears now flowing freely.]

White: I can still hear her in my DREAMS, Soi.

White: I...

White: God, I was a fool.

White: Such a fool...

White: But I was just so eager and wanted to prove myself to HIM that I...I didn't listen.

White: And now she's come to haunt me again.

Soi: --Will.....

White: I...I just--

White: --I can't TELL them, Soi, I just CAN'T--!

White: To tell them that all that I am--all of who I AM IS A LIE?!

White: What that would do to them, to--to all that we have built and come to cherish--

White: I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EVERYTHING AGAIN, SOI--!

Soi: Shhhh!

Soi: Will--

[Soichiro calmly wraps an arm around Will's shaking shoulders, almost close to tears himself.]

Soi: You won't, Will--

Soi: I swear we will make this work somehow, if I have a say in it!

Soi: I know her loss was so hard on you, Will, and I know how much it hurts.

Soi: But this...

Soi: This is a virus, Will--Trinity was not a virus.

Soi: She was your daughter, if only for a short time.

Soi: I don't know how or why someone would put her scripts into this...This horrid thing--

Soi: But I do know one thing.

Soi: I will always be in your corner, Will. No matter what happens or who tries to stop us.

Soi: I'll always have your back.

Soi: ^^

White: ....

White: -Sniff-

White: S...Soi...

White: You--You never HAD to help me...

Soi: Oh, poppycock! That's ridiculous.

Soi: Where would you be without me, eh?

White: -Sniff-

White: ....

White: U-Up the creek with no paddle?

Soi: I was thinking more like still a rotten Cherry, but let's go with that.

White: Eheh....

White: ....

White: What are we going to do, Soi...?

Soi: I don't really know.

Soi: But we can't keep this from Mikhail for long, you know that, right?

White: . . .

Soi: Will.

White: I...I don't...

Soi: Will, he GAVE you one of the samples, he's SEEN that custom script.

White: --....

Soi: He's going to put two and two together eventually, and would you rather have him find out on his own or hearing it from someone he knows is a genuine good person with genuine, good intentions?

White: . . . .

White: -Whispers- I don't want him or any of them to think less of me...

Soi: .....

White: And then there's my own children, Soi...

White: How would THEY handle this?

Soi: Will, that's sort of your fault there.

Soi: You always put it off ever since Pyro.

Soi: There is just no easy way to go about this, Will.

Soi: You have to tell them the truth.

White: . . . .

Soi: At least--

Soi: At least tell someone, Will--

Soi: You need to talk about this to someone OTHER than me.

Soi: Someone that isn't quite in our family--but still a friend.

Soi: Someone like...

Soi: ....

Soi: --!

Soi: Felix?

White: ...But he's just stirring.

Soi: When he's BETTER, Will.

Soi: Honestly, I will drag you to him if I have to, don't think I won't!

White: -Ngh--

Soi: ....

Soi: Please don't take this the wrong way, Will. I'm doing this as your friend.

Soi: All I want is for you to be well and at peace with...with who you were.

Soi: Alright?

White: .....

White: -Inhale-

White: ...O...Okay...

White: I...Okay.

Soi: Promise, Will. You have one foot out the door.

White: ....

White: I...

White: I promise.

Soi: To?

White: Go talk to Felix.

Soi: About?

White: ...Trinity.

Soi: Good. ^^

White: ......

Soi: Chin up, Will.

Soi: Things will get better, soon.

Soi: I promise you that. ^^

White: ....

White: I...

White: I can only hope, Soi.

White: (Hope and dream...)

White: ...I made a mess, didn't I....

Soi: Sort of? You just turned off everything in a rush.

Soi: ...Also I think you locked us in. ^^;;;

White: ....

White: (Oops--)

White: I...

White: I think I'll just call someone to get us out...

White: -Oh God why are there so many messages SOI--

White: -I THINK IT'S TOO LATE--

Soi: -Wait what--

[Soi peeked over Will's phone to get a closer look--]

[MESSAGE 1

FROM: MC005]

>WILL

>WILL, WE FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER

White: --???

[MESSAGE 2

FROM: MC005]

> {We figured it out Will I’m not sure yet but PICK UP YOUR PHONE—}

White: -Wait, what--

[MESSAGE 3

FROM: DWN-019]

> -Raw data that is echoed and mostly mirrored-

White: -Okay so THANK GOD IT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE WHAT I THINK IT WAS--

Soi: .....

Soi: You REALLY need to go to sleep.

White: Shush--

[MESSAGE 4

FROM: DWN-019]

>Doctor!

>I know you are awake working.

>If you were asleep, your phone would have woken you.

> SO GO TO BED WHEN YOU GET THIS.

>There is very important news to share in the morning!

Soi: ...That's kinda scary, actually.

White: -______-;;;;

[MESSAGE 5

FROM: DWN-019]

>We sent Dr. Cossack to sleep despite his protests, he needs rest.

>Please have everyone gather for breakfast, they’ll want to hear this.

Soi: See?

Soi: Heck, maybe things will work out after all!

White: . . .

White: I...Guess so.

White: ...Before we go, though, I should lock the code--

Soi: That can wait.

White: -But we really should secure the--

Soi: In the morning, Will.

White: -But--

Soi: -Alright that's it we're calling in the cavalry-

Soi: Call, dear?

White: -ERK--

White: -Waitwaitwait on second thought BED SOUNDS NICE-

White: -Look see, we're going--

[BONK--!]

White: Ow--

White: ....

White: Oh right I locked us in, didn't I.

White: Um.

White: ^^;;;;;

Soi: .....

Soi: -LOSES IT-

Soi: Aw, Will, you...

Soi: Call!

[Footsteps.]

".... Doctors, why is this door locked?"

Soi: Will here accidentally locked us in, heh.

Soi: Be a dear and disengage the lock, will you?

Soi: Oh, and get Will to bed, he's being difficult.

White: -I SAID I WAS GOING-

"Yes, Doctor. I will only be a few minutes."

White: -I'm locking the code while she's doing it-

Soi: Will-- -Siiiigh- -_-;;;;;;

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