=CHAPTER 5C: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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{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—>>

Writer Journal Entry

{Wednesday, September 25th 2019T}

//This blog is going to be repurposed to be a story-oriented blog. The characters from sirensniper will be moved over to join the crew on @mowseries.

This is a placeholder style announcement. Proper explanation and frills will come after I have things set up.

Not sure how much good this will do, given it’s about to be buried under nearly 200 more posts.

—T.

=CHAPTER 2A: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{SANDA LABS...

June 22nd, 20XX}

[It was morning.

Will had fallen asleep next to his terminal, which still showed many analysis programs running in the desktop--it seems they had been running for the rest of that night...

Soi had worked hard and a little longer than Will--a rare thing--but he did his best to get Pyro back up to his normal Xel Count, which should be enough for now; all Pyro needed was rest.

Meanwhile, Beck had fallen asleep next to Call, who was ever restless, ticking away at her console...]

Beck: Zzzz....

[Beck looked much better—his armor was fully repaired, as well as his internal systems—he was all ready to go, as soon as he woke up.

They just needed to find...]

[PING!]

Will: --!!!

[Will shoots straight awake at the sound--and immediately looks at his terminal. Did the analysis find anything...?!]

Beck: —?

[Beck also jerks awake—and nearly almost falls over, but luckily he grabbed onto the back of Call's chair in time.]

Beck: What? What is it?

Call: I have located Mighty No. 2's transponder signal.

[PING!]

[MN.1 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.1] //: Cryo?!

Call: Scanning...

[There’s a sudden and VERY loud glitched SCREECH and the monitor goes dark.]

Will: ! No—!

[He hastily started typing away at his terminal, anxious to force it to return to life. When it did, it came back to an error message.]

>ACCESS DENIED

Beck: Not again…!

[MN.1] //: “Again”…?

Beck: This happened yesterday when we were trying to find you! We think Tobias is causing it.

[MN.1] //: Tobias? But… I thought he was…

Will: -Frustrated- Call! Try to scan the location you saw without scanning for Cryosphere herself! Maybe that will bypass these permissions errors…

Call: Acknowledged. Scanning…

[As she continued her scan, Will typed away furiously. To his frustration, he only got a new error.]

<RMDC>: > CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED. ENTRY: DLN-001. ENTRY: DLN_COMBAT.EXE. ENTRY: DLN-007. ENTRY: DCN-000.

<RMDC>: > ERROR—CONNECTION TO MAIN SERVER FAILED.

<RMDC>: > CONNECTION FAILED—UNABLE TO UPDATE MAIN SERVER

<RMDC>: > COMPRESSING DATA FOR NEXT AVAILABLE CONNECTION…

Will: Agh…! I should have expected something like this…

Soi: Will, how could ANY of us have expected this?

Will: If Tobias were blocking signals, it make sense he would be trying to block Cryosphere’s the hardest…

Will: She’s cross-referencing with David.

[There was some uneasy silence at this.

Out of all the Robot Masters that had been destroyed, it was the loss of the small ice child that had hit their friends the hardest.]

[His death had been truly tragic: he was trapped in a raging inferno until his powers ran out, and then blasted with a plasma cannon right at his core. He never even fought back—the gentle robot had never had the chance to defend himself.

And Tobias… had heard the whole thing happen over a live feed.]

Will: Tobias must be… trying to “protect” her.

[The healthy Mighty Numbers were deeply pained by that. Pyro was hit with a wave of guilt and confusion…]

[MN.1] //: -Nnnng, headache…-

[And Beck?

Beck was both hurt and sad.]

Beck: But I promised…. He heard me promise, I’m not…!

Beck: (I’m NOT like that…!)

Call: .......

Call: Scan complete. Mighty No. 2 is currently located in Minnesota. The location data suggests that she has confined herself within a Water Works Bureau treatment plant.

[MN.1] //: —!!

Will: —! Of course...

Will: Soichiro!

Soi: I heard, I heard—!

[MN.1] //: If she's in a Water Works plant--the place must be her own personal playground by now...

Beck: (She...oh no...all the PEOPLE...!) How soon can I move out?

Will: Call?

Call: Setting up Xel Transfer now...please wait.

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Father—

Will: Absolutely not.

[MN.1] // My Xel Count is normalized, I can—

Will: I said no.

Will: We do not need YOU running off as well—Beck has your ReXelection now, and therefore Cryo's weakness: he will be fine.

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

Will: Please, son...you've been through enough. Rest.

[MN.1] //: . . .

Beck: Big Brother...

Beck: I SWEAR I'll bring Cryo back. I promise. I can DO this.

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

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

[MN.1] //: She is creative, crafty, and fearless.

[MN.1] //: Be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: ....And please...

[MN.1] //: Be careful.

[Beck nods, adjusting his visor with a ping of confirmation.]

Beck: Roger that, Big bro.

Call: Xel Transfer ready. The coordinates are set.

Will: Beck?

Beck: ...

Beck: I'm ready.

Will: Good luck, Beck...

Soi: Go get her back for us!

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[........]

[PING!]

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Call.

[CALL to MN.1] //: Yes, No. 1?

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Do you want to increase Beck's chances of success?

[CALL to MN.1] //: That would be preferable, yes.

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Then I need you to do me a favor...

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 2, CRYOSPHERE, HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF A MINNESOTA WATER WORKS BUREAU, WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CEASED OPERATIONS.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVES: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.2, RESCUE ANY TRAPPED CIVILIANS/WORKERS WITHIN THE AREA.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[So far, materializing into the Water Works was just like going into the Oil Platform—

Except now, instead of the raging heat, it was now bitter cold that stung every surface of his frame, causing him to shiver uncontrollably for a few moments...]

Beck: Brr...

[It only took a few moments for his internals to adjust to the freezing temperatures—and when they did...]

Beck: ! What—

[His comm went online.]

Soi: What's this—?! The main entrance is frozen shut!

Will: That should pose no problem. Beck, now would be a good time to use Pyro's ability.

Beck: On it—

[REXELECT—]

Beck: —!!

Beck: Wait—

[C.VISOR: ONLINE. SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

Beck: —! Ack—I knew it!

Will: What—what is it?

Beck: I'm detecting both organic and Xel signatures on the other side.

Beck: If I use Pyro's power, I might hurt them.

Will: —! Ah...can you find some other way inside to rescue them?

Beck: Not from what I can see.

Call: Scanning...

Call: ....

Call: Beck, proceed east. I've located a faster, alternate route into the waterworks via the reservoir.

Beck: Call—Call I sink like a ROCK.

Beck: I can't SWIM very well—!!

Call: This alternate route has various platforms and ledges that can be used for safe access to the waterworks.

Call: I have seen you jump quite well underwater myself, No. 9.

Beck: ....

Beck: Are you SURE it's safe down there...?

Call: There may be a likely chance that malfunctioning aquatic based CherryDyn and Sanda models have also taken residence in the reservoir.

Beck: .....

Beck: Of course they did...

[Beck trudged along forward with a foreboding sense of dread, and after running into a couple of standard trash bots--]

[He came across a long access pool that only went straight down. There was nothing but a faint green tinge to it, making visibility null.]

Beck: ....

Beck: This is the unfiltered reservoir.

Call: Also correct.

Beck: GROSS.

Will: ....-makes a face-

Soi: Oof, that's gonna be unpleasant...

Beck: ....

Beck: -INHALES-

Beck: CANNONBALL—

[KERSPLASH!]

[He used his dash to seamlessly dive into the reservoir feet first...]

[His C.Visor went down over his eyes once it sensed the presence of water and increased pressure, and adjusted his sight to give at least an idea of what he was getting into.]

Beck: (OoooooomanI'mgoingREALLYdeep—)

[Down...]

[And down he went...]

[Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity--]

[His feet find solid steel floor.]

Beck: ....

[.......]

[LOW LEVEL LIGHT DETECTED.]

[NEON REFLECTORS: ONLINE.]

[The lights on his arm cannon started to glow brighter!]

Beck: —! (Oh—neat...!)

Call: Warning--incoming hostiles.

[...Yes, it seems as if several small bubbles of...dirty filth was heading towards him...?]

Beck: ....?

Call: Several of the plant's water filtering robots have utilized the toxins and harmful debris within the reservoir to act as a shield.

[They seemed to be attracted to Beck's light...!]

Beck: (—OK TIME TO MOVE—)

[Out of instinct, Beck chose to dash out of the way of the bubbles of filth—which were slowly coming together into a bigger bubble.]

Beck: —!

[Wha—]

[His AcXelarate—! It carried him JUST as far as it did on land!]

Beck: ......

Beck: (I CAN SWIM WITH THIS—)

[Using his dash as a sort of propeller, he turns and starts to BLAST away at the filth surrounding the filter robots—which, to his surprise...]

[Were a lot smaller than he imagined they would be...]

Beck: —!

Beck: (There seems to be a LOT of these guys down here; they must work together to purify the water...)

Will: Beck, don't let those models group together in large numbers—their shield would be nearly impossible to break then!

[MN.9] //: Got it!

Call: Proceed east.

[Beck swam-dashed across the reservoir, careful to not let the filter robots gang up on him on the way—there were a couple of trash bots on the bottom, but he assumed they just fell into the reservoir and couldn't get out—thus he left them well alone.]

Beck: (Gotta find the access flow to the filtered reservoir—)

[KSSSSSTT!]

"Beck? Beck--"

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Do you read me?

Beck: --??

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Big bro??

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Ah--thank goodness. Listen closely...

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: I've been listening in. Are you inside the works yet?

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Not quite--I'm still at the unfiltered reservoir.

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Mmm...

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Very well. I'll wait until you've made it through.

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Wait, what do you mean by—

[KSSSST!]

Beck: ...???

Will: --? Is something wrong, Beck?

Beck: .....

[MN.9] //: Nope. All good here.

Call: The access flow to the filtered reservoir is just ahead.

Will: Careful, Beck--any contact with the malfunctioning filtering equipment could prove fatal.

[Beck would soon see why--]

[Not only was the purifying system completely OUT OF CONTROL—Xel disrupting spikes also lined the walls....]

Beck: .......

[MN.9] //: WHO THE HECK PUT THESE DOWN HERE—

Will: .....Good question...

Beck: (If I dash the wrong way here—...)

Beck: (Gotta be precise--!)

[Carefully calculating the exact path he needed to dash-swim in and how many times he needed to do so...]

Beck: (Three...two...one...)

[ACXELERATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED.]

[It was sort of like watching a white ping pong ball, zipping around and weaving in and out of the various moving parts of the reservoir filter system, making sure to avoid the walls in the process...]

Beck: (Almost there...)

[—AH! A ladder! All he had to do was climb up and—

... ...

Wait—...

Was that ice?]

Beck: ...!!

[A thick coat of ice—practically a wall—blocked the way out!]

Beck: (No!)

[MN.9] //: Dad, the reservoir exit is blocked—!

Will: Ngh—! Call, can you recalculate another route?

Call: .....

Will: Call?

Call: There is no need, Dr. White.

Will: ...??

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

Call: Mighty No. 1 is now on site at the Waterworks.

Will: —WHAT?!

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: I'm sorry, Father.

[MN.1] //: But I won't stand by any longer. I have a duty as a leader.

[MN.1] //: And a responsibly as an elder brother!

[MN.9] //: Pyrogen! : D

Will: Sandaaa—!

Soi: I HAD NO CLUE WHAT HE WAS DOING I SWEAR—

Call: It was me.

Soi: —?! Call?!

Call: .... Two Mighty Numbers on site would increase chances of success.

[MN.1] //: You might want to swim back down a bit, Beck.

Beck: ....

Beck: -dash swim BACKWARDS YUP GOT IT BRO-

[CCCRAK! C RACK!]

“HAAARGH!"

[BLAM!]

[The ice was obliterated--bits of ice flew out of the pool itself...]

[...And a familiar hand reached past the surface.]

Beck: !

[Beck swam-dashed up and up--]

[...Until he grasped at it with his own hand.]

[He felt himself being pulled up and out of the reservoir...]

Pyro: Need a little more firepower, brother?

[Beck simply beams up at his elder as he is set down onto solid ground.]

Beck: ANYTIME, big bro!

Will: ......

Will: -gREAT NOW HE CANT BRING HIMSELF TO GROUND HIM AFTER THIS-

Soi: Heh...your boys sure are something, huh, Will?

Will: .....

Will: -SIGH-

Will: Whatever am I going to DO with you, Pyrogen...?

Pyro: ....

Pyro: -snort-

Pyro: Haven't heard THAT one in a while.

Beck: ^^

[Having his big brother by his side...]

[It made him feel a LOT more confident now that his team leader was here.]

Beck: What are your orders, sir? (^.^)7

Pyro: ....

Pyro: I'm not the one heading this mission, Beck.

Beck: ...?

Pyro: You are.

Beck: --!

Pyro: Your objective is to locate our sister.

Pyro: Is there anything else that should be done here, Beck?

Beck: .....

Beck: Find and rescue the civilians and workers!

[THIS made Pyro grin with pride.]

Pyro: That's it.

Pyro: There seems to be a branching path up ahead. I'll take the north and see if I can find any workers and civilians...

[The fire-based leader looks to the side, ice covering every square inch of the hallways, ceiling, and floor.]

Pyro: Cryo's certainly done a number on the place, alright...

Soi: Yes, it's not just the entrance--the entire PLACE is like one giant ice rink!

Will: This is all her handiwork, alright...

Will: Careful, now, you two...

Will: You know how she loves her pranks.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Lord help us.

[Cryosphere was BAD enough with her puns and pranks--

In her crazed state, who KNOWS what she will be capable of?]

Pyro: And of COURSE she's frozen over the entire floor too...

Beck: This is just like the time she did that back home but--BIGGER.

Pyro: Watch your step, then...

[The two Mighty brothers continued moving forward, the temperature within the facility taking a massive drop as they ventured deeper inside. There were more robots that stood in their way, but they were no match for the pair of them working together--Pyro threw himself at them with his explosive abilities, and after they had been thoroughly trashed, Beck cleaned up after by absorbing their Xels.]

[Soon the fork in the path came up.]

Pyro: There it is...

Pyro: I'll move down this way. Beck, keep tracking down No. 2.

Beck: -SALUTE- Yes, sir!

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Good luck, little brother.

Beck: ...You too, Pyro.

[Pyro nods one final time before rushing down the connecting corridor, flaring up to his full armor before turning the corner, and out of sight.]

Pyro: (The most likely places workers would be around the main entrances, break rooms, and finally the pipeworks...)

[Meanwhile, Beck dashes onwards, and it's not long before he moves on into the next room...]

Beck: --!!

[The door that was just on the other side slammed shut.]

[His comm link went active--but it wasn't Pyro, Will, Soi, or even Call.]

[No...]

[MN.2] //: Well, well, ICE to see YOU, Beck! Kyahaha!

Beck: CRYO?!

Will: Wha--how did she find this frequency?!

[MN.2] //: Hiiiii Daaadyyyy!

Will: ...! Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: I'm SNOW glad you guys could make it! I was starting to get SOOOOO bored playing with all these LAME CherryDyn bots...

Beck: Big...Sis...?

[...This...this was odd.

When Pyro was infected--he only showed uncontrolled rage --and what's more, he didn't recognize Beck at ALL.

Yet...

His sister was...well, she didn't look like she changed at all.]

[MN.2] //: Now we can all PLAY together! Cool!

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

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: CRYOSPHERE!

[MN.2] //: .......

[MN.2] //: Oh.

[MN.2] //: It's YOU.

[MN.1] //: --! Cryo--

[MN.2] //: Becky--why is our GOOD FOR NOTHING MATCHSTICK OF A BROTHER doing in MY winter wonderland?

[MN.9] //: --!! Cryo! THAT'S PYRO--

[MN.2] //: I KNOW THAT.

[MN.2] //: HE NEVER LETS ME HAVE ANY F U N! It's always DON'T DO THIS AND DON'T FIGHT THAT AND ALL YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY IS N O.

[MN.1] //: -fLARE- Cryosphere--!

[MN.2] //: You ALWAYS carry me somewhere else without even ASKING--JUST BECAUSE I'M SMALLER THAN YOU DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO DO THAT, MATCHSTICK.

[MN.2] //: YOU WERE ALWAYS THE BOSS OF ME.

[MN.2] //: ........

[MN.2] //: Well.

[MN.2] //: You know what?

[MN.2] //: I'm SICK of being number two to you, big bro.

[MN.2] //: You aren't ALLOWED in my playground--so if I were YOU, I'd take you and your lame powers and SKEDADDLE.

[MN.2] //: Unless you want me to send this whole place to absolute zero?

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

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

[MN.2] //: --! Ooooh--right, YOU! Don't worry, Becky--you can stay! You're ALWAYS a good playmate. Kyahaha!

[MN.2] //: But big bro's gotta go. My place, MY rules.

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

[MN.1] //: Alright.

[MN.9] //: --! Pyro, no--!

[MN.1] //: On one condition.

[MN.2] //: Ppffft. What?

[MN.1] //: We play hide and seek first.

[MN.1] //: Just like old times, right, Cryo?

[MN.2] //: --!

[MN.2] //: I'm listeniiiiing...

[MN.1] //: You and I will hide, and Beck will try to seek us. If he finds me first, then I'll leave.

[MN.2] //: Oooooh!

[MN.1] //: BUT--if Beck finds YOU first, then you two will have to just play without me.

[MN.2] //: -EXCITED SQUEAL-

[MN.2] //: I LIKE that! Oh, but it won't be any FUN if you TOOK too long...then I'd get BORED all over again...

[MN.2] //: SNOW, you guys got 9 minutes! Kyahahahaha!

[MN.2] //: You're on thin ice here, RUNT! So try not to get cold feet, OK? Kyahahahahaha!

[KKKSSSSST]

Beck: ........

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

[MN.1] //: She really hasn't changed much...aside from all that, that is.

[MN.9] //: Big bro...

[MN.1] //: 9 minutes isn't much time, Beck--get a move on.

[MN.9] //: ......yes sir.

Beck: Now how the heck do I get out of this room--

[CLANK]

Beck: UGH--!

[A large mass of debris clonked Beck on the back of his head, knocking him over as it bounced off of him and--]

[--Back to another waterworks bot! A...a PAIR of them, in fact, each parallel to the walls.]

[The ball of debris hurled towards the red one--who flipped itself over to deflect it back at Beck.]

Beck: Wah--!

[He AcXelerated out of the way--and raised his arm cannon to strike at the malfunctioning bot--]

[CLANK--!]

Beck: OW--

[The other one--identical but green in color--had knocked the dodged debris RIGHT back at Beck when he wasn't looking, landing a direct hit.]

Beck: (Ugh--great, now I have to dodge twice as much just to avoid that ball of junk they're knocking around...!)

[He TRIED shooting at the ball of debris itself--and it worked!]

[...Until one of the bots made ANOTHER one just to throw around. These were waste management bots!]

Beck: (These guys must get rid of all the gunk in the unfiltered reservoir...)

[CLANK!]

Beck: NGH--

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[...It was clear that this was starting to become tedious--whenever he tried to shoot at one of them, the other knocked back the junk, forcing him to dodge--and whenever he tried to DESTROY it, one of them made another rather quickly--]

Beck: (These guys are going to wear ME and my TIME down--I've got no choice--!)

[REXELEXTION: PYROGEN. ]

[Beck's body glowed briefly before settling down into Pyro's form, the torch on his head burning brightly.]

Beck: Let's GO!

[CHARGING...]

Beck: Burning...

Beck: SPIRIT!

[KERBLAM!]

[The resulting explosion ROCKED the entire room, and perhaps even the whole Bureau--parts of the walls and flooring took most of it, and the waste robots were DEFINITELY caught in the blast--one of them was stuck, in fact!]

Beck: Got ya!

[Switching back to default, the waste bot was quickly taken care of, absorbed and converted into another Xel Stock to make up for the one he used.

Since its other pair was gone, it was easier to dodge the ball of junk without worrying about the other hurling it back.

Once the pair was FINALLY defeated, the door opened!]

Will: No time to waste, Beck! You have 6 minutes!

Beck: I know, I'm going--!

[Into the waterworks pipelines he went--and it just got even colder. ]

[The pipeworks were, of course, forzen over--along with everything ELSE--even several of the malfunctioning robots were stuck in place.]

Beck: WHOA--!!

[These pipes were long and wide--but the ice made it difficult to get across. One wrong move and he could slip RIGHT back down into the ground--and a fall from this height would REALLY smart.]

Beck: (Balance--balance--!)

"There's only one way to get past all this ice!"

Beck: --!!

Pyro: BURN RIGHT THROUGH IT!

Beck: Pyro!

[On another set of pipes, Pyro CHARGED right through a block of ice in his way, which formed from the burst of water in the cracks caused by the expanding properties of the ice.]

Pyro: Beck! Use my form and blast through all the ice in your way!

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: HEY, THAT'S CHEATING!

[MN.1] //: You never said we couldn't use fire, little sister.

[MN.2] //: GRRRR! YOU...BIG...MEANIE...!

[MN.2] //: I'M GONNA FREEZE THIS WHOLE PLACE AND ALL THE SQUISHES IN IT! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR CHEATING, CHEATER!

[MN.1] //: Ah, that won't do much now, Cryo.

[MN.2] //: WHY NOT.

[MN.1] //: I FOUND the humans and Civilian models you've frozen. They've been evacuated.

[MN.2] //: Wha--!

[MN.1] //: PLAYTIME IS OVER, CRYOSPHERE.

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

[MN.1] //: Come home.

[......]

[MN.2 HAS GONE INTO FULL COMBAT MODE. RESTRICTIONS: NONE.]

[MN.2] //: N O!

[MN.2] //: NONONONONONO--!

Call: Warning: Temperatures are dropping beyond safe functioning levels.

[MN.2] //: PLAYTIME IS OVER WHEN I SAY IT'S OVER!

[MN.2] //: YOU DON'T GET ANY SAY IN IT, YOU STUPID MEANIE!

[MN.1] //: -...OK now he knows he's made a BIG mistake- Cryo--

[MN.2] //: SHUT UP! JUST SHUT. UP!

[MN.2] //: I...I...

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

[MN.1] //: --!

[MN.2] //: I hate you...!

[KSSSSST.]

[MN.1] //: -oh GOD WHAT HAVE WE DONE-

Pyro: CRYOSPHERE!

Beck: PYRO--WAIT--!

[It was no use--Pyro had run ahead, desperate to fix what he had done. He's already caused SO much damage, but THIS--]

Pyro: CRYO--I'M SORRY--!

[If anything--he had to fix THIS.]

Will: ........

Beck: D-Dad....

Will: ....

Beck: D...Did Cryo really... mean that...?

Will: ....

Will: I can't be sure.

Will: For all we know, this COULD be just the virus, but...

Will: .....

Will: We won't know until we've cured her. You'll have to keep pushing forward.

Beck: .....

Beck: (Cryo...)

[With a heavy and troubled heart, he did as he was told, hopping and dashing over the rest of the pipeworks.]

[....]

[It...had to be the virus, right?]

[...Or was it...]

[More than that?]

Beck: (....Cryo...Cryo would NEVER say that...)

Beck: (There's no WAY she could possibly MEAN that--she's been with Pyro the longest out of any of us... ....Could it be...)

Beck: (Maybe it's...both? Maybe the virus is MAKING her feel that way...because she IS mad at him, but not to that extent...)

Beck: (If...if that's the CASE...)

Beck: (...It--suddenly makes a LOT of sense why Pyro ACTED the way he did back at the Oil Platform... ....You get what I fought back there...)

Beck: (So by that logic--what was taken away from Cryo...?)

[Soon enough, after shooting through countless ice pillars made from the pipelines and such--]

[He came across another room.]

Beck: ....

Call: I detect Cryosphere's signature just up ahead.

Beck: Right...

Beck: (Cryo--don't worry--I'm gonna fix this...!)

[He entered, ready to shift into his brother's form at a moments notice...]

"HEY, RUNT!"

[KSHHHHH!]

[A LARGE chuck of ice SLAMMED right in front if him from above, causing him to jump backwards--]

...Right into the locked door.]

Beck: Oof--!

Cryo: OK...

Cryo: Let's try THIS again!

[Cryosphere herself stood on a platform high above the room--looking rather PLEASED that Beck was here now, despite throwing a temper tantrum not 2 minutes ago.]

Beck: Cryos--

[CLANK!]

Beck: OH COME ON--

[ANOTHER pair of waste management bots materialized--and this time, they had some EXTRA help.]

Cryo: Revenge is a dish best served COLD, after all!

[CLANK!]

Beck: NNGH!!

Cyro: Awww, you aren't hurt, are you, Beck?

Beck: I KINDA AM, YEAH--

Cryo: Well, then, here--

[Her water tank bubbles briefly before another, more precise ice ball flies towards Nine, forcing him to duck and dash away. It made SHARP icicles extending upwards once it made contact with the floor--!]

Cryo: Let me put some ICE on it!

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Cackling madly, Cryo proceeded to rain icy death from above--all while the waste management bots played their supped up game of pong. Beck was REALLY in a tight spot now.]

Beck: Cryo--PLEASE, STOP!

Cryo: NOPE!

Cryo: I'm having the TIME OF MY LIFE!

Cryo: SO YOU BETTER STAY ALIVE, BECKY--UNTIL I GET BORED, THAT IS!

Beck: --Ooooh!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

Beck: I'm sorry, Cryo!

Cryo: --!!!

Cryo: YOU'RE CHEATING AGAIN!

Cryo: ......

Cryo: Why are you cheating, Beck--?

Beck: --!

Cryo: Don't you LIKE playing with me...?

Beck: .....

Beck: Of COURSE I do, Cryo...

[CHARGING....]

Beck: .....

Beck: But I can't play by your rules. Not this time.

Beck: BURNING...

Cryo: --!!

[Seeing what he was about to do--Cryo leaps away to another set of platforms, disappearing from sight.]

Beck: SPIRIT!

[BOOOM!]

[........]

[The smoke clears off, and only the Xel from the two waste bots were all that was left.]

Beck: .....

Call: Cryosphere has escaped to the Water Works Security Room. There is no other escape route for her to take.

Beck: Got it.

[Back into default. The Security room shouldn't be that far ahead...]

[Which means...]

Pyro: ...There--!

[Pyro was standing in the middle of several frozen, very crucial water tanks...]

[But they wouldn't remain frozen for long.]

Pyro: Burning....SPIRIT!

[FWOOOSH!]

Call: Attention: The waterworks systems are back online. Water flow: Normal.

Pyro: ....!

Beck: Pyro!

Pyro: There you are--

Pyro: ....

Pyro: The doors won't open for me. I'd blast them, but...that would only make things even worse.

Pyro: ....

Pyro: You're the only one that can save her, anyway.

Pyro: I've...done all I can.

Beck: ....

Beck: I think she'd wanna see you after I do save her, Pyro.

Beck: So wait out here.

Beck: I won't be long.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Tell her I love her.

Pyro: .....

Pyro: And I love you too.

Beck: ....

Beck: ^.^

Beck: Yes, sir.

[Beck gives Pyro one last salute before approaching the door...]

[...They open after a moment, and they shut close behind him with a firm air-tight lock.]

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Good luck, Beck.

[WARNING: TEMPERATURES HAVE REACHED TO NEAR NON-FUNCTIONING LEVELS. PLEASE EVACUATE AREA IMMEDIATELY.]

"Kyahahahaha!"

Beck: Cryo!

[Sitting daintily atop of a huge security monitor was Cryosphere, her four eyes glowing eerily in the shadows...]

Cryo: Kya ha ha ha ha ha!

[Her tiny legs swing this way and that before she jumps down to the ground, taking up her usual battle stance. Her hose arm is swirling around in lazy circles while her tank bubbles up a bit. An icy mist seems to escape from the nozzle arm...]

Cryo: You just REFUSE to CHILL out, don't you, runt?

Beck: ...

Beck: Cryo....please. I don't want to play anymore. I don't WANT to fight you.

Cryo: Oh, really?

[....!]

[There it was again--that SAME distorted VOICE coupled with her own...]

Cryo: That's too bad! Oh, well...

[PSSSSSH!]

[A high pressure STREAM of water suddenly bursts forth from her nozzle arm--!]

Beck: -!!!

[He LEAPS out of the way as it is suddenly frozen, not by the air, but by Cryosphere herself.

Flash freezing her foes was her SPECIALTY.]

Cryo: I'm sure it's nothing a little COLD SHOWER WON'T CURE!

Beck: CRYO...!

[SCANNING....]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 2 -- CODENAME: 'CRYOSPHERE' ]

[HEIGHT: 136cm WEIGHT: 103kg XEL COUNT: 20,400,000]

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Cryosphere was...something of a all-around fighter when it came to the battlefield--she WAS originally intended to be a close to mid-range fighter and a terrain changer--but her combat experience, which was only surpassed by her elder brother, had opened MANY more doors in regards to her powers.]

[Such as her tendency to look for higher vantage points in order to use her abilities in a much DIFFERENT way --and if there was none?]

[Make one.]

[Cryo points her nozzle arm--to the ground--...?]

Beck: --!

[Beck starts DASHING away as soon as her sister launches herself upwards using the force of her water spray--keeping herself suspended mid air for a moment--]

[Before chasing after him.]

Cryo: Careful, now, Becky! You don't wanna CATCH A COLD!

Beck: Cryo--Come on, Cryo, just try to--!

[KKKRT!]

[Her water spray suddenly freezes-- there was no time to react, only to gawk as he felt icy pinpricks of pain creep up his leg--]

Will: BECK--TRY AND BREAK FREE!

Beck: AARG--

Cryo: Whoops! Silly me--I forgot the best part!

[....A COLD blast of air was seen as she started to make something--what, he couldn't tell, but from THAT height, it certainly wasn't GOOD.]

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

[FOOOSH!]

[Flaring himself up just as Pyro would, Beck weakened the ice just enough to allow him to break free… moments before an ice ball of SPIKES crashed downwards from above, ice shards scattering everywhere--

--and rising from the mist was the Icy Little Terror herself--she had MADE that ball of spikes to surround herself in--in her own twisted sense of a 'cannonball'.]

Cryo: Awww, you were supposed to stay still!

Beck: NO WAY --

[PSSSSSSH!]

[Beck was NAILED right in the chest with another high pressured water stream, knocking him away to the other wall and into the door, making a noticeable dent--]

[CLANG!]

Pyro: !!! BECK?! CRYO?!

[Outside, Pyro could BEARLY make out the sounds of battle--and that dent in the door was not a good sign, for EITHER of them.]

Beck: Uuugh...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK--]

[PSSSSSH--]

Beck: AAA--

[ERROR: XEL STOCK ACCESS INTERRUPTED.]

[Cryo was NOT letting up--she kept on continually spraying Beck HARD, pinning him to the door and laughing manically all the while.]

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[WARNING: WATER DAMAGE IMMINENT TO INTERNAL SYSTEMS--COLD TEMPERATURES WILL FREEZE AND LOCK MOBILE SYSTEMS.]

[She was trying to freeze him from the inside out.]

Beck: C...Cryo...

[WARNING: SYSTEMS CRITICAL.]

Beck: s...t...o...p...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

[Cryo didn't answer. She was too busy laughing.]

Beck: (Come on...please...!)

Cryo: It was fun playing with you, Becky!~

Cryo: See you in a hundred years, maybe!

[KSSSSSST--]

"CRYO--ENOUGH--!"

Cryo: --?

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Daddy?

[DR.WHITE] //: Cryosphere White, stop that right this INSTANT!

Cryo: But--

[DR.WHITE] //: You KNOW you shouldn't play so roughly with your brother!

Beck: --!!

[...Will--Will was...]

Cryo: But Daaaaadyyyyy!

Beck: (Dad--oh man DAD THANKS--)

[XEL STOCK 2 ACCESSED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[DR.WHITE] //: No, no buts. That was QUITE rude of you, No. 2. Quite rude.

Cryo: But I was just having fun!

[DR.WHITE] //: It's all fun and games until someone gets HURT, Cryo.

Cryo: But Daddy--

[You could just HEAR her sadistic smile.]

Cryo: That's the BEST part!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

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

[DR.WHITE] //: Not this time.

[DR.WHITE] //: Quite frankly, No. 2...

Cryo: ..?

[DR.WHITE] //: I think you deserve a little time out.

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

"BURNING...!"

Cryo: Wha--

Beck: SPIRIT!!!

[KERBLAM!]

[All the ice that was created by Cryosphere was turned RIGHT back into water and THEN some--and the temperature had risen quite considerably.]

[There was another large CLANK--]

[CRACK--]

Cryo: Whoawhoawhoa--!

[Cryo was sent BOUNCING across the floor and into the other wall, lodging herself deep within it from the force of the explosion!]

Cryo: What the--!

Cryo: YOU!!

[Her nozzle arm once again points at Beck--who widens his eyes in fear, preparing to jump out of the way--]

Cryo: I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR--

[.....]

[.........]

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

Cryo: ....???

Beck: ...???

Cryo: WHY IS NOTHING COMING OUT?!

[Cryosphere wiggled her arms in a flail, but no matter how much she tried--nothing came out of them but a few drops.]

Cryo: STUPID--!!

Beck: ---!

[Beck could see why.]

[Her water tank had a crack in it. Water was leaking out in massive amounts, but Cryo was too upset to see it.]

Will: Now is your chance, Beck!

Beck: R-Right--!

Cryo: NO!

[She once again threw a FIT--but without her tank, there was no more danger.]

Cryo: NO F A I R!

Beck: Big sis--

[He approached her with cautious steps, a green glow starting to form around his arms...]

Beck: It's OK, Big sis...

Cryo: --?

Cryo: ....

Cryo: What is that...?

Beck: Just trust me, OK?

[Two more steps, then two more. Cryosphere was more or less beginning to forget about her fit and was more entranced by the calming glow from her brother.]

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Pretty...

Beck: Kinda is, isn't it...?

[Two hands gently grasp her arms.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Cryo: --!!

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Becky...?

Beck: It's OK, Cryo...

[He continues to speak to her in a calm, soothing voice, as parts of her Xel are absorbed into his own, and she slowly starts to glow a sick, bright purple...]

Cryo: .....

[....She starts to yawn.]

Cryo: M'tiiiired...

Beck: That's OK...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You can sleep after I'm done...

Cryo: .....

Cryo: And then we can play some more...?

Beck: Yeah. Sure. I promise...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

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

Beck: For now--just try and relax...this won't hurt.

Cryo: ...?

[He finally lets go.]

Beck: Ready?

Cryo: ....? For...what...?

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

[.......]

"Big sis?"

"--? Hey, runt! What's up?"

"....Can I come in?"

"You didn't say the thing."

"...Can I come in, Your Majesty?"

"Theeeere we go! You may.~"

"....Um..."

"Well, come on, SPILL it! I gotta go into VR training in an hour..."

"I just...well...I noticed that...you're smaller than me--"

[KERCHUCK]

"BUT YOU FIGHT PEOPLE WAY BIGGER THAN YOU IN THE ARENA AND YOU DON'T SEEM SCARED--"

"....."

"I...I'm just confused...how can you not be afraid...?"

"Oooh. That's easy."

"One, because I'm WAY better than those lame-o's and WAY more KICKBUTT than any of them..."

"...And two..."

"....."

"Don't tell Big Bro this, but. He TAUGHT me how to be brave."

"I don't think I can be as awesome as I am without him."

"Really...?"

"Yup. It's ALLL cuz of Big Bro."

"....Seriously, don't tell him I said that, he'd NEVER stop--"

"I-I promise!"

"Cool."

"Now GET OUT OF MY ROOM or I'll freeze ya!~"

[.......]

[FILTER COMPLETE.]

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.2]

Cryo: . . .

Cryo: Owie...

Cryo: Why does my head hurt...

Beck: --!!!

Beck: C...Cryo...?

Cryo: --!

Beck: Cryo?

Cryo: Beck?

Cryo: ......

Cryo: Where the [FRAG] am I???

Beck: CRYO--!

Will: YES--!

Soi: HE DID IT--AGAIN--!

[Beck wraps his arms around his confused sister, who was simply looking around the semi-frozen room in thought.]

Cryo: No, seriously--where the [FRAG] are we.

Cryo: I don't remember anything in the last few days WHAT HAPPENED.

[BANG!]

Beck: --!?

[BLAM--!!]

[The door is suddenly BLOWN off it's hinges, creaking as it collapses to the ground.]

Cryo: WHAT THE--

Pyro: CRYO?! BECK?!

Cryo: Big Bro?!

Beck: (Wow--)

Pyro: --!!

Cryo: OK--SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BECAUSE I DON'T GET IT. WHY DID BIG BRO JUST BLAST THE DOOR AND WHY AM I STUCK TO A WALL.

Beck: Whoops--sorry, Cryo, lemmie help you with that--

[Beck grabs hold of his sister's hose arms and pulls back--]

[POP!]

Pyro: --! I GOT HER--

[She lands RIGHT into Pyro's arms]

Cryo: Wheeee!

Cryo: Hi, Big bro! ^^.^^

Pyro: . . .

Cryo: ...?

Cryo: Big bro...? Yellloooo? Earth to Pyro....?

[....]

[Pyro doesn't answer at first--at least until he sets her down.]

[...Which only confused her even further.]

Cryo: ....???

Pyro: ......

Pyro: I'm...I'm so sorry.

Cryo: --? Uh--

Pyro: I--...I had no idea you...

Pyro: .....

Pyro: I had no idea I made you feel...uncomfortable when I carried you away.

Cryo: .....

Pyro: I just--I just wanted to keep you SAFE because--you DO get carried away and if I don't, you might find yourself--

Cryo: Bro--

Pyro: All I wanted was to protect you--

Cryo: Bro--

Pyro: I just do it because I love you and--

Cryo: PYRO.

Pyro: --....

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Come down here for a sec.

Pyro: .....

[He does so--it's a little comical seeing as Pyro was nearly three times her size, so he had to kneel and bend down a bit.]

Beck: .......

Cyro: Lower.

Pyro: ...?

[PSSSSSSH--]

[Using the last of her reserves already in her nozzle, she managed to gently spray Pyro right in the face with cold water.]

Pyro: Gah--

Cryo: That's for being stupid.

Cryo: Bro, I dunno what the [FRAG] is going on, but--

Cryo: You don't make me THAT uncomfortable.

Pyro: --!

Cryo: Like--SURE OK it DOES get a little annoying and I DO wanna sometimes put ice cubes in your pillow at night--

Pyro: .... (I KNEW THAT WAS HER.)

Cryo: ...But..

Cryo: Bro, you've been carrying me around since I was BUILT, why do you think I LIKE it so much?

Pyro: !!!

Pyro: You....

Cryo: Bro why do you think I tell you to carry me around almost everywhere.

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Because being bossy is in your nature?

Cryo: ...Point.

Cryo: Aaaaand...

[....]

[MN.2] //: -Data, BECAUSE SHE FEELS SO TALL WHEN SHE'S ON YOU, BRO.-

[MN.2] //: -Like, even she doesn't get that when she's on Mic or Bat or even Shade, it's just YOU-

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

[MN.2] //: ....Big bro....

[MN.2] //: You're...you're Big bro.

[MN.2] //: I know you just do it cuz you care...I've known that for, like, EVER.

[MN.2] //: 'Sides--

[MN.2] //: If I had NO one to carry me around--then I'd be REALLY slow going around the house and like, everywhere. That be a PAIN in the CHASS.

[MN.2] //: So hitching a ride is, like, also the smart thing to do. ^^.^^

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

[MN.1] //: C...Cryo...

Cryo: ....?

Pyro: ....

Pyro: So...you....

Pyro: Don't...hate me...?

Cryo: --??!

Cryo: Wha--the [FRAG??]

Cryo: No, NO, Big Bro--

[And there she goes, climbing up Pyro's shoulders so she can sit right on his back and prop her round head on his own.]

Cryo: I love you, Pyro.

Cryo: Jeez, what made you think THAT stupid thought in your head??

Pyro: ......

Beck: .......

Cryo: ......

Cryo: ...Why is everyone so quiet?

[DR.WHITE] //: Cryo.

[MN.2] //: --!! Dad!

[DR.WHITE] //: .....-SIGHS, although if that's in relief or stress is hard to say-

[DR.WHITE] //: Let's get you back home first.

Cryo: .....

Cryo: That reminds me, WHERE ARE WE??

Cryo: Like--This looks like some kinda monitor room but--

Beck: Call?

Call: Xel Transfer initiated.

Cryo: Guys--helloooo, is no one gonna answer me?!

Cryo: I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY PEEVED HERE--

{SANDA LABS, LATER....}

[Cryo was met with welcoming arms and tears of relief, both from her father and her Uncle Sanda. A good while had passed before Will was reminded by his best friend that he couldn't repair his daughter while he was constantly hugging her--]

[And so, just as before, everyone got to work. Soi was left to repair Cryo while Will went to work analyzing the virus sample from her.]

[...This time, however, Pyro took it upon himself to explain what the situation was.]

[It wasn't very long before...]

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Cryo: I'M SORRY--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: I DON'T HATE YOU--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: BECKYYYYYYYYY--

[Beck, of course, took a moment from self-repair to come and comfort his sister.]

[--He couldn't get one word in before hose arms started to wrap around his neck and pulled him in an embrace.]

Cryo: I'M SOOORRYYYYYY--

[Beck...well, at first, he was quite taken aback--he's never really SEEN his sister cry like this.]

[...But the surprise is only there for a moment.]

Beck: It's OK, Big Sis...

Cryo: -WAILS-

[Pyro simply rubs the top of her head, twangs of regret and pain in his optics. Eventually he had to call Father to help calm her down.]

Cryo: -SNIFF- daddyyy...

Will: Shhh....it's alright, Cryo, everything will be fine...

Cryo: ...B--...but--sis....and...

[And then another wail escapes her.]

Cryo: AVIIIIII--

Will: I know, I know--I....

[......]

Will: I know....

Beck: Cryo--

Beck: Dad's working on finding a way to beat this virus--and I'm gonna get everyone back.

Cryo: ...-sniff-

Beck: You'll see--

Beck: We're all gonna be back together soon. We just gotta tough this out, OK?

Beck: So no more waterworks. ^.^

[......]

Cryo: ....-snort-

Cryo: G...Good one, bro...

Cryo: -SNIFF-

Will: Rest while Sanda gets to work on repairing you and your tank--I need to get back to analysis.

Cryo: -sniff- OK, Daddy...

Pyro: I'll look after her.

[Will nods, and hurries back to his terminal. A few ticks of the keyboard brings up the still-working analysis programs...]

Will: Call, transfer the assimilated data over to me.

Call: Yes, Dr. White.

Will: Now that I have two samples to compare, this will hopefully give us some more insight--

[PING!]

"DAD?? I THINK IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN--"

[ASSIMILATED XEL DATA SCAN COMPLETE.]

[REARRANGING XEL STRUCTURE...]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

"WHOOOOOA THAT WAS AWESOME--"

"That was...much more...different than the first time she gave it to you--"

"YEAH IT WAS WITHOUT THE LIGHT SHOW."

Cryo: BRO--BRO WHAT'S WITH THE FANCY LIGHT SHOW--

Beck: I--well...

[As Beck begins to explain his newfound abilities--much to Cryo's delight--Will hums deeply in thought.]

[It was true--the lights that emitted from his Xels were not present when he acquired his siblings' powers before.]

Will: (Interesting...)

Will: ....Hmm.

Call: Dr. White.

Will: Yes, Call?

Call: I detect a significant rise in your heart rate and vitals. Is something wrong?

Will: .....

Will: I'm just...nervous. Given the situation.

Call: ....

Call: Acknowledged. I will adjust the room temperature and atmosphere so that you may calm down.

Will: ....Thank you, that would be nice.

Will: ........

Will: (Could Beck...)

Will: (No--he CAN'T be. Not THIS soon...)

Will: (He's not NEARLY as ready...)

Will: (....Though...)

Will: (The better question would be if WE would be ready...)

Will: (...Gah, I shouldn't be thinking like that NOW, of all times...)

Will: (I've GOT to crack this code--before it's too late...)

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

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=CHAPTER 8A: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @unluckyadept, @codedhopes))

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

{ Sanda Enterprises

JUNE 30th, 7:30 AM }

[Breakfast that morning started out as such an exciting and encouraging affair.

The house was full again—full of noise, that is, and commotion.

Pyrogen had been forced to go out early to buy groceries, as Seismic had cleared out everything from both fridges and all the pantries once he was well enough to slightly move. Considering he hadn’t eaten in days, that wasn’t really a surprise.]

[In addition to the sticky glory and sugar that was syrup, there was plenty else to give one reason to bounce off the walls…

…not that the syrup wasn’t enough a reason on it’s own, of course…]

Beck: -IT'S MINE.-

Avi: -BECK COME ON YOU CAN'T JUST HOG THE SYRUP BOTTLE LIKE THAT, BRO-

Beck: -RUNS-

Beck: -SUGAAAAAR-

Avi: WE GOT A RUNNER--

[Cryo suddenly springs forth from her own personal freezer in an effort to stop him--]

Cryo: HAND OVER THE SYRUP BOTTLE BRO--

[...Only to find that Beck had vaulted over her to skid around towards the kitchen exit.]

Cryo: HEY NO FAIR--

Beck: -THE SYRUP IS MINE, NO ONE CAN HAVE IT-

[Avi hovers after him, camera drone floating beside him.]

[MN.6] //: -PING- -WE GOT A RUNNER, FOUR FOOT NINE, BLUE NEBULA SHIRT, WE ARE IN HOT PURSUIT, SUBJECT IS HYPER AND VERY STICKY--

Pyro: AVI, NO FLYING IN THE HOUSE--

Brand: ........

Brand: -It's too early for this--

<DWN-024>: > -Snorts- Is your breakfast always this chaotic, Sensei?

Shadow: -I can hear you all ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FLOOR, how even-

[MN.7] //: I'd say 'you have no idea' but then again....

[MN.5] //: -PRIVATE WHAT IN TARNATION ARE YOU DOING--

[MN.4] //: -Whoops, Beck's on a sugar rush, better stay out of the way-

Dyna: I'M NOT CATCHING HIM, HE'LL RUIN MY CLOTHES--

Pyro: -SIGH-

Pyro: -Just USE YOUR BITS, DYNATRON-

Dyna: -But he'll get those sticky toooooo--

Pyro: They're ALREADY STICKY--

[It was at this point that Will came in with a cup of stronger coffee than usual...]

Will: -Yaaawns-

Will: Mmmn....Good morning.

Pyro: Ah--Good morning, Father.

Avi: -FLIES BY THE DOOR- Morning, Daddo! Sorry, gotta fly-- -ZOOMS OFF, UH, WE LOST HIM, BROS--

Will: ?

Pyro: Beck won't share the syrup bottle.

Will: Ah...

Will: Well, that's expected. He's making up for the energy spent this whole week, though...Sugar isn't quite the answer...

Will: ...Oh well. -Sips-

<DWN-024>: >Good morning, Doctor.

<DWN-024>: >How are you this morning?

Will: ! Ah--Good morning, Shadow.

Will: I'm a little worn down, but--that is what coffee is for, eh? ^^

Will: Soi's getting the lab ready for the day, I believe. I heard that Mikhail and Siam have good news to share.

Pyro: !

<DWN-024>: > …

<DWN-024>: > If that is what I hope it to be… -Vaguely eager, because how do emotions work- We must let them know you are awake, as they will want to share at once.

Will: Oh, of course! Ah, just--let me locate Nine first, there's a bit of a situation, it seems. I'm sure he'll want to hear this too...

<DWN-024>: > -Muffled anticipation-

[After Beck was found hiding in the closet of his room with the syrup bottle--now empty--he agreed to come down to hear what Mikhail and Siam had to say.]

Avi: -Toting him around on his shoulders- Lil' bro acquired! ^^

Beck: -w-

Beck: -Syruuuup-

[By this point, the Cossacks were on the line. They appeared to be having breakfast, themselves.

Digger laughed at the spectacle, giving a slight “fist” pump.]

Digger: Haha!~ How is you say, “brother GET!”? You are lucky is not gingerbread man!

[Skull looked over at Keltso. They seemed to share a private joke, because Keltso snorted into his drink.]

Mikhail: It’s good to see you all like this again. Heaven knows it’s been missed.

[The doctor looked VERY tired, but content. He gave a pleasant smile.]

Mikhail: I do indeed have some excellent news to share. Something that’s been long overdue.

Cryo: OOOOOO~

Avi: -THIS SHOULD BE GOOD-

Beck: -Wipes syrup off of his mouth- So what is it, Dr. Cossack?

Mikhail: Well, you know what my overreaching project has been since before we met one another, da?

Digger: Repairing little brothers? :^DDD

Mikhail: Among others, yes.

Mikhail: I must thank you all for your help along the way. Beck, your molds have proven invaluable.

Beck: (^.^)7

Beck: It's no problem, Doctor!

Mikhail: It’s taken quite a lot of searching, but I do believe we have found a suitable answer. It honestly was hard to believe at first, the specs are quite—

WHACK!

Beck: --???

Avi: --The heck was that?

[Out of nowhere, there was an incredible racket coming from the direction of the windows.

It almost sounded like something was trying to break in.]

Cryo: --Yo, It's coming from the window--

Pyro: ???

[Pyro goes over to look at what is causing all the racket—]

Pyro: What is going on out--

Pyro: !!!!!

[...And IMMEDIATELY unlatches the window lock.]

Avi: Uh...Bro? What are you--

[Something feathered and shrieking dashed into the kitchen. It flew right into the toppings and condiments on the table, knocking over drinks and getting grimy feathers into breakfasts. A red and white sphere rolled out of its grasp.

This bird had certainly seen better days. It looked like it had flown through a pretty hard-affected area—sooty, muddy, and overall filthy.]

Mikhail: -Stands, utterly confused- Pyro, why—

[The poor thing didn’t even stop a moment to rest, but continued screaming.]

???: SCREE, SCREE!

Pyro: Doctor--

Pyro: That's BARON!

Beck: !!!!

Cryo: -Squints-

Cryo: -...DUDE HE'S RIGHT IT'S CARDINAL'S BIRD FORM--

Mikhail: What?!

[Baron was in hysterics, kicking up his wings as he took alight again, hovering in people’s faces.]

Beck: Baron! Calm down! -ACKPFFT FEATHERS IN MOUTH-

Avi: -DUDE YOU'RE GONNA RUN INTO SOMETHING--

Baron: -SCREE, SCREEEE—- -Flies over in Pyro’s face, SCREEEEE—- DDD8

Pyro: -Nearly has to take a step back, this bird is going crazy--

Pyro: Baron--We can't understand you if you just keep screaming--

[Frustrated, Baron flew over near the stove.

He started letting out bursts of fIRE—]

Baron: “●●● ——— ●●●” !!! SCREEE! “●●● ——— ●●●!” SCREE SCREE—!

Beck: ....

Avi: --Dude--Dude that's definitely Morse--

Pyro: ....

Pyro: SOS...

Beck: !!!

Beck: Is Cards in trouble--?!

Baron: SCREE—! “●●● ——— ●●●! ——● —●—●!!!!!!!!”

Avi: --? DC?

Avi: Uh, bro, you're gonna have to be a little more specific with the letters, man--

Will: --No, wait--

[There was a crash noise on the other side of the line. Digger whirled around to see who it was.]

Digger: … Felix?!

[He runs out of view. Baron flies over and starts pecking desperately at Avi’s camera drone.]

Avi: --HEY NO--

Beck: !!!

Avi: Dude no you're gonna scratch the camera--

[Luckily, Will is already opening another feed to the local news, with Soi coming in to see what was all the ruckus about.]

Soi: Why is everyone screaming louder than--

Soi: --Holy hamburger, is that BARON?!

“Felix, no—you’re unwell, you—!”

[Protests could be heard from the other line. Felix was speaking back in agitated Proxan. Dark, deadly looking plants were starting to curl around the doorframe.]

Beck: -Oh man--

Will: Yes, Soi, do me a favor and PLEASE check the news on TV for me--

Soi: Er--Okay?

Soi: --!!!??

Soi: WILL, WE HAVE A SITUATION--

“Let GO of me—they must stop him—”

Mikhail: What KIND of situation— FELIX! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF—!

Soi: -PANIC-

Soi: THE WHITE HOUSE IS UNDER ATTACK--

Will: What--?!?

Beck: The White House?!?

Avi: -WAIT--AS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHITE HOUSE--

Baron: -SCREEE D.C., D.C.-

Avi: -FINALLY GETS INTO THE FEEDS HIMSELF-

Avi: -Pales-

Avi: Oh man THISISBAD--

Avi: THIS IS VERY BAD--

Avi: GUYS--THEY'RE SAYING THAT AN UNIDENTIFIED BOT IS ON THE PRIMISES AND THE DESCRIPTION MATCHES CARDS--

Beck: Cards is THERE?!?

Mikhail: {WHAT?! NO—!}

<DLN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-011 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-012 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-013 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-018 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-019 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-024 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DCN-000 has entered Non-Lethal Combat mode.>

<DCN-003 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DCN-007 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DCN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

Beck: (But--!)

Beck: (If Cards is THERE, then that means--!)

Beck: (--OH MAN, THEY'RE IN--)

Mikhail: {My God, if he gets caught, they are going to destroy him—}

Mikhail: {EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN! AUTHORIZATION MC005!}

[There was a string of notifications as everyone went Offline.

Well. Almost everyone.]

<RMDC>: > -PING!- ERROR: COMMAND FAILED. DLN-000 SIGNAL NOT FOUND.

Cryo: -FLAILING ARMS- WHY THE GLITCH IS THE PREZ'S HOUSE UNDER ATTACK--

Pyro: --....

Pyro: If Cardinal is in the White House--then--

Will: . . .

Will: N...No...

Will: NonoNO--!

Beck: SHADE--!

Felix: You… you must stop him, before—!

[Mikhail, taken by surprise (as he had forgotten all about the poor Adept in the chaos), turned just in time to prevent Felix from falling over something. Felix clutched at him, clearly in a very weakened state. He hadn’t eaten in a long time—and it showed.]

Beck: !

Beck: FELIX--!

Felix: There…

Felix: There is DEATH on the horizon!

Beck: --!!!

Will: NO--!

Will: (I will not lose another CHILD--!)

Will: CALL!

Felix: NO!

Felix: You don’t understand—!

Beck: --????!

Beck: -Already in combat form, loading up Xel Stocks-

Beck: You gotta explain FAST, Felix, I don't think we have much time--

Felix: He can’t…

Mikhail: -Helps Felix gently to the floor, turning pale- {Dear God…}

Felix: Couldn’t… he couldn’t outrun him…

Will: -Freezes at that-

————————

“You’re going to have to catch me first, hunting doggie!”

————————

“Catch me if you can!”

————————

Beck: . . .

Beck: -Starts preparing FASTER--

Avi: But--wait--

Beck: No TIME!

Beck: Call, how soon can you get us authorization?!

Mikhail: WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!

[He’s run over to the mainframe, working faster than one could think possible—especially given his state. He seemed desperate, and was shouting commands.]

Mikhail: Aviator White you find out who the security on the lawn is RIGHT NOW AND TELL THEM TO CEASE FIRE, /THIS INSTANT!/

Avi: ON IT--

Mikhail: {And somebody call back the Pentagon, dammit—that’s why we haven’t heard from the secretary, THEY MUST BE TRAPPED INSIDE!}

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor. Contacting the Pentagon.

Mikhail: {FIND whoever you spoke to last time, we have got to get eyes in there, his signal is gone but we have to get him out of there, I’m waking up Tobias because WE DON’T HAVE TIME!}

Will: S-Soi-- -It's all moving too fast for him, Shade--

Soi: Will--Go get Beck as close to the House as possible! Can you do that?

Will: --!! Yes, yes--Right away--

Beck: (Shade--Shade, why this, WHY THE WHITE HOUSE, WHY--)

Beck: (Don't you know Cards is--?!)

Beck: Ready--!

Mikhail: {THEN GO, /NOW!/}

——————

[....Some time later…]

Beck: What is TAKING so long?!

Will: I'm going as fast as I CAN, Beck, but there are SECURITY measures preventing direct Xel Transfer that I HAVE to get through FIRST--!

Beck: We gotta get to Cards before SHADE does or--!

Beck: (Or...He'll do something WORSE--)

Will: Almost....

Will: --! GOT IT--

Will: Call!

Call: Affirmative, Doctor. Preparing Xel Transfer...

<DLN-008 is now Online.>

Beck: --!

Beck: Toby--!

<DLN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

Beck: --Uh oh--

[Mikhail is working at a terminal, apparently communicating with Tobias.]

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Mikhail has things covered, Beck--your main focus should be to retrieve Countershade and Cardinal!

<MC005>: >Tobias has his own mission. Focus on your work!

[MN.9] //: --...Yes, Sir.

Beck: (Hang on, guys, I swear--I swear I won't let anything happen to you--!)

[CAPITOL BUILDING, AKA THE WHITE HOUSE, A FEW SECONDS LATER...]

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NUMBER 8, COUNTERSHADE, APPEARS TO BE LEADING A ROBOT OCCUPATION OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING. SIGHTINGS OF DLN-000, CARDINAL LIGHT, HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED.

MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.8, LOCATE DLN-000. PREVENT BOTH UNITS FROM ENGAGING.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Beck appears in a flurry of blue Xel building upon itself, his feet meeting luxury red carpet. He seems to have landed in the foyer.]

[CALL] //: Attention. Beck has arrived at the Capitol Building.

[DR.SANDA] //: Y...You don't think Shade would actually...Try to...

[DR.WHITE] //: (A fine question indeed, but we all know the answer to that.) Focus, Soi.

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, what do you see?

Beck: I see--

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[A red dot appears right in between Beck's eyes--]

Beck: --!

[Beck rolls out of the way JUST in time to avoid sniper fire from out of nowhere, the statue behind him becoming littered with bullet holes.]

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.8] //: If it ain't the infernal Wily child and the Lil' doggie.

[So far, Beck had to go and FIND his ill siblings, and while each case differed from the other--

Not two seconds into this and Shade held NO qualms about shooting him in the head.

...In all honesty, that made Beck just a touch annoyed.]

-PING!-

[MN.9] //: COUNTERSHADE!

[Static fill ted the coms.

Angry static.]

<DLN-008>: >Shut up, Shade.

<DLN-008>: > The only reason I haven’t fried you to a soot speck is because Beck’s my friend and Cardinal would kill me. |[

Beck: ...

Beck: (Whew...)

Beck: (At least I kinda don't have to worry about Toby frying big bro to a crisp--yet...)

[There was a slight noise, and it died down.]

<DLN-008>: > Yes—

Beck: --? (Yes? Yes what--?) Toby, who are you--

[Suddenly, gunfire, off in the distance--]

[CALL] //: Sniper fire detected, but I am unable to detect any robot capable of long range gunfire.

[DR.WHITE] //: No, you won't, Call. Mighty No. 8 won't show up on any of your instruments.

[DR.WHITE.] //: ...All part of my design.

[One of the monitors nearby became filled with static and then a familiar symbol—the Wily symbol.

Tobias’s voice came over a small-range frequency.]

“Cardinal is fighting his way through—I can hear him, but I can’t see him yet!I’ll do what I can to disrupt!”

Beck: !

Beck: Thanks, Toby!

“Don’t congratulate me yet, Beck—”

BWAAAAAAAAN—

“I CAN’T CONTROL THE SECURITY SYSTEMS!”

[As if to prove this point, the monitor cut out, and resumed a “RED ALERT” security message.]

Beck: ._____.

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC.]

Beck: -TANK MODE GO-

[Various turrets unlock from the ceiling and walls, but they couldn't keep up with Beck as he barreled down the next hallway, gunfire chasing after him.]

[He practically ran over various infected robots, not stopping for a second in his search for Countershade and Cardinal.]

Beck: (Where are you, Shade--?)

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, Shade has to be somewhere in the building--trace the sniper fire back to its source!

[Indeed, Beck saw many red lasers bouncing off the walls and familiar dark orbs in the hall--Beck only saw them in use once in his entire life, and that was way back when he was still on the team...]

Beck: (Shade can see through them, I know that much--and he can use them to bounce his shots off of...)

Beck: (Meaning he has eyes everywhere--he knows exactly what's going on inside at all times--)

Beck: (I gotta get past them somehow--!)

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

Beck: HAH!

[Beck leaps forward and slices one out of the air, both halves of the orb falling into carpet with a small thunk.]

Beck: Okay, so some of them can be smashed... (Or sliced, in this case...)

[CRUNCH--!]

Beck: --? -Looks down, what the heck did he step on--

Snake: -Beep.-

[...Gosh, that looked familiar--]

Snake: -Beep beep.-

Beck: --!!!

[His mind goes RACING back to that day when a Search Snake had snuck into the Meadow--!]

Beck: NO--!

[Beck KICKS IT AWAY--]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[The snake EXPLODED in the air, sending shrapnel and acid flying--some of it into the gathered orbs, themselves!!]

[There was suddenly distorted CURSING over the feeds as Beck breathed hard, his eyes wide and shaking, and...almost...]

[Glowing...]

Beck: WHAT IS A S E A R C H SNAKE DOING HERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE--?!?

[...Uh oh.]

<DLN-008>: > Because Cardinal is trying to find them, genius!

Beck: --!

Beck: .........

Beck: ....O...Oh...

[That seems to snap him out of it.]

Beck: S-...Sorry, I...

<DLN-008>: > HE TOOK ALL THE CAPSULES, REMEMBER?!

Beck: -Wince--

Beck: (Gnh, that's right--)

<DLN-008>: > Including MINE!

[BZZZRRRRRKKKZZZZZGGGHHHHHHHVVVV—]

Beck: --?!?

<MC005>: > No! They're... they must be already engaging!

Beck: No--!

Beck: (Cards--Shade is WEAK to DYNA'S abilities, you're going to--!)

[Beck swerved around a corner, heading to the place where he heard the electricity--]

Beck: (Ugh, this is like the Power Plant all over again--)

<DLN-008>: > DYNAAAAAA--

<DLN-008>: > I CAN'T FIGHT THE SYSTEM AND FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS AT THE SAME TIME, HELP--

[He did seem to be disrupting the security systems-- it was far from perfect, though, and it was clear he was struggling.]

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: I got thiszz, Toby!

[MN.3] //: Let'szzz zzsee, what can I do here....

[Dyna is silent for a few moments before--]

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: Ah! That'szz the biszznesszz--thiszz place MUST have it'szz own power grid! No wonder you're having zzso much trouble, Toby, the zzspecszz are totally different.

[MN.3] //: Hmmm...Let'szzz try thiszz--

Beck: Whoa--!

[Suddenly, gravity just vanished as EVERYTHING began to float up, suspended, the air crackling with energy--]

Beck: Dynaaaaa, put me down--!

[MN.3] //: Oopszz--

[MN.3] //: Okay, hmm. That waszzn't it--

[THUNK.]

[Aaaand gravity went back to normal.]

Beck: -Ow-

[MN.3] //: Wow, thiszzz iszzn't your typical power grid--I'm gonna need a few zzsecondszz. Can you hold off for a while longer?

Beck: -Back in default form- Yeah, I think...

Beck: --!

Beck: What the...

[He had arrived at the hallway where he heard the electric based weaponry going off.

It was utterly destroyed.]

Beck: Uh.

Beck: I think this is the right way. (Jeez...)

Beck: (Gotta watch my step...)

Beck: CARDS?! SHADE?!

Beck: WHERE ARE YOU?!

Beck: SOMEONE--

[BANG!]

Beck: --Gnh!

[Something hot grazed his shoulder, and he turned--]

Shade: Hello, runt.

Beck: --?!

[Before Beck could say a word, Shade fired off more shots, forcing Beck to find cover behind a presidential statue of sorts.]

Shade: Heh. Coward.

Beck: Shade, please, I--!

[Beck peeked out of his cover to return fire--]

Beck: --???

[...But he was gone.]

Beck: Sh...Shade--?

[Nothing.]

[CALL] //: Mighty No. 8's signal has vanished. We have lost the target. My apologies.

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

[DR.WHITE] //: ... It's not your fault.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...It's what I built him to do.

<MC005>: > And Cardinal was built to defend at all costs-- Tobias, where is he?!

<DLN-008>: > Kinds busy with the security--!

Beck: Gah...

[Finding nothing here, Beck doubled back to the foyer, and to the other adjoining hallway to the right. Perhaps, if they were going left, he can cut them off--]

Beck: --!

[A slew of infected combat models awaited him.]

Beck: Aw, you gotta be--!

[They opened fire, and this time there wasn't much cover to hide behind--Beck was forced to tank some hits before retaliating with his default weapon, restoring his Xel Stocks for later.]

Beck: Guuuh, lasers hurt...

[He shakes it off after a while, and continues to run down the hall...]

[BANG BANG BANG!!]

[--only to be CHASED by sniper fire soon after!]

Beck: AH--!

[MN.8] //: Heh. Run along nao, lil' doggy.

[MN.8] //: -VERY DISORTED VOICE-- Run and FETCH for your HUMAN masters.

<DLN-008>: > OW!

<DLN-008>: > -Incredibly aggressive data-

[Tobias seemed to be engaged in a fight against something very powerful…

…something that was making him angry.]

[KKKSST--]

[The connection cuts out.]

[DR.WHITE] //: He STILL has his sights on you, Beck--be careful--!

Beck: Ggh, trying--!

[He manages to dive into the next hallway--]

Beck: --?????

[...Oh that was a lot of Metal Blades.]

Beck: (Oooh, jeez, Shade's not gonna be happy seeing those out--)

Beck: (Not after what happened in the Queen's Finals...)

Beck: (Oh, please, PLEASE don't do anything rash, Shade--you--you gotta still be in there SOMEWHERE--!)

"RARF!"

Beck: --?????

Beck: ...Did...Did you hear that?

[It...It sounded like a very distinct bark--]

<MC005>: > …I must be imagining things, that sounded like Shade’s dog—

"RARF RARF!"

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: No WAY--

[Amazingly, despite all of the gunfire and chaos, madness, and overall hell on earth--

Scout the Zigzagoon was expertly and happily bouncing around the dangers of the White House, tail wagging with GLEE as he POUNCED into the young hero's chest with almost carefree cheerfulness.]

Scout: RARF! : D!!!! -IT'S YOU, TALL MASTER'S BROTHERRRR-

Beck: SCOUT--?!?

Scout: -ALL THE KISSES FOR YOU--

Beck: -GIGGLES, BWAAAA--

[DR.WHITE] //: .....I....? -Speechless-

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > …How did he—

<MC005>: > !

<MC005>: > What is he wearing?

Beck: --?

[Scout had something hanging around his neck, besides his teal scarf...]

Beck: Lemmie see that...

Beck: --?

Beck: It's...a whistle of some sort--?

<MC005>: > !!!

<MC005>: > That’s Cardinal’s!

Beck: --......

Beck: Wait--if this is Cardinal's--

Beck: Scout--did...Did you--did you come here WITH CARDS--?!?

Scout: Rarf! : D

Beck: -ARE YOU TELLING ME SHADE'S RACCOON FOUND CARDS, CARDS, BEFORE WE DID--

[You could hear Mikhail facepalming over the feeds.

....And again, over Will's feed.]

[DR.WHITE] //: -We got outsmarted by a raccoon, are you KIDDING me--

Beck: --! Scout--where is he--where is Cards--?!

Scout: ---......

[...He's...Not answering.]

<DLN-008>: > Gnhhhgghhh!

<DLN-008>: > I directed him to the Oval Office!

Beck: --?!? WHAT--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -I KNEW IT, HE'S GOING TO ASSASSINATE THE MADAME PRESIDENT--

[DR.SANDA] //: BECK! HURRY!

Beck: (Gnh--!)

Beck: Scout--

Beck: I can't bring you back home, but, please--

Beck: If you find Cards--please tell him I'm going to save Shade!

[Beck didn't want to leave Scout in such a dangerous place, but--if he made it this far, then he should be fine...]

Scout: Rarf--

[Beck didn't wait for an complete answer--he ran ahead, leaving the Zig behind.]

Scout: -Whiiiines-

[After a moment of worry, the Zig soon bounces off, determined to find his master--either of them.]

[Meanwhile, Beck continued to forge his way through the capital building turned battleground, avoiding both Shade's sniper fire AND that of the infected robots.]

Beck: --....

[Despite all the noise, and chaos...]

[...He hasn't seen a single human in the building yet, and he didn't know if that was a good or bad sign.]

[PING!]

[Fortunately, that question was about to be answered.]

[MN.8] //: Wondering what happened to all the humans here, Lil' doggy?

[MN.8] //: They ran away, thanks t' that annoyin' songbird of theirs...Feh. Cowards.

[MN.8] //: Every single one of those meat-sticks fled at the first sign of trouble. Pathetic.

[MN.8] //: ...'Cept for the stupid ones, that is. Heh.

[MN.8] //: Like y o u.

[MN.9] //: -Ghn--

[MN.9] //: Shade, PLEASE--!

[MN.9] //: That 'songbird'--you KNOW that person, Shade--!

[MN.9] //: Please don't hurt him!

[MN.8] //: Ya think I'm gonna listen t' YEW, lil' Doggy?

[MN.8] //: Ah' ain't no TOOL fer MAN no more. Not like the REST of ya.

[MN.8] //: Ah' think it's about time someone ELSE had a turn at orderin' fools around, eh?

[KKKSST--!]

Beck: SHADE--UGH--!

Beck: (Either he's ignoring me or he doesn't even RECOGNIZE Cards--like Pyro...)

Beck: DYNA!

[MN.3] //: Almoszzt got it--

[The lights flickered...]

[And dimmed.]

Beck: --!

[...Aaaand everything started floating again, oh no--]

Beck: Waaah--!

[MN.8] //: NGH, SONOFVA--

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: Oooooh, Shaaaaade!

[MN.3] //: BIG ZZZSISTER WANTSZZ TO HAVE A TALK WITH YOU.

[MN.8] //: -Oh, bite me, witch hag.-

[MN.3] //: YOU CAN’T PLAY HIDE AND ZZZSEEK FOREVER–

[MN.3] //: -CACKLES- BECAUSE I'LL FIIIIIND YOUUUU!~

[MN.8] //: GO T' HELL.

[KSSSSSST--]

<DLN-008>: > NICE TRY.

<DLN-008>: > You’ve made this place unbearable…

<DLN-008>: > So we’re already /here/, and we WON’T GO /AWAY!/

[MN.3] //: Niczze play on wordszz, bro.~

[MN.8] //: Grrr...

[MN.8] //: Glitchfraggin' motherscratchin' infested with lightnin' bugs--

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: DON'T TALK TO YOUR SISTER THAT WAY, EIGHT--

[MN.1] //: When you get back here I swear I am going to WASH THAT FOUL MOUTH WITH SOAP--

[MN.2] //: -OOO, CAN WE HELP--

[MN.1] //: -You know what yes Cryo you CAN help-

[MN.2] //: HECK YEAH, BATH TIME~~~

[MN.8] //: Ah' ain't got no TAHM for ya FRICKIN' PRATTLE--!

[KSSSSSSSST--]

[CONNECTION LOST.]

[MN.1] //: | [

[MN.1] //: Dyna, have you managed to seize control of the--

[MN.3] //: ~~ < 3

[MN.1] //: --????

[MN.3] //: -Mmmm high grade military level power voltage tastes SO GOOD--

[MN.1] //: You've got to be kidding me--

<MC005>: > …Why are you surprised by this, exactly?

[MN.1] //: I'm not. | [

[MN.3] //: Mmmmm!~

[MN.3] //: Go on now, Becky, I got thiszz, I KNEW thiszz place had it'szz own power grid, yum.~

[MN.9] //: Hookay, thanks, Dyna! c:

<DLN-008>: >Just follow the panels along the side—

[Some of them start lighting up, flickering down the hallway.]

[Unfortunately, Beck didn’t really quite make it too far before—]

POW.

[Someone had managed to blow a fuse, which turned off the security in that part of the White House…

…and the lights…

…and the air conditioning.]

<DLN-008>: > OW!

<DLN-008>: > -OUCH that hurt, WARN a guy before you shove him into a current like that—-

[MN.1] //: DYNA!

[MN.3] //: OW, THAT WASZZN'T ME, BRO--

<MC005>: > …That was Cardinal.

<MC005>: >He must have used Thunder Beam…

<MC005>: > It’s the only thing he had powerful enough to do that.

<MC005>: >I think that’s the last of the electric power he had at his disposal—he won’t have any left for fighting with…

Beck: (He's...Either getting more serious or desperate...)

Beck: (I gotta hurry, gotta--!)

<MC005>: >Tobias, are you alright?

<DLN-008>: > Nnnngghhhh…

[MN.3] //: -Kinda dizzy and a LITTLE peeved, she was enjoying a GOOD MEAL--

[BANG!]

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: That came from--!

[MN.8] //: Tch!

[MN.8] //: Keep gettin’ in mah way, Birdy, and Ah’ WILL make ya regret it!

Beck: --!!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[A red blur speeds down the hallway at a frantic pace, but he's still slowed down by all the infected enemies around--it was like they were trying to stall him--]

Beck: Out of my WAY--

[SHING SHING--!]

[Then...]

[MN.8] //: Heh.

[MN.8] //: Was that ya soundin’ desperate there?

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

[MN.8] //: -LAUGHTER-

[MN.8] //: Ah’ hate t’ disobey a lady, but m'afraid yer term is up.

[MN.8] //: Now.

[MN.8] //: R u n.

[The comms seemed to go live—as if Shade were broadcasting his twisted takeover—!]

[For a brief moment, silence.

…But then…]

“…Heh…”

Beck: --!

[Laughter.

FAMILIAR laughter—but it wasn’t Shade’s—!]

Beck: --!

Beck: Cardinal--!

“Shade, Shade, Shade…”

<DLN-008>: > ??? (What’s with the scolding tone?)

“You know what?”

“You’re right.”

Beck: --?!?!? (What....?)

[MN.8] //: -Ooooh, now ya got his attention-

[MN.8] //: Somethin’ change yer mind, Birdy?

[MN.8] //: Was it the fact that yer doin’ this all fer nothin’?

“Hardly.”

<DLN-008>: > … Uh-oh—

“More like… I don’t have time for this, Shade…”

[One could hear a faint priming whine…!]

“Guess I’ll have to make my own!”

[K-FLSH!]

Beck: --?????

<RMDC>: >WEAPON IDENTIFIED: TIME STOPPER

Beck: (Time Stopper--)

[Ah! Beck can see the hallway now--]

CRASH!

Beck: --?!?

Beck: (What are you guys DOING--)

PSSSHHHHT!

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > -Soi please tell me that wasn’t me hearing him SPRAY PAINTING something just now—-

[DR.SANDA] //: -Oh goodness I--I think it is-- CARDINAL THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE, NOT A GIANT CANVAS--

[There was a sharp whistling noise.]

“-RARF RARF RARF–”

Beck: --! Scout--!

[Almost there--]

“Close enough. Group hug, everybody!”

“! Oh goodness— Now wait just a—”

[Beck turned the corner—]

Byuubyuubyuu…

Beck: --!

Beck: NO!

Beck: I was so CLOSE--!

Beck: (--But--at least the President is okay, right--?)

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: HEEEYOOOO, this is Avi bringing you guys a quick update--

[MN.6] //: I've managed to tell the boys in blue and black that Cards isn't a threat--and I got visual of him outside--!

<MC005>: > {AT LAST!}

[MN.6] //: Please hold, I think--I think if I can just get this cam over here, I can talk to him--

<MC005>: > {Yes— oh please let this WORK—}

<MC005>: >Beck, is Shade still in that hallway? I think Cardinal may have tagged him, actually—

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: I got visual! And input audio--so we can hear him--

Beck: -Looks around--

Beck: I...I don't see him...

“Heh.”

“Hello again, Avs.”

[MN.6] //: Cards--Cards, man, I missed you-- come ON I NEED AUDIO OUTPUT--!

<DLN-008>: > H-hang on… lemme try and fix that…

[The feed crackled.]

<DLN-008>: >Okay, try now—!

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: TOBY YOU'RE A LIFESAVER--

Avi: Bro you do realize can't hide from this, right--

“Sadly."

[He sounded weary and grim.]

“That’s a cost I’ll have to carry.”

<DLN-008>: > …

<DLN-008>: > -Ugh, I… suddenly don’t feel so good…-

Avi: OKAY GOOD JUST CHECKING.

Avi: Because sometimes you just kinda let these things fly wAY OVER YOUR HEAD--

[MN.1] //: Really, Avi?!

[MN.6] //: -WE PUN WHEN WE'RE STRESSED, OKAY--

<MC005>: > -sNORTS-

[Silence, other than the background chatter.]

<MC005>: > Just a little more…

[…Cardinal spoke up again. He sounded rather defeated.]

“-Quietly- I’m sorry, Avi. I’m not done yet.”

Avi: --....

[MN.6] //: -Ugh we--Cards, we NEED you too--

Avi: Dude, Beck's in there now, just--come on, man, can't ya believe in him too...?

Beck: (Please, Cards--you KNOW I'm the only one that can CURE him, PLEASE, I can DO THIS--!)

“Six, this is about a lot more than believing and proving and anything else, and quite frankly—”

[A splashing noise.]

[MN.6] //: --? Was that water--

“—I’m tired of seeing my brothers die.”

<DLN-008>: > -Uuuuugh…!-

<RMDC>: >WARNING: 06.30.20XX MEMORY DATA CROSS-REFERENCES TO MULTIPLE HAZARDOUS FILES. POTENTIAL SYSTEM OVERLOAD TRIGGER DETECTED.

<DLN-008>: > -Ghhh…!-

Beck --.....

Beck: . . . .

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

“I won’t risk any chance of that happening again.”

Beck: Ghn--

[But--but--]

Beck: (I--I promised, I won't do that, Cards, I--)

Beck: (I'm not like--like--)

[The Xel of the broken robots around him starts to float--]

Beck: Why don't...you...listen--?

[MN.9] //: -Hurt, hurtful data, that hurt--

<MC005>: > !

Beck: Why don't you b-believe me--

<MC005>: > NO!

<MC005>: > BECK, HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU—

<MC005>: > With the White House evacuated…

<MC005>: > The Pentagon would be able to target it!

Beck: --!

[DR.WHITE] //: Listen to Mikhail, Beck!

[DR.WHITE] //: Cardinal--he has his own personal reasons for going after Shade, you know this--!

[DR.WHITE] //: It's not that he doesn't believe in you, Beck, please...

Beck: . . .

[A lady’s voice breaks through.]

“Where do you THINK you’re going—”

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

“Here, take this, it may help you on your journey—”

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

Avi: (....I guess I tried.)

“Ackpth—”

Mikhail: … -Facepalm- (He handed off the Pokémon to the President??)

[MN.6] //: Sorry, Doc, I'm...not a good staller. That's...more Shade's department...

Avi: please don't hurt him too bad.

“I don’t have time for this. You saw the file extension, you know my intentions.”

Beck: --......

[At the sound of Cardinal reminding him of this, The Xel fluxes, and then gently collects towards Beck, healing him.]

-*-*-*-

<DLN-000>: >I know. I know.

<DLN-000>: >But I’ll never give up on you Shade, not for any reason.

-*-*-*-*-

Beck: Never...give...up...on you...

Beck: Not for any...Reason..

[When Cardinal spoke again, he seemed to be in… pain.]

“…See you in clearer skies, Avs.”

[MN.6] // Ggnh--

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

Mikhail: NYET—!

“Goodbye…”

BWIP.

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

<RMDC>: >ERROR: DLN-000 SIGNAL NOT FOUND.

[MN.6] //: Nghgh--

[MN.6] //: -Hurts, HEAD HURTS--

>A problem has been detected and AI_DWN_008 has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. All unsaved data has been lost.

The problem seems to be caused by the following programs: BetaEmotions.exe, RMDatabase.exe

If this is the first time you have seen the Stop error screen, restart your chassis—

REBOOTING…

Mikhail: (Great. GREAT. Now Cardinal is gone, and Tobias is Offline. I have nothing!)

Mikhail: -Puts his head in his hands-

[…]

“…Get me Sanda Labs on a secure line.”

Mikhail: … -Not NOW—-

“NOW.”

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

[DR.WHITE] //: No--

[DR.WHITE HAS LEFT THE CONVERSATION.]

Mikhail: Will?

[DR.SANDA] //: Will--!

[DR.SANDA] //: G-Give us a minute--Will COME BACK--

[DR.SANDA HAS LEFT THE CONVERSATION.]

Mikhail: …

<MC005>: > Beck we need him out of there.

[Back at the White House, Beck had somewhat calmed down, but he seemed...somewhat tired. Emotionally, rather than physically.]

Beck: --I...yeah.

Beck: I'm going.

Beck: (Shade...Cards...)

[He had no idea where to start looking, and no idea what Shade would do now that the President was outside, and safe.]

[But...If he had to guess...]

Beck: --....

Beck: Oh no--

<MC005>: >Beck…? What is it?

Beck: (No, Shade, no--)

[If anything, Shade's obvious objective was to kill the President--but now that she was gone, and by Cardinal's doing--]

Beck: Shade's target is gone.

Beck: Remember what happened at the highway--Jack made Carmen's target get away, and who did SHE TAKE THAT OUT ON--

<MC005>: > {Dear God—}

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: SHAAAAAAAAAAADE!

[CRASH, BANG--]

[He had to get to Cards--before--before--!]

Beck: CAAAAAAAAAARDS!

[BANG–!]

[BANG BANG–]

Beck: NO--!!

Beck: (NO, don't do this, please, don't--!)

Beck: (That came from all the way back at the foyer--)

KTANG!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT—

[Getting back ALL the way to where he started--]

[Beck even ignored the oncoming fire from what was left of the infected robots, even crushing one with a firm hand swipe--as if he pushed the Xel of it away--]

[BANG–]

Beck: Ngh--!

Beck: (Hurts, but--gotta keep going--)

KZZZRRR! KZZRRR!

Beck: --?!?

Beck: What the--

[Wires. Wires covered in purple, all over the hall, he couldn't pass though here--!]

Beck: RRRRUGH!

[Beck was so angry that the leftover Xel around him shivered, collected, and grew HOT, following him as he swerved on his heel in the other direction--]

Beck: (I swear if I see them beating the heck outta each other to an INCH of life, I'm gonna--!)

Beck: GUUUUYS!

Beck: Sto--

[WHAM!]

Beck: --?!?

[...Did he just run smack into George Washington's head?]

Beck: (This was NOT here before--)

CRASH!

[BANG!]

[VRRRRRRR--]

Beck: --????

[The entire bust and pedestal that the granite image of the First President suddenly started moving--]

[The mechanisms inside were robotic, and thus, ALSO affected by the virus--meaning--]

Beck: -EXASPERATED- EVEN THE FOUNDING FATHERS DON'T WANT ME NEAR MY OWN BROTHER--

Beck: WHAT IS UP WITH THIS PLACE--

[BLAM--]

[Shattering the granite head bust seems to work.]

[BLAM--]

[MN.2] //: Dude did you just blast President Lincoln--

Beck: I--

[BLAM--]

Beck: DON'T--

[BLAM!]

Beck: --CARE!

Beck: SHADE!

Beck: I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME--STOP IT! NOW!

kzzzZZZZZZZZGGGVVVVGGGHHHTTTT—

CRASH!!

Beck: --!

[...Silence.]

[Oh God, silence--]

Beck: (No--n-no, he--)

[BANGKSSSHHHHKKKGGHHHHT!]

Beck: --!

[BLAM--]

Beck: -MIXTURE OF RELIEF AND HORROR-

[BANG BANG BANG–]

[A LOUD EXPLOSION—]

Beck: Gh--

Beck: -Why are there so many of these STUPID STATUES--

Beck: (If only Shade didn't block that stupid hall on the right--)

Beck: (All of this is just-- stupid, nngh--)

Beck: (I just want my family BACK--!)

[He was halfway there, he could hear the noises of battle getting louder--]

[BANG–]

[CRASH!]

Beck: (Almost--just a couple of more hallways--)

[KKKKKKKRRWOOOOOOOOOOOOH!]

[A strong wind came through the hallway.]

Beck: ---?!?!

[The sudden strong gusts sent our lightweight hero tumbling backwards--]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[--Before he switched into Avi's form, flying desperately against the unforgiving winds--]

Beck: Nnnngh--!

Beck: Dad, how much further--

[...No response.]

Beck: --?? Dad--Uncle Sanda--?

[Nothing--]

Beck: (Why aren't they answering--???)

[BANG!]

Beck: Nnnngh--

Beck: (Why is there so much wind, why is everything trying to stop me--??)

[BANG–

BANG BANG BANG–]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (No--Cards--I don't hear him firing BACK--!)

Beck: NO!

Beck: STOP IT! PLEASE--!

[BANG–!]

Beck: SHAAADE--

[The winds finally die down, and Beck instantly reverts back to his default before--]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

Beck: HAAAAAAH!

[Beck slices and dices anything that crosses his path in a red and yellow tornado of slashes that seem too quick for the normal eye to see...]

[SHING SHING SHING--]

[BANG.]

[A pause.]

[BANG!]

[A much longer pause. Beck was beginning to make headway.]

[BANG—]

[Shorter pause—]

“AUGH!”

Beck: CARDS--!

Beck: (He's already hurt, come on, COME ON--)

[BLAM! BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM—]

Beck: --!

[Wait, wasn't that...]

Beck: (Needle Cannon--)

Beck: Cards, please--just hold out a LITTLE longer--

[A set of large oak doors block the path--locked shut.]

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

[CRASH--]

[...Or, was.]

[BANG BANG BANG–]

[Silence.]

Beck: (No, please, STOP DOING THAT--)

[This time, the silence WASN’T broken.]

Beck: ......

Beck: (N...No, no, NO--)

Beck: (Oh, Cards, please, say something, a comeback, a pun, ANYTHING--!)

Beck: (YOU--YOU CAN'T BE--)

Beck: AVIIIIIIII!

[PING!]

[MN.6 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.6] //: -LITTLE BRO IS SCREAMING--

[MN.9] //: Avi, I need eyes in the main foyer, NOW!

[MN.6] //: What, why--

[MN.9] //: I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL ALIVE--!

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

[MN.6] //: -Foyer, Shade, Cards, CRUD--

[MN.6] //: --! I GOT VISUAL--

[MN.6] //: -Oh man things are NOT looking good for Cards right now--

[MN.9] //: But he's still--!?

[MN.6] //: Yeah, they...They're talking, I think...I think Cards is getting through to him--!

Beck: -Stops in his tracks-

Beck: (Then maybe--)

Beck: (Maybe...Maybe Shade is...)

Beck: (If Cards can just keep him still--maybe we can do a repeat of the highway like Kate, or--)

Beck: -RUNS-

Beck: (If I can just get there, I won't have to fight Shade at all, or at least not alone--!)

Beck: (I just have to---)

BANG—

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

[MN.6 HAS GONE INTO SLEEP MODE]

[A thud can be heard over the comms--]

[MN.3] //: AVI--!

[Beck staggered and stopped dead at the sudden screech of horror from his own brother, his eyes widening as he came to the realization that--]

Beck: (Avi...Avi faints when he sees blood or something LIKE it--!)

—————————

[Blade suddenly had a saw in his hand, and raised it so he could slash wildly at the DLN–!]

SKLLLKTTKRRRSHHHLLLRRRKKT—

[Oil and cooling fluids spattered all over Bladeblaster’s hands and weapon, as if they were blood.

Tobias lost his grip immediately and fell to the ground, too dazed in pain and injury to even cry out.

His energy levels had dropped DRAMATICALLY, and were still dropping, as was his core temperature—two more hits like that, and he would be gone.]

—————————

Beck: CARDINAAAAAAL!

[Shaking off his temporary stupor, Beck redoubled his efforts, smashing, crashing, and going through all the debris and such that have collected during Cardinal's run of the place...]

Beck: (Don't be dead don't be dead don't be--)

[He trips--]

Beck: (UGH--!)

[And lands on a pile of granite rubble, skidding around the floor and falling again over the small pebbles, picking himself up, and just running for it.]

[...He didn't think he'd ever been so desperate just to get to one place in all his days Online.]

[And the silence… The SILENCE just keeps GOING—]

ARUGH--!

[Or not.]

Beck: (--?!? That--...That was Shade--)

Beck: SHADE!

Beck: (Gotta get there, gotta get there before--!)

[--!!]

[At last! The hallway leading towards the foyer, with one locked double door standing in the way!]

[At this point, Beck could barely make out SOME voices...]

Beck: ---!!!

[WHAM!]

[Beck slams himself against the door, but it wouldn't budge--]

Beck: SHAAAAADE! OPEN THE DOOR!

Beck: OPEN THE DOOR N O W--!

"ENOUGH!"

[Shade--]

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC--]

"Ah' don’t have time t’ waste on you. Obviously ya ain’t gonna stay out of my way while ya still runnin’."

[WHAM--]

"An’ as we’ve already established, ya have this fraggin’ annoyin’ tendency to keep hangin’ on. Fahn, then—I’ll give ya the honor a’ takin’ ya out myself!"

Beck: Shade, NO!

"An’ just tah make SURE you don’t get out of sight at the last second…"

Beck: HE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND--!

[WHAM--CRACK--]

"This’ll be the last bullet Ah’ waste on ya."

Beck: DON'T KILL HIM--!!

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

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=CHAPTER 2A: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

{SANDA LABS...}

[It was morning.

Will had fallen asleep next to his terminal, which still showed many analysis programs running in the desktop--it seems they had been running for the rest of that night...

Sanda had worked hard and a little longer than Will--a rare thing--but he did his best to get Pyro back up to his normal Xel Count, which should be enough for now; all Pyro needed was rest.

Meanwhile, Beck had fallen asleep next to Call, who was ever restless, ticking away at her console...]

Beck: Zzzz....

[Beck looked much better—his armor was fully repaired, as well as his internal systems—he was all ready to go, as soon as he woke up.

They just needed to find...]

[PING!]

White: --!!!

[Will shoots straight awake at the sound--and immediately looks at his terminal. Did the analysis find anything...?!]

Beck: —?

[Beck also jerks awake—and nearly almost falls over, but luckily he grabbed onto the back of Call's chair in time.]

Beck: What? What is it?

Call: I have located Mighty No. 2's transponder signal.

[PING!]

[MN.1 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.1] //: Cryo?!

Call: Scanning...

Call: .......

Call: Scan complete. Mighty No. 2 is currently located in Minnesota. The location data suggests that she has confined herself within a Water Works Bureau treatment plant.

[MN.1] //: —!!

White: —! Of course...

White: Soichiro!

Sanda: I heard, I heard—!

[MN.1] //: If she's in a Water Works plant--the place must be her own personal playground by now...

Beck: (She...oh no...all the PEOPLE...!) How soon can I move out?

White: Call?

Call: Setting up Xel Transfer now...please wait.

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Father—

White: Absolutely not.

[MN.1] // My Xel Count is normalized, I can—

White: I said no.

White: We do not need YOU running off as well—Beck has your ReXelection now, and therefore Cryo's weakness: he will be fine.

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

White: Please, son...you've been through enough. Rest.

[MN.1] //: . . .

Beck: Big Brother...

Beck: I SWEAR I'll bring Cryo back. I promise. I can DO this.

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

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

[MN.1] //: She is creative, crafty, and fearless.

[MN.1] //: Be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: ....And please...

[MN.1] //: Be careful.

[Beck nods, adjusting his visor with a ping of confirmation.]

Beck: Roger that, Big bro.

Call: Xel Transfer ready. The coordinates are set.

White: Beck?

Beck: ...

Beck: I'm ready.

White: Good luck, Beck...

Sanda: Go get her back for us!

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[........]

[PING!]

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Call.

[CALL to MN.1] //: Yes, No. 1?

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Do you want to increase Beck's chances of success?

[CALL to MN.1] //: That would be preferable, yes.

[MN.1 to CALL] //: Then I need you to do me a favor...

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 2, CRYOSPHERE, HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF A MINNESOTA WATER WORKS BUREAU, WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CEASED OPERATIONS.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVES: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.2, RESCUE ANY TRAPPED CIVILIANS/WORKERS WITHIN THE AREA.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[So far, materializing into the Water Works was just like going into the Oil Platform—

Except now, instead of the raging heat, it was now bitter cold that stung every surface of his frame, causing him to shiver uncontrollably for a few moments...]

Beck: Brr...

[It only took a few moments for his internals to adjust to the freezing temperatures—and when they did...]

Beck: ! What—

[His comm went online.]

Sanda: What's this—?! The main entrance is frozen shut!

White: That should pose no problem. Beck, now would be a good time to use Pyro's ability.

Beck: On it—

[REXELECT—]

Beck: —!!

Beck: Wait—

[C.VISOR: ONLINE. SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

Beck: —! Ack—I knew it!

White: What—what is it?

Beck: I'm detecting both organic and Xel signatures on the other side.

Beck: If I use Pyro's power, I might hurt them.

White: —! Ah...can you find some other way inside to rescue them?

Beck: Not from what I can see.

Call: Scanning...

Call: ....

Call: Beck, proceed east. I've located a faster, alternate route into the waterworks via the reservoir.

Beck: Call—Call I sink like a ROCK.

Beck: I can't SWIM very well—!!

Call: This alternate route has various platforms and ledges that can be used for safe access to the waterworks.

Call: I have seen you jump quite well underwater myself, No. 9.

Beck: ....

Beck: Are you SURE it's safe down there...?

Call: There may be a likely chance that malfunctioning aquatic based CherryDyn and Sanda models have also taken residence in the reservoir.

Beck: .....

Beck: Of course they did...

[Beck trudged along forward with a foreboding sense of dread, and after running into a couple of standard trash bots--]

[He came across a long access pool that only went straight down. There was nothing but a faint green tinge to it, making visibility null.]

Beck: ....

Beck: This is the unfiltered reservoir.

Call: Also correct.

Beck: GROSS.

White: ....-makes a face-

Sanda: Oof, that's gonna be unpleasant...

Beck: ....

Beck: -INHALES-

Beck: CANNONBALL—

[KERSPLASH!]

[He used his dash to seamlessly dive into the reservoir feet first...]

[His C.Visor went down over his eyes once it sensed the presence of water and increased pressure, and adjusted his sight to give at least an idea of what he was getting into.]

Beck: (OoooooomanI'mgoingREALLYdeep—)

[Down...]

[And down he went...]

[Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity--]

[His feet find solid steel floor.]

Beck: ....

[.......]

[LOW LEVEL LIGHT DETECTED.]

[NEON REFLECTORS: ONLINE.]

[The lights on his arm cannon started to glow brighter!]

Beck: —! (Oh—neat...!)

Call: Warning--incoming hostiles.

[...Yes, it seems as if several small bubbles of...dirty filth was heading towards him...?]

Beck: ....?

Call: Several of the plant's water filtering robots have utilized the toxins and harmful debris within the reservoir to act as a shield.

[They seemed to be attracted to Beck's light...!]

Beck: (—OK TIME TO MOVE—)

[Out of instinct, Beck chose to dash out of the way of the bubbles of filth—which were slowly coming together into a bigger bubble.]

Beck: —!

[Wha—]

[His AcXelarate—! It carried him JUST as far as it did on land!]

Beck: ......

Beck: (I CAN SWIM WITH THIS—)

[Using his dash as a sort of propeller, he turns and starts to BLAST away at the filth surrounding the filter robots—which, to his surprise...]

[Were a lot smaller than he imagined they would be...]

Beck: —!

Beck: (There seems to be a LOT of these guys down here; they must work together to purify the water...)

White: Beck, don't let those models group together in large numbers—their shield would be nearly impossible to break then!

[MN.9] //: Got it!

Call: Proceed east.

Beck: (Gotta find the access flow to the filtered reservoir—)

[KSSSSSTT!]

"Beck? Beck--"

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Do you read me?

Beck: --??

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Big bro??

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Ah--thank goodness. Listen closely...

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: I've been listening in. Are you inside the works yet?

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Not quite--I'm still at the unfiltered reservoir.

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Mmm...

[MN.1 to MN.9] //: Very well. I'll wait until you've made it through.

[MN.9 to MN.1] //: Wait, what do you mean by—

[KSSSST!]

Beck: ...???

White: --? Is something wrong, Beck?

Beck: .....

[MN.9] //: Nope. All good here.

Call: The access flow to the filtered reservoir is just ahead.

White: Careful, Beck--any contact with the malfunctioning filtering equipment could prove fatal.

[Beck would soon see why--]

[Not only was the purifying system completely OUT OF CONTROL—Xel disrupting spikes also lined the walls....]

Beck: .......

[MN.9] //: WHO THE HECK PUT THESE DOWN HERE—

White: .....Good question...

Beck: (If I dash the wrong way here—...)

Beck: (Gotta be precise--!)

[Carefully calculating the exact path he needed to dash-swim in and how many times he needed to do so...]

Beck: (Three...two...one...)

[ACXELERATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED.]

Beck: (Almost there...)

[—AH! A ladder! All he had to do was climb up and—

... ...

Wait—...

Was that ice?]

Beck: ...!!

[A thick coat of ice—practically a wall—blocked the way out!]

Beck: (No!)

[MN.9] //: Dad, the reservoir exit is blocked—!

White: Ngh—! Call, can you recalculate another route?

Call: .....

White: Call?

Call: There is no need, Dr. White.

White: ...??

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

Call: Mighty No. 1 is now on site at the Waterworks.

White: —WHAT?!

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: I'm sorry, Father.

[MN.1] //: But I won't stand by any longer. I have a duty as a leader.

[MN.1] //: And a responsibly as an elder brother!

[MN.9] //: Pyrogen! : D

White: Sandaaa—!

Sanda: I HAD NO CLUE WHAT HE WAS DOING I SWEAR—

Call: It was me.

Sanda: —?! Call?!

Call: .... Two Mighty Numbers on site would increase chances of success.

[MN.1] //: You might want to swim back down a bit, Beck.

Beck: ....

Beck: -dash swim BACKWARDS YUP GOT IT BRO-

[CCCRAK! C RACK!]

“HAAARGH!"

[BLAM!]

[The ice was obliterated--bits of ice flew out of the pool itself...]

[...And a familiar hand reached past the surface.]

Beck: !

[Beck swam-dashed up and up--]

[...Until he grasped at it with his own hand.]

[He felt himself being pulled up and out of the reservoir...]

Pyro: Need a little more firepower, brother?

[Beck simply beams up at his elder as he is set down onto solid ground.]

Beck: ANYTIME, big bro!

White: ......

White: -gREAT NOW HE CANT BRING HIMSELF TO GROUND HIM AFTER THIS-

Sanda: Heh...your boys sure are something, huh, Will?

White: .....

White: -SIGH-

White: Whatever am I going to DO with you, Pyrogen...?

Pyro: ....

Pyro: -snort-

Pyro: Haven't heard THAT one in a while.

Beck: ^^

[Having his big brother by his side...]

[It made him feel a LOT more confident now that his team leader was here.]

Beck: What are your orders, sir? (^.^)7

Pyro: ....

Pyro: I'm not the one heading this mission, Beck.

Beck: ...?

Pyro: You are.

Beck: --!

Pyro: Your objective is to locate our sister.

Pyro: Is there anything else that should be done here, Beck?

Beck: .....

Beck: Find and rescue the civilians and workers!

[THIS made Pyro grin with pride.]

Pyro: That's it.

Pyro: There seems to be a branching path up ahead. I'll take the north and see if I can find any workers and civilians...

[The fire-based leader looks to the side, ice covering every square inch of the hallways, ceiling, and floor.]

Pyro: Cryo's certainly done a number on the place, alright...

Sanda: Yes, it's not just the entrance--the entire PLACE is like one giant ice rink!

White: This is all her handiwork, alright...

White: Careful, now, you two...

White: You know how she loves her pranks.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Lord help us.

[Cryosphere was BAD enough with her puns and pranks--

In her crazed state, who KNOWS what she will be capable of?]

Pyro: And of COURSE she's frozen over the entire floor too...

Beck: This is just like the time she did that back home but--BIGGER.

Pyro: Watch your step, then...

[Soon the fork in the path came up.]

Pyro: There it is...

Pyro: I'll move down this way. Beck, keep tracking down No. 2.

Beck: -SALUTE- Yes, sir!

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Good luck, little brother.

Beck: ...You too, Pyro.

[Pyro nods one final time before rushing down the connecting corridor, flaring up to his full armor before turning the corner, and out of sight.]

Pyro: (The most likely places workers would be around the main entrances, break rooms, and finally the pipeworks...)

[Meanwhile, Beck dashes onwards, and it's not long before he moves on into the next room...]

Beck: --!!

[The door that was just on the other side slammed shut.]

[His comm link went active--but it wasn't Pyro, Will, Sanda, or even Call.]

[No...]

[MN.2] //: Well, well, ICE to see YOU, Beck! Kyahaha!~

Beck: CRYO?!

White: Wha--how did she find this frequency?!

[MN.2] //: Hiiiii daaadyyyy!~

White: ...! Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: I'm SNOW glad you guys could make it! I was starting to get SOOOOO bored playing with all these LAME CherryDyn bots...

Beck: Big...Sis...?

[...This...this was odd.

When Pyro was infected--he only showed uncontrolled rage --and what's more, he didn't recognize Beck at ALL.

Yet...

His sister was...well, she didn't look like she changed at all. ]

[MN.2] //: Now we can all PLAY together!~ Cool!

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

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: CRYOSPHERE!

[MN.2] //: .......

[MN.2] //: Oh.

[MN.2] //: It's YOU.

[MN.1] //: --! Cryo--

[MN.2] //: Becky--why is our GOOD FOR NOTHING MATCHSTICK OF A BROTHER doing in MY winter wonderland?

[MN.9] //: --!! Cryo! THAT'S PYRO--

[MN.2] //: I KNOW THAT.

[MN.2] //: HE NEVER LETS ME HAVE ANY F U N! It's always DON'T DO THIS AND DON'T FIGHT THAT AND ALL YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY IS N O.

[MN.1] //: -fLARE- Cryosphere--!

[MN.2] //: You ALWAYS carry me somewhere else without even ASKING--JUST BECAUSE I'M SMALLER THAN YOU DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO DO THAT, MATCHSTICK.

[MN.2] //: YOU WERE ALWAYS THE BOSS OF ME.

[MN.2] //: ........

[MN.2] //: Well.

[MN.2] //: You know what?

[MN.2] //: I'm SICK of being number two to you, big bro.

[MN.2] //: You aren't ALLOWED in my playground--so if I were YOU, I'd take you and your lame powers and SKEDADDLE.

[MN.2] //: Unless you want me to send this whole place to absolute zero?~

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

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

[MN.2] //: --! Ooooh--right, YOU!~ Don't worry, Becky--you can stay! You're ALWAYS a good playmate. Kyahaha!

[MN.2] //: But big bro's gotta go. My place, MY rules.

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

[MN.1] //: Alright.

[MN.9] //: --! Pyro, no--!

[MN.1] //: On one condition.

[MN.2] //: Ppffft. What?

[MN.1] //: We play hide and seek first.

[MN.1] //: Just like old times, right, Cryo?

[MN.2] //: --!

[MN.2] //: I'm listeniiiiing...

[MN.1] //: You and I will hide, and Beck will try to seek us. If he finds me first, then I'll leave.

[MN.2] //: Oooooh!

[MN.1] //: BUT--if Beck finds YOU first, then you two will have to just play without me.

[MN.2] //: -EXCITED SQUEAL-

[MN.2] //: I LIKE that!~ Oh, but it won't be any FUN if you TOOK too long...then I'd get BORED all over again...

[MN.2] //: SNOW, you guys got 9 minutes!~ Kyahahahaha!

[MN.2] //: You're on thin ice here, RUNT! So try not to get cold feet, OK?~ Kyahahahahaha!

[KKKSSSSST]

Beck: ........

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

[MN.1] //: She really hasn't changed much...aside from all that, that is.

[MN.9] //: Big bro...

[MN.1] //: 9 minutes isn't much time, Beck--get a move on.

[MN.9] //: ......yes sir.

Beck: Now how the heck do I get out of this room--

[CLANK]

Beck: UGH--!

[A large mass of debris clonked Beck on the back of his head, knocking him over as it bounced off of him and--]

[--Back to another waterworks bot! A...a PAIR of them, in fact, each parallel to the walls.]

[The ball of debris hurled towards the red one--who flipped itself over to deflect it back at Beck.]

Beck: Wah--!

[He AcXelerated out of the way--and raised his arm cannon to strike at the malfunctioning bot--]

[CLANK--!]

Beck: OW--

[The other one--identical but green in color--had knocked the dodged debris RIGHT back at Beck when he wasn't looking, landing a direct hit.]

Beck: (Ugh--great, now I have to dodge twice as much just to avoid that ball of junk they're knocking around...!)

[He TRIED shooting at the ball of debris itself--and it worked!]

[...Until one of the bots made ANOTHER one just to throw around. These were waste management bots!]

Beck: (These guys must get rid of all the gunk in the unfiltered reservoir...)

[CLANK!]

Beck: NGH--

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (These guys are going to wear ME and my TIME down--I've got no choice--!)

[REXELEXTION: PYROGEN. ]

[Beck's body glowed briefly before settling down into Pyro's form, the torch on his head burning brightly.]

Beck: Let's GO!

[CHARGING...]

Beck: Burning...

Beck: SPIRIT!

[KERBLAM!]

Beck: Got ya!

[Switching back to default, the waste bot was quickly taken care of, absorbed and converted into another Xel Stock to make up for the one he used.

Since its other pair was gone, it was easier to dodge the ball of junk without worrying about the other hurling it back.

Once the pair was FINALLY defeated, the door opened!]

White: No time to waste, Beck! You have 6 minutes!

Beck: I know, I'm going--!

[Into the waterworks pipelines he went--and it just got even colder. ]

[The pipeworks were, of course, forzen over--along with everything ELSE--even several of the malfunctioning robots were stuck in place.]

Beck: WhOA--!!

[These pipes were long and wide--but the ice made it difficult to get across. One wrong move and he could slip RIGHT back down into the ground--and a fall from this height would REALLY smart.]

Beck: (Balance--balance--!)

"There's only one way to get past all this ice!"

Beck: --!!

Pyro: BURN RIGHT THROUGH IT!

Beck: Pyro!

[On another set of pipes, Pyro CHARGED right through a block of ice in his way, which formed from the burst of water in the cracks caused by the expanding properties of the ice.]

Pyro: Beck! Use my form and blast through all the ice in your way!

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: HEY, THAT'S CHEATING!

[MN.1] //: You never said we couldn't use fire, little sister.

[MN.2] //: GRRRR! YOU...BIG...MEANIE...!

[MN.2] //: I'M GONNA FREEZE THIS WHOLE PLACE AND ALL THE SQUISHES IN IT! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR CHEATING, CHEATER!

[MN.1] //: Ah, that won't do much now, Cryo.

[MN.2] //: WHY NOT.

[MN.1] //: I FOUND the humans and Civilian models you've frozen. They've been evacuated.

[MN.2] //: Wha--!

[MN.1] //: PLAYTIME IS OVER, CRYOSPHERE.

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

[MN.1] //: Come home.

[......]

[MN.2 HAS GONE INTO FULL COMBAT MODE. RESTRICTIONS: NONE.]

[MN.2] //: N O!

[MN.2] //: NONONONONONO--!

Call: Warning: Temperatures are dropping beyond safe functioning levels.

[MN.2] //: PLAYTIME IS OVER WHEN I SAY IT'S OVER!

[MN.2] //: YOU DON'T GET ANY SAY IN IT, YOU STUPID MEANIE!

[MN.1] //: -...OK now he knows he's made a BIG mistake- Cryo--

[MN.2] //: SHUT UP! JUST SHUT. UP!

[MN.2] //: I...I...

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

[MN.1] //: --!

[MN.2] //: I hate you...!

[KSSSSST.]

[MN.1] //: -oh GOD WHAT HAVE WE DONE-

Pyro: CRYOSPHERE!

Beck: PYRO--WAIT--!

[It was no use--Pyro had run ahead, desperate to fix what he had done. He's already caused SO much damage, but THIS--]

Pyro: CRYO--I'M SORRY--!

[If anything--he had to fix THIS.]

White: ........

Beck: D-Dad....

White: ....

Beck: D...Did Cryo really... mean that...?

White: ....

White: I can't be sure.

White: For all we know, this COULD be just the virus, but...

White: .....

White: We won't know until we've cured her. You'll have to keep pushing forward.

Beck: .....

Beck: (Cryo...)

[With a heavy and troubled heart, he did as he was told, hopping and dashing over the rest of the pipeworks.]

[....]

[It...had to be the virus, right?]

[...Or was it...]

[More than that?]

Beck: (....Cryo...Cryo would NEVER say that...)

Beck: (There's no WAY she could possibly MEAN that--she's been with Pyro the longest out of any of us... ....Could it be...)

Beck: (Maybe it's...both? Maybe the virus is MAKING her feel that way...because she IS mad at him, but not to that extent...)

Beck: (If...if that's the CASE...)

Beck: (...It--suddenly makes a LOT of sense why Pyro ACTED the way he did back at the Oil Platform... ....You get what I fought back there...)

Beck: (So by that logic--what was taken away from Cryo...?)

[Soon enough, after shooting through countless ice pillars made from the pipelines and such--]

[He came across another room.]

Beck: ....

Call: I detect Cryosphere's signature just up ahead.

Beck: Right...

Beck: (Cryo--don't worry--I'm gonna fix this...!)

[He entered, ready to shift into his brother's form at a moments notice...]

"HEY, RUNT!"

[KSHHHHH!]

[A LARGE chuck of ice SLAMMED right in front if him from above, causing him to jump backwards--]

[...Right into the locked door.]

Beck: Oof--!

Cryo: OK...

Cryo: Let's try THIS again!

[Cryosphere herself stood on a platform high above the room--looking rather PLEASED that Beck was here now, despite throwing a temper tantrum not 2 minutes ago.]

Beck: Cryos--

[CLANK!]

Beck: OH COME ON--

[ANOTHER pair of waste management bots materialized--and this time, they had some EXTRA help.]

Cryo: Revenge is a dish best served COLD, after all!

[CLANK!]

Beck: NNGH!!

Cyro: Awww, you aren't hurt, are you, Beck?~

Beck: I KINDA AM, YEAH--

Cryo: Well, then, here--

Cryo: Let me put some ICE on it!~

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Cackling madly, Cryo proceeded to rain icy death from above--all while the waste management bots played their supped up game of pong. Beck was REALLY in a tight spot now.]

Beck: Cryo--PLEASE, STOP!

Cryo: NOPE!~

Cryo: I'm having the TIME OF MY LIFE!~

Cryo: SO YOU BETTER STAY ALIVE, BECKY--UNTIL I GET BORED, THAT IS!~

Beck: --Ooooh!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

Beck: I'm sorry, Cryo!

Cryo: --!!!

Cryo: YOU'RE CHEATING AGAIN!

Cryo: ......

Cryo: Why are you cheating, Beck--?

Beck: --!

Cryo: Don't you LIKE playing with me...?

Beck: .....

Beck: Of COURSE I do, Cryo...

[CHARGING....]

Beck: .....

Beck: But I can't play by your rules. Not this time.

Beck: BURNING...

Cryo: --!!

[Seeing what he was about to do--Cryo leaps away to another set of platforms, disappearing from sight.]

Beck: SPIRIT!

[BOOOM!]

[........]

[The smoke clears off, and only the Xel from the two waste bots were all that was left.]

Beck: .....

Call: Cryosphere has escaped to the Water Works Security Room. There is no other escape route for her to take.

Beck: Got it.

[Back into default. The Security room shouldn't be that far ahead...]

[Which means...]

Pyro: ...There--!

[Pyro was standing in the middle of several frozen, very crucial water tanks...]

[But they wouldn't remain frozen for long.]

Pyro: Burning....SPIRIT!

[FWOOOSH!]

Call: Attention: The waterworks systems are back online. Water flow: Normal.

Pyro: ....!

Beck: Pyro!

Pyro: There you are--

Pyro: ....

Pyro: The doors won't open for me. I'd blast them, but...that would only make things even worse.

Pyro: ....

Pyro: You're the only one that can save her, anyway.

Pyro: I've...done all I can.

Beck: ....

Beck: I think she'd wanna see you after I do save her, Pyro.

Beck: So wait out here.

Beck: I won't be long.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Tell her I love her.

Pyro: .....

Pyro: And I love you too.

Beck: ....

Beck: ^.^

Beck: Yes, sir.

[Beck gives Pyro one last salute before approaching the door...]

[...They open after a moment, and they shut close behind him with a firm air-tight lock.]

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Good luck, Beck.

[WARNING: TEMPERATURES HAVE REACHED TO NEAR NON-FUNCTIONING LEVELS. PLEASE EVACUATE AREA IMMEDIATELY.]

"Kyahahahaha!"

Beck: Cryo!

[Sitting daintily atop of a huge security monitor was Cryosphere, her four eyes glowing eerily in the shadows...]

Cryo: Kya ha ha ha ha ha!

Cryo: You just REFUSE to CHILL out, don't you, runt?~

Beck: ...

Beck: Cryo....please. I don't want to play anymore. I don't WANT to fight you.

Cryo: Oh, really?

[....!]

[There it was again--that SAME distorted VOICE coupled with her own...]

Cryo: That's too bad! Oh, well...

[PSSSSSH!]

[A high pressure STREAM of water suddenly bursts forth from her nozzle arm--!]

Beck: -!!!

[He LEAPS out of the way as it is suddenly frozen, not by the air, but by Cryosphere herself.

Flashing freezing her foes was her SPECIALTY.]

Cryo: I'm sure it's nothing a little COLD SHOWER WON'T CURE!~

Beck: CRYO...!

[SCANNING....]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 2 -- CODENAME: 'CRYOSPHERE' ]

[HEIGHT: 136cm WEIGHT: 103kg XEL COUNT: 20,400,000]

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~~~

[Such as her tendency to look for higher vantage points in order to use her abilities in a much DIFFERENT way --and if there was none?]

[Make one.]

[Cryo points her nozzle arm--to the ground--...?]

Beck: --!

[Beck starts DASHING away as soon as her sister launches herself upwards using the force of her water spray--keeping herself suspended mid air for a moment--]

[Before chasing after him.]

Cryo: Careful, now, Becky!~ You don't wanna CATCH A COLD!

Beck: Cryo--Come on, Cryo, just try to--!

[KKKRT!]

[Her water spray suddenly freezes-- there was no time to react, only to gawk as he felt icy pinpricks of pain creep up his leg-- ]

White: BECK--TRY AND BREAK FREE!

Beck: AARG--

Cryo: Whoops!~ Silly me--I forgot the best part!

[....A COLD blast of air was seen as she started to make something--what, he couldn't tell, but from THAT height, it certainly wasn't GOOD.]

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

[FOOOSH!]

[Flaring himself up just as Pyro would, Beck weakened the ice just enough to allow him to break free--]

[Moments before an ice ball of SPIKES crashed downwards from above, ice shards scattering everywhere--]

[--and rising from the mist was the Icy Little Terror herself--she had MADE that ball of spikes to surround herself in--in her own twisted sense of a 'cannonball' ]

Cryo: Awww, you were supposed to stay still!~

Beck: NO WAY --

[PSSSSSSH!]

[Beck was NAILED right in the chest with another high pressured water stream, knocking him away to the other wall and into the door, making a noticeable dent--]

[CLANG!]

Pyro: !!! BECK?! CRYO?!

[Outside, Pyro could BEARLY make out the sounds of battle--and that dent in the door was not a good sign, for EITHER of them.]

Beck: Uuugh...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK--]

[PSSSSSH--]

Beck: AAA--

[ERROR: XEL STOCK ACCESS INTERRUPTED.]

[Cryo was NOT letting up--she kept on continually spraying Beck HARD, pinning him to the door and laughing manically all the while.]

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[WARNING: WATER DAMAGE IMMINENT TO INTERNAL SYSTEMS--COLD TEMPERATURES WILL FREEZE AND LOCK MOBILE SYSTEMS.]

[She was trying to freeze him from the inside out.]

Beck: C...Cryo...

[WARNING: SYSTEMS CRITICAL.]

Beck: s...t...o...p...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

[Cryo didn't answer. She was too busy laughing. ]

Beck: (Come on...please...!)

Cryo: It was fun playing with you, Becky!~

Cryo: See you in a hundred years, maybe!~

[KSSSSSST--]

"CRYO--ENOUGH--!"

Cryo: --?

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Daddy?

[DR.WHITE] //: Cryosphere White, stop that right this INSTANT!

Cryo: But--

[DR.WHITE] //: You KNOW you shouldn't play so roughly with your brother!

Beck: --!!

[...Will--Will was...]

Cryo: But Daaaaadyyyyy!

Beck: (Dad--oh man DAD THANKS--)

[XEL STOCK 2 ACCESSED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[DR.WHITE] //: No, no buts. That was QUITE rude of you, No. 2. Quite rude.

Cryo: But I was just having fun!

[DR.WHITE] //: It's all fun and games until someone gets HURT, Cryo.

Cryo: But Daddy--

[....]

[You could just HEAR her sadistic smile.]

Cryo: That's the BEST part!~

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

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

[DR.WHITE] //: Not this time.

[DR.WHITE] //: Quite frankly, No. 2...

Cryo: ....?

[DR.WHITE] //: I think you deserve a little time out.

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

"BURNING...!"

Cryo: Wha--

Beck: SPIRIT!!!

[KERBLAM!]

[All the ice that was created by Cryosphere was turned RIGHT back into water and THEN some--and the temperature had risen quite considerably.]

[There was another large CLANK--]

[CRACK--]

Cryo: Whoawhoawhoa--!

[Cryo was sent BOUNCING across the floor and into the other wall, lodging herself deep within it from the force of the explosion!]

Cryo: What the--!

Cryo: YOU!!

[Her nozzle arm once again points at Beck--who widens his eyes in fear, preparing to jump out of the way--]

Cryo: I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR--

[.....]

[.........]

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

Cryo: ....???

Beck: ...???

Cryo: WHY IS NOTHING COMING OUT?!

[Cryosphere wiggled her arms in a flail, but no matter how much she tried--nothing came out of them but a few drops.]

Cryo: STUPID--!!

Beck: ---!

[Beck could see why.]

[Her water tank had a crack in it. Water was leaking out in massive amounts, but Cryo was too upset to see it.]

White: Now is your chance, Beck!

Beck: R-Right--!

Cryo: NO!

[She once again threw a FIT--but without her tank, there was no more danger.]

Cryo: NO F A I R!

Beck: Big sis--

[He approached her with cautious steps, a green glow starting to form around his arms...]

Beck: It's OK, Big sis...

Cryo: --?

Cryo: ....

Cryo: What is that...?

Beck: Just trust me, OK?

[Two more steps, then two more. Cryosphere was more or less beginning to forget about her fit and was more entranced by the calming glow from her brother.]

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Pretty...

Beck: Kinda is, isn't it...?

[Two hands gently grasp her arms.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Cryo: --!!

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Becky...?

Beck: It's OK, Cryo...

[He continues to speak to her in a calm, soothing voice, as parts of her Xel are absorbed into his own, and she slowly starts to glow a sick, bright purple...]

Cryo: .....

[....She starts to yawn.]

Cryo: M'tiiiired...

Beck: That's OK...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You can sleep after I'm done...

Cryo: .....

Cryo: And then we can play some more...?

Beck: Yeah. Sure. I promise...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

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

Beck: For now--just try and relax...this won't hurt.

Cryo: ...?

[He finally lets go.]

Beck: Ready?

Cryo: ....? For...what...?

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

[.......]

"Big sis?"

"--? Hey, runt! What's up?"

"....Can I come in?"

"You didn't say the thing."

"...Can I come in, Your Majesty?"

"Theeeere we go! You may.~"

"....Um..."

"Well, come on, SPILL it! I gotta go into VR training in an hour..."

"I just...well...I noticed that...you're smaller than me--"

[KERCHUCK]

"BUT YOU FIGHT PEOPLE WAY BIGGER THAN YOU IN THE ARENA AND YOU DON'T SEEM SCARED--"

" ....."

"I...I'm just confused...how can you not be afraid...?"

"Oooh. That's easy."

"One, because I'm WAY better than those lame-o's and WAY more KICKBUTT than any of them..."

"...And two..."

"....."

"Don't tell Big Bro this, but. He TAUGHT me how to be brave."

"I don't think I can be as awesome as I am without him."

"Really...?"

"Yup. It's ALLL cuz of Big Bro."

"....Seriously, don't tell him I said that, he'd NEVER stop--"

"I-I promise!"

"Cool."

"Now GET OUT OF MY ROOM or I'll freeze ya!~"

[.......]

[FILTER COMPLETE.]

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.2]

Cryo: . . .

Cryo: Owie...

Cryo: Why does my head hurt...

Beck: --!!!

Beck: C...Cryo...?

Cryo: --!

Beck: Cryo?

Cryo: Beck?

Cryo: ......

Cryo: Where the [FRAG] am I???

Beck: CRYO--!

White: YES--!

Sanda: HE DID IT--AGAIN--!

[Beck wraps his arms around his confused sister, who was simply looking around the semi-frozen room in thought.]

Cryo: No, seriously--where the [FRAG] are we.

Cryo: I don't remember anything in the last few days WHAT HAPPENED.

[BANG!]

Beck: --!?

[BLAM--!!]

[The door is suddenly BLOWN off it's hinges, creaking as it collapses to the ground.]

Cryo: WHAT THE--

Pyro: CRYO?! BECK?!

Cryo: Big Bro?!

Beck: (Wow--)

Pyro: --!!

Cryo: OK--SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BECAUSE I DON'T GET IT. WHY DID BIG BRO JUST BLAST THE DOOR AND WHY AM I STUCK TO A WALL.

Beck: Whoops--sorry, Cryo, lemmie help you with that--

[Beck grabs hold of his sister's hose arms and pulls back--]

[POP!]

Pyro: --! I GOT HER--

[She lands RIGHT into Pyro's arms]

Cryo: Wheeee!

Cryo: Hi, Big bro! ^^.^^

Pyro: . . .

Cryo: ...?

Cryo: Big bro...? Yellloooo? Earth to Pyro....?

[....]

[Pyro doesn't answer at first--at least until he sets her down.]

[...Which only confused her even further.]

Cryo: ....???

Pyro: ......

Pyro: I'm...I'm so sorry.

Cryo: --? Uh--

Pyro: I--...I had no idea you...

Pyro: .....

Pyro: I had no idea I made you feel...uncomfortable when I carried you away.

Cryo: .....

Pyro: I just--I just wanted to keep you SAFE because--you DO get carried away and if I don't, you might find yourself--

Cryo: Bro--

Pyro: All I wanted was to protect you--

Cryo: Bro--

Pyro: I just do it because I love you and--

Cryo: PYRO.

Pyro: --....

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Come down here for a sec.

Pyro: .....

[He does so--it's a little comical seeing as Pyro was nearly three times her size, so he had to kneel and bend down a bit.]

Beck: .......

Cyro: Lower.

Pyro: ...?

[PSSSSSSH--]

[Using the last of her reserves already in her nozzle, she managed to gently spray Pyro right in the face with cold water.]

Pyro: Gah--

Cryo: That's for being stupid.

Cryo: Bro, I dunno what the [FRAG] is going on, but--

Cryo: You don't make me THAT uncomfortable.

Pyro: --!

Cryo: Like--SURE OK it DOES get a little annoying and I DO wanna sometimes put ice cubes in your pillow at night--

Pyro: .... (I KNEW THAT WAS HER.)

Cryo: ...But..

Cryo: Bro, you've been carrying me around since I was BUILT, why do you think I LIKE it so much?

Pyro: !!!

Pyro: You....

Cryo: Bro why do you think I tell you to carry me around almost everywhere.

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Because being bossy is in your nature?

Cryo: ...Point.

Cryo: Aaaaand...

[....]

[MN.2] //: -Data, BECAUSE SHE FEELS SO TALL WHEN SHE'S ON YOU, BRO.-

[MN.2] //: -Like, even she doesn't get that when she's on Mic or Bat or even Shade, it's just YOU-

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

[MN.2] //: ....Big bro....

[MN.2] //: You're...you're Big bro.

[MN.2] //: I know you just do it cuz you care...I've known that for, like, EVER.

[MN.2] //: 'Sides--

[MN.2] //: If I had NO one to carry me around--then I'd be REALLY slow going around the house and like, everywhere. That be a PAIN in the CHASS.

[MN.2] //: So hitching a ride is, like, also the smart thing to do. ^^.^^

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

[MN.1] //: C...Cryo...

Cryo: ....?

Pyro: ....

Pyro: So...you....

Pyro: Don't...hate me...?

Cryo: --??!

Cryo: Wha--the [FRAG??]

Cryo: No, NO, Big Bro--

[And there she goes, climbing up Pyro's shoulders so she can sit right on his back and prop her round head on his own.]

Cryo: I love you, Pyro.

Cryo: Jeez, what made you think THAT stupid thought in your head??

Pyro: ......

Beck: .......

Cryo: ......

Cryo: ...Why is everyone so quiet?

[DR.WHITE] //: Cryo.

[MN.2] //: --!! Dad!

[DR.WHITE] //: .....-SIGHS, although if that's in relief or stress is hard to say-

[DR.WHITE] //: Let's get you back home first.

Cryo: .....

Cryo: That reminds me, WHERE ARE WE??

Cryo: Like--This looks like some kinda monitor room but--

Beck: Call?

Call: Xel Transfer initiated.

Cryo: Guys--helloooo, is no one gonna answer me?!

Cryo: I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY PEEVED HERE--

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

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=PROLOGUE D: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

{MEANWHILE…}

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

There wasn’t going to be much time.]

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

He had to find him.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cardinal: Come on, Jazz.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

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

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

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

-*-*-*-*-*-

[He sighed and dialed in the number.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Then this happened.]

Jack: Oh my God....

[Suddenly it all made sense.]

[The crosses--their PROVIDER...]

[The landline in the apartment rang.]

Jack: ---?!?

[Someone calling--from AMERICA?!

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

Jack: .......

[Who...?]

Click.

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

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

Jack: --?!

Jack: Who--who are--

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

Jack: .........

[.......]

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

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

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

[He doesn’t wait for an answer.]

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

Jack: Holy...

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

Jack: -fEAR-

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

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

[He nearly dropped the phone.]

Jack: oh my God...

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

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

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

[color=Brick] “Now TALK.” [/color]

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

[.......]

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

[A pause.]

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

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

[color=Brick] “WHAT” [/color]

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

Jack: Someone killed him.

[OKAY that shuts him up fast.

But only for a moment.

Then he sounds sad.]

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

[A pause.]

[color=Brick] “Carmen…” [/color]

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

Jack: .....

Jack: M-Miss Eight....

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

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

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

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

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

Jack: ...Uh...

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

[color=Brick] “Where.”[/color]

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

[.....]

Jack: ....But...

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

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

Jack: Alright, alright--

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

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

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

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

Jack: ......

Jack: I....

[He takes a second.]

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

Jack: Blade was a [FRAGGING] asshole.

[Cardinal pauses for a moment.

Time was precious, but…

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

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

So would Carmen, wherever the hell she was…]

Jack: I was SCARED of him...

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

Jack: .....

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

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

[color=Brick] “…I see…”[/color]

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

Jack: ......

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

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

[color=Brick] “…Yes?” [/color]

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

[GULP.]

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

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

[color=Brick] “…” [/color]

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

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

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

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

Jack: .......

[A sigh.]

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

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

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

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

Jack: ......

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

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

Jack: .......

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

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

[color=Brick] “ -Sighs- …” [/color]

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

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

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

[A pause.]

[color=Brick] “ …” [/color]

[color=Brick] “John 15:13.” [/color]

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

Jack: O-Okaaaaaay...

Jack: ........

Jack: Bird guy?

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

[You could almost HEAR his bitter smile.]

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

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

[color=Brick] “Heh.” [/color]

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

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

Jack: ......

Jack: Oh.

[...Well, then.]

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

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

Jack: .....

Jack: Good luck, Bird guy.

[color=Brick] “…” [/color]

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

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

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

Jack: .......

Jack: K...Kay....

[........]

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

[...Carmen....]

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

[…He hesitates.

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

Either to bring him home alive…

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

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

Jack: ....Alright...

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

[color=Brick] “…Yeah.” [/color]

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

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

[Click.]

[......]

[Jack hangs up.]

Jack: ........

————————————————————————————————

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

————————

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

Carmen: Aw, you make me blush~

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

Den: -...awkward COUGH-

—————————

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

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

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

Den: Just cu-- .....

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

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

Den: .......

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

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

—————————

Carmen: There, there.

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

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

—————————

Den: .......

Den: Um. Miss Eight?

Den: Listen, I...

Den: ....

Carmen: -Returns her gaze to Dencerjack, listening-

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

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

Den: .....Sorry.

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

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

—————————

WHANG!

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

Carmen: -Decloaks-

Torkie: you seriously take night strolls cloaked, really

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

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

Den: H E L P ME.

Carmen: Easy there, easy—!

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

—————————

Den: ........

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—————————

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

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

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

Den: ......

Carmen: B]

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

Carmen: YEP THEY WENT THERE~

Den: HOLY ACTUAL [GLITCH]—

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

—————————————

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

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

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

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

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

[She smiles warmly.]

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

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

Carmen: Night.

[Aaaaaand she’s gone.]

—————————

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

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

<T10>: >Like snitching people’s food.

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

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

<FMN-008>: >Music t’ my dish~

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

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

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

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

<FMN-008>: > NO REGRETS~

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

—————————

Carmen: Sweet dreams are made of these~

Who am I to disagree~

I travel the world and the seven seas—

Everybody’s lookin’ for somethin~

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to be used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be Abused~

Sweet dreams are made of these~

Who am I to disagree~

I travel the world and the seven seas—

Everybody’s lookin’ for somethin~

—————————

[And it all starts coming back to him.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—————————

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

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

————————————————————————

Jack: ......

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

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

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

Jack: ......

Jack: Sonofva[GLITCH.]

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

[SLAM.]

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

…

…His eyes were glowing… blue.]

Cardinal: (Hang in there, Shade.)

Cardinal: (I’m coming for you.)

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

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=CHAPTER 9B: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{July 1st, 20XX

Dawn}

[Crunch.]

“…When was the last time…”

[Crunch.]

“…I had such a bountiful hunt…”

[Crunch.]

“It gets so hard to remember nowadays…”

“Sometimes I can’t even tell what’s real and what just isn’t.”

“Between all these fragmented memories…”

“…The only thing I find is rage.”

“….”

“And yet…”

“I recall a voice…”

“Breaking through the screams…”

“…The screams…That noise…”

“…There’s something about the screams…Almost…”

“Beautiful.~”

[SNAP!]

“Xels…It’s Xels–always Xels–more and more and more–”

“And it is never ENOUGH—!”

“This–this EMPTINESS…”

“If I cannot be WHOLE again…”

“If I am to fade away…”

“Then I will take hold with these broken, sharp PIECES of myself…”

[[pic?]]

“…And drag it all down to hell with me.”

“…..”

“…Ah.”

“It’s dawn now…”

“…How ironic.”

[Crack–]

“…Ngh…I must hurry.”

“…It would be a shame to fall apart before seeing the LOOK on their faces…~”

“–When I destroy everything they hold in such high reverence!~”

{Sanda Enterprises

5:40 AM}

[Due to the circumstances, the lab was unusually busy for that hour of the morning.

While not actively working on repairs for Countershade or Beck—both of whom were present (but asleep)—Sanda was there, right by his best friend’s side. Will, for his part, was working away at one of the main terminals, almost scowling in his intense concentration.

Mikhail was busy working on his own patient, but he was not alone: two Xelbots were assisting him with the tragic work. They were an unusual trio: a Doctor of robotics from another world, a semi-emotionless Combat-built secretary, and an ex-Civilian on the run.

Call had been chosen because of the somewhat gruesome nature of the work, but Mikhail had failed to consider her own force of will. He’d found himself ordered to rest that night, while she worked away on the delicate but straightforward task of cleaning up the fallen Robot Master. While he had rested, she had worked efficiently on picking out bits of debris from Cardinal’s open chest cavity. It was tedious and delicate work… and complicated by the oil and coolant that had pooled near his back, covering the interior surfaces in slick, obscuring grime.

Jack, for his part, was standing with his back to the two of them, facing another terminal. He seemed very much at home there, working away as if he’d been doing so his whole life. Mikhail was both pleased and grateful for his assistance; he had felt concerned as to whether he was asking too much of the man, given the state Cardinal was in. Jack, however, had been quite willing to help man the terminal while Mikhail and Call did the more squeamish work.

They’d all been working for the better part of twelve hours, none of them able or willing to sleep for very long (despite Call’s insistence). For Mikhail’s group, at any rate, this meant they had been able to make a good deal of progress toward their goal.]

Mikhail: -Wipes his forehead with a handkerchief from Call- Alright… what do the readings indicate, Mr. Parker?

Jack: -Tapping the screen absentmindedly- There’s some sign of radiation, but it’s nothing big. Less than you get from X-rays.

Mikhail: And the energy readings…?

Jack: Nothin’ but flatline.

Mikhail: -Closes his eyes and sighs- …I suspected that would be the case.

Call: All records indicate that DLN-000′s power core is inactive. It is safe to remove it.

Jack: -Urng, oh man that makes us feel so sick when you word it like that—-

Mikhail: Yes…. Yes, that is true. I suppose we can count our blessings; he melted the self-destruct mechanism shut, but that rather… mmm… glued it to the core. It wouldn’t have been safe to work on if there was any power left inside. I’m going to need your strongest bolt cutters, though…

[Call handed him off the bolt cutters, and Jack tried not to think on the matter too much while Mikhail labored to free the mechanics of the inert power core from the surrounding components.]

Jack: (Kinda surprised he’s still goin’ strong, what with having been up for so long…. He seems really tired.)

Jack: (But I guess anyone would be, after seeing such a thing…)

[It took a fair amount of effort, but Mikhail managed to disengage the self-destruct mechanism. Removing the core from the containment unit shell around it was a surprisingly simple matter in comparison.]

Mikhail: {There…}

[He took a moment to look at the core itself, marveling again at how modern technology allowed Robot Masters to run on a power source that was so small.]

Mikhail: ({I’m sorry that you spent your last ounce of life in such a tragic manner, Cardinal. I can only be glad that we have the chance to reverse it.})

Mikhail: Call…

[He wrapped the core in some cloth to give it a sense of dignity.]

Mikhail: See to it that this is placed in a respectable container, separate from all the other scrap that we collected. Something that can lock, preferably.

Call: Yes, Doctor Cossack.

[Mikhail removed his work gloves, placing them aside as he went over to the sink to wash his hands.]

Mikhail: Jack, could you please find a clean sheet?

Jack: Oh, uh… sure, gimme a moment…

Soi: -Looks up- Do you need another pair of work gloves, Mikhail?

Mikhail: -Shakes his head- No, my friend. We have finished all that we can do. At least… all that we can do prior to running a complete diagnostic. And we can only do that with a powered chassis. It’ll have to wait until after Felix delivers the temporary replacement core to me.

Jack: -Looks over at the other sheet currently covering the First- (Covered in splotches of oil…. Will they ever get those stains out, I wonder…?)

[Mikhail dried off his hands thoroughly before putting on one of his usual pairs of gloves. He walked over to Jack, taking the linen off his hands. The Combat ‘bot looked away while Mikhail switched the sheets out.]

Mikhail: -Quietly- {Rest well, my friend. You’ve earned it…}

[Jack glanced back over in spite of himself.]

Jack: …

Jack: (He really looks like he’s just asleep, but…)

Jack: (Talk about taking the Big Sleep, jeez…)

Jack: So… that’s it for now, then?

Mikhail: If we’re fortunate, Felix will come within the hour. It’s hard to say when he will arrive, as he is in another world right now. But you may go, if you wish—

Jack: Nah, that’s not what I meant. Just…

Jack: The… the new core will… bring him back, right?

Mikhail: Correct.

Jack: He’s not gonna…

Mikhail: …?

Jack: He’s not gonna wake up like this, is he—?

Mikhail: (Oh.) Oh, no—good heavens, no.

Mikhail: Once the power is restored to his chassis, he’ll automatically enter Maintenance mode. That’s the mode that all but the most minor of repairs are done in. His body will run an internal diagnostic on startup, and will enter Maintenance mode as the result of the analysis. No, you don’t need to worry about that.

Jack: (Whew…)

Mikhail: Honestly… even after the repairs are done, you can expect him to remain in Deep Sleep mode for quite some time.

Jack: -Mumbles- Yeah, I’d want to sleep too, if that just happened to me…

Mikhail: It’s a little more complicated than that.

[He goes over to sit down nearby, interlocking his fingers together.]

Mikhail: It has to do with the Emotions.EXE program.

Mikhail: -Looks over at Cardinal and gives a soft sigh- Robot Masters consistently enter a comatose state after experiencing a traumatic event. The Emotions program feeds into their Awareness coding; the two are very much tied together. Any experience they have must be processed, but… traumatic events are incredibly difficult to process, as they tend to cause Stop errors. Even in Deep Sleep mode, it takes a long time for them to process such things completely. This process prevents the Awareness from being fully activated… usually because an update has been initiated. And that’s another discussion altogether…

Jack: Gee, that… kinda sucks…

Mikhail: It is simply the way of things. Attempts to stifle the Emotions program ended up having a detrimental effect on Awareness as well…. The two should not be separated, or it causes extreme mental issues. That’s how the entity known as “the Blue Menace” came to be…

[As Jack thought that over, Mikhail turned his attention to the other two Doctors, even though he couldn’t see them through the curtain.]

Mikhail: How’s it going on your end?

Soi: I don’t know, Mikhail, it seems…

Sanda: It seems like we need to somehow broadcast the XelFilter on a mass scale in order to cure the nation but…that’s WAY too dangerous…

[Will–on his third or fourth cup of coffee, no doubt–sighed in apparent defeat.]

Will: I…I know that, Soi. Perhaps…Perhaps I can work from the ground up without using his XelFilter at all?

Sanda: Well–that would take even more time…Mm…

Mikhail: Mmm…. -Turns his attention to writing up a lab report-

Will: …..

Will: (…I…It’s…really catching up to me…)

Will: (The past…)

[PING!]

[MN.8 IS NOW ONLINE.]

Will: –!!

Sanda: Uh oh…I mean–uh. -Mixed feelings here-

[Mikhail looks up from his work.

There was a curtain separating them, but still…]

Mikhail: Jack, hold this for a moment, please—

[He passes off the clipboard to the short-notice lab assistant and looks out from behind the barrier.]

Jack: –! -Oh–oh okay–

Shade: –Mngh…Ngg….

[DR.WHITE] //: -Both of you are still outside, right-

[MN.4 and 5] //: -PING-

Will: Okay then…

Will: Shade?

Shade: Wh…What…

Will: Countershade–?

Mikhail: (I’m glad Secretary Desmond is asleep right now… I get the feeling this is going to be hard enough as it is.)

Shade: …D…Dad…?

Will: (Oh thank God–)

Will: Shhh, it’s alright, don’t exert yours—

Shade: C–Cards–

Shade: Ah’–Dad, where–

[Shade suddenly clutched at his own chest, a sudden pang of what felt like a needle going through his own core–]

Shade: Ngh–!

Will: –!!

Soi: Uh oh–

[Sanda immediately ran a diagnostic scan, then quietly motioned for Mikhail and Jack to stay out of sight.]

Soi: Shade–listen, it’s me, Uncle Sanda…

Shade: –…Sanda…–

Soi: Your SH program is running faster than you can keep up with, so please don’t move so much. We don’t want you to have a complete system shutdown so–

Shade: –Can’t–

Shade: Can’t stay–

[WHUMP–]

[Unfortunately for Shade, his condition didn’t allow him to get further from the foot of his bed as he simply rolled out of it.]

Will: Shade—!

[MN.5] //: -For Pete’s sake I TOLD you we had to restrain him–

[MN.1] //: Mighty No. 8, you get BACK in bed this instant–

Shade: N–No, can’t–I’ll–

Shade: I’m just gonna hurt y'all again–!

Will: —!

Mikhail: -Pinches the bridge of his nose- ({This is going a bit worse than I thought it would, that’s a new record.})

Will: Shade–

Shade: Don’t–

Will: Countershade White!

Will: You are SAFE!

Will: The fact that you can think that is proof enough–!

Shade: –….

Will: Shade…

Will: It’s okay.

Will: The virus has been purged from your systems. Beck made sure of that.

Shade: —!

Shade: –…Beck…

Will: And…

Will: And I know you would never hurt me, Shade.

Will: … Alright?

[PING!]

[MN.7] //: -Breathe, brother.-

Shade: –! Brand–

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

[MN.7] //: Do nothing but breathe. Let everything go.

[MN.7] //: {Breathe.}

Shade: … ….

[Shade tenses for a few seconds… as if lost in his own thoughts, still clutching at his own chest–]

[PING!]

[SH RATE: 150% OF NORMAL BASELINE.]

Soi: –!

Soi: (That’s not good—)

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: -Do you need water, bro, we can get you some–

Shade: -Hurts–

_______________________________________

Shade: Songbird...Eh...

Shade: Well, that explains the bird part.

[CLICK.]

Shade: Adios, Songbird.

______________________________________

[A flinch–]

[SH RATE: 180% OF NORMAL BASELINE.]

Shade: M'sorry—!

Shade: I tried to fight it, Ah’ swear—!

Shade: Cards—!!

[PING!]

[RMDC SERVER] //: >STATUS INQUIRY (SUBJECT: DLN-000) HAS BEEN DENIED.

>RobotMaster Database® COSSACK SERVER IS CURRENTLY LOCKED.

>AUTHORIZIED BY: ADMIN MC005

Shade: NO—!

Jack: (Eight... I really do feel for you right now...)

Jack: (You an' Miss Eight really are the one an' the same...She screamed about me and what happened earlier too, Hnn...)

Jack: (I just hope...pray it's gonna be alright. You and Cards are...ya mean a lot to us, what you guys got...)

Soi: Will—

Will: (Gah, if I don’t do something—)

[PING!]

[MN.9] IS NOW ONLINE.]

Will: —! Beck–

[—There’s no words from the small Mighty Number, not at first.

Instead—

Instead there was a file.]

[For some reason, it opened up for Shade anyway, without any prompt on his part.

…It was only audio, but…

…It was from a very memorable night.]

“But I’ll never give up on you, Shade.”

“Not for any reason.”

Shade: –!!

“Not for any reason.”

“I’ll never give up on you.”

Shade: … .

Shade: (Cards….)

[MN.9] //: -Soft ping-

[Another file. Something from Beck’s OWN memories…]

“I have to save you.”

“So the two of you can /live/— together.”

Shade: …..?

[MN.9] //: M…Mikhail found…

[MN.9] //: A new power source…

Shade: –!!!

[MN.9] //: He…he’s gonna…

[MN.9] //: Be okay…Shade…

[MN.9] //: I saved… everyone… like I promised…

[MN.9] //: S…so…

[MN.9] //: Don’t run away…

Shade: –…

[MN.9] //: …And make me a liar…

[MN.9] //: Okay? ^^

[MN.9] IS NOW IN SLEEP MODE.]

Shade: …

[PING!]

[SH RATE STABILIZING.]

Shade: Beck…Cards…

Shade: What in the world did Ah’ do to ya, brother…?

Soi: -Siiiigh…-

Soi: (At least his SH Program’s calmed down…)

Mikhail: -Also a sigh of relief-

Will: (Oh, Shade…)

Shade: Dad…

Shade: …

Shade: Why’s no one else answerin’…?

Will: The others…They are also Offline, for their own safety.

Will: …..

Will: Everything will be alright, Shade…

Will: (I pray it will be…)

Will: But please–I know your heart aches and you want to isolate yourself–

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, SNIPE BRO.

Shade: –!

[MN.2] //: -Like heck I’m gonna let ya go on your own after all that, FITE ME–

Mikhail: -From behind the curtain- Ahem. Shade?

Shade: –…. Mikhail…?

Mikhail: It’s also about… 5:46 in the morning.

Mikhail: Everyone else is asleep. That’s why they aren’t answering.

Shade: –…….

[MN.3] //: You picked a heck of a time to wake up and diszzturb our BEAUTY ZZSLEEP. -Annoyed buzzing-

Shade: Dyna…

Soi: -____-;; (Jeez, you’re just as tactless as Will, aren’t you, Mikhail…)

[MN.1] //: Alright, that is enough.

[MN.1] //: ….

[MN.1] //: -Very gently- Shade.

[MN.1] //: You’ve been gone for nearly a week and a half.

[MN.1] //: Have you eaten anything?

Shade: … .

Shade: …..

Shade: -Very, VERY hungry data-

Shade: Food…

[MN.1] //: As I thought.

[Ping—]

<FMN-008>: > -Mrrmnngghhmmmfffpph… did we hear someone mention f o o d—-

Shade: !

Shade: Kate…

<FMN-008 is now Online.>

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: (She was sleeptalking? That’s a new one.)

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

<FMN-008>: > …Jack?

<MC005>: > He’s assisting me with something. Go back to sleep, Countershade.

<FMN-008>: > …? -Hazy data, but our Other—-

<MC005>: > He’ll be fine. Go back to sleep.

<FMN-008>: >Mmmm…

<FMN-008 is now in Sleep mode.>

Mikhail: -Another relief sigh- (I wouldn’t want to have to explain THAT to the Secretary.)

Shade: Kate…?

[MN.1] //: She’s resting, Shade.

[MN.1] //: Seven, do you think you can get Eight to the kitchen without–

[Knock Knock.]

[MN.1] //: -….You’re already outside the bay, at least let me finish my sentence– -

Mikhail: -Starts shaking in silent laughter-

Will: Eheh… (Oh, Brand…)

[Sanda lets Seven in quietly, who chose to not wear his helmet, or his mask. His scarf is wound tightly around to compensate, though.]

Brand: –….

Shade: …..

Shade: Ah’…Guess we’re on even ground nao, aren’t we…

Brand: …..

Brand: I…suppose we are.

Mikhail: …?

Mikhail: -Puts his head in his hand- Mmmnn… (Tired. And hungry. But can’t eat in the lab. Jack should get something to eat, but I do not want to run the risk of him running into Desmond…)

Mikhail: (As a general rule, military men can be early risers if they stay in habit, and it’s nearly 6:00. …Local. It’s… oh, bother, he’s DEFINITELY up by now, it’s already practically 9:00 AM where he normally lives…)

Brand: …..

Brand: You’re still quite insufferable, though.

[Shade quietly chuckles at that.]

Shade: An’ yer still an’ honored bastard, heh…

Mikhail: … -Smiles to hear the exchange- (At least he’s doing better. That’s what counts, right now.)

Mikhail: Number Seven?

Brand: –Yes, Doctor?

Mikhail: If Felix shows up, please have him let inside the building.

Brand: …Felix is… ah. Of course.

Shade: –Felix is comin’…?

Shade: ….

Shade: -Too tired and hungry to think too hard-

Mikhail: You’ll see later, Shade. Go eat something.

Shade: …Yeah…

Brand: Here. Just lean on me and stay invisible.

Shade: Alright…

[It looked strange, like Brand was supporting nothing but air, but one could almost hear a pair of footfalls walking out the door and down the hallway to the elevator.]

Will: …..

Will: -Sigh-

Will: (…It’s going to take a long time to heal… from this…)

[Mikhail sighed, pulled the sheet over his patient, and pulled back the curtain.

Since there wasn’t really the time to do a proper replacement, he would have to rely on the energy source doing so. The systems would rebuild themselves once the new core was in place.

However…]

Mikhail: -Wiping his face- ({That was far too close a call. He has got to update.})

[…He wasn’t exactly planning on using the Sun Stone core just yet.]

Mikhail: ({I need to talk to him about updating and getting new hardware to go with it. He can’t keep it up like this with the form he’s been using, not at the rate he’s been getting into ghastly disasters.})

Mikhail: Please do make sure he doesn’t run off.

[Now that the cleaning phase was over, he would have to wait until Felix arrived before he could continue the repairs on Cardinal. But his work was far from over.]

Mikhail: ({I isolated Tobias and his memories last night, but I still need to make certain Cardinal uploads to a quarantined part of the server so that the others don’t get cross-references from his memory files. Then I have to lock the files and set up proxy files to substitute for the memories so they at least know what happened. Otherwise, they’ll try to unlock the files to fill in those blanks.})

Mikhail: -Low grumble- {And then the questions… Mary help me, it’s going to be one in the afternoon before I get any rest…}

[He almost wasn’t sure whether he had the energy to feel grateful or not that he was too tired to be scared at the moment.]

Mikhail: Sanda? What’s his status?

Soi: Well…He’s stable, for now. SH rate’s normal, though a bit jumpy, but that’s okay, given the situation…

Mikhail: …?

Mikhail: “S.H.”? Does that have something to do with the E.R. -like monitor sounds from just a moment ago?

Will: Ah. In a way…I suppose you can call it a more complex version of a Robot Master’s Emotion.EXE program.

Will: The Synthetic Heart Program–it’s the very coding that allows a Xelbot to feel. To evolve, and grow as they experience new sensations and emotion as they come.

Will: Like us.

Will: …I designed this particular version myself, to all the Mighty Number Line.

Will: …Usually…

Will: …Usually, The SH Program is capable enough to keep up with the rest of the Xelbot’s thoughts and functions, but…

Will: Shade…..

Will: ….

Will: He…He lost a core once.

Will: I had to rehaul his entire power output to compensate for 6 cores instead of the usual 7…

Mikhail: …

Will: –….

Will: -Hand in his face- But in doing so, the SH Program responded accordingly.

Will: With the increased power, it… sometimes, not often, but sometimes…

Will: It processes at a speed too high for Shade himself to keep up…

Mikhail: … (Just like an Emotions.EXE overload…)

Mikhail: …Heh. -Chuckles softly for a moment, shaking his head- Soul-brothers indeed…

Will: -Sigh- Ah… I suppose…

Will: In a way, yes, it is the equivalent of having an increased chance of cardiac arrest…

Will: It isn’t life threatening, given that he’s usually a loner…and rather hard-headed…Stubborn… -Cracks a smile-

Will: …This isn’t the first time he’s come close to one, but it’s certainly been the longest in between…

Will: The last time he had his SR Rate above 180% is when Beck almost drowned that one time during training…

Mikhail: …

[Mikhail sighs and sits down rather hard.]

Mikhail: I’d be more curious if I weren’t so exhausted. I’m so sorry, Will, I don’t mean to be rude.

Will: (He must REALLY be tired…. Nnngh…)

Will: ….You… you should…

Will: ….Oh, bother, you’re not going to stop even if I tell you…

Will: -Leans back in his own chair-

Will: Call, please go get us some food, I don’t care if it’s in the lab, I’ll eat in the closet if I have to.

Soi: -Snorts-

Mikhail: Jack, you should eat something as well.

Jack: …Yeah. Okay.

[Mikhail turns his attention back to Will. He has an almost defeated expression on his face, but that’s mostly from how tired he is.]

Mikhail: No, I’m not going to stop.

Mikhail: What I’m going to do next is crucial if we are to keep the Robot Masters from going berserk.

Will: …..

Mikhail: I sent everyone Offline just as the news came in on where Cardinal had been spotted. Everyone went into Lethal—except for David, who doesn’t have that setting—remember?

Mikhail: That was out of panic. Going someplace like that is a sure death sentence, and worse, where we come from.

Mikhail: Tobias I woke up on purpose, which again, is something I’ll have to answer for.

Mikhail: He has his own memories. He was angry, but that was tempered when he got feedback from Cardinal by way of his own Thunder Beam. He went Offline to rest before the worst of it, but it’s still enough to cause great anxiety and raise the threat level tag in the database entry for Shade by at least half a star.

Mikhail: I was able to isolate those easily while waiting for Cardinal’s return; everyone else was Offline, and the database was locked. As soon as his Awareness was re-seated back in his hardware, it became a non-issue… though it’s important he remains Offline.

Mikhail: -Rubs his face- He really does start to show his father’s worst traits when he is angry.

Mikhail: It’s Cardinal’s memories that are the danger now.

Mikhail: He encrypts all his memories, but it’s still something that would contribute to generating cross-references and modifying threat levels in informational files.

Mikhail: Those are things that would affect his brothers, and furthermore…

Mikhail: Whenever a Robot Master is forcefully sent Offline in a fight, the experience… that’s something very deep and complex, more than you realize, William. It starts to go beyond just the Emotions.EXE program and into the Awareness aspect itself.

Mikhail: The Awareness affected becomes… detached from the hardware, usually, and there is that sense of Self, that Self is not “alive”, and that…

Mikhail: …with Cardinal, it’s a bit more than that, for reasons I already went through.

Mikhail: I have to wake them up soon. He’ll probably still be either Offline or in Maintenance mode. That’s… going to cause incredible panic, unless I quarantine the files in a very specific manner.

Mikhail: The Hunter as a cultural concept, for someone to fall to the Hunter, and at such a high cost, too…

Mikhail: That sets off a frenzied panic mode, and for some, that could cause rage. And rage tends to cascade for robots running Wily’s OS.

Will: ….

Will: I… see…

Will: -Sigh- I suppose that’s of higher importance…. But at least eat something for a bit…

Will: (And Mikhail still has to be questioned–Not to mention Soi…)

Mikhail: I’ll try.

[There’s a quiet pause. When he speaks up again, he does so softly.]

Mikhail: …I’ll admit I don’t feel very good about eating right now.

Soi: …Cardinal would want you to take care of yourself.

Mikhail: -Closes his eyes and sighs softly- True.

Mikhail: It’s just… hard. (I hope you never have to understand how, though I think you may make a logic-based guess as to why.)

Mikhail: …Put some protein powder in chicken broth or something, that’ll be good enough for me. =___=

Will: Call, relay that to Pyrogen, please.

Call: Yes, Doctor.

Mikhail: -Rubs his hands with his face- (Ugh.) This would be so much easier if I could have Siam, but he’s… mmmngh, cross-references, experiences everything in a dual nature, complications.

Mikhail: Did you know—when he’s feeling particularly complex emotions, they tend to break down and manifest divided between his Awarenesses?

Mikhail: Yet another reason to do this properly—with one half panicked and the other enraged, I wouldn’t be getting any help— -buries face in arms at nearby workstation- {Saints preserve us—} Will, being the ONLY reliable Doctor for your world truly does get exhausting.

Will: ……

Mikhail: I wish we’d had the time to finish our tech lessons before this happened.

Mikhail: I could have helped with decoding…

Will: (Ngh…)

Will: ….No, it’s fine…

Will: I never… quite…

Will: ….

Will: -Looks away in shame-

Will: I never quite managed to crack it… all the way…

Will: I…I did manage to understand enough how to combat it, but it would have required Beck’s XelFilter program to be broadcasted much like the Virus was…

Will: And that’s something I cannot just… release into the open airwaves.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Muffled- I would have Tobias help, except undoubtedly that would be just as bad of an idea. He might have some ideas, but I believe it would be safest for everyone—Shade in particular—if he and Shadow remained not just asleep, but Offline for at least as long as Cardinal doesn’t wake….

Will: ….

Will: If that is what’s best for them… (This is all… my fault…)

Soi: ….

Soi: (Will…)

Will: ….

Will: I’m going to try to work on something from the ground up. I’ll use the XelFilter’s properties as a sort of blueprint, and go from there.

Will: (It will take a while longer, but…I can’t use his XelFilter Program, not with the government…)

Mikhail: Siam may be able to give a few ideas. After all, he is as close as it gets to a Doctor, and as a Robot Master, he did interact directly with her.

Will: –!

Will: (–H…Her…)

Will: (Dear God, he’s already even figured out gender…)

Will: …The Virus has a gender now? ?_?

Mikhail: According to Siam and Tobias, yes.

Mikhail: Something about how it targets aggression and the English phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” from what I understand.

Will: (Oh, God, no, is… is…)

Will: (Is… is she coming for me–?)

Will: (Am… am I what she wants?)

[There is a quiet knock on the door, snapping Will away from his darker thoughts.]

Will: –!

[Brand pushed in a cart of food for all present–even Call, who normally doesn’t eat around other people besides Beck.]

Jack: -Hungryyyyy–

[Jack IMMEDIATELY grabs as much meat as his plate can handle, even biting and holding down on a large wing of chicken in his mouth just to have more.]

Jack: -Awwww yessss- < 3

Soi: Heh! Save some for us, Jack–

Mikhail: Good luck, Soi, you’ll have to fight him for that. While he was undergoing repairs, he could eat up to several pounds of meat a day.

Mikhail: -Smiles, adjusting glasses- It’s good to see you have a healthy appetite, though. Shows resilience and reflects overall well-being.

Jack: -It’s mine-

Jack: -Miiiiiine-

Jack: -NOM-

Jack: ^^

Mikhail: Thank you for coming over on such short notice. I know that it was fearful work, but you helped speed up the process tremendously.

Jack: Eheh…n-no problem, Doc Cossack. Anythin’ t’ get Bird Guy up and taggin’ corporate sleezeball’s HQ’s again. | D ;;

[Mikhail laughs at this.]

Mikhail: Once he’s well enough to do so, I’d almost be tempted to buy the paint for him.

[He shakes his head, looking over at his covered patient as he accepts a thermos of chicken broth from Brand.]

Mikhail: Oh, he’ll be ready and willing, alright.

Mikhail: Like with Shade, Robot Masters are prone to overclocking under extreme duress. With Cardinal, that’s always been a weak point. But now with the new power source… that’ll change, if he agrees to hardware modifications as well.

Mikhail: To minimize the impact of the memories… as they are slowly released from quarantine, there will be other cross-references actively running. I happen to know as a fact that there are at least 40 entries with Shade laughing as of the day you left to go overseas.

Mikhail: Once he knows his mission was completed… he’ll be alright.

Will: Thank goodness…

Will: (At least there is some light at the end of all this, for them…)

Mikhail: Mmm. He knew something like this might happen when he set out. He said so himself. He came to terms with that and accepted it—that’s why he left such strong messages pointing it out.

Mikhail: He knew how hard that would end up being on everyone else if it came to pass…

Mikhail: It’s his way of saying not to be too sad, that he holds no ill will and will be back soon.

Mikhail: Hopefully Felix will come by with the core soon; I want his armor closed up before Desmond makes a very firm and unavoidable demand to see him.

Mikhail: -Rolls his chair over to his yellow legal notepad- I think I might be able to input a program that will automate the quarantine process… that’ll help, as I won’t have to oversee it personally. Give me a few hours.

Mikhail: After that… -Sip- I’ll see what I can do within what there is to say.

[As he began his work, though, he couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of dread.

He was to be questioned soon, and he knew—he just knew—that things did not look good for him. Now that his work was drawing to a close, he couldn’t help but feel as if…]

Mikhail: ({…as if this may be the last thing I ever get to do…})

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #3=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

((Prewriting: Min and Des talk on 07/03/2016T about celebrations for following day; Felix converses with them))

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[Dinner that night was a pleasant affair. It was the happiest they had had in a long time—they were all together again, their family and friends were safe, they had allies to help them through the dangers that still lurked ahead, and they could finally have a bit of peace.]

((Dinner scene optional, but could be nice as it would give more meat to the chapter and—as always—is a great chance to show character interactions))

[Minerva Morandi and Desmond Donald continued working after dinner, just as they had done the day before—though they seemed to be in a fairly relaxed mood.]

Min: Is everything ready for tomorrow?

Des: Surprisingly, yes. The venue’s been chosen: we got RSVPs from everyone. Most are at the hotel that was reserved, though a few will be driving in tomorrow morning.

Min: Good. What about the catering?

Des: Your secretary said that was taken care of.

Min: All the paperwork has been completed?

Des: Yes, Madame President. It’s all ready… again, surprising for such short notice…

Min: I think everyone was happy to contribute to the occasion. Seeing the evidence submitted must have been like watching a series of “restoring faith in humanity” videos.

Des: You’ve got a point there…

[There was a soft knock at the door.]

Min: -Closes a folder- Enter.

[Somewhat to their surprise, it wasn’t one of the residents who walked in. Instead…]

Felix: I hope I’m not interrupting something?

Des: ((Expresses his surprise and asks what they can do for him))

Felix: Not much. I just wanted to talk.

Min: … -Looks over at Des, and back at Felix- What about?

Felix: I wanted to hear it from you. The Mighty Numbers and those close to them… they are really all free and safe?

Min: Safety is a relative term, Lord Felix. They all have their enemies: and very dangerous enemies they are, too.

Felix: Safe from you, then.

Min: -Looks over the rims of her glasses, giving him a look- …

Des: ((Internal commentary))

[Felix did not waver under her slightly disapproving gaze. Eventually she pushed her glasses back up.]

Min: Fortunately for everybody… yes, they are safe.

Felix: -Looks immediately relieved-

Min: What would you have done if I said no?

Felix: -Glancing down and to the side now- I would have been troubled, and asked if there was something I could do to speak on their behalf. -Looks up and over again- I do not wish for us to be enemies.

Min: Neither do I. -More gently now- You were a great service to us the other day. Thank you for that.

Min: Though I’m afraid that your bravery shall go unsung here, except between those that keep the secret.

[Felix gave a somewhat sheepish smile, looking down again at that.]

Felix: Ah—no, that is fine. I am used to it.

[There was a slight pause.]

Felix: What will you do now?

Des: What do you mean?

Felix: Much has been lost or destroyed…. Your world relies heavily on machines, but even your machines are made with other machines. Without the means to produce them, what will you do?

Min: Why do you ask?

Felix: Because I care for the plight of others?

Min: A fair answer.

[She interlaced her fingers.]

Min: If you must know… the means to build quickly is granted in part by the aid of our allies across the seas. We have good friends—and others, like you, are moved by suffering. These allies… unlike us, they have known wars that ravaged their entire nation. They have experienced the need to truly rise from naught but ashes. They sympathize with us, and will help us in our time of need.

Felix: Oh… good.

Min: Very.

Felix: …

Des: Something else on your mind?

Felix: I was wondering if I may be of assistance to you.

Des: What do you mean?

Felix: I can help rebuild places, as much or more as the likes of Mic can. And there is more than that alone in the damage and what I can do to heal it—I would very much like to heal the land of the desolation. Like I did here in the city, with the gardens.

Des: ! ((Internal commentary))

Felix: I know that your home has been badly damaged, and you all have mentioned the great cost of repairs, and the delay it will cause to approve of these costs. If I could reduce those costs, then it could be repaired sooner…

Min: Only if you were very subtle about it. I hardly need hysterics about aliens (re)building the White House.

Des: -sNORT-

Des: Well… it might distract from everything else, heh.

Min: -Laughs at that-

Des: -Grins, putting his hands behind his head- Wait, here's an idea—maybe someone could film it, and people would think it was special effects. No one pays attention to what really happened because they think it’s a movie.

Min: That actually might be crazy enough to work, if handled correctly. It would have to be done under secrecy and with the help of some sort of construction company—you'll have talk with the rest of the staff to find out if there’s a Department that has a particular company under contract.

Min: Given that secrecy, the only person who could be trusted to film it would be Avi.

Felix: I’m sure he’d love to make an upbeat documentary about repairs and rebuilding life after crisis.

[She seems pleased with this.]

Min: Yes… yes, that just might work. And it would be the perfect message, too…

[She held a hand off to the side, her smile fading.]

Min: Even with deception and diversion, repairing the White House would take at least five months… though it would be nice to have one less thing to worry about given other problems that must be dealt with in November. The sooner we all move back in, the better.

Felix: Just direct me, and I will help as I may. After that, I will wander through the countryside, purging the land of poisons and encouraging new life to replace what was lost. There will not be a famine, not if I can help it.

Des: I hadn’t even thought about averting the aftermath crises…

Min: Yet, you mean. We were all so focused on getting over the initial disaster, first. But yes… yes, averting famine will be critical in ensuring stability as we recover. I’m inclined to see that as a greater priority, to be honest…

Felix: Well, I can clear away rubble and Move things wherever you see fit, as a start.

Min: That alone could save dozens of thousands of dollars…

Min: We’ll have to speak more on this later.

Felix: Ah—I understand. Sorry for disturbing you, but thank you for your time.

Min: Not at all. Though… Felix?

Felix: Yes?

Min: There’s going to be a ceremony tomorrow in the late morning and early afternoon. You’re invited to come, though you should wear different clothes.

Felix: A ceremony? Why?

[At that, the other two only smiled.]

Min: Oh… you’ll find out…~

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dauntlesstales

5 years ago

=CHAPTER 4B: AVI’S NEWS REPORT=

~AO v1.0~

(courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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{Meanwhile, in the Meadow}

[Another day, another problem.

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

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

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

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

[He had done what he could.

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

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

It WOULD be a good discussion…

…if he could only have it.]

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

[He shook his head.]

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

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

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

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

“Doctor! DOCTOR! DOCTOR, LOOK—”

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

“{David! You should be asleep—!}”

[Snow was tugging at the lab coat relentlessly.]

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

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

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

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

Even so…]

Snow: DAAAD!

[Okay, THIS got his attention.

Again.

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

Mikhail: {I apologize. What is it?}

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

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

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

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

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

———————————————

{Meanwhile…}

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

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

Cardinal: FINALLY.

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

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

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

Those that didn’t, well…]

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

He wasn’t in the mood.]

Cardinal: Jazz!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

>LOADING…

——————————————————

{Back in the Meadow…}

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

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

[—while his younger brothers were…]

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

[…less than pleased.]

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

Mikhail: Patience, David…

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

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

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

Speedy: Back off, Romeo—

Mikhail: BOYS.

[…Quietness.]

Jaden: -Vents heavily- …

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

Monstropolis…]

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

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

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

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

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

Nico: …? (Now where is he going?)

—————————————————

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

-PING!-

[But it was something he had to do.

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

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

[.......]

-PING!-

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

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > …

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

[…This.

This hurt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Data fuzz.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Another data fuzz, and more music plays.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[A VERY eerie tune starts playing.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Just—!

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

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

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

[Data fuzz.]

[No, he is our younger brother, he’s—

woah woah wait what

since when was Drill Hands a brother—]

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

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

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

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

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

[BZZZZZKKKKKT—]

[Kkkkkkkk…]

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

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

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

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

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

Jaden: …!

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

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

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

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

[Kkkkkkkkkk…]

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

[Kkkkksssst….]

[The music faded, but…]

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

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

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

[C R A S H--!]

————————

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

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

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

“HE DID IT!”

Mikhail: -Looks up- !

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

Siam: External server branch detected!

Gemini: Synching…!

Siamini: COMMUNICATIONS ARE ONLINE!

[Mikhail didn’t waste any time.]

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

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=CHAPTER 5C: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=