Latest Posts by dauntlesstales - Page 2

=CHAPTER 6B: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{The Pentagon}

“This is an OUTRAGE!”

[It was quite the sight to see, though they had ensured that no prying eyes would be remotely capable of seeing it.]

“You call me out here toward the tail end of a crisis you tried to cover up by yourselves, and now you won’t even own admit to knowing about it in the first place!?”

[The Secretary of Defense looked on with a quiet frown as the teacher continued giving a verbal thrashing.]

???: I absolutely REFUSE to believe that NONE of you know ANYTHING about what just happened! TELL ME THE TRUTH!

[The room was silent.]

Des: (Man, I haven't seen her get this angry in years...)

???: Well?!

[Most of his colleagues were doing their best to avoid eye contact, which caused him to narrow his own pair.]

???: Oh for the love of— for Jefferson’s SAKE, people, don’t make me treat you like third graders!

Des: (...But I guess they had it coming.)

[But despite her fiery demeanor, no one was forthcoming. She drew herself up haughtily, now cold and seething.]

???: Very well, then. As the saying goes, “fine, be that way!” This isn’t over. The buck stops here, and so help me if I won’t order it to be traced!

“What do you mean?”

Des: (—Secretary of Urban Development—?)

???: -Tucks a stray strand of hair back into place- What do you think, Secretary O’Hare?

[Her stern gaze spilled over the rim of her glasses as she tilted her head down slightly in a menacing glare.]

???: I’ve just been told about an unauthorized, highly illegal military base with live weapons and warheads. This jeopardized the lives of over half a million people, and is still very much a threat to international peace. This facility was extremely well-maintained and up-to-date, which would require a great deal of money and specialized labor.

???: And absolutely NOBODY here is taking RESPONSIBILITY.

[She bent back the flexible ruler so hard that Desmond Donald was worried that it might snap in half.]

???: Well, I cannot have that. I’m going to find out who is involved, and whether or not there are more bases out there like this. Have I made myself clear?

[There were uneasy murmurs at this.]

???: I said, HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR?

“Yes, Madame President!”

[Minerva Morandi, President of the United States, pushed her glasses up to her face.]

((Pic—Des and Min))

Min: Better. I expect full cooperation and none of your sass when you get the followup from Internal Affairs.

“Internal Affairs?!”

Des: -Looks over at the head of the Department of Homeland Security- : / ?

“Madame President, just think of the scandal—!”

Min: Excuse me?

“If the public found out about this…!”

Min: -SLAPS the ruler down on the table, making a VERY loud CRACK! of displeasure- Then someone would have violated the rules, Secretary Colby Caldwell! And frankly, damn the scandal!

Colby: But Madame President—

Min: -Motions sharply and cuts him off- My duty is to protecting the people, Mister Secretary! To protect the people and keep the peace! How am I supposed to do my job if there are active—or dormant, for that matter!—threats of which I haven’t even been made aware?!

[Desmond sighed and rubbed his chin.]

Des: Speaking of threats… there’s still the matter of the security breach.

[His colleague seemed VERY grateful for the change in subject.]

Colby: We should interrogate Blackwell—

[The Certified Assassins' League representative snorted at this, as did several of the others.]

“Seriously?”

Colby: He’s the only man capable of getting through our defenses!

Min: Fine. It’s always best to eliminate even the most outlandish of possibilities.

[Colby locked his fingers together.]

Colby: Yes, sir. We’ll get right on it—

Min: You will do NO such thing!

[The others were taken aback by this, but Desmond himself was merely puzzled.]

Des: (...Wait, what?)

Min: I’m not going to let this fall into a sea of red tape and paperwork where it will be quietly buried in a shallow grave and left to die! I want someone I trust handling this investigation!

[There was a loud “-tsk-” of disgust from across the table.]

“So you’re sending Secretary Desmond, then.”

Des: (Min—! Me, questioning Blackwell—?!)

“With all due respect, this is not really a good time to be playing favorites again.”

Min: Oh I see. You still think that your colleague is on my good graces because I knew him before I started running for office, is that it? Well too bad, because it just so happens that he’s also been the one who’s been producing the best RESULTS.

Min: Do you have any idea how hard it is to monitor the borders, even in the present age? The fact that this virus hasn’t spread into Canada or Mexico isn’t miraculous: it’s the result of a lot of hard work being done.

Min: DoHS, on the other hand, has done next to nothing for me other than corroborate HHS’s reports on the extent of this disaster! There has been no progress made in finding the source or stopping the major threats: for Madison’s sake, we’ve resorted to relying on civilians for this!

[She slammed the ruler down again.]

Min: Civilians who were put in great danger because SOME people were willing to accept their loss as an “acceptable risk!”

Des: (...God, she's right. How did we ever sink low enough to let a child take on all that danger and responsibility? That kind of burden...)

Min: I’m sending my best man, the person I trust, NOW ALL OF YOU GO AND WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHAT YOU DID WRONG OR SO HELP ME GOD—

————————————

{Maximum Security}

Des: (...I'm really not gonna like this. I KNOW you trust me, Min, but this is...)

Des: (This is the man that tried to shut down EVERY robot in America, and did so for Titus...)

Des: -Ghn.-

[The door to the cell opened after a few, tense minutes. It's practically spotless, and had very little features and furniture. A bed, a desk with no drawers, and a single bench in the middle of the room.]

"They told me you were coming."

[Sitting in that bench was a elderly man in his late 70s, dressed in nothing more than prison clothes—and over that, a tattered, black lab coat with some sort of faded coat of arms on the pocket. While his stature seemed frail—or at least that's what the cane he held indicated...]

[His sharp, cold as ice blue hues said otherwise.]

Blackwell: Now I believe them.

Des: ....

Des: (...I feel like I'm being watched under a microscope...)

Des: -Ahem- Doctor—

Blackwell: I have nothing to say to you. Out.

Des: —...

Des: I haven't even—

Blackwell: -Once again cuts him off- You're here to interrogate me, Desmond Donald. Why ELSE would the Secretary of Defense would be in a madman's cell?

Blackwell: You're certainly not the first. Had all sorts of bloody suits in here asking useless nonsense of me, demanding answers even I cannot provide.

Des: ...That remains to be seen.

Blackwell: Hmph.

Des: -Sighs—- Look, I don't want to do this either, Doctor, so can we just both get this over with? =~=

Blackwell: You don't, hm. Interesting.

Blackwell: At the end of your rope, I take it?

Des: ....

Blackwell: How disappointing.

Blackwell: The very same government that has me locked up for life can't even pinpoint the cause of this viral epidemic. Even I'm sorry for you.

Des: Doctor, I didn't come here to listen to you—

Blackwell: I don't care.

Des: (Ugh, he's not budging—!)

Blackwell: What, is that it? You need my help?

Des: =~= You and I both know that isn't possible.

Blackwell: A pity. It would be nice to see how the world has changed outside of this dog cage.

Blackwell: Feh...

Des: Doctor, I agree that this is a waste of time, but I have a job to do, and the sooner you cooperate—the sooner I'll leave you alone.

Des: Okay?

[He STILL seems disgruntled at the idea of it, but—]

[TAP!]

Des: -Winces—-

[The incarcerated Doctor taps his cane LOUDLY on the floor.]

Blackwell: You have five minutes.

Des: —Or?

Blackwell: 4 minutes and 58 seconds.

Des: (For REAL?)

Blackwell: Don't waste your time.

Blackwell: You all already took all of mine.

Des: ....

Des: -Sigh-

Des: The following is classified, Doctor. Do—

Blackwell: 4 minutes and 36 seconds.

Des: =~=

Des: ...There have been a few security issues.

Blackwell: The whole bloody nation is on red alert— isn't that your job?

Des: -...Ignores- One of them is before this, although still relevant to the situation.

Blackwell: ...

Des: ... (He's quiet now. I guess he finds this interesting?)

Des: You're familiar with the Queen's Tournament, yes?

Blackwell: =~=

Blackwell: -We're from the UK, of COURSE we are-

Des: ... -Right-

Des: Concerning the incident in the finals match, there was a breach of security that we feel is within your abilities to... bypass.

Blackwell: Really?

Blackwell: ...Hm.

[... Desmond was expecting Blackwell to feel put off by this, but instead the elder strokes his beard in thought.]

Blackwell: Well, I don't have any reason, nor the means to arrange such a breach.

Blackwell: I find it very... interesting that you come to me and not that mysterious... masked construct that appeared there.

Blackwell: Still having trouble locating him, I presume? I suppose MI6 hasn't tacked on anything yet. Shame.

Des: (...He got all that just from what I said?)

Blackwell: I will take your silence as a yes.

Blackwell: -Tsk- The world's in the hands of a bunch of incompetent morons...

Blackwell: He's not my make, Secretary.

Blackwell: The way he fell in the sands a bleeding mess, which I FULLY blame on the incompetence of the IBCA security department and that WRETCHED team of scrap—

Blackwell: ...would suggest a chassis not entirely suited for combat.

Des: —?

Blackwell: At the very least, not arena combat.

Blackwell: Have you tried looking in the Industrial databases?

Des: I...

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: I thought not.

Blackwell: Idiot.

Des: (...Min, I really hope you're having better luck...)

Blackwell: 1 minute.

Des: —Gh—

Des: -Talking quickly- There's also—another security breach not too long ago, in a classified location—

Blackwell: Oh?

Blackwell: How classified?

Des: —….

Blackwell: Ah...

Blackwell: One of your secrets. I see.

Blackwell: Hmm. Again, coming to me about this...I assume this also has a high level of security that would be within by abilities to...how you put it, bypass.

Blackwell: What are you hiding, Mr. Donald?

[Blackwell leans in when he says this, making Desmond take a step backwards—his gaze bore holes into him, with a deep scorn and hatred—]

Des: (Gah—)

Des: I'm the one asking questions, Doctor.

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: I wonder.

Blackwell: -Sits back down- Does your superior know about this?

Des: =~= That's not within my place to say.

Blackwell: No, then.

Blackwell: ...Did you?

Des: Answer the question, please.

Blackwell: Did you?

Des: Doctor...

Blackwell: How about you answer first.

Des: (Ugh...)

Des: =~= I won't.

Blackwell: Fine. Your loss.

Des: (Gh...)

Blackwell: Your time is up, by the way.

Des: ....

Des: Alright, fine.

Des: =~= I didn't know this either.

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: Ha...

[It's bitter laughter that echoes throughout the cell, low and mocking.]

Blackwell: It's worse than I thought...

Blackwell: Didn't think that was possible.

Blackwell: But here we are, at the edge of total oblivion, and you can't even keep track of your own secrets.

Des: Doctor Blackwell, I am not HERE to play your GAMES!

[At this point, Desmond had lost some patience—he stood up, pointing a finger upwards, raising his voice so loud that a guard had come to look through the small window on the door.]

Des: I have a JOB to do out there—and fine—maybe I can't, but it's not like I WANTED them!

Des: Answer the question!

Blackwell: Hmph.

Blackwell: So the dog does bite.

Blackwell: -Taps his cane lightly- I've been doing nothing but wait for my time to come, Secretary. While it would be fun to poke around where I don't belong one last time...

Blackwell: Don't you think I would have done so by now? Or before?

Des: -Irritated- We figured that.

Blackwell: Then you were right.

Blackwell: =~= This is a complete waste of time.

Blackwell: And all because of Graham...

Blackwell: Even in here, he continues to push sins on me that aren't mine.

Des: (...Debatable...)

Blackwell: Why haven't you yelled at him yet?

Des: =~= Believe me, we're trying.

Blackwell: Try harder.

Blackwell: That monster will hide behind his black, corrupt fortress of his so-called friends for as long as he wills it. You will not speak with him so easily.

Des: ...And how do you know that?

Blackwell: Don't know your history?

Blackwell: Figures you don't...

Blackwell: Why don't you ask your chief replacement for details.

Des: (Don't talk about Min like that—)

Blackwell: I'm sure you'll find something very educational.

Blackwell: -Waves a hand- Is that all?

Des: ....

Des: -Huffs- For now.

Blackwell: Good.

Blackwell: Get out.

Des: (Ugh, GLADLY.)

[Resounding footfalls are the last thing Blackwell hears before the door shuts close, and several locks click into place. He is alone, again, to his thoughts and his thoughts only… at least until the NEXT questionnaire comes up.]

Blackwell: …

Blackwell: -Sighs-

[His cane taps the floor one more time, and something quietly clicks open—a panel to the side slides open to reveal two, small picture frames.]

[Old, wrinkled fingers lightly graze a young woman's face, holding a smiling child with wild hair.]

Blackwell: (...I never got the chance to talk to you again.)

[The next one was of another child, bright eyed and clear minded, next to...]

[...Graham...?]

Blackwell: (...or you...)

Blackwell: (Why did you rat us out, George...?)

Blackwell: (Why?)

Des: -Tired, uuugh-

Des: -Dialing on his phone- That was fun...

Des: (Fun for HIM, I bet...)

[Click.

Minerva responded to the call promptly. She seemed to have been waiting for it.]

Min: Hello, Des. Did you learn anything interesting?

Des: -Tired- Just that Blackwell is really, really good at deduction.

Des: And getting under your skin, yeah, that was real fun...

Des: -Pinches nose- He's been twiddling his thumbs this whole time, or at least that's what he said. He agreed that the whole thing was stupid. Ugh...

Des: He even finished my thoughts before me, Min, no wonder he's in there.

Min: Hmm…. I'm not entirely surprised you did not get much out of him. He probably truly had nothing to say. Frankly, thinking Blackwell was behind it is ludicrous.

Des: -Sighs-

Des: ...He did give us a small tip for the QF, though.

Min: Oh? And what might that be?

Des: He claims the make of the “fan” that appeared in the finals was not Combat orientated, but Industrial.

Des: Worth looking into the Industrial database, he says.

Des: I think it's a good idea, as much as I kinda hate to admit it...

Des: =~=

Min: I endorse it. If that construct had the ability to bypass the tournament's security, it is possible they might have the ability to bypass federal security as well. We need a lead on that boy as soon as may be; Britain wants to extradite Aviator now that it's been proven to the scientific community that he is no longer infected.

Min: I can only stonewall our allies for so long before it goes from rude to confrontational.

Des: -Exasperated- We're STILL in the middle of red alert, don't they know that we can't lift the quarantine--?

Des: -Long sigh- Ugh, no thanks, I'd rather take Blackwell again.

Min: -Amused expression- Well, Donny, he can fly. I'm inclined to think they expect to escort him internationally.

Min: He is an asset who they perceive as having the answers they want. It's as much about protecting that lead as anything else, if one wants to be optimistic.

Des: (Somehow, I doubt that, if Blackwell is anything to go by...)

Des: -Sigh-

Des: How the heck did we get here, Min?

Min: -Sighs, taking off her glasses and putting a hand to her face-

Des: (I can't BELIEVE I'm even asking this...)

Des: Even the Doctor thinks we're morons, even if he IS the Father of Modern Xel Robotics.

Min: We are all but goldfish to the great minds of science and philosophy, Desmond. We may not be morons, but we are being played for fools.

Des: Ugh...

Min: Expect a visit from Internal Affairs once enough staff can be mustered up for it.

Des: (Great...)

Des: Won't that be a barrel of laughs...

Des: But I guess. I don't have any single problem with it, but something's wrong in here...

Des: Very wrong...

Min: Mmm. Well, I trust that you'll be able to find some results. Coordinate with Colby and the other Department heads to make sure that you have enough manpower to look into this. Just because you've been assigned team leader does not mean that they can be slackers on the group project.

Min: With the last known member of Greater Dusk still missing, that boy is the only real lead we have on the Finals, which is where something much like the virus was noticed. (I know the CAL reports from Kate Fletcher pointed to the possibility of a CherryDynamics connection, but that investigation was never completed. I suppose she went missing in infection, just like many of the other members…)

Min: We need something that gets us somewhere without jeopardizing the relationship with or the safety of our only confirmed chance of fixing this mess.

Min: We're just lucky that he was there and kept the situation from becoming so much worse…

Des: Yeah, got it. I'll see what I can do...

Des: Speaking of that...

Des: What about Sanda Enterprises?

Min: -Looks up, putting her glasses back on- Hmm?

Des: MN.9's been a big help, that I can completely agree with.

Des: Cleaning up our act is going to take time...

Des: And with how the military base incident was handled, well...

Des: >>;; I'm inclined to think that they have concluded they're on their own.

Des: -Which isn't true—or at least we don't WANT it that way—-

Des: On top of that—

Des: We don't exactly have any updates on the virus cure, if any.

Des: Wasn't Dr. White on that?

Min: So the press release says, and I have no reason to doubt it. Even the most cynical person has to recognize that without order and healthy opponents, his family would be put out of work. He has every reason to see an end to this mess, and does have the ability in at least one form.

Min: I want full cooperation extended to Sanda Enterprises, as I promised. We can pull from HHS's budget if necessary, as this does qualify as a resource to combat a plague outbreak.

Min: The man wants his children home first, and apparently has been making more progress in studying the virus as more of them come home. So it's in everyone's best interest to help him reach that point first, to allow him to focus on other things.

Min: With Battalion returned home, that just leaves two more to be found, correct?

Des: Right. Mighty No. 4, Seismic...

Des: And Mighty No. 8, Countershade.

Min: …

Des: (Dear God, I hope Four isn't in this state..)

Des: (And Eight...he's a whole other story...)

Des: So far we haven't gotten word from CAL—it's a mess, according to the representative.

Des: ...A number of them were confirmed to be infected.

Des: The good news, though, is that a good ratio was also confined in their posts when the outbreak started...

Des: So there’s that.

Min: I'm glad that not EVERY assassin in the States has gained bloodlust. Though it will be difficult to follow one trail of death out of hundreds.

Des: Needle in a haystack.

Des: A burning one, at that.

Min: A needle in a stack of needles would be more apt, but yes…

Des: -Mph...-

Des: ...There's one more thing I need to ask you...

Min: Go on.

Des: Doctor Blackwell showed a lot of disdain towards Graham.

Des: It sounded to me like it went beyond just the fact that he pointed the finger at him.

Des: ...Said I didn't know my history, so any idea why?

Min: Well, Dr. Blackwell used to work for CherryDynamics back in happier times. I'm sure that the change between now and then has some part in it, though there are likely motives that we can only guess at.

Des: He did?

Des: ...Bad blood, huh. That's worth looking into at a later date.

Min: …Possibly. One of the CAL agents on the QF case believed that it was worth investigating CherryDyn.

Des: ...If we can even GET a hold of CherryDyn...

Des: I'm still getting stonewalled at that front. Lawyers, representatives, not the man himself.

Des: I can't even get him on the phone!

Des: Busy signal, and it's gotten to the point where I think it's actually the voicemail recording.

Min: Peh. Irresponsible panderer.

Des: I don't think CherryDyn has been doing anything besides not letting the virus spread overseas...

Des: It's impossible to tell, other than it hasn't happened yet.

Min: Mmm…. what a mess…

Min: Well, he's made his bed, now he has to lie in it. Let him hide, then, so long as he doesn't get in the way of real progress. Like he tried to do earlier.

Des: =~= Can't we arrest him on grounds of suspicious activity against national security?

Min: It's honestly very tempting at times.

Min: But stupidity isn't illegal.

Min: I'm sure Sanda Enterprises will sue for libel once they're no longer busy with more pressing matters.

Min: I want everyone to be on the lookout for leads for the remaining Mighty Numbers. Any potential tip should be passed along to Sanda Enterprises.

Des: You got it.

Des: ...How are things going on your end?

[Min rubs her face a bit, giving an exasperated sigh.]

Min: No one's owning up just yet.

Min: We've gotten some promising words of support from France… they are most definitely willing to help rebuild infrastructure…

Min: … after this is over.

Des: ....

Des: -Long groan and the sound of his head hitting the wall-

Min: HHS isn't making much headway in finding a way to reverse the effects. Right now, the Whites are our only hope in finding the cure. Even finding the source will not necessarily give us that much.

Min: -Siiiigh-

Min: Come home, Donny. I don't think you'll get any more answers there for now.

Des: ...yeah.

Des: See ya soon.

{Meanwhile…}

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > -Ping-

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: ...! Mikhail!

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Oh thank goodness are you alright you ran off so suddenly and then--

<MC005>: > I’m… better, certainly.

<MC005>: >Shadow informed me that Brandish had contacted us—it took a bit of unraveling, but it sounds like whatever was going on over there has resolved itself, for now. I’m glad.

<MC005>: >I was given quite the scare, that’s for certain. But a good deal of time has passed over here since then, and it’s given me a chance to settle down.

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

[DR.WHITE] //: I'm glad—things were a bit...chaotic, to say the very least...but we got through it together, and Bat has returned to us.

[DR.WHITE] //: Not only that, but along with one more piece to solving this virus code.

[DR.WHITE] //: (I'm close, I can feel it, I just need time...)

[DR.WHITE] //: How are the others...?

<MC005>: >Well, Jack was rather confused when he woke up somewhere else again— and Tetra had a rather… interesting choice of words to explain it—but he’s been a good patient. Most everyone has been rather docile. Jaden was agitated for a while, but improved after getting the chance to speak with Bat.

<MC005>: > … Fighting Eight still hasn’t fully recovered.

[DR.WHITE] //: (Oh, no...Kate...)

<MC005>: >I don’t entirely understand… this kind of damage surely must happen from time to time in the arena, but it seems this is the first time it’s affected her memory so deeply. Either she hasn’t ever had a head injury that severe before, or the head trauma just made existing problems worse, or there’s something else about it that I don’t know.

<MC005>: > She remains more or less docile, and can usually be coaxed back into Sleep mode within two minutes of her panicked episodes.

<MC005>: >She’s been rather incoherent. I think she just needs rest. Lots and lots of rest.

<MC005>: > The boys have been mercifully cooperative, especially ever since the latest development.

<MC005>: >That’s something you and I definitely need to cover—though there are other things to discuss that I think everyone should hear.

<MC005>: >We have good news and… some very important findings.

<MC005>: > We really should hold a conference call as soon as possible. Though you should probably get Five and Seven back up to speed, first.

[DR.WHITE] //: !

[DR.WHITE] //: I see—we'll have to wait until Beck awakens, however—I'm afraid he hasn't woken up since.

[DR.WHITE] //: It's...a bit concerning, but he's showing no signs of negative data...so...as long as he gets as much rest as possible...

<MC005>: >Mmm… well, for the good news, I’m sure he’d appreciate being there with everyone else…. I’m not sure about the findings, however…

<MC005>: > I think Pyro, Bat, and Brand definitely should hear it, though.

[There’s a thoughtful silence.]

<MC005>: > Are there any sign of the other three on your end?

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...Nothing from Shade...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...And there's...no signal from Mic. At all. Ever since this started...

[DR.WHITE] //: And Cardinal...nothing.

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

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > -Sighs- Well, I had hoped.

<MC005>: > I think we may be able to help you find where Four went off to, though.

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[DR.WHITE] //: Oh thank God—

<MC005>: >And I do have news of Cardinal.

Mikhail: (Though definitely not the news anyone was hoping to hear.)

Will: (Perhaps we're almost through this crisis—wait...just news?)

[DR.WHITE] //: —...and it's...it's good news? -Yes, we are trying to be hopeful here-

<MC005>: > …Er…

<MC005>: > …That depends on how you take it?

<MC005>: >He’s probably still in one piece, and seems to have stopped fighting, for now.

[DR.WHITE] //: (Still alive—while I am worried about you, Cardinal...I have to admit I am impressed you've—)

<MC005>: >But as for Four—

<MC005>: >My dear Will.

<MC005>: >You DO remember that my oldest (currently Online, David aside) son is a miner, да?

[DR.WHITE] //: —!

[DR.WHITE] //: Of course, maybe can he can give us an idea where Mic might have gone...

[DR.WHITE] //: Definitely somewhere in his 'element', to be sure—although we already scanned his mine, and found nothing...

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

<MC005>: >Digger has a few other ideas, and he’s turning his analysis to them now that we’ve finished our analysis of Cardinal’s information.

<MC005>: >He agrees at it’s likely that Seismic has headed underground. Quite frankly, there is no other way that he would be in his element while also being out of sight unless that were the case. He’s too large to go unnoticed above the scene.

<MC005>: >You will have to be prepared to accept his authority, though.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...I expected as much...

<MC005>: >I’m sorry, but it’s just…

<MC005>: >Dealing with infected constructs is one thing. Battling nature is another. And going underground is something else entirely.

<MC005>: >It’s very easy to get lost, and if you get lost without a surface team to keep track of you, you could spend days trying to find your way out.

<MC005>: >Thankfully, Three is an Industrial by nature, so he won’t try to get involved in any combat. You don’t need to worry on that front.

<MC005>: >He has extensive experience with that field—it’s his area of expertise—so he will be in charge of the monitoring surface team, and the recovery team, should it come to that. He’s already assigned Jaden as his second, though he’s still debating on who should be his partner…

[Later that afternoon, Mikhail briefly stopped by Sanda Labs to pick up a few things that had been left in their hasty retreat. Before he returned to the Meadow, though, he had an important stop to make.

He made his way up to Beck’s room with a bag of marshmallows in hand.]

[...There's no sound coming from his room, and the lights seem to be off...]

[Inside, a soft white glow can be seen under the covers--and the small bump that was Beck there as well.]

Beck: —? (Dad—?)

[A head pops up, and tired emerald eyes blink in slight confusion when the figure at the foot of his bed was not his Father.]

Beck: Dr. Cossack...?

Mikhail: -Softly- Good afternoon, Number Nine.

Mikhail: -Offers marshmallow bag-

Beck: ...um.

[...He can't help but feel a bit meek while taking a few marshmallows. He couldn't guess why Dr. Cossack was here, but...]

[...This had to be about Jaden's Capsule, right?]

Beck: .....

Beck: (Maybe I should...give the data back...)

Mikhail: Trouble resting?

Beck: ....Um...

[He rubs the back of his head a bit.]

Beck: Kinda. It's been a long week...it's sorta throwing my whole sleep schedule off...

[...Well, that was true, in part. Lately, he still felt tired even after going into Sleep Mode...

...There were just too many thoughts in his head.

Too many worries.]

Mikhail: It has been a long week, hasn’t it. And the time warps in effect can be a headache, true.

Mikhail: It helps to have someone to talk to about it.

Beck: .....

[...Oh.]

Beck: Y...Yeah, those are always weird...

Beck: … …

Beck: … …Doctor Cossack?

Mikhail: да?

Beck: Are…

Beck: … …

Beck: Are they afraid of me?

Mikhail: -Blinks at this-

[As was his custom, he waited until he was sure Beck had had his say before he said anything himself.]

Beck: I… Nico was… really angry—and Shadow...

Beck: I… I didn't mean…

Beck: … …

[…He falls silent.]

[There is some rattling in his closet a second afterwards…]

[Mikhail reaches out and gently puts a hand on Beck’s head.]

Beck: ....

Beck: I...I'm sorry I got Jaden in trouble....

Beck: I...I just...

Beck: ....

[Mikhail gave a soft sigh and pulled Beck into a hug.]

Beck: ......

_________________

"Humanity is hardwired to be cautious to that which is better than them, and they know this. As do all sentient creatures."

"...What does that mean--"

"...It means don't be surprised if everyone starts to FEAR YOU, you idiot."

_______________

Beck: --I...I don't want them to be afraid of me...

Beck: I'm not like... I don't want to...

Beck: -They're family too, I don't want to let them down or--or fail them or scare them or...-

Mikhail: Shhhh…

Beck: .....

Beck: (What if they're right?)

Beck: (I barely understand what's going on with me, and Dad...I'm not even sure if HE knows too...)

Beck: (Was this what she was talking about...?)

Beck: -We're scared.-

((Pic—Beck and Mikhail))

[Beck just curls up with the Russian Doctor, hands clutching the blankets, trying to even out his breathing.]

Beck: -I don't wanna be like the Menace...-

Mikhail: Oh, my dear soul-son…. -Soft sigh again-

Mikhail: You are very dear to all of us. Remember first that in our hearts, you are beloved, and cherished like Tobias, Kalinka, and David.

Mikhail: You are not the one that they fear, Amadeus. What they fear is the loss of control.

[He pulls back so he can lean his forehead against Beck’s.]

Mikhail: Not you losing control of yourself, but the situation growing greater than they can handle. It is already out of their hands. This is hard for them to accept, for it brings them back to our days at home where we live in hiding and in fear.

Mikhail: That is why they have grown defensive. They see themselves in a hostile world, where their family could be turned against itself unto ruin.

Mikhail: They are afraid that some other force will take such an ability from you to use against them—whether that force hunt you down for it, or simply take advantage of what is at hand.

Beck: … …

Beck: (I...gosh, I know that feeling...)

Beck: -Nods-

Mikhail: They have not spoken much of their culture to your family, partially because it is one of sorrow and suffering, with a serious, melancholic, reflective atmosphere. But now that Aviator knows the full extent, they may open up more over time.

Mikhail: The Power Capsules are culturally very important, not just physically. That Jaden allowed you to interact with his shows how much he trusts you.

Beck: ....He… he does…?

Beck: .....

Beck: (Jaden, you...)

Beck: .....

Mikhail: He would not have let you even see it if he did not, Nine. He was obviously hoping to give you his form—likely because of how sturdy it is. Such a thing is very important to them, and not done lightly.

Mikhail: Alnico was alarmed primarily because… well, to put it frankly, he’s been wound a bit too tight during the whole ordeal. Being the family leader is not easy, and it was never a position he really wanted to begin with.

Mikhail: When feeling stressed and afraid, it is easier and more likely for faulty alarm triggers to go off.

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

Beck: (Poor Nico...he must be really stressed out and stuff...)

Beck: ......No wonder he got so mad...

Mikhail: He in particular has had a very bad experience regarding the Power Capsules. His half-brother took his brother’s Power Capsule from storage for the sole purpose of destroying him.

Mikhail: He, like most of the family, feel that the fewer people that have access to such things, the safer things will be.

Beck: .....That makes sense when you look at it like that... (...They ARE weapons....)

Beck: (...I guess Nico had a point. I SHOULD be more careful...)

Mikhail: You did no real harm to them, though. Nico has calmed down considerably, now that they are confident that all will be well in the end.

Mikhail: They really do believe that.

Beck: ......

Beck: (They....they really do believe that I'll fix everything...)

Beck: (I don't...I can't let them down like that...)

Beck: Yeah...I...I know.

Mikhail: They know that with the public not giving into panic, things can be fixed, with effort, even if it takes quite a lot of it over an extended period of time.

Mikhail: For them, that is everything—to be allowed that chance.

Mikhail: I know you can do it. I knew it when you first said you would, when I saw the look in your eyes.

Mikhail: I’d seen that look before, you know.

Beck: ....B...Before...?

Mikhail: Yes. Right down to the green eyes. | )

Mikhail: Cardinal gets that when he becomes determined. He was that way when it came to saving my family.

Beck: ...!

Beck: (The Russian Incident...)

Beck: .....

Beck: .....I...I miss him.

Beck: ...I know he's trying to save Shade...and I don't blame him at all, but...

Beck: ...I could use his advice too...

Mikhail: Yes…?

Beck: ...He's just...ya know, he's done everything?

Beck: ...Though I bet he'd just insist on going with me to save everyone or something...

Beck: If...if he was still here, that is...

Mikhail: -Chuckles softly- Even if he did not come in person, you could probably have expected a great deal of backseat driving from him in the form of continuous witty and sardonic commentary.

Beck: Heheheh...

[That gets him to smile at last—he could practically hear him commenting on those weird wheel-like CDNs and Graham's backfired blame game...]

Beck: Cards is funny like that...heh...

Mikhail: Ah… but Cardinal is made for this sort of thing; it is quite literally as close to what he was built for as anything can get. So… if he had not left, he would have joined you… or had to shut down for the duration, as the only options for such a directive are to obey or stall.

Beck: ....

Beck: -Sighs-

Beck: I'm worried...

Beck: ...He can't cure Shade like I can—he knows that by now, doesn't he? -And I don't know what Shade will do or if he'll even...-

Beck: ......I just hope we find one of them soon...

[Mikhail was silent for a moment, his demeanor turning a thoughtful kind of serious. When he spoke, it was as if saying something that had already been mourned and passed over, healed with time.]

Mikhail: …Beck… there’s something you should know.

Mikhail: And this is something I will tell the others as well, very soon. As soon as everyone is well enough to attend the meeting… you included.

Beck: ...?

Mikhail: Shade and Cardinal once discussed what to do if something ever happened that made Shade go mad.

Beck: —??

Beck: They did?

Beck: (But how would they...)

Mikhail: Shade warned him to stay away, but acknowledged Cardinal’s honest response that he would do no such thing.

Mikhail: He ultimately told him that if all else failed, to save his Central core.

Beck: ....!

Beck: (His...his core...)

Mikhail: Cardinal will attempt to bring your brother back, willingly or not.

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Shade...

Mikhail: You must understand…

Mikhail: For Cardinal, this was yet another round, another generation, another lifetime which he must see those close to him suffer and be destroyed. He has put a great deal of effort in our world into halting and then reversing this tide.

Mikhail: He was not about to let it happen here.

Mikhail: He feared that if Shade were not stopped, that the use of force against him would be so great as to destroy him entirely.

Mikhail: He would prevent that from happening, even if it meant fighting Shade himself to do so.

Beck: .......

Mikhail: … (Even if it meant…) …

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: …He does not expect to cure. He knows that much by now beyond all doubt: his actions in Kansas City prove that much. He just seeks to bring Shade back to those who can.

Beck: ...U...Us....

Beck: (Cardinal...)

Beck: (You really care about him, don't you...)

Beck: ......

Beck: ...Shade would've done the same thing...

Beck: ....It's...just who they are, right...

Beck: ....

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: (Though for some reason, I get an odd sense of deja vu when it’s mentioned Shade will do the sa—… wait… will?)

Mikhail: (…I’m not going to think on that, probably just another one of their misadventures…)

Mikhail: And Beck…

Mikhail: Even with all that, I don’t think he would have left it up to you if he did not feel you could handle it.

Mikhail: Take heart, my friend. And… do talk to us once in a while, alright?

Mikhail: I know you’ve been unhappy and nervous. You kept avoiding people, just like your father has been doing.

Mikhail: But we’re here for you, Beck White. Kalinka very much enjoys talking with you. And if you seek advice on what Cardinal might do or say…

Mikhail: She traveled across a continent or two with him, you know. She’s pretty familiar with his mannerisms—more than some of his brothers, even.

Beck: (...That's right...Linka....)

Beck: ...I'll...I'll keep that in mind, Dr. Cossack...

Beck: ....T...Thanks.

Beck: ......

Beck: Dad's probably worried about everything too.

Beck: -We're similar like that-

Mikhail: I know. (…I wish I could be more helpful.)

Beck: I know Dad's been working so hard on cracking the virus...

Beck: (...He must feel like everyone's counting on him too...)

[Mikhail sighed.]

Mikhail: …I wish there were more I could do to help him. (Because this still isn’t over…)

Mikhail: (We have a lot of work to do.)

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

=CHAPTER 6C: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{The Next Morning…

June 28th, 20XX}

<DCP-001 to MNN-009>: > -Ping-

[MN.9 to DCP-001] //: ...!

[MN.9 to DCP-001] //: -Sounds of things being tripped over-  O-Oh, hi, Linka...! -Ow--

<DCP-001>: > Oh! Beck! Are you okay?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yeah, I just kinda tripped over some stuff. -Gosh, my room is a mess...-

<DCP-001>: > I made you cookies.

[MN.9] //: -PING—!-

<DCP-001>: > ^.^

<DCP-001>: > Father says I can send them over to have during the meeting!

<DCP-001>: > We have good news!

[MN.9] //: ...Meeting??

[MN.9] //: -...wait how long have I been asleep—-

<DCP-001>: > All night and some morning, I think? Father said he brought you some marshmallows before your rest.

[MN.9] //: -—I SHOULD PROBABLY GET CHANGED THEN, ONE SEC—-

<DCP-001>: > ?

<DCP-001>: > Okay, Beck! I will go to meet my brothers and we can all talk. ^_^

[MN.9] //: -Rushful data, we really need to clean our room—-

[MN.9] //: Mkay—see ya there—!

{Later…}

[There were warm cookies waiting for Beck when he joined the others. Shadow had brought them over, and had guarded them from a very “interested” ice globe and propeller plane.]

Shadow: -Bows when Beck enters- Mighty Nine. Lady Cossack made these for you.

Beck: Shadow...! : D -HAPPY DATA—-

Beck: !!

Beck: -SUGAR COOKIES—-

[And he then proceeds to shove them in his mouth. Wow. Kid can eat.]

Cryo: BECK CAN I HAVE OOOOONE—-

Avi: -Bro please—-

Beck: -No—-

Beck: -LINKA MADE THESE FOR ME-

Cryo: -POUTS, PROCEEDS TO FLAIL ARMS-

Avi: -Awwwwww--

[Wow, Shadow actually smiles and almost laughs, giving a small huff from an interrupted “heh”.]

Shadow: I am sure she will be happy to make something for you as well.

[He kneels down, sitting on his heels and folding his arms inside his sleeves.]

Shadow: There will be time for it, in the Meadow.

Beck: —Oh, yeah, Linka said something about a meeting...?

Shadow: Yes. We have news of great import to impart. -Looks over to Pyro- Bat is listening, correct?

Shadow: He will need to hear this.

Pyro: Correct. He'll be listening in through the feeds...

Beck: -Mmm sugar...-

Pyro: -Pay attention, Beck.-

Beck: —Oops, yes, sir.

Shadow: Very well, then.

[He turns to a nearby monitor. After a moment, a video feed comes up. It shows several windows: one for the repair bay where Bat was resting, and one for the Meadow’s living room.]

Kalinka: -Waves- Hi, Beck! : D

Beck: -WAVES-

[After a moment, Snow’s face filled that window.]

Snow: MISTER BAT MISTER BAT BATMAN BAT SIR HIIIII—

[He showed a bit of artwork that looked like a camo pattern made using sponges and paint in earth tones.]

Snow: I made you a present ‘cause you’re not sick now!

Shadow: —… (Not quite the news I was thinking of, but… heh. I hope he likes it.)

Bat: ....Heh...

[...This seems to cheer him up a bit.]

Bat: Fine work, Snowcone...put that up on the fridge for me, hm?

Beck: ^.^

Snow: Yes sir!

[He skips off to do just that. Keltso shakes his head, grinning in amusement.]

Skull: {Welcome back to us, sir. You have been missed.}

Nico: -Looks over to Cossack briefly- We have many things to discuss. Where should we start?

[Mikhail looked up from his hot chocolate.]

Mikhail: Well… if there’s anything any of you would like to share…

Will: Ahem...

[Will appears in the video feed to the Repair Bay—holding a clipboard with many papers on it.]

Will: If I may go first?

Mikhail: Please do.

Will: As you all know, I have been analyzing the virus's code along with Call, and the samples that have been retrieved from Beck's assimilation data from his siblings...along with the one Mikhail provided from the RMDC.

[Will flips through the papers on his clipboard.]

Will: While I haven't exactly made MUCH headway regarding finding a cure to it...

Will: ...I did find something...rather odd.

[The RAs and Cossacks glance between each other. They fidget slightly in unison—a side effect of the shared connection, perhaps.]

Nico: -Clearly has his thoughts on the matter, but doesn’t voice them as that would be a tangent-

Will: ...As...we have seen from...previous encounters...

Will: ...The virus seems to have some... ability to communicate through whatever it is controlling...

[They seem even more uncomfortable at this.]

Will: —Which led me to believe it must have some kind of level of Awareness.

Will: Yet...

Will: ...I didn't find anything that would point to it.

Mikhail: … -Clearly wants to say something himself, but forces himself to wait until he’s sure Will is done-

Will: It's directives are quite clear, but...

Will: ...whoever created this virus seems to have left a few... holes in the code, so to speak...

Pryo: ... Holes?

[Okay, at THIS, the boys look almost TERRIFIED.]

Nico: WHAT?!

[Mikhail has to calm them down forcefully.]

Mikhail: It’s alright, Alnico!

Mikhail: He said that there were holes in the virus code, not that it left holes after infection!

Nico: -Oh—-

Nico: -DEAR GOD, WILL, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD YOU SCARED US WITH THAT WORDING—-

Will: I...I should have worded that better—Sorry—

[Considering their Being was in their software and they had all been temporarily infected, it was no surprise that had caused a moment of abject terror.]

Mikhail: -Sighs, mopping up some spilled hot chocolate- I had noticed it had an ability that approached awareness from the start.

Mikhail: I didn’t say anything at the time because… well, I assumed it was merely a level of coding that was above my comprehension, and that is why it appeared “alive” the way David did when I was eighteen.

Will: (Argh...)

Will: Right, you did say it...got angry with you...

Mikhail: Oh yes. And as for the boys…

Jaden: Tobias would know more, but, uh… he’s pretty tired, still. He was doing some research and analysis for us recently…

Will: ...Ah...

Avi: -Tobyyyy....-

Dyna: -BZzzzzzzt...-

Mikhail: He did have quite the interesting thing to say, though.

Will: ...?

Mikhail: He had to use a parable of sorts to explain it in concrete terms, but he remembers that his time during the fusion felt a great deal like a three-way fight with remotes over a TV station.

Avi: —....

Will: ...So he also felt the virus pull, then...

Will: Mm...

Mikhail: Mmm…

Nico: Felt it? Boy, we all felt it.

Nico: -Gestures with his left hand, scowling- It tried to send us into Lethal mode. It was like being in high fever. When one thing didn’t work, it would try another, and keep on trying with a decent force of will that was like being pushed headfirst down into suffering.

Will: (...Right...it seems to be very hellbent on completing it's directives...almost as if...)

Will: . . . .

Will: -Frowns-

Will: (...They are definitely not going to like this news, then....)

Nico: There’s a reason why Snow addressed it directly on the highway.

Nico: He’d dealt with it and our systems recognize it as an… entity, much like we do the Menace. They are counterparts of the same coin, forged from the same cloth.

Nico: Whether they have Awareness does not make them less Intelligent or less dangerous.

Will: Quite...

Nico: The fact…

Nico: The fact it actually got upset at being called out is rather unusual for something that isn’t Aware, though. Just sayin'.

Nico: There have been times when we’ve sensed it hesitate or falter, as if it were in for more than expected.

[He looks directly at Avi.]

Nico: Being hit in the face with the RMDC backlog of cross-references comes to mind…

Nico: To borrow our good friend’s favorite phrase—

Nico: It was almost “nope, NOPE, NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS GLITCH"

Mikhail: -Can’t help but snort-

Will: ...Nico brings up a good point.

Will: It's...even stranger that, when you add in the supposed holes in it's code...

Will: ...It can only mean that the virus is, to some extent, incomplete.

Beck: —???

Beck: Wait what—

[They… don’t actually seem surprised at this.]

Nico: …Tch… only further proof to Cardinal’s theory…

Will: Well, I—

Will: .....

Will: (...I'm...not so sure about that...)

Will: . . . .

Beck: ....? Dad?

Nico: At least, that’s how he would have taken it.

Nico: -Grumble- I still think either it’s too complex of a plan for Cracker Snack to possibly handle, or else a kind of stupidity that even for him I have a hard time finding believable…

Will: .....

[Will puts down the clipboard.]

Will: Friends...

Will: I have been in the field of Xel Robotics and AI&A Development for at least half of my life.

Will: ....In my honest opinion...

Will: ...The coding in this virus, while incomplete, is absolutely brilliant.

[...He's not joking.]

Will: .....

Will: It's...

Will: ...It's why I still consider the possibility of Blackwell being involved somehow.

Will: It's....

Beck: ...Dad?

[...Will isn't looking at the screen anymore.]

Will: . . . .

Will: (Please let it be him and not...)

[There’s a slight… growl, almost.]

Mikhail: -Glasses glint ominously, clearly displeased-

Mikhail: Will, please, we’ve gone over this…

[He’s… gripping one hand tightly with the other, clearly tense.]

Will: .....

Will: (Mikhail, if you only knew the alternative possibility....)

Will: ....

Shadow: If I may.

Will: -Sigh-

Will: ...I'm sorry. Go on, Shadow.

Shadow: I do not consider the possibility entirely unreasonable… nor do I find it mutually exclusive with previous theories, such as CherryDynamics accidentally unleashing an unfinished constructed disaster upon the world.

Shadow: If Doctor Blackwell has been stripped of all rights and is out of public sight, with restricted access to his person, then that means that there are—forgive the cynicism—fewer people necessary to bribe, blackmail, or distract in order to get at Blackwell himself.

Shadow: When one is kept on a tight leash, be wary to be sure the leash stays in the hand of the right master.

Shadow: …If he IS involved, he may have been for—

Mikhail: {ENOUGH.}

Will: --!

Will: (Oh dear—)

[He was hugging his daughter tightly. She was silent and cowering, with her face turned away from the camera. She was shaking slightly.]

Digger: …

Digger: WELL OKAY YES GOOD theory means to work of something off of, yes?

[He was speaking rapidly now.]

Digger: EASIER TO FIND IF START KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, да—

Digger: William find in hide and seek numbers, uh-huh, he can do it! Yay.

Digger: BETTER NEWS NOW. :^D

Digger: News to be having, is yes good!

[…A rather forceful change in subject…

…though given the situation moments earlier, not exactly an unwelcome one, as far as the others were concerned.]

Digger: COUSIN TWIN SIAM

Digger: YOU TELL ANNOUNCEMENT NOW PLEASE

Will: —?

[There was a slight THUD noise as a new window opened.]

Beck: ????

[It showed Siamini in the lab at his family’s house. He appears to have been startled and interrupted rather suddenly.]

Gemini: Cossack Three, what are you— Siam: -Talking over- OH! Hello, Doctors!

Will: Siam...

Will: Digger was...telling us that you have some good news for us...?

Avi: Uh, yeah, bro, what's the scoop?

Siam: OH, Gemini: that!

[He grinned simultaneously.]

Siamini: We’ve made a breakthrough!

Will: —!!!

Avi: -—Wait wait wait, you mean—-

Siam: Finally, after all this Siamini: time!

Gemini: It isn’t perfect, Siam: but it is definitely an excellent substitute.

Siam: You know how Xel constructs need Xel transfusions to recover when heavily injured.

Gemini: We’re not made of nanites, so repairs for us usually are very hands-on and quite expensive and require specialized professionals. However, we’ve found a way that works for us much like a Xel transfusion would work for you.

Siamini: We already had such technology, Gemini: but supplies were limited and Cardinal took Siamini: everything Siam: when he raided the lab.

Siam: It took some time to find a working alternative, but at last! Siamini: We have found it!

Beck: REALLY?!?!

[There is a massive, collective, happy “PING!” of confirmation.]

Mikhail: -Significantly better mood now- We’ve yet to figure a way to reverse-engineer it, but at least we’ve found another option. It’s not exactly the most common, and can be considered rare… unless you know where to find it. Then it is accessible enough, all things considered. In fact, Lady Nighthawk is familiar with the potential supplier. We’ve put in a large quantity order, and it should be here within the next 24 hours.

[There were excited cheers all around from the Mighties, and Beck was practically bouncing in place, his optics lighting up with joy. ]

Beck: Oh my gosh this is BETTER THAN GREAT GUYS DID YOU HEAR THAT—

Cryo: -YOOOOOOOOOO—-

Avi: -HOVERING IN PURE GLEE-

Will: Wonderful—! Well done, Siam!

Siamini: ^^;

[They all seem pretty happy to see Beck better. Kalinka was smiling and speaking a bit shakily, with some tears in her eyes.]

Kalinka: {I-it means that you can… can fix them if they need to get better, and we do not have to be so afraid, and… and my little brothers will be okay and come back sooner…}

Mikhail: If it is alright with you, Will, I’d like to leave a case in your care, with Digger to help look after it.

Mikhail: </subtext: You may need it if there is an emergency.>

Will: Oh, absolutely. Thank you, Mikhail.

Mikhail: It should be simple enough to use. And in a pinch, it also works on organics, so…

Nico: …Dare I ask how you figured THAT out?

Mikhail: -Snorts- Very funny, Alnico.

Mikhail: Anyway. As I told your father earlier…

Mikhail: DCN-003 will be staying over to assist with locating and recovering MNN-004.

Digger: : >

Digger: -yes good-

Will: Mm, agreed. (If anyone can find Mic...)

Digger: We talk, make plans after meeting! да. -No, this is not negotiable, by the way, Pyro- -Just so you know-

Pyro: -...Well, for the time being, I suppose...-

Mikhail: I, however… will be staying here.

Beck: ...! Huh...?

Shadow: …?

Shadow: I do not understand. I thought you were still assisting…?

Mikhail: -Sighs-

[He took off his glasses to clean them.]

Mikhail: …Other than ongoing moral support… I’m afraid my work there is done. I’ve contributed what I could regarding the virus, which was rather little to begin with. I’ve fixed the problem caused by a bad connection to the RMDC that gave you all their nightmares. But now that we know the tide has turned, and there is no longer the constant threat of a witch hunt near at hand…

Mikhail: -Puts his glasses back on- …It’s time for us all to go home, to be honest. Since we’re already here, we may as well stay. It will be safer—and an aid to recovery—for Tobias, Jack, and Fighting Eight to be here. Given the federal scrutiny here, and the fact that Siam is making great progress there… not to mention overall concerns of safety…

[He looked over at one of his youngest sons as he said this.]

Mikhail: …It would be safer and more practical for others that I should not leave.

<DCN-007 to MNN-001>: > {Meaning, we won’t cause interference with others as a certainty, as Father will be safe and there shall be no need.}

Mikhail: Besides…

Mikhail: I have some incredibly important work to do, now.

[…This…

…isn’t exactly said in a cheerful manner….

…

…More like a very grave one.]

Will: (. . . Mikhail...?)

Pyro: .....

Beck: (...Oh...they're...staying. Well... at least they'll be safe...)

[Mikhail hesitated.]

Mikhail: …Pyrogen, Battalion…

Mikhail: I imagine you have your fair share of thoughts on the matter of the absent 000.

Mikhail: I know you have both been rather…

Mikhail: …displeased, to say the least.

Pyro: .... | [

[Bat gives off a disgruntled noise, his eyes cast to the wall beside him.]

Nico: Heh…

[He gives a wry smile that… strangely resembles his father’s smirk.]

Nico: Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Pyro: .....

Pyro: While I do not exactly hold it against him—given his reason for leaving...

Pyro: It just... doesn't sit right with me, as an elder unit. I know my place, and it's here with my family.

Pyro: (...I just don't know if I could just...leave, like he did...)

Bat: . . .

Bat: ...My loyalty is to my family—I agree with Pyro there.

Bat: ...Given the circumstances, leaving his post—he should have thought about the consequences of his actions first and foremost.

Bat: ...Then again.

Bat: He doesn't have an ounce of survival instinct. -_-;;;;;

[Mikhail didn’t skip a beat in responding to that. He spoke very matter-of-fact.]

Mikhail: That would be an accurate statement, Battalion. It is not merely that he seems to lack an instinct… he actually literally lacks such an instinct.

Pyro: What?

Bat: Ya don't mean it ain't just a joke?

Mikhail: As a military support unit prototype, he was intended to be replaceable. He was also intended to be in incredibly dangerous settings—active war zones. His basic coding centers around completing missions and protecting other combatants and innocents—partially by providing cover fire, but primarily by taking the brunt of attacks onto his person. He was made for the missions that had a high chance where he could die—that is what he was made for.

Mikhail: He was not built with a sense of self-preservation, not a true one—just a directive to be as useful as possible for as long as possible. So. As a result? His own survival is rather low on the priority list in the command cascade hierarchy, relatively speaking. Remember, he was a prototype, and much of his coding was not done by an expert.

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (Cards...)

Bat: (...It isn't going to end well if he finds Private Shade—and the chances of finding them ourselves are slim to none...)

Pyro: .....

Mikhail: …My friends…

Mikhail: …There is a reason I’m sending the case over to begin with.

Will: .....

Will: (Ah...)

Pyro: (...They aren't just for us.)

Pyro: (It's for...in case...)

Bat: ......

Bat: (Damn it, soldier...)

Skull: -Speaking rather gravely- {It may be that we shall find him, or that he shall return of his own accord… and there will be no need to preserve him, and we can just go home.}

Keltso: -Bluntly- {But the odds of that happening are not very high.}

Gemini: -Absentmindedly, already returning to his work- The chances of finding him without direct information are 1/3,800,000, to be precise.

Bat: (So I had figured...)

Pyro: ...And I imagine finding Shade without info is even less so...

Avi: -He's invisible, bro, and just as good at hiding-

Beck: (...Where ARE you two...?)

Beck: (This can't go on for much longer, can it?)

Siam: Yes, exponentially—

Keltso: -Cuts him off- {Cardinal’s not only successfully evaded us thus far—he’s done so even after remotely accessing our server of the database.}

Mikhail: Cardinal took advantage of the chaos after the airwaves were freed to connect to the database. Recently.

Beck: —!!

Beck: Wh—Where—?

Mikhail: -Holds up a hand in a “stop” gesture, turning his head slightly and closing his eyes-

[After everyone quieted down, he continued.]

Mikhail: …I have a good reason to believe that the signal was bounced, because I cannot correctly trace the location. But I am hopeful that should he try again, this time we might find him. Not to mention that the news reports SHOULD raise awareness. It’s only a matter of time before someone tips us off.

Mikhail: However, we got a notification of something else last night. New information from Drake.

Will: —!!

Beck: The one he was traveling with—!

Beck: (...Wow, I...he had time to do all that...?)

Will: And what did he say?

Mikhail: Well… we now know that he has a portable radio. This means that he’s heard every major broadcast so far, though his attention to detail may have been varied; at the very least, he surely knows that CherryDyn’s potential to create a second Monstropolis has been curtailed.

Avi: -We're still trending from that, by the way-

Pyro: -Aviator—-

Avi: -IT'S GOOD NEWS BRO-

Avi: -Seriously, the support's been pretty awesome-

Beck: ....

Beck: -Raises hand-

Mikhail: Yes?

Beck: Um...

Beck: If...if Cardinal knows I'm saving my family and helping out... like I said I would…

Beck: ...How come he hasn't come home? I mean—if he was here, then finding Shade would be a little easier if we all worked together...

Beck: ...Right...?

[Mikhail shook his head.]

Mikhail: …It’s just not that simple. He has an active, military level valid Combat initiative now.

Bat: . . . Gnh...

Beck: Uh....

Shadow: -Turns his head slightly so that he’s looking out of the corner of his eyes- …What makes you so sure it is a military directive that he is following?

[Mikhail frowned.]

Mikhail: …That would take a while to explain. The shortest version I can offer is this: then the Light Industrials went rogue, the military was called in to stop them. When that didn’t quite work, greater measures were taken.

Mikhail: But since there is not the same level of force available on hand in this world, it would be far more tempting and possible to skip straight to very, very desperate measures.

Mikhail: His contingencies that uploaded to the database while he was connected are… very grim; in a worst case scenario where all AI&As were shut down—but only after the use of great force—much of the landscape would be uninhabitable. And worse, there would not be enough people anymore. If half the population just suddenly died, the survivors might not survive for very long. Your nation as you know it would be dead.

Mikhail: That is an event that the military strives to prevent. It is one of the main reasons it exists. So to be faced with such a prospect? Of course it would activate a military directive.

Mikhail: -Primarily to Bat and Pyro- Now do you understand why he ran off, gentlemen?

Bat: ...-Grunt of reluctant acceptance- The urge to answer the call to duty when your nation is at it's worst...

Bat: ...s'not somethin' ya can just shake off.

Pyro: ....

Pyro: (...I suppose...Bat has a point...)

Mikhail: ({The fact that it was Shade involved… it still would not have been enough on its own for him to focus all his attention on Shade. He should have gone after Battalion first. The fact that he didn’t is very, very worrisome… it means that he saw Shade a greater threat to the nation than a walking tank with a military connection.})

Mikhail: He has his mission, and not even I have the direct authority to tell him to stand down.

Mikhail: Only active duty military officers of a higher rank have such authority—and even that may not work, I’m not sure.

Mikhail: In any case, he will not be deterred from his mission, and he will be driven on the most basic of levels to complete it.

Skull: {The reason we haven’t tried to go get him is that he is no longer there anymore… assuming that was the real location anyway.}

Bat: Course...can't stay in one place for too long...

Bat: Got to keep moving.

Beck: . . .

[...Nine looks rather disheartened.]

Avi: -Pat, its OK, bro...-

Mikhail: He’s no longer in Kansas City. He was definitely there, this we know—not only did he help numerous people evacuate the landmarks and tourist attractions, but he also vandalized a bit of downtown before leaving.

Nico: Wasn’t he busy helping out the city? When did he have the time?

Mikhail: I don’t know. I can only hazard a guess that it was immediately after he talked with Beck, or just after he left the hospital.

[He brings up a series of holographic images.

There were somewhat crude carvings in bricks and stone, concrete and asphalt, even other buildings— except they looked like they hadn’t been made by a blade, but rather by…]

Brand: ...Is that...

Pyro: ...acid...?

Pisces: …Yup.

Pisces: That’s sure an interesting way to use my Power Capsule… never tried it with artwork…

[Each carving was also painted over. It depicted a Talonflame in flight in a yellow triangle, with a large rendition of Shade’s signature cross-hairs placed beneath it.]

Avi: --Hey, that kinda looks like a...

Beck: ....? Caution?

Beck: (Like one of those...hazard signs...)

Mikhail: Very good, you two.

Mikhail: …Cardinal has always been very fond of symbolism, and this was no different. He’s telling several things, here.

Beck: ...That bird there--it's a Talonflame, for sure.

Beck: (...Baron?)

Beck: Is...is he trying to warn us, or...?

Skull: -Points- Well, if you zoom out a bit…

[Mikhail does so.

From a distance, it really did look like a caution sign…]

Mikhail: He is indeed giving a warning. He has seen some sort of danger, one that is a serious threat and requires him to continue the mission.

Mikhail: -Glancing at the window with Bat’s feed- But he doesn’t know where he’s going, yet—it’s only a warning, not an alert. -Returns his attention to the main window- He’s willing to travel far, possibly enough to fly—though the avian motif also symbolizes him, himself, given his name.

Will: .....

Will: And the cross-hairs...

Avi: ...That's Shade, isn't it?

Beck: . . .

Mikhail: Yes.

Beck: (So...a warning--and it involves Shade? Is that what you're trying to tell us, Cards...?)

Beck: . . .

Mikhail: He anticipates that someone will see the message—he’s hoping that not only we will see it, but also that Shade will see it.

Shadow: …That seems rather counterproductive, if he hopes to have a chance of taking Mighty Eight by surprise.

Will: . . .

Will: I doubt he has, honestly...

Mikhail: I know, and I’m sure he does, too.

Mikhail: Will… remember when I called you when this whole thing started?

Mikhail: You weren’t answering. I didn’t know for sure, but I “knew” that I wouldn’t be able to reach you—nevertheless, I still called, because to “know” in heart is still not an absolute, and there is that hope—or desire, rather, to be wrong.

Mikhail: It’s the same principle here.

Mikhail: He hoped for Shade to see this, even if it were only after the fact.

Mikhail: … Especially then, actually…

Will: .....

Will: He did send me a text during that, I'm not sure if I told the rest of you...

Will: ...It was John 15:13.

[Mikhail looks visibly saddened when he is reminded of this. Distinctly uncomfortable, as if this only makes the matter more dismal.]

Mikhail: (Oh, Cardinal…) Yes, that is part of the narrative. And there is even more to it…

[Skull pointed at the ground of the images.

There were a series of numbers spray painted there, followed by a phrase: “NOT FOR ANY REASON” .]

Beck: Not for any reason...?

Mikhail: It took a while to decipher, but we eventually figured out that it was referring to a memory file extension. His, to be more specific.

Jaden: Hang on. You didn’t tell us about this. When was this?

Keltso: Recently. Drake called and told us about it.

Mikhail: One that had been locked.

Speedy: Well of COURSE it was locked, ALL of his memories are default to be encrypted—

Mikhail: …Emphasis on had.

Speedy: …What?

Mikhail: It’s from quite a while ago, which is a curiosity in and of itself. Unfortunately, we’re not privy to much context. Only a small portion of it plays; the rest of it is still encrypted.

[He sighed.]

Mikhail: …Specifically…

[He plays the clip.]

-*-*-*-*-

<DLN-000>: >Things will be okay, Shade.

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

[MN.8] //: ...Cards?

<DLN-000>: >Yeah?

[MN.8] //: ....If anythin' does happen t' me?

[MN.8] //: ...Don't try an' stop me.

-*-*-*-

Beck: —!!

[...It had been—or felt like, rather—ages since he’d heard Shade's voice.]

Beck: (Shade...)

Brand: . . . . .

[…This was dated back in APRIL.]

Brand: (How...did they...?)

Pyro: !

Will: (Shade...son, you...)

-*-*-*-

[But the clip continued.]

<DLN-000>: >…

<DLN-000>: >Shade, don’t make me promise that.

<DLN-000>: > B/

<DLN-000>: >I won’t because I can’t.

-*-*-*-

Beck: . . .   . . .   . . .

Beck: (I....)

-*-*-*-

[MN.8] //: No, ah' won't. I know. Just...fair warnin'.

-*-*-*-*-

Cryo: -Bro its like they knew—-

[And here, Mikhail turns up the volume.]

-*-*-*-

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

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

-*-*-*-*-

Beck: (....)

Beck: (Not for any reason...)

Avi: —...Uh—

Avi: -Guuuuuys...-

Avi: -If Cards is warning us about Shade or something to that effect...-

Bat: . . .

Skull: …

Skull: -Very quietly, doesn’t really want to point this out, data-

Skull: -The fact that he’s emphasizing that nothing will make him lose faith suggests that he anticipates something happening that would be the end of a friendship in lesser hearts-

Skull: -And that it’s something that Shade would feel were his own fault, should it be too late for him to recognize until after the fact-

[All the brothers suddenly gain green eyes in alarm.]

Cryo: -Wait wait wait—-

Cryo: -Shade—I mean he wouldn't—-

Cryo: ....

Cryo: -GLITCH—-

Cryo: -AAAAAAAAAH SHADE NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO CARDS BRO—-

[Shadow seemed taken aback, and looked over at Brand, somewhat troubled. All of the brothers looked somewhat surprised, actually— even Nico looked troubled. This was clearly news to him.

…There seemed to be a sudden cascade of collective data that came across like an echo in a tunnel before a flash flood—]

DEATH WEARS BLUE

[The Hunter, the Hunter—!]

Avi: -Nnngh—hurts hurts hurts-

Avi: -Shade—you can't— you're not—!-

[Most of the others were entering Defensive Combat mode. Several had already shifted to partial or full armor.]

Beck: -pANIC—-

Beck: (NonononoNO—!)

Beck: (We gotta—we gotta do something—!)

[Keltso became assertive, almost aggressive.]

Keltso: We can wish all we want, but it is more realistic to conclude that Four will be found before Eight. We have ideas and an expert to pursue possibilities for MNN-004. There are a limited number of places he can be, simply due to his large mass.

Keltso: The same cannot be said for Eight, who can turn invisible, is versatile, and more or less kept to himself.

Shadow: But—

Keltso: Before he left, Cardinal told Drake that his plan was “stupid dangerous”.

Keltso: He has a specific plan in mind. He’s probably been carrying it out, and has been for days.

Shadow: {What?!}

Will: . . .

Will: (So he...he has an idea where Shade might be, or at least how to find him...)

Will: (But where...?)

Siam: -Grouchy- 000, you ass— Siamini: why do you sign your name a mile high Gemini: with a warning of great danger that activates your military directives Siamini: and neglect to say where?

Jaden: Yeah, what’s more dangerously important than tracking down Major Five? If his military directives activated and he didn’t go for Five… what could trump that?

Keltso: You think we would be having this conversation if we knew? -Snorts- Not likely.

Keltso: If we knew, we would have sent Nine ahead, while One, Three, Six, and myself went to intercept and detain him by force.

Skull: I don’t know… that sounds a bit underpowered to detain him…

Will: (—Underpowered, he says...)

Will: (......He has a point—Cardinal took on the Prairie Kings by HIMSELF and reduced them ALL to a core state…. Even if we somehow DO find Cardinal before Shade...who's to say we can fully stop him without Eight...?)

Mikhail: Mmmn.

Mikhail: …Going after him would be a last resort. He has military level directives. This means he will fight back, and he won’t be remotely gentle.

Mikhail: It’s not quite like fighting his younger brother under similar circumstances—as 001 actually loses Awareness—but it would still be… very unpleasant.

Mikhail: Best possible scenario? He gets delayed and chooses to share information directly; I believe he will try to contact, as soon as he’s more confident in his suspicions.

Mikhail: Alternatively—while unlikely, still possible—you manage to cut him off by getting there before he has a chance to arrive on the scene.

Will: .....

Will: Cut him off...that is, if we knew where he was going in the first place...

Mikhail: Something you must understand with high-order directives—they don’t have inertia. Once the order is completed, there is no longer that compulsion to carry it out. As such, he would return home immediately.

[… “You” and not… “we”?]

Will: (Mikhail...)

Mikhail: -Turns to face him- I know, it’s quite a conundrum. …And I’m sorry that I still won’t be able to help much. I know what he would do, but where he might be going… that is peering into Shade’s mind, not into Cardinal’s. And wry comments about the two of them aside, I’m afraid I have something more within my capacity related to this that I need to focus on.

Will: -Sigh...- (Where ARE you two...?)

Will: Right...of course. Go on, Mikhail...

Mikhail: …With an alternative to E-tanks found, and the matter of replacement parts having already been resolved…

Shadow: Again, thank you for that, Beck. It has been immensely helpful for all of us.

Kalinka: Hero~~~

Beck: Eheh...you're welcome, guys...! (^\\\^)7

Mikhail: We’re now turning all our attention to the final piece of the puzzle.

Beck: ...The final...?

Will: ...That would be finding a power source, correct?

Mikhail: Exactly.

Siam: We are Siamini: sooooooo cloooooooooooose Siam: I can feel it—

Will: I'm sure you are, Siam, and I would be happy to help...

Will: ...But we have bigger, more pressing things to worry about at the moment...

Mikhail: I feel that working on this will be my best way of helping in the matter. -Adjusts glasses- Cardinal will only be returned here if Shade is returned first, or if he wears himself beyond mere exhaustion. There is a very high probability that he will be needing extensive repairs.

Mikhail: The inclusion of a new power source with the boys has been long overdue, BOTH Tobias and Carlos need it in addition to Cardinal; it’s been made very clear that even when underpowered, they will all still fling themselves into danger if they feel it necessary. It is important to allow them to be properly prepared and able to defend themselves to full capacity.

Mikhail: And this, my friends, is why I must stay, and why I cannot help.

Mikhail: I’m sorry, but the best thing I can do now is to help get things prepared for Cardinal’s arrival—

BANG!

[He was suddenly cut short by a loud explosion of some sort, followed by a crashing noise. It seemed to be coming from…]

Shadow: What was that?

Brand: That came from SHADE’S room—!

[A brief pause, followed by a mad scramble as everyone got to their feet. Shadow already had a weapon at the ready.]

Beck: (Shade— did he come home on his own—?!)

Brand: Shade wouldn’t set off his own traps, this is an intruder!

Beck: A-ack— (Nngh! He’s right!)

Keltso: No mere “intruder” could get past your security! And who would dare try? They would have to be desperate and arrogant both!

Brand: —…

Pyro: …

Will: …

[Other than an assassin, there was only one other person who fit that description.]

Pyro: -Starting to flare up- (Cardinal…!!!)

Shadow: Should we go investigate?

Pyro: You should stay back. You might set off more traps. : /

Shadow: … -That is fair-

[Before Brand and Pyro could bolt off, Mikhail spoke up sharply.]

Mikhail: Wait! Both of you, stop!

Brand: ! -Halts abruptly-

Pyro: ? What is it, Doctor Cossack?

Mikhail: If it IS Cardinal, then you do not want to worsen any active Combat-driving cross-references!

Mikhail: If he sees you the first thing when you appear in the doorway, he could go berserk!

Beck: B-but! But we HAVE to go find him!

Mikhail: -Glances over at Nico-

Nico: …?

Mikhail: -Looks to Will- Then send someone who’d set off a different kind of cross reference!

Will: …! (Ah, of course—!)

Mikhail: And hurry!

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

=CHAPTER 6D: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Sanda Enterprises, Ten Minutes Earlier…}

[There was a flicker of light as Cardinal teleported into Shade’s room.]

Cardinal: …

[He’d spent the night hiding in the streets, waiting for the news reports to blow over. He was glad when the headlines turned their attention to Beck, and had indeed listened that morning to the press release.

He’d been infuriated when Graham had put in his two cents, and had returned to the rooftops that looked out onto the HQ. But just when things looked their darkest…

…That’s when the calls of support came in.

He’d been calmed by the reassurance that the world was not about to turn into a second Monstropolis. Graham’s plan had backfired… so he had walked away, leaving him well enough alone.

He didn’t have time for petty revenge yet, after all.

He’d searched through some gathering areas where active combatants were meeting while the Colosseum was down, hoping against hope that he might find someone who knew Shade personally, someone he could recognize from the time he had visited the arena. Unfortunately, that bridge was out, and the day pressed on without success.

Finally, he had given in to desperation, taking drastic measures.]

Cardinal: (Well, no alarms yet… that I can hear. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve set something off, though… I’ll have to be quick.)

[He was on edge as he scanned the room for clues, analyzing it in every way possible.]

Cardinal: … -Cautiously steps over to the bed- … … …

[He was struck with a sudden, wild idea. It was crazy, but he had to try—]

Cardinal: -Pats the bed-

[…Empty.

But of course, no, that would have been too easy.]

Cardinal: -Disappointment- (Nnnn… shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up there for a second…)

[He let out a sigh very slowly to keep it as quiet as possible, turning his attention to the rest of the room. It seemed to be just as he’d last seen it: a little bit messy, with dog toys on the floor and papers everywhere.]

Cardinal: -Starts quietly leafing through the papers- (He wouldn’t be so careless as to leave out his paperwork where anyone could see it, surely…?)

[While he DID come across one or two pages that raised his suspicion, most of it was harmless, and none of it was helpful. He pressed his mouth into a thin line.]

Cardinal: (There’s got to be SOMETHING in here…)

[He went over to the dresser, looking in the mirror. No secrets revealed themselves, and he crossed his arms in impatience.]

Cardinal: (Why do you even have a dresser when you don’t have a Civilian form, Shade? Do they even make clothes that are meant to go over armor?)

Cardinal: (…Well, I guess Felix could pull it off, so maybe, but still…)

Cardinal: … … …

Cardinal: -Eyes widen in surprise- !!!

[There, sitting on the dresser, were a couple of Pokéballs.

Specifically…]

Cardinal: -Reaches over to pick them up, one in each hand- (Scout and Baron! Man, I’d forgotten all about you guys! We left you HERE!)

[It had been such a long journey since he saw them last that he had to wonder if they were starting to get worried, themselves.]

Cardinal: (I’ll—I’ll have to take you somewhere to eat or something, it must be so frustrating not to be out like is normal….)

[He pocketed the Pokéballs, which shrank down for easier carrying. He couldn’t help but feel a little more optimistic, now—he had Shade’s pet, and that had to count for something…]

Cardinal: (There’s got to be something more to this room. Even ammunition, maybe.)

[His eyes were drawn to the dartboard on the closet door.]

Cardinal: … (Maybe in the closet…?)

[He crept over to the door, looking it over.]

Cardinal: (Doesn’t look like the handle is rigged up to anything…. Don’t see any sensors on the door…)

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: -Opens the— -

BAM!

[Everything went a bright white in pain as something slammed into him from below, sending him flying into the ceiling. He came to the floor with a crash, blaring with pain from the unexpected impact.

His audio receptors were ringing in a faint screech of feedback, and he could smell a bit of smoke, even.]

Cardinal: (I suppose I deserved that.)

[He tried to shake it off, propping himself up a bit.]

Cardinal: (Louis, you idiot… you should have expected something like that…!)

[He could see now what the disturbance was: there had been an airbag just beneath the floor, situated so that anyone standing in front of the closet would get hit.]

Cardinal: (Must be hooked up to a sensor so that anyone who isn’t Shade gets sent packing. Hell if I know more…)

[He could hear footsteps coming down the hall.]

Cardinal: (Move, gotta move…) Nnnnuhhh…

[He pushed himself to his feet, staggering a little as his gyroscope recalibrated. The footsteps were getting louder now, and he could feel Beck’s signal coming down the hall.]

Cardinal: Grrrr…

[His eyes suddenly flared a full green.]

<DLN-000 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

[There was a whining noise as he primed his blaster, backing away from the door.]

Cardinal: (They won’t take me! Not now, not when I’m SO CLOSE!!!)

[The door flung open, and Cardinal aimed to fire.]

Cardinal: —?!

[But his mode suddenly came to a halt, his blaster practically locking up in his sudden hesitation.

For it wasn’t Beck who had answered the door, it was…]

Cardinal: Roll—!

[Flashes of cross-references blinked rapidly through his mind.

His sister, brokenhearted with perpetual suffering. The one person from LightLabs he would ever want to see again. The one construct he had truly pitied. The driving reason he’d chosen mercy, the single soul who would be any reason to come home—]

Cardinal: -Distress— despair— -

[Help—he needed help to come home—]

Cardinal: -Eyes flicker back to the usual irises, bright with conflicting emotions-

[He dropped out of Lethal mode.]

<DLN-000 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

Cardinal: (R-Roll…)

Call: Halt.

Call: This is DSN-000, Designation: Call. This unit is requesting unit DLN-000--Cardinal Light--to stand down and return to HQ, as requested by Dr. Cossack, Dr. White, and Dr. Sanda.

Cardinal: I…

[He felt extremely disoriented, only hazily aware of his mistake. The cross-reference was too strong for him to overcome.]

Cardinal: I can’t go home…

[There were combat instincts screaming in the back of his mind, warning him that he was still in great danger. That he had only seconds before Brandish and Pyro came to the door.]

Cardinal: -Backs up further, eyes glowing brighter- Leave me alone!

[He had to think and act fast. This was his last chance to take, give, or say anything. Last chance—]

Cardinal: —!

[He saw Beck’s form appear in the doorway.]

Beck: CARDINAL, WAIT--

[Cardinal took a step back, his boots crunching on some spent darts.]

Cardinal: Think fast— -Tosses a USB key at Beck’s face-

Beck: --?!? -Wha--

Call: Statement: This is a distraction--

[That was all the time that Cardinal needed.]

Byuubyuubyuuu…

————————

[While Cardinal was taking off for the streets to where he’d left Jazz in the alleyways, Beck and Call were left standing in front of the now-empty bedroom.]

Beck: No--!

Beck: (No, no! If I had just been faster--!)

Beck: -Dismayed and disheartened, greatly- Cards...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE]//: Beck! What is happening? Did you find him?

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

[MN.9] //: ...he was here, I saw...but he's...he's gone...

[MN.1] //: For Xel's SAKE, Cardinal! Why?!

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

[CALL]//: I detect both anger and frustration from all present.

[MN.2] //: No duh, Callie...

<MC005>: > Was Jazz with him?!

Beck: --? I...what? ?.?

Call: Negative, Doctor Cossack. DLN-000 was alone.

<MC005>: > Then he can’t have gotten far!

Call: Suggestion: Unit Mighty No. 6 should preform air recon in search of unit DLN-000.

[MN.6]//:  ROGER DODGER--

[MN.7] //: -Ping-

[MN.7]//: He doesn't know Titus like we do...

[MN.7] //: He would stick to places he would have been to before, with the city as chaotic as it is--

<DWN-024>: >While that may be true, we have no idea how long he has been here! It could have been days!

<MC005>: >Unless he has somewhere in mind, I don’t think he’ll leave the city! Not until he gets what he’s looking for!

[MN.7] //: -Silent Japanese cursing under his breath-

[MN.9] //: -We can't waste any time, we can't--!-

[MN.6] //: No worries, Beckroni and cheese!

[MN.6] //: ; D Air Force Avi 1 is on the case! I'll jet Cards home in a flash, don't you worry! We know where he might be, at least, yeah?

[MN.9] //: ...yeah...there's that...

<MC005>: >When that happens, Avi… just make sure you get a visual lock on him in lieu of a signal. Confronting him should be a last resort.

<MC005>: >I pity anyone else who gets in his way…

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

=CHAPTER 7A: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[SANDA LABS

June 29th, 20XX

MIDDAY...]

“Tracing....”

[ACCESSING DATA LOGS. PLEASE WAIT.]

[.....]

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

[.....PING!]

[LOCATION DATA FOUND.]

Call: Tracing...

[READING LOCATION DATA...]

[GENERATING COORDINATES....]

[CALL] //: -Mass Ping!-

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

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

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

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

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

<DLN-008>: > -PROCESSING…-

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

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

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[PING!]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[CALL] //: However.

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

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

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

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

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

<DCN-000>: >I thought you said you were all there in the Arena?

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

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

[MN.9] //: Right!

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

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

[MN.5] //: Locked and loaded.

[CALL] //: The mine has been evacuated--but it's surveillance has been rendered offline, thus we cannot determine what lies within. I have already made the arrangements as we were speaking.

<DCN-003>: > {I mean surveillance above ground.}

[CALL] //: We have visual of the mine entrance. Please wait...

[A screen appears a moment later, showing a rather large entrance--it was definitely big enough for someone like Mic to walk into...]

<DCN-003>: > {Who else has access to those feeds?}

[CALL] //: The owner of the mine and certain authorized personal that were on-site.

<DCN-003>: >Hmm.

<DCN-003>: > {Legal discussions about the video will have to wait. Can the surveillance detect signals as well?}

[CALL] //: They can. It is part of their security measures.

<DCN-003>: > {This is problematic. Father, did you ever make transponders for us?}

<MC005>: > {I’m sorry, son. I didn’t have the time for that. Are there any spare bracers around?}

<DCN-003>: > нет.

<MC005>: > -Audible sigh- {Right then.}

<MC005>: > {Just get ready. I’ll work with Tobias to see what we can do before sending you over.}

<DCN-003>: > {Affirmative. Lady Sanda, is there a working surface station on the property?}

[CALL] //: Fortunately, there is.

[MN.9] //: Sweet!

<DCN-003>: > {Good, that saves time in setting up a field station. Do we have the necessary keys to access the system?}

[CALL] //: I will request them from the owner and have them ready for you when on-site.

<DCN-003>: > {Acknowledged. Please adjust the Auditory Input setting in the Accessibility preferences in the system to allow for verbal interfacing.} -No hands, no problem-

[CALL] //: Confirmed. No. 9?

[MN.9] //: I've been ready for a while! Let's do this!

<DCN-003>: > {I will join up with you on the site. Please do not enter until I have arrived.}

<DCN-003 has left the channel.>

[DR.WHITE] //: Just please be careful, all of you--who knows what else is down there besides Mic...

[CALL] //: Preparing Xel Transfer...

[MN.1] //: Good luck, Beck. Bat...watch him for us.

[MN.5] //: Yes, sir. I got him.

[MN.9] //: Thanks, bro.

[MN.9] //: I'll bring Mic back--one way or another!

[MN.9] // (And hopefully without a fight...)

[CALL] //: Initiating Xel Transfer....

____________________________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 4, SEISMIC, HAS LOST CONTACT VIA DATA LOSS--THIS MINE LOCATED IN WYOMING WAS HIS LAST KNOWN LOCATION.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVES: INVESTIGATE THE MINE AND RETRIEVE MN.4--PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM SYSTEMS IF INFECTED.]

[SUB-OBJECTIVES: RESCUE ANY TRAPPED MINE WORKERS, MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

SYSTEMS READY?

GO!

Beck: (...I'm really glad Shade gave me Night Vision for my C-Visor...gonna need it here.)

[PING!]

Will: Beck? Do you read?

Beck: Loud and clear, Professor!

Will: Digger and Bat will touch down in a moment, so please wait until they arrive before you head in there.

Beck: Roger--

Beck: --!

[It took a while for someone else to arrive at the station.

And boy, was it a bit of an unexpected entrance.]

Beck: Digger?

Bat: .....So that's his full armor...

<DCN-003>: > {That is correct, my friends.}

[…He also… had a Xel signal?]

Beck: --?????

Beck: Uuuh--?

<DCN-003>: > {Tobias and Father worked to make a small transponder that would translate our signal into a Xel signal. FMN-009 made the finishing touches. I’m glad to see from your expression that it is working, but it is just a prototype.}

Beck: Wow...that's pretty neat for a prototype, though!

Bat: And handy. Saves the trouble just in case.

<DCN-003>: > {It would be best not to discuss it out loud.}

[He glanced around the station out of the corners of his eyes.]

<DCN-003>: > {We are being watched and recorded.}

Beck: --Oh--

Bat: Indeed.

Bat: Well, you're the one with the expertise in this field, soldier. What's our battle plan?

[Digger paced back and forth. He spoke sharply, full of focus—and void of humor. (Still, he did not speak with anger or accusation.) Oddly enough, he spoke perfect English—without an accent. It sounded very odd coming from him—as if he were using a different audio program.]

Digger: Gentlemen! Today, we go underground! This is a search and rescue mission. It is imperative to remain in contact.

[He turned to face Beck.]

Digger: MNN-009 will be entering the underground on his own to clear out any infected constructs. MNN-005 and I shall serve as the surface team. We will go down after Beck if the situation calls for it. In that case, DWN-013 and DWN-018 will serve as the secondary surface team. Should they need to go underground as well, DCN-000 and DCN-008 will be the tertiary surface team.

Digger: Mighty Nine, you will place the transponder lanterns at regular intervals on the right hand side of the paths you are traversing. They will help you to keep from getting lost, and will boost the communication signal that will allow for communication with the surface team and the lab as you go deeper underground.

Digger: Should we lose contact, please continue to place the transponders anyway. If contact is not re-established within ten minutes, the surface team will come after you.

Beck: Put lamps on the right side, even if contact's lost--I got it!

Bat: Acknowledged.

Beck: --Wait, hold up...Snow's part of the third surface team...?

Bat: Keep in mind that he was built for any terrain, Private. He's an explorer.

Beck: Ah...

<DCN-003>: > {David was built to withstand extreme conditions. He’s also impervious to being crushed, but more on that some other day.}

Beck: (Crushed...ngh, don't like the sound of that...)

Beck: (At least the fact that there's back-up for the back-up is reassuring...)

Digger: And now, it is time for you to learn the top two rules! Ready?

Beck: Yes, sir!

Digger: Rule one!

Digger: Never dig straight down!

Digger: Rule two!

Digger: Never dig straight UP!

Beck: --I'm...pretty sure I don't have anything--or form--I can dig with right now but--got it!

Bat: One more thing.

Bat: Use my form carefully down there, Beck. Don't get trigger happy with that, ya hear?

Beck: Yes, sir.

Bat: Course...If you need to get physical with Mic, just don't land one where you'll end up caving in the place.

Beck: Right, got it....

Digger: Good. The lanterns are in the backpack over there. -Points- You have also been provided with basic rock climbing gear in your size.

Digger: There will be additional resources available to aid in rescue of other persons in the mine if they are encountered.

Beck: ....Huh....

Beck: The lamps look...kinda...uh.

Beck: ...Squaaaaare...?

[After a moment, Beck shrugs and inspects the contents of the backpack before slugging it over his back.]

Beck: Thanks, Digger!

Digger: … It was his idea, not mine, but… You’re welcome.

Digger: That’s it for now. Set off when you are ready to go.

[Beck nods and flicks his C-Visor down, giving a salute to both Digger and Bat as he turns towards the mine entrance.]

Bat: Good luck, Private. Get him back for us.

Beck: You got it, Bat! -thumbs up-

[Digger was quiet, keeping his own thoughts on the matter private. He seemed eager to enter the mine himself, but determined to keep order of the situation. He turned his attention to checking the station.]

[With a final quick look to the cloudless sky, Beck hopped down a steep ledge before breaking into a full sprint down into the darkness....]

[C.VISOR: LOW LIGHT LEVELS DETECTED. NIGHT VISION ACTIVATED.]

Beck: --Hm?

[There was a faint glow coming from the walls as he tread forward, the lights put by the workers flickering every now and then...]

Beck: Looks like the lights are still working...

[Pulling a transponder lamp from his backpack, Beck placed it firmly on the right wall like he was told--it gave off a much better light than the mine's fixated ones, thankfully...]

Will: Beck?

Beck: I don't see anything strange so far, Dad--but the transponder lamps look like they're working!

Beck: I'm heading down deeper now...

[Climbing down some ledges, being careful to mind his step--the general direction was definitely not straight down, like Digger had warned him not to do--but it was down nonetheless.]

"Bzzz..."

Beck: --?

Beck: Did you say something, Dyna?

[MN.3] //: What? No...

<DCN-003>: > {Is something wrong?}

Beck: I heard buzzing...

"Bzzzzzz..."

Beck: --! There it was again!

[MN.3] //: That'szz not uszz--

"BZZZZZZ...."

<DCN-003>: > {DLN-008 is currently resting.}

<DCN-003>: > {Computer, relay audio clip at 150%, please.}

"BZZZZZZZZZZ......"

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > {OKAY THAT IS THE SOUND OF A MINING DRILL.}

Beck: Wha--someone's still drilling?

[MN.2] //: ...Do ya think it's Mic?

[MN.1] //: Could be. Although I would expect him to be quite a bit deeper...

Beck: Maybe...someone left one on?

Will: Mmm...

Soi: Oof...I'd be careful about those--the last thing we need is unmanned drills running amok!

<DCN-007>: > {I knew you should have gone with him. Your Power Capsule—}

<DCN-003>: > -Uncharacteristically harsh- {No comments from you. Go away!} D<

Will: ...Well, whatever the case, proceed, Beck...with all due caution. Just be sure to mind yourself, and keep putting out those lamps.

Beck: Understood...

<DCN-003>: > {If you can, scan for signs of stability in your area, as active drilling may make the ground unstable.}

Beck: Good idea...

[SCANNING....]

Beck: ....Yeah, it seems this passage over here is stable. Heading that way...

[One more lamp stuck to the right wall...]

"BZZ! BZZ!"

Beck: ...?

Beck: Uh--is it just me or did those sound a LOT closer--

"BZZZZZZ!"

[SHINK!]

Beck: WHOA--!

[Landing RIGHT in front of his toes was a small drill bot that looked similar to a screw--with a drill on its head, of course. It was long and thin...]

[...and it had familiar red rimmed, white eyes.]

Beck: --Wait, that's--!

Will: It's...a CherryDyn model...

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > …Well they ARE an industrial manufacturing company. ¬ ¬

<DCN-003>: > Why is this a surprise?

Will: Exactly, there's never just ONE--!

Beck: ......

[Slowly...the Mighty Number looks up.]

[And he is met with a several dozen pairs of the same, identical eyes, boring down on him from the ceiling.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: O_O;;;

"BZZZZZZZZZZZ!"

[MN.6] //: BOOK IT BRO!

<DCN-003>: > -WAIT, BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR FOOTING—-

Beck: AAAAAAAAH--

[SHINK SHINK SHINK!]

[He dashes forward as the enemy robots drill downwards, falling through the ceiling and onto the ground like daggers, drilling back into the earth when they missed...]

[...Only to chase after him from there.]

[BLAM!]

[Beck's default weapon manages to make quick work of a few--they didn't have a lot of durability, it looks like--but their sheer numbers made up for what they lacked.]

Beck: Too many, too many--!

<DCN-000>: >You should try freezing them in place!

Beck: --!

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[A flash of ice coats the area, and the drill bots that had given chase--or leaped from the ground to stab--had all but been frozen in their tracks.]

Beck: Whew...

[He didn't waste the opportunity--he absorbed their Xels, taking their Speed Absorption Boosts.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Yeah...they're infected.

Will: Are you alright?

Beck: Uh-huh....

Beck: ....

Beck: (But this doesn't spell good news for Mic...)

Beck: Looks like the virus IS in the mine...

Soi: Gnh...

Beck: Call? Can you pick up anything now?

Call: I am detecting faint signals ahead.

<DWN-018>: > …? Plural?

Call: Yes. I am unable to clarify them, but judging that there are CherryDyn Industrial models on-site, there will be more malfunctioning units ahead.

Beck: --Aw, man--I REALLY don't wanna fight another Round Digger...

Beck: No offense to Buddy, but he WAS kinda tough.

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > … -…Data, we’re just- -Gonna work on analyzing seismic measurements from the transponders placed down gathering data, yeah-

Beck: Um...a-alright...

[Just as Call predicted, there were more CherryDyn models--Luckily for Beck, none of them were Round Diggers, but some flying cargo bots and more drill models--they did help fill his Xel Stocks, for the most part.]

Beck: -MAN, these things are annoying, stop trying to STAB ME FOR TWO SECONDS--

<DCN-000>: > Yay~

<DCN-000>: > If you’re annoyed, you’re not scared!

Beck: -Hey Snow--sorry, trying not to get poked with a hole here--

Beck: --!

Beck: Uh oh....

<DWN-013>: >Uh…?

[...It was a dead end...or so it seemed.]

Beck: Uh...Digger? This way is blocked...and I don't see a way around it...

Beck: Should I double back and look for another passage...?

<DCN-003>: > Hmm. {Place a transponder down.}

Beck: Okay...

[He puts on right on the wall in question, lighting it up.]

Beck: Looks kinda different from the other walls...

<DCN-003>: > -PROCESSING…-

-PING!-

<DCN-003>: > {You may remove the transponder.}

Beck: ....Oookaaaay....

[He's a bit confused, but he yanks it from the wall and puts it back in the bag.]

Beck: So...?

<DCN-003>: > {The passage is merely blocked. It is stable enough for you to clear the rubble with the use of force. Please see the attached file for structural analysis on the weak points to aim for.}

Beck: Uh....and by force, you mean...

[MN.2] //: -OOO HE'S GONNA BLOW IT UP? COOL, WHERE'S THE DYNAMITE-

Beck: Hmm....

Beck: (One doesn't seem to fit this job...I need a controlled charge...)

Beck: ...!

Beck: I got it!

[MN.2] //: -DOES IT INVOLVE DYNAMITE-

Beck: Uh, close enough?

<DWN-024>: >Please tell me you do not intend to punch the wall.

<DCN-003>: > -Beg pardon, wat-

Beck: Uh...no, I don't have Mic's form, otherwise I'd charge through it...

Beck: But I do have this!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

<DCN-000 has left the channel.>

<DCN-003>: > -Ack, no—David, come back—- -SKULL—-

<DCN-008>: > {I’ll attend to him, carry on.}

Beck: --Whoops....sorry...

[MN.5] //: Private...

Beck: It's okay--! I'll scan for a weak point in the wall and fire one there--that way the whole thing will come down AND I'll save time and energy.

<DCN-003>: > {He’ll be fine, don’t worry. Just taken by surprise, is all. And да, that is the best course of action.}

<DCN-003>: > {The passage continues on the other side of the blockage.}

<DCN-003>: > {This appears to be the main pathway—exploration of branches is time consuming and increases the chances of getting lost, Major.}

<DCN-003>: > {Does that make sense?}

[MN.5] //: ..If it helps get our brother back sooner, then.

[MN.9] //: Hokay, then...

[Beck carefully trained his arm at one of the scanned weak points at the obstruction, pausing for a few moments before...]

[CHUNK!]

[A projectile similar to Bat's own missile embedded itself into the wall, blinking with a steady pace.]

Beck: Charge set. Gonna get some distance first...

[After backtracking to a safe distance, he vaulted over one of the steel crates that carried minerals mined by the workers--before the virus hit, that is.]

Beck: 3...2...1...

Beck: -FIRE IN THE HOLE--

[BOOM!]

[A great rumbling sound followed the explosion, dust and rubble flying everywhere--]

Beck: -ACKPFFPH, bleh--

[MN.5] //: Private?

[MN.9] //: -We're fine, we just got dirt in our mouth--

<DCN-003>: > Well done! ^^

[Clearly, he appreciated a good explosion.]

<DWN-013>: > -Ping of approval also-

<DCN-003>: > {Onward! Onwards to victory!}

[MN.9] //: Yessir!

[Climbing though the destroyed rubble and though the now open passageway, Beck pressed forward.]

Beck: I wonder if Mic felt that...

Beck: (I wonder if he knows I'm coming...)

Beck: How deep IS this place...?

Call: I cannot give an accurate reading of the entire mine.

Beck: (...Meaning it's probably REALLY deep...)

Beck: ?

[The mine suddenly took a sharp decline--so much so that there was a ladder in place.]

Beck: Huh.

[Hmmm.

Jaden seems a little antsy at that.]

<DWN-013>: > Careful with the ladders.

<DCN-003>: > Remember to place a transponder at the start and stop of each base of the ladder!

Beck: Got it.

[Putting one down as he was told, Beck began to climb down.]

Beck: I thought it was bad to dig straight dow--

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ....

Beck: WHOOOA--!

[KSSSSSSSST--]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

[MN.5] //: Private Beck?!

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck! What happened?!

<DCN-003>: > {It sounds like he slipped off the ladder and landed on his rear.} ?__?

[DR.WHITE] //: Please, respond--Say something--!

[Static.]

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck!

_______________________________

[A FEW SECONDS EARLIER, THE MINE...]

Beck: I thought it was bad to dig straight dow--

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ... (Oh no--)

Beck: WHOOOA--!

[Beck scrambled up the ladder just in time to avoid a massive drill barrelling down the mine at unsafe speeds, crashing and crushing anything in its path. It was covered in an all too familiar purple glow.]

Beck: (The drills ARE infected--!)

[KSSSSSST--]

Beck: Ow--!

[DR.WHITE] //: Be--what happe--

[A horrid screeching feedback filled his audio receptors, and he could just barely make out his father's panicked voice.]

Beck: Dad?

[DR.WHITE] //: Please resp--say someth--

Beck: Dad? Professor? Do you read me?! Dad!

[KSSSSSSSST--....]

[Nothing. Static.]

Beck: Bat--? Digger!

[....]

Beck: Anyone! Hello?!

[.........]

Beck: . . .

Beck: (Not again...)

Beck: -Sigh-

Beck: Well...No turning back now.

Beck: I've gotta find Mic!

[MEANWHILE, AT SANDA TECHNOLOGIES...]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

Will: I don't understand, I thought the transponders would keep us in contact...

[There’s a whir of data from Digger, which is largely in Russian.]

<DCN-008>: > -Speaking up for his brother- …It’s more complicated than that, Doctor.

[Mikhail turns to face Will. In contrast with his good friend, he seemed remarkably unbothered.]

Mikhail: Working underground is not a straightforward process. There is a lot of signal interference due to the density of the obstructions between the output and the receiver. Slight disturbances can cause temporary loss of contact. These can clear up pretty quickly if loose rubble is moved or thick dust settles, William.

Mikhail: You must remember—signals don’t have the same open space to move through as they do in the open air of the overworld. It works more like neurons firing, as they hop from transponder to transponder. One break in the pattern could cause difficulty. Now, that could be because of something light, or something serious.

Mikhail: However, having two teams down in the mine complicates things. If the interference is light, it can be cleaned up in under ten minutes—that’s why there’s that wait time in place. With the situation the way it is, you don’t want anyone else heading down there unless you have to. If ten minutes go by and there’s still nothing from him, then they will go down to see what is wrong.

Mikhail: I’ve lost contact with my son down in the mines more than once before. He’s always turned out fine. And while Beck isn’t made specifically for the mines, he is a resourceful young man—and if he needs help, DCN-003 will be more than capable (and I daresay eager) to supply it.

Will: ....

Will: Yes, yes, of course... -Breathes-

Will: (There's the first, second and third surface teams...)

Will: (He'll be alright...)

Mikhail: Call, some hot drinks, if you please.

Mikhail: -Sits down in a chair, crossing his legs and bridging his fingertips together- I understand your concern, William. But we know that he will be alright—either through his own power, or through the assistance of the surface teams. Normally, we might be able to do something through technological assistance, but—this time it is different, this is more of a physical location-restricted sort of thing. So the best thing is to remain calm—as, if he hears some panic when he resumes contact, it could cause him additional stress.

Mikhail: So have something warm and try to loosen up a bit. Perhaps you can use this time to look at the readings from the transponders and what sort of data they picked up from the drills and other obstacles Beck encountered.

Mikhail: -Things will be alright, trust me-

Will: -....Looks nervously at the clock-

[Nine minutes...]

Will: ...Alright...

Call: Your hot drinks, Doctors.

Will: -Thank you-

[His terminal is brought up via a Xel Holoscreen...]

Will: Let's take a look here...

[Mikhail does likewise, bringing up a map of the mine as extrapolated via the data from the transponders placed down so far.]

Will: .....

[White frowned.]

Will: ...Drat...

Will: Judging from the data, there were traces of the virus just where we lost contact...

Will: They seem to be more abundant the deeper the mine goes, so far...

Will: (Which means...)

Mikhail: That’s curious.

Mikhail: That would mean that everything is moving down toward a central location.

Mikhail: Normally, you should find more abundance closer to the source of an outbreak, with fewer cases as you travel to more and more isolated areas. This is the opposite, which is quite unusual…

Mikhail: There must have been a set number of cases at the mine, with everyone starting to burrow down at different paces. ?_?

Will: Strange...

Will: Why would they do that?

Will: (...If Mic WAS infected when he burrowed down, we should see what Mikhail mentioned...)

Will: (Was the mine already infected in the first place--?)

<DCN-003>: >Mmm.

<DCN-003>: > … {When I was… changed…}

<DCN-003>: > {I had to do something I didn’t like, but I wasn’t going to make it easy. I could cause plenty of disruption underground, though it wouldn’t actually affect anyone unless they came too close.}

<DCN-003>: > {There IS another reason.}

<DCN-003>: > {Mines are not completely isolated places, Doctor. News and data from the outside world does come there.}

<DCN-003>: > {If word reached them about not only Beck, but possibly Battalion as well—apologies, Major, but—if they somehow heard that either the government and/or Master Beck were coming after them…}

<DCN-003>: > {They could very well be running away because they are afraid.}

<DCN-003>: > {Possibly…}

<DCN-003>: > {Heading down toward somewhere, something, someone they felt could protect them?}

Will: !

Will: Seismic...

Will: Of course--he's the main defensive wall for the team, it's only logical that one would want to hide behind him...

Will: (But that only means Beck will engage even more opposition as he heads further down...)

<FMN-005>: > Of course they would, even Shade hinds behind Seismic… - -

<FMN-003>: > That’szzz becauszze he’szz the only one big enough to hide her~

<FMN-002>: > -YUP, SIS BE A TOL, GLITCHES-

<FMN-002>: > Yo. Noooooodle Daaaaad mirrorrrr -Flails-

<FMN-002>: >Becky will be FINE, I mean, he took all of us on, right? 88>

[MN.1] //: Two is right. He's come this far mostly on his own power.

[MN.6] //: -YEAH BECKO CAN TOTALLY TAKE ON WHATEVER'S THROWN AT HIM-

Will: ...You have a point...

[Tick. Tock.]

Mikhail: Son. Your status?

<DCN-003>: > -Cheerfully- Preparations are being made! Syncing up with Major right now to find him easily if separated.

Mikhail: Good.

[MN.5] //: Commencing decent in T-Minus 3 minutes, sir.

Will: Excellent...

[MN.5] //: Anything from Beck?

[MN.6] //: Not a peep, bro.

[MN.1] //: -What is going on down there...-

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > -Mildly AMUSED, somewhat condescending data-

<DCN-003>: > Have you ever worked underground, sir?

[MN.1] //: I--

[MN.2] //: EARTH BRO TOOK US TO A TOUR OF HIS MINE ONCE--before Becky and Shade were made, tho--

[MN.2] //: -IT WAS COOL AND NOISY AND I GOT A SILVER ROCK THING-

<DCN-003>: > The veins and arteries of the earth are as foreign and rugged as the heart of the ocean. I’m sure Lady Icesphere knows what I’m talking about, da?

[MN.2] //: -PING PING PING- Dude underwater caverns and junk are the COOLEST. WE KNOW MORE ABOUT SPACE THAN WHAT'S IN OUR OCEANS, BRO, IT'S TOTALLY SICK--

[MN.1] //: -Ow, our ears--

[…]

[…And then suddenly…]

[Sorrow….]

<DCN-003>: > -Sadly- {You would have liked him…}

[MN.2] //: --? -Wait, why did the mood nosedive all of a sudden--

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

[MN.1] //: Diveman?

<DCN-003>: > -WHIRR WHIIRR- -Yes, that is how we know of the ocean, weh-

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Quietly- {It’s alright, son.}

Mikhail: {We just need to wait a little longer.}

Mikhail: {As soon as this situation is all over, we can finish repairs on Anubis… and then start rebuilding Jacques.}

Mikhail: ({I fear I may be doing other repairs before this is over, though…})

-PING!-

<RMDC>: > ALERT: TIMER FUNCTION HAS REACHED 00:00:00.

[MN.5] //: Alright, let's move o--Hey!

[Digger has already burrowed into the earth, “fist”-first.

WOW, does he work fast!]

BZZZZZZZZZ!

[MN.5] //: -Whatever happened to leaving no soldier--comrade--behind--WAIT--

<DWN-018>: > -sNORTS-

<DWN-018>: >Why is he making his own path? Isn’t that dangerous?

Mikhail: -Hides his smile behind a hand- Well, no, not when the mine has already been geologically mapped for stability.

Mikhail: He’s taking the most direct path through the place to bypass infected areas and make it a smooth decline for his travel companion. If Seismic IS down there, besides—it may be a bit difficult for him to travel or be carried through the path that Beck had taken.

Mikhail: Apologies, Major!

Mikhail: He gets very enthusiastic about his work!

<DCN-003>: > -SINGING THE DWARVEN DIGGING SONG FROM DISNEY- -IN RUSSIAN-

Mikhail: He’s also trying to forge ahead for you! Just follow after him, he won’t go too far…

[MN.5] //: Roger that...

[DR.WHITE] //: Do be careful down there, son...

[They descended in an even pace, and eventually drew closer and closer to the area where Beck's signal was lost.]

[MN.5] //: Battalion reporting in. So far so good.

[There was the steady sound of Digger’s drills in the background. An almost soothing white noise.]

[—…which abruptly came to a halt…]

[MN.5] //: Haven't been able to get a hold of Beck, but we're around where we last heard--

[.........]

[MN.5] //: ...Wait a tic...

<DCN-003>: > {Stand back.}

[MN.5] //: -Sound of Bat's giant footsteps backtracking-

[DIGGER used DRILL BOMB!]

[There is a faint buzzing drill noise as something burrows deep into the earth…

Followed by a muffled shaking and a screeching noise that sounded a bit like a “-SPLAT!-” and an explosion mixed together, and then some angry muffled buzzing that sounded like a swarm of bees.]

<DCN-003>: > .-.

[MN.5] //: ???

<DCN-003>: > -THAT IS THE SOUND OF A LOT OF DRILLS COMING.-

[MN.5] //: !!!

[....Wait...]

[...There was another noise, if one listened hard enough...]

[It sounded like...]

[...Screaming?]

"aaaaAAAAAH--"

[MN.5] //: -WE KNOW THAT ALMOST GIRLISH SCREAM ANYWHERE-

[Digger fires ahead a bunch of Drill Bombs, and then practically swan-dives into the ground, all of his drills going at once to clear a path.

Everything that was coming up at them was taken out, the infected Xel burnt by the incendiary components of the explosion.

It abruptly opened up into the ceiling of another path, and Digger dropped down and moved out of the way.]

Digger: BECK!

[The path opened up to a complex system of tunnels, all filled with infected drills aimlessly drilling new paths and even running into each other.]

[Bat crashed downwards without another thought, aiming his missile silos at an oncoming drill.]

Bat: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

[The drill immediately shuts down from the damage, and the glow surrounding it fades off.]

"BAT?!"

[A voice cries out and echos through the tunnels, but it was hard to make out which direction it came from.]

"DIGGER?! IS THAT YOU?!"

Bat: PRIVATE!

"GUYS, BE CAREFUL, THESE DRILLS ARE INFECTED--AND OUT OF CONTROL!"

"WHERE ARE YOU--"

Digger: TCHAH! -Agitated Russian of mild annoyance-

Digger: {We have dealt with out of control mines before, BAD, BAD DRILLS TO DISOBEY—}

[He fires off more Drill Bombs in the direction of the largest cluster of wild drillbots.]

<DCN-003>: > -Ping- {Beck, it may take some time to catch up to you!}

<DCN-003>: > {You must continue your mission carefully.}

<DCN-003>: > {Once we determine your route, we will ensure no one closes in from behind.}

[MN.5] //: Keep pushing forward, Private Beck! We'll catch up soon enough!

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: Got it!

[MN.9] //: Just look for the transponders! I kept putting them down so just follow them, okay?

<DCN-003>: > -Approval data- Da! {Good work, soul-cousin!} ^^

<DCN-003>: > {We shall find you—but first, an update—}

[He sent a burst of data that was a compressed zip file of the analysis that Will and Mikhail had been doing on the situation.

…Including the theory as to why they were encountering so many drills the further down they go…]

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

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

[MN.9] //: (I...I hoped you weren't affected by all this, but...)

[MN.9] //: (I guess that was a little too much to ask for.)

[MN.9] //: I'll be prepared for more enemies ahead.

<DCN-003>: > {Good man! Speak with you again soon.}

[At that point, there was only the data—faint as it was—traveling from transponder to transponder between them.

Oh well. At least it was like feeling someone was there at your back, which had to be more encouraging than the creepy loneliness from before.]

<DCN-003 to DR.WILL, MC005, MNN-ALL, RMDC-ALL>: > -Ping- Contact has been reestablished for now. 009 is continuing on due to the time constraints.

[DR.WHITE] //: -Oh thank God--

[MN.2] //: -SEE, WE TOLD YAAAAA-

<MC005>: > … Son… these transponder data from your location…

<DCN-003>: > да, I’m afraid it is very windy and labyrinthian. There are many stray drills on the loose.

<DCN-003>: > I shall take some time to find a way through carefully that will ensure that we and they will not cause a cave-in.

<DCN-003>: >Beck is still on his own for now.

[MEANWHILE, DEEPER WITHIN THE MINE...]

Beck: BURNING--

Beck: SPIRIT!

[Another explosion rocked the mine's walls as another drill broke down to Beck's variation of his oldest brother's signature move. He took a moment to cleanse the drill as best he could afterward.]

[One infected brother at a time was enough to deal with--he didn't need the ones coming behind him to fall into illness, or worse.]

Beck: Hooo...

Beck: (Tired...)

Beck: (Sunny would REALLY be a big help right about now--)

[RRRRRR--!]

Beck: Waaah!

[Nine couldn't stand up straight as the ground--No, the whole mine started to shake to and fro, inciting a surge of panic and fear--]

[...But just as it came, it suddenly cut short.]

Beck: What the...

<DCN-003>: > -Muffled ping of inquiry-

[It appeared that the activity had shaken off some of the transponders…

…oh dear.]

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

Beck: (Nnngh...)

[RRRRRR--!]

[Oh, gosh, another earthquake--!]

Beck: !

[BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]

Beck: O.O;;;;;;

[...That...]

[...Was a BIG drill--]

Beck: ....

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAAAH--

[SMACK.]

Beck: --Ow--

Beck: --!

[Great. He's in the mineral deposit area. The passage was FILLED with crates of packed earth, and Brandish's form was simply too quick to navigate in such a narrow space.]

Beck: Aaargh!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

[KERCHUNK!]

Beck: Out of my WAY--!

[BOOM!]

[As Digger and Bat closed in on Beck, they would find a trail of utter destruction left behind in the from of broken drills and rubble.]

[BOOM!]

Bat: I told him not to get trigger happy with that--

[BOOM!]

Bat: ... -Although we do appreciate his enthusiasm-

Digger: …

Digger: I don’t think that’s it.

Digger: He knows how nervous my cousins are about the use of explosives…

Digger: AND you told him not to go overboard.

Digger: So I don’t think he’d be doing that unless…

Digger: Unless he has to…!

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: -STATIC, BUT THERE IS SCREECHING-

Bat: BECK!

Digger: !!! -TIME TO SCRAM—-

BZZZZZZZZZ!!!

[Bat wastes no time blasting through the rubble in order to get to his brother, who was in a bit of a...Well.]

[A rock and a hard place, to put it simply.]

[Beck outran the giant drill as fast as he could, but he soon came up to a dead end.]

Beck: No no no--!

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!

bzzzrrrrr…

Beck: !!!

rrrr…

BZZZZZZZZZ—

RRRRWHRRRRRRRR—

[There is a flurry of pings that sounds like someone spamming the “send” button.]

Beck: -PING PING PING--

[B O O M--!]

[A series of chain explosions following—]

WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRR—

[C R A C K!]

[One side of the passage wall breaks down, and dust and smoke burst forth!]

"READY--"

[But in the smog, a distinct barrel shape--]

"AIM--"

BZZZZZZZT--

[Beck is knocked down and brought into the ground by a sudden tackle.]

Beck: --!!?

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

[KER-BOOM!!!]

[There was the sound of metal screeching to a slow crawl, fire, chaos--]

[KER-BLAM!]

[--Followed by another explosion.]

[Beck stops being carried downward.]

Beck: !

[In the pause, some glowing eyes blink.]

[…]

-Ping-

<DCN-003>: > HELLO, BECK, you are okay yes good ^^

Beck: DIGGERRRR--!

[PING!]

[MN.5] //: HOORAH!

[MN.5] //: Take THAT, you pathetic pile of scrap! I've met toasters who were tougher than that!

<DCN-003>: >Up we go~

[Beck is hoisted up through the darkness as Digger makes a path upward with his head and right carrying Beck in the crook of his left.]

Beck: -Man, am I glad to see you guys...-

[They come back into the tunnel, a few feet from where Beck had been.]

Digger: -Is now up in the open, puts Beck down- Hi. : D

Beck: BAAAT--

Bat: Private--

Beck: BAT--

[CLANK--]

[Beck runs into his brother with outstretched arms, affectionately hugging his leg.]

Beck: -Broooooo- < 3

Bat: Heh.

Bat: Good to see ya still standin', brother.

Digger: Of course yes is YES GOOD very nice, yee. -Ping ping-

[He places his feet in a firm stance.]

Digger: Beck! Do you need some healing?

[He shakes open his arm, opening a port and drops out a few cans of some sort.]

[…They weren’t QUITE E-tanks…]

[One was some Xel stock, it appeared, and the other…?]

Beck: -AW YES-

Beck: -Grabs the Xel Cubes--

[XEL STOCKS REPLENISHED.]

Beck: ...?

Beck: What's this other one...?

Digger: That is what twin cousin found! ^^

Digger: Proven well work all organics and constructs also, yes good.

Digger: If you’re all better, spray it on your brother, да?

Beck: Ooooh...

Bat: Could use a top off. Gimmie that.

[Beck does so, spraying it in Bat's direction. He curiously started scanning it himself...]

[It seemed to be rather strange. A sort of liquid energy. Upon contact, it transformed into hardware replacement for the slightly singed soldier.]

Bat: Well, I'll be darned...

Beck: Coooool....

Digger: c:

Beck: Really gotta thank Siam for this stuff...

Bat: Private.

Beck: ?

Bat: I've cleared the way for you.

Bat: Haven't seen or heard from Mic?

Beck: No...

Beck: But we ARE pretty deep...

[Digger hums thoughtfully.]

Digger: Others, they told you to stay away, да?

Digger: If he knows, he may want to be left alone, or otherwise keep you at distance.

Beck: Yeah, but...

Beck: He'd at least say something, or, ya know, try to keep me away like you said...

Beck: I haven't even felt his signal, or... anything, really.

Beck: It's...weird... (And unnerving...)

Digger: Tsk.

Digger: When someone likes us wants to be left alone, we try to avoid being traced…

Beck: Hmm...

Beck: Do you think maybe something hap--

[RRRRRRRRRRR--]

Beck: -oH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN--

[Amusingly enough…]

[Despite it jostling the others QUITE a bit…]

Beck: -AAAAAH, MY LEGS FEEL LIKE JELLO--

Bat: -Gnrh--

[…Digger kept a firm footing, and was not at all moved.]

Digger: {That registered pretty high.}

Beck: @~@

Digger: -Uuuup we pull the soul-cousin, by the crook of our arm-

Beck: Ugh...

Beck: That was so not a drill...

Digger: Nope! Drills make THIS noise.

Digger: -Drill twirl-

Bat: Sounded like it came from deeper in.

Beck: ....

Beck: It's gotta be him...

Beck: (I got this gut feeling it is...Don't know why...)

Digger: Hmm!

Digger: You get ever closer! -Chipper and cheerful- We have to clear a way back up and out.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: ...

Beck: Actually, I think the thing that Bat blew up WAS the door...

Digger: Door?

Beck: Ya know, the--ya know what, never mind.

Beck: I'm heading in. You guys work on the exit tunnel for me and Mic, okay?

Digger: да. Hup hup!

Bat: Sounds like a plan.

Bat: ... Don't give up, soldier.

Bat: Bring our brother back to home soil.

Digger: Oh, he shall!

Digger: Come, we must go. Not safe for us further down, much earth and hard hitting brothers!

Digger: BUT.

Digger: The smaller, they are quick and nimble and move better, да? ;D Like David~

Beck: Eheh...

Bat: Hmm. Too right, comrade.

Bat: Go get'em, Private Beck.

Beck: Yessir!

Digger: We go~

Digger: -Already starting to drill, WHEEEEEE-

Beck: ...Wow, he works fast.

Bat: You don't know the half of it...

[After salutes were exchanged, Bat--more or less tried to keep up with the happy-go-lucky drill bot. He wasn't exactly built for speed, himself.]

Beck: Heh...

Beck: (I'm glad they're here now...)

Beck: ....

Beck: -Intake of air-

Beck: Here we go...

[The passage went on for another while, the lights a soft red and blinking every so often--they seemed to be emergency lights, in fact.]

Beck: (...It's...)

Beck: (So...quiet....)

Beck: -Ngh, don't like it all quiet...-

[Not even crickets could chirp, deep down here in the earth…]

Beck: !!

[Then...]

[The passage suddenly opened up.]

[A lot.]

Beck: !

Beck: Whooooa...

[His voice echoed into the massive cavern, reverbing into the clearly natural cave--something this massive couldn't be made by human hands--although the lights put up on the walls suggested it was found, rather than made.]

Beck: (Huge...)

[...It didn't help that the atmosphere only made him feel smaller than usual...]

Beck: (...I kinda don't WANNA talk in here...)

Beck: (...It's kinda like--I dunno, something is telling me to be quiet...)

[WRRRRRRRRRRRR...]

Beck: !!?

Beck: Aw, come on--!

Beck: Getting really tired of all the giant drills--

[Sure enough, another drill was heading towards the younger Xelbot--although he wasn't too concerned, as there was plenty of room to avoid it--]

[RRRRRRRRRRR--!]

Beck: --!!!

[Two seconds later, the whole ground shook and Beck was launched at least 6 feet into the air!]

Beck: -WAAAH, WHAT IS--

[SMACK--]

Beck: -Muffled pained groans-

Beck: Guh...

Beck: M...Mic...?

[As his vision focused back, there was a loud crashing sound--]

Beck: !

[--Just in time to see the huge mass of Xel that was his brother wreck the same drill with one swift shovel punch. ]

Mic: GRRGH!

Beck: MIC! And still operational--!

Beck: -Oh man I am so glad to see you YOU'RE OKAY--

Beck: I mean, of course you are, like Dad said--

Mic: -STOMP-

[C R A C K!]

Beck: --!!!

[Oh dear.]

Beck: M...Mic?

[This didn’t look good.]

Mic: GRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

[Mic slammed his huge shovel claws into the ground, making Beck scramble backwards in fear of being caught up in whatever attack--]

[WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM--]

Beck: AAAH--!

[--which happened to be giant pillars crashing down from the ceiling, quickly boxing them in.]

Beck: Mic--!

Mic: . . . .

[WHANG.]

[Mic didn't say a word. Merely crashed his shovel hands together.]

[...As if he were a bull hoofing the ground before charging. ]

Beck: Ohhh...You too?

Beck: (I really hoped you weren't...)

[He sighed.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Then I'm sorry, Mic...

[SCANNING...]

Beck: But I got to take you down--!

[SCAN COMPLETE]

[MODEL NUMBER: MIGHTY NO. 4. CODENAME: SEISMIC.]

[HEIGHT: 280cm WEIGHT: 690kg XEL COUNT: 138,000,000]

[Seismic, the walking earthquake. Many have seen this usual gentle giant crush many opponents in the arena, but only when it was absolutely needed. ]

[The truth is, Mic was built to be a defensive wall for his other sibling teammates while they either set up, took cover, reloaded or just couldn't take any more damage.]

[And while Mic's defense was impressive enough, it was his inborn Power and control over Earth that made him a force to be reckoned with...]

Mic: .....

[He could also be quick about it when he had to.]

[In an instant, Mic's feet transformed into tank tracks, and he charged so fast, it was almost as if there was a shell of energy around him--!]

Beck: --!!!

[Beck shot at him in order to get him to stop--]

[But they just bounced harmlessly off.]

Beck: Wha--!

[BAM!]

[Stars and static swam across Beck's vision as he was violently smashed across the room, hitting himself hard on one of the pillars that littered the place.]

Beck: -Disorientated Data--

Beck: Guuh...

[...Strangely, a second attack did not come.]

[It was only when Beck managed to regain some sense that Mic charged again.]

Beck: --?!

[THIS time, Beck jumped and dashed over to avoid it, tucking himself in to shoot at his brother overhead.]

[It seems like the shield did not reach Mic's backside--!]

Mic: -Ggrh—-

Beck: (Sorry, Mic!)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

[Beck planted a missile on the ground once he landed--]

[WRRRR--]

Beck: !!

Beck: ARUGH--!

[A sharp, splitting pain sliced through his side, narrowly avoiding the drill that shot forward from Mic via a strong Xel cable.]

[WARNING: XEL LOSS IMMINENT.]

Beck: --!

[The ground was stained with a glowing blue.]

Beck: (He got through my armor--?!)

Mic: GRRRRRRGH!

Beck: -GNH--

Beck: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

[The placed missile picked up on the command, and detonated, knocking both Mighties away from each other.]

Beck: -Ngh...-

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[It was difficult to see where Mic landed, but judging from the collapsed pillars, he at least hit back hard himself.]

[XEL ABSORBED. XEL COUNT NORMALIZED. ]

Beck: Stop it, Mic! Please! I don't want to fight you!

[.......]

Beck: Mic--?

[Why wasn't he--]

[C R A C K.]

Beck: !

[The whole floor gave away.]

Beck: WAH--

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[As the floor collapsed to a lower level, Beck heard a loud buzz just below where he was hovering--]

[WHAP!]

Beck: --!

[It was another drill shot, but at a angle--in which instead the cable wrapped around Beck's leg instead of impaling anything--]

Beck: Hey--!

[YANK!]

[WHAM!]

[Beck was brought back down to the earth, slammed into the ground without mercy. He was hit so hard that he reverted back to his default form.]

Beck: -Nngh...-

Beck: -Can't...-

Beck: (If he keeps hitting me like this...)

[Mic rose from the ground glaring at Beck with darkened eyes, still not saying a word.]

Beck: (I'm not sure how long I can hold out...)

Beck: (Gotta...Gotta think of something..)

Beck: (I can't get through Mic's defense, so I gotta outsmart him somehow...)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

Beck: (Gotta hit back where it hurts...)

[His skewed gaze sweeps across the room, until finally settling down on the fallen pillers...]

Beck: --?

Beck: (Wait--that's it!)

Beck: (I just gotta hit him with something bigger--)

Mic: RRRRRRRRRRR--!

Beck: MIIIIC!

Beck: Just hang on a little more--

Beck: I'll get you thinking straight, and back to the Professor, and everyone else!

Beck: I PROMISE!

Mic: -CHARGE--

[Beck leaves another missile in the ground before dodging, and then detonating it, making sure Mic got caught up in the blast--he had to at least chip away at his stamina before he could get this plan to work...]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

Beck: Heeeeey!

Mic: --!

Beck: Up here! You can't touch me up here!

Beck: c:

[As expected, a drill shot attempts to hook onto him to drag him downwards--]

[He nimbly avoids it, and the other that soon followed it--he had two, of course.]

Beck: Nope! Try again!

Mic: RRRRGH!

[It goes on like this for a while, with Beck just avoiding the drill shots and taunting Mic to come after him...]

Beck: Over heeeere--!

Mic: RRRRRGH--

[SHUNK!]

[For some reason, the drill does not retract--?]

Beck: (Yes!)

Beck: You still got the other one, though! C:

Mic: -R O A R—-

[SHUNK—]

Mic: —???!?

[Mic furiously kicked it in reverse once he saw that his drills were stuck into something metal, following Beck as he flew in behind him just out of his reach.]

Beck: Oops.

Beck: Are you stuck?

Beck: Sorry about that.

Beck: I kinda figured that I needed to get you to stop hitting me so hard?

Beck: It really hurt.

Mic: RRRRRRRGH!!!

Beck: By the way, uh.

Beck: You might wanna look at what you're pulling.

[He points up.]

Mic: ....!

[Creeeeeeeeeeeaaak--]

Beck: SORRY, MIC—

Beck: See ya next fall—

[Beck speeds through the air out of the looming shadow of the giant pillar Mic had lodged himself and pulled out of alignment, tipping over just enough to--]

[C R A S H!!!]

[The resulting collision was enough to rock the whole mine, and even register as seismic activity on certain monitors.]

Beck: -COUGH, ACK, DIRT IN MOUTH AGAIN-

[As he lands, he uses his propeller arm to blow away the dust clouding his vision.]

Beck: Okay I may have overdone that—

Beck: MIIIC?

Beck: Brooo?

Beck: Um...Mic?

Beck: Sorry about kinda crushing you?

Beck: Miiic—

[CRASH—]

Mic: RRRRAAAAAAARGH!

[An arm suddenly SHOOTS up from the earth, and Beck is pulled downward with a SCREAM.]

Beck: -SHRIEK—-

Beck: -ZOMBIE—-

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[The arm retracts, only to reappear again to grab Beck's other leg--]

Beck: -NO, STOP IT, HORROR MOVIE FLASH BACKS-- [REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

Mic: -REACH, MUST BRING HIM DOWN--

Beck: I SAID STOP IT!

[B O O M!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[There was a deep, deep rumble, and once Mic resurfaced, it was clear he took on quite a lot of damage.]

Mic: Rrrrgh....

[And running out of steam, to boot.]

Beck: (Almost—)

[KERCHUNK.]

Beck: One more should do the trick...

Mic: Rrrrgh...

[He was clearly in pain...]

Beck: .....

Beck: -Shuts his eyes---

Beck: Sorry, big brother...

Beck: Time to come topside.

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT.]

[BLAM!]

Mic: Rrrrgh—!

[WHUMP.]

[XEL ABSORBED]

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

Beck: So SNAP OUT OF IT--NOW!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

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

"Wow..."

"I-I can really have this?"

"Hmm hmm. Mic got special rock for you."

"It quartz. ^w^"

"Wow...You always bring home so many neat rocks, Mic!"

"...But um...I got a question..."

"I know you got a rock collection and all, but--Dad says that some of the stuff from your mine is, like...Really expensive?"

"Why don't you sell them?"

"Mic do. Not all, though." "More important things than money. Mic like these rocks."

"Why?"

"They special TO Mic."

"They have special memories. ^W^"

"And Mic got special rock for special brother."

Mic: ....Rgh...?

"Aw, Mic...You really think I'm special?"

Beck: !!

"Hmm hmm!"

"Beck more special than any shiny rock on Earth!"

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.4]

Mic: ...?

Mic: Beck...?

Beck: BIG BROTHER--

Mic: Ow...

Mic: Why... Why Beck HERE...?

Mic: ....Why Mic here--

Mic: -Why do we feel hurt all over??? Ow--

Beck: MIIIIIIC!

[CLANK--]

[Instead of answering his brother's confused questions, he simply glomped into his fallen form, looking even smaller next to his giant sibling.]

Beck: -MIIIIIIIIIC--

Mic: ?????????

Mic: -...Wait, we are underground, WAS THERE A CAVE IN--

Mic: Is--Is Beck okay?

Beck: -Sniff-

Beck: Y-Yeah.

Beck: I'm okay...

Mic: -Nnngh--

Mic: M...Mic can't move--

Mic: -What happened, why can't we remember the last week--

Mic: Beck--shouldn't be here, it dangerous--

rrrrr…

Beck: !!

Mic: ? -Drill?-

RRRRRR…

RRRRRRRR…

"........aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAH--!"

[WHANG!]

Mic: OW--

Digger: @.@

Mic: .....??????

Mic: D--Digger?

Mic: Why Drill Brother here--

Mic: -What is going ooooooon-

Digger: …

Digger: -Perks up- HELLO YOU BETTER?! YES GOOD—

Beck: YEAH I DID IT--

Digger: -Civ form now, patpat as sprawlhug-

Mic: -Oh, okay, hugs now, apparently-

Mic: -No objections here-

Digger: MAAAAJOR YOUR BROTHER BETTER NOW YES GOOD

Bat: -From farther up the tunnel- HOORAH!

Bat: MIC! YA HEAR ME?

Mic: -PING!-

Mic: -Baaaaaaat-

Bat: NICELY DONE, PRIVATE!

Beck: ^.^

Bat: DON'T WORRY, SOLDIER, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO RETRIEVE YOU!

Mic: -Again, confusion, but we're going to assume there was a cave in so, okay-

<DWN-018>: > Nice of you to make such a nice path to get through.

<DWN-018>: >We should be down in a few minutes. I’ll carry you out.

Mic: -PING, okaaay-

<DWN-018>: >You’ll have some proper rest. And plenty of companionship.

Beck: Yeah...

Beck: -Hooof, we're also gonna rest on top of Mic bro- -Is very sore-

Digger: HOKAY THEN, yes good—

Digger: OH! Any news of Felix? Is he better?

<DWN-018>: > …

<DWN-018>: > One thing at a time, cousin. =__=

<DWN-018>: >We’ll get you both back, and worry about the other rescues later.

Mic: --?????

<DWN-018>: >So everyone hang tight.

Beck: Got it!

Beck: Try to relax for now, okay, bro?

Mic: -Deep rumbles of thought-

{SOON, AT SANDA LABS…}

[Nico lets the magnetic field shift and he sets Mic down with a slight THUD.]

Cryo: EARTH BROOOOOOOOOOO

[There is a collective of both Xelbots and RAs that gather around Mic, including the humans present.]

Will: Oh thank the Lord you are safe–son–

Mic: -Noodle Daaad- -w-

Snow: <‘3

Snow: Mister Mic! You’re okay again~

Snow: I made you Rocky Road!

[RRRRRR.]

[…Was that another earthquake–]

Mic: OwO

[….Oh, no. That was Mic’s stomach.]

Mic: -Suddenly aware of hunger, mmmmm-

Beck: –Oh–

Beck: (Right, he’s probably been down there all this time…)

Snow: It’s okay! Pyro made lots of food.

Brand: Both of him, I would think so.

Snow: For you and Shadesis when she hears you’re better! We think it will help her get better too! : D

Mic: …..

Mic: —????

Mic: -Wait, what happened to Snipesis—-

Skull: She ran into a wall. Very hard.

Mic: !!!!

Mic: O~O

Mic: -ATTEMPTS TO MOOOOOVE-

[WHUMP]

Mic: -Awwww–

Mikhail: No, Mic. Even if you could move, your mobility rig is disabled for right now. You need rest. Proper rest.

[Odd. HE’S sure strangely grim for the celebration.]

Mikhail: One extra mobile party is more than enough for now. : | Rest. I’m sure Felix will be here soon… Piers just contacted and said he was stirring.

Mic: !!

Beck: Felix is waking up?!

Beck: -YAAAAAY-

Mikhail: Yes… and I think I know why. But more on that later…

Will: Yes. We’ll talk properly once things have settled down.

Will: Nico, please get Mic to the Repair Bay. Call, transfer the assimilation data to me, please.

Call: Right away, Professor.

Nico: Yes sir.

Will: Soi, can you please tend to those that need repairs?

Soi: Already on it, Will.

Will: Beck? You need rest too.

Beck: Yeah, I know…

Mikhail: …I’m going to make some coffee. And then I need to get back to Siam. There’s some very important work I need to be doing, apologies…. Shadow, make sure you isolate yourself.

Shadow: … Acknowledged, Doctor.

[Shadow was giving off a dark reading of dread.]

Brand: ……

<DWN-024 to MNN-007>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-007>: > …

<DWN-024 to MNN-007>: > … … …

[No words needed to be said to explain the trepidation of the inevitable coming storm….]

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

=CHAPTER 7B: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[LATER THAT NIGHT....]

[William White was staring patiently at the same analysis screen for several hours, a full jug of coffee at his side. It had gone cold long ago. Mikhail had left for his own devices shortly after making it, mentioning he had important work to do with Siam before he could return.

And that was certainly for the better…]

Will: (Eight...Eight samples.)

Will: (This should be enough--this has to be enough...)

[It was in that moment that Soi stepped into the room.]

Soi: --Will?

Will: --Oh. Soi.

Soi: Good Lord, man, I thought you went to bed ages ago!

Soi: Didn't Mikhail warn you about staying up too late?

Will: Under the circumstances, he's overlooked it for now.

Will: I'm so close, Soi, I can just...

Will: I have all the pieces, I just have to fit them together.

Will: -Turns back to the Terminal- I've already arrange the code, it's only a matter of figuring out what goes where...

Will: And hopefully, I can start to finally counteract this nightmare.

Soi: Thank goodness.

Soi: Once we figure out what's going on with the Virus, my brother will send help!

Soi: -Sigh-

Soi: And all we need is Shade back.

Will: Yes...

Will: I think the others are dreading that, somewhat. Mikhail was...He had that look about him.

Soi: Because Shade is a Hunter?

Will: Perhaps.

Will: But I think it's something else.

Will: Or rather...

Will: Someone.

Will: ....

Will: In any case.

Will: -Working as he speaks- You do have a point. This...

Will: It's almost over, now.

Will: .....

Will: Soi?

Soi: Yes?

Will: ......

Will: I...

Will: Do you think that...Maybe...

Will: . . . .

Soi: ???

Will: ...Nevermind.

Soi: What?

Will: No, it's...It was just a passing thought.

Soi: Wiiiiilll.

Soi: Come on, I know you want to tell me something when you suddenly back out of it!

Will: I just---

[PING!]

Will: !

Will: Wait--

Will: Soi, I--I think I did it--!

Soi: -WAIT WHAT, REALLY--??-

Will: Hold on, let me just run this through one more time--

Soi: Oh, man, this is great!

Soi: -YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN, WILL.-

Soi: I know that it's still processing, but as soon as that's confirmed, I can call Mikhail back--

Soi: And then we can get to--

Soi: --!!!

Soi: --...Will?

[No response.]

[None.]

[The room was suddenly filled with a tense silence.]

[...That is, save for the quiet patter of drops on a keyboard.]

Soi: Will--

[It was as if he wasn't hearing him.]

[William sat there in what appeared to be shock, huge streams of tears falling from his emerald hues.]

[He was crying.]

Will: . . .

Soi: Will, are you alright--

Will: . . .

Will: I...

Soi: Will--oh dear should--should I call Mikhail or--?

[THAT got him out of the shock, but it was quickly replaced by sheer panic--]

[Will bolted straight for the door, fumbling with his keycard to lock it--]

Soi: --???!

[He then proceeded to shut down all the computers, cameras, even his phone--]

Soi: Will--

Soi: Will!

[Soi grabbed his arm before he could do anything else concerning, a firm tone in his voice.]

Soi: What is going on--?! What did you--

Will: It's mine.

Soi: --???

Will: The virus--it's coding--It's MINE, Soi--!

Will: All of this is MY FAULT--!

Soi: Wha...

[Soi was so...so taken back by it that he let go.]

Soi: Wait--

Will: -PANICKY--

Will: It's all my fault, the madness, our sons and daughters, our own family, HIS--!

Will: The whole country is suffering because of MY MISTAKE--!

Soi: WILL!

[Soi claps very hard in front of Will's face, which was enough to bring him out of his panic attack, or at least some of it.]

Soi: Breathe.

Soi: I've known you for more than 10 years and I know that none of this is your fault.

Soi: You--

Soi: You're different, now, Will.

Soi: Remember?

Will: ........

Soi: .....

Soi: Let's just...Sit.

Soi: Start over.

Soi: Okay?

Will: . . .

[Will sits back down with a shivering sigh, his head buried into his hands. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, but it didn't seem to help much.]

Will: S-Soi...

Will: The...The code, Soi--

Will: It's mine. I know it is.

Soi: Really?

[Silence.]

Will: ....

Will: Not...All of it.

Soi: See, so it isn't--

Soi: --Wait-- not ALL of it?

Soi: I...I don't understand.

Will: .....

Will: Soi...

Will: Remember...

Will: Remember when you first hired me?

Soi: I...Of course.

Soi: How could I forget?

Will: .....

Will: I told you that I had previous experience with robotics before.

Will: You know what I mean.

Soi: ......

[Now it was Soi's turn to be shocked.]

Soi: No, wait--

Soi: You can't mean--

Soi: This--You mean this whole robot rampage--?!

Will: --is all my fault, indeed.

Will: Or rather...

Will: The fault of a robot that I designed long ago...

Will: The CDN-1201.

Will: ...Trinity.

Will: I designed her to evolve by assimilating other robot's capabilities...

Will: I found her custom scripts in the virus code we retrieved from each of the haywire Mighty Numbers--as well as...

Will: From...Mikhail's database sample...

Will: The structure is clever, cunning, concise...

Will: It's brilliant. There's no doubt it's my code.

Soi: Now wait just a minute--!

Soi: How--How is that even POSSIBLE, Will?

Soi: CherryDynamics shut down the Trinity project AGES ago!

Soi: In fact it was--

Soi: Dr. Blackwell himself, wasn't it--? Back when he was CTO--?

[Will stiffens at that.]

Soi: ....

Soi: I...

Soi: I always thought that was the reason you left Cherry to come work with us and make the Mighties here...

Soi: Wasn't it?

Will: Of COURSE it was, Soi!

Soi: --Nngh-- (Oh no, he's angry--)

Will: After what HAPPENED there--

Will: After what I had to do to HER--

Will: In the end, Blackwell only saw the dangers, not the potential--!

Will: He NEVER gave ME a CHANCE!

Will: Never gave HER a...a chance...

Soi: ......

[As quickly as Will flared, he slowly SAT back down again, tears now flowing freely.]

Will: I can still hear her in my DREAMS, Soi.

Will: I...

Will: God, I was a fool.

Will: Such a fool...

Will: But I was just so eager and wanted to prove myself to HIM that I...I didn't listen.

Will: And now she's come to haunt me again.

Soi: --Will.....

Will: I...I just--

Will: --I can't TELL them, Soi, I just CAN'T--!

Will: To tell them that all that I am--all of who I AM IS A LIE?!

Will: What that would do to them, to--to all that we have built and come to cherish--

Will: I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EVERYTHING AGAIN, SOI--!

Soi: Shhhh!

Soi: Will--

[Soichiro calmly wraps an arm around Will's shaking shoulders, almost close to tears himself.]

Soi: You won't, Will--

Soi: I swear we will make this work somehow, if I have a say in it!

Soi: I know her loss was so hard on you, Will, and I know how much it hurts.

Soi: But this...

Soi: This is a virus, Will--Trinity was not a virus.

Soi: She was your daughter, if only for a short time.

Soi: I don't know how or why someone would put her scripts into this...this horrid thing--

Soi: But I do know one thing.

Soi: I will always be in your corner, Will. No matter what happens or who tries to stop us.

Soi: I'll always have your back.

Soi: ^^

Will: ....

Will: -Sniff-

Will: S...Soi...

Will: You--You never HAD to help me...

Soi: Oh, poppycock! That's ridiculous.

Soi: Where would you be without me, eh?

Will: -Sniff-

Will: ....

Will: U-Up the creek with no paddle?

Soi: I was thinking more like still a rotten Cherry, but let's go with that.

Will: Eheh....

Will: ....

Will: What are we going to do, Soi...?

Soi: I don't really know.

Soi: But we can't keep this from Mikhail for long, you know that, right?

Will: . . .

Soi: Will.

Will: I...I don't...

Soi: Will, he GAVE you one of the samples, he's SEEN that custom script.

Will: --....

Soi: He's going to put two and two together eventually, and would you rather have him find out on his own or hearing it from someone he knows is a genuine good person with genuine, good intentions?

Will: . . . .

Will: -Whispers- I don't want him or any of them to think less of me...

Soi: .....

Will: And then there's my own children, Soi...

Will: How would THEY handle this?

Soi: Will, that's sort of your fault there.

Soi: You always put it off ever since Pyro.

Soi: There is just no easy way to go about this, Will.

Soi: You have to tell them the truth.

Will: . . . .

Soi: At least--

Soi: At least tell someone, Will--

Soi: You need to talk about this to someone OTHER than me.

Soi: Someone that isn't quite in our family--but still a friend.

Soi: Someone like...

Soi: ....

Soi: --!

Soi: Felix?

Will: ...But he's just stirring.

Soi: When he's BETTER, Will.

Soi: Honestly, I will drag you to him if I have to, don't think I won't!

Will: -Ngh--

Soi: ....

Soi: Please don't take this the wrong way, Will. I'm doing this as your friend.

Soi: All I want is for you to be well and at peace with...with who you were.

Soi: Alright?

Will: .....

Will: -Inhale-

Will: ...O...Okay...

Will: I...Okay.

Soi: Promise, Will. You have one foot out the door.

Will: ....

Will: I...

Will: I promise.

Soi: To?

Will: Go talk to Felix.

Soi: About?

Will: ...Trinity.

Soi: Good. ^^

Will: ......

Soi: Chin up, Will.

Soi: Things will get better, soon.

Soi: I promise you that. ^^

Will: ....

Will: I...

Will: I can only hope, Soi.

Will: (Hope and dream...)

Will: ...I made a mess, didn't I....

Soi: Sort of? You just turned off everything in a rush.

Soi: ...Also I think you locked us in. ^^;;;

Will: ....

Will: (Oops--)

Will: I...

Will: I think I'll just call someone to get us out...

Will: -Oh God why are there so many messages SOI--

Will: -I THINK IT'S TOO LATE—-

Soi: -Wait what--

[Soi peeked over Will's phone to get a closer look--]

[MESSAGE 1

FROM: MC005]

>WILL

>WILL, WE FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER

Will: --???

[MESSAGE 2

FROM: MC005]

> {We figured it out Will I’m not sure yet but PICK UP YOUR PHONE—}

Will: -Wait, what--

[MESSAGE 3

FROM: DWN-019]

> -Raw data that is echoed and mostly mirrored-

Will: -Okay so THANK GOD IT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE WHAT I THINK IT WAS--

Soi: .....

Soi: You REALLY need to go to sleep.

Will: Shush--

[MESSAGE 4

FROM: DWN-019]

>Doctor!

>I know you are awake working.

>If you were asleep, your phone would have woken you.

> SO GO TO BED WHEN YOU GET THIS.

>There is very important news to share in the morning!

Soi: ...That's kinda scary, actually.

Will: -______-;;;;

[MESSAGE 5

FROM: DWN-019]

>We sent Dr. Cossack to sleep despite his protests, he needs rest.

>Please have everyone gather for breakfast, they’ll want to hear this.

Soi: See?

Soi: Heck, maybe things will work out after all!

Will: . . .

Will: I...Guess so.

Will: ...Before we go, though, I should lock the code--

Soi: That can wait.

Will: -But we really should secure the--

Soi: In the morning, Will.

Will: -But--

Soi: -Alright that's it we're calling in the cavalry-

Soi: Call, dear?

Will: -ERK--

Will: -Waitwaitwait on second thought BED SOUNDS NICE-

Will: -Look see, we're going--

[BONK--!]

Will: Ow--

Will: ....

Will: Oh right I locked us in, didn't I.

Will: Um.

Will: ^^;;;;;

Soi: .....

Soi: -LOSES IT-

Soi: Aw, Will, you...

Soi: Call!

[Footsteps.]

".... Doctors, why is this door locked?"

Soi: Will here accidentally locked us in, heh.

Soi: Be a dear and disengage the lock, will you?

Soi: Oh, and get Will to bed, he's being difficult.

Will: -I SAID I WAS GOING-

"Yes, Doctor. I will only be a few minutes."

Will: -I'm locking the code while she's doing it-

Soi: Will-- -Siiiigh- -_-;;;;;;

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

=CHAPTER 7C: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Titus}

[It was early in the morning when Cardinal finally reached the destination he’d been looking for.]

Cardinal: This is it, then? You’re sure of it?

Scout: Rarf!

[After leaving Sanda Enterprises the day before, he had spent some time hiding in the streets. He’d taken refuge in an abandoned structure that was not quite stable, preferring to take the risk of structural collapse over the risk of being caught.

He was still on a mission, and he’d fight to the last rather than be taken off duty. He just couldn’t afford that, and he really didn’t want to have to pound any of his friends into submission for trying to “help”.

As he cooled down—literally and figuratively—from his encounter with Call, he was able to think more clearly and come up with a new plan.

He’d tried to find clues by searching Shade’s city. He’d walked all over town. He’d tried to search near Shade’s family: in his private retreat he called home. None of that had been helpful, which left him with only one option. The option he had always known, in the end, that it would come down to….]

Cardinal: -Somewhat darkly- (So this is what your other “office” looks like…)

[…to find the place where ”Radar” did his other work. ]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (I pray to GOD that this WORKS…!)

[He was truly miserable, feeling naught but despair.

Even with Graham beaten back, the threat of Monstropolis still wasn’t over. It had been narrowly avoided too many times already—he was certain that the destruction Avi and Bat could have caused would have tipped the scales over the edge of what would be forgiven.

Their manipulation of forces that targeted the general public had placed tens of thousands at risk, and would have had very high casualty reports if they’d been carried out to their fullest. And if that had come to pass, he knew that the military—which he always knew HAD to be alive and well, despite what the Mighties believed—would not just sit and watch.]

Cardinal: (I have to find you, Shade…)

[And if that held true for the other Mighty Numbers, it most certainly held true for Shade. Other robots might cause destruction on the scale of a single building, or even hold a massive monument hostage… but they were second rate when compared to the Teal Silence.

It was one thing to try and curtail the average fighter with a show of force.

It was quite another to go up against the world’s deadliest assassin.]

Cardinal: (…before they reduce your core to nothing but ashes…!)

[He couldn’t bear to see his mission fail in any form or another.

If he failed to find Shade in time, then the Mighty Number would only be found AFTER he had already caused massive damage. Maybe even casualties. If he failed, innocent lives would pay the price.

If he failed to stop Shade in time, then his best friend would be deemed a threat that was too great of a risk. There would be no mercy shown by those ordered to carry out the order with extreme prejudice. If he failed… then the price of justice would be the life of the man who was all but his brother.

He’d lose Shade forever, and no force in this world could ever bring him back.]

Baron: -Twittercheep!-

Cardinal: -Brought out of his thoughts- …

Cardinal: Good work, Scout.

[The happy Zigzagoon gave a yip and wagged his tail, looking more like a bristle brush than anything else. He seemed pleased to have been of use to his short master.]

Cardinal: -Crouches down- Now let’s see what we’re dealing with in here…

[Cardinal used SEARCH SNAKE!]

[He returned to his feet, taking a few steps back as the explosive camera slithered inside.]

Cardinal: (Come on…! Please let this be…!)

[There was a creepy skittering noise just before the feed suddenly cut out.]

Cardinal: !

[His face split into a grin.]

Cardinal: There’s someone inside!

[Hope. A mere flicker, less than a spark, but it was there nonetheless. There was still a chance.]

Cardinal: Finally…. We’re actually getting somewhere….

He held out his finger to invite Baron to come off his shoulder, allowing him to better look him in the eye.]

Cardinal: This is going to be it, guys. I’m going in.

Scout: Rarf! -Eagerly runs around in a circle, battllllllllllle-

Cardinal: Sorry, Scout. But this will be too much for the both of you, I’m afraid.

Scout: —rrrrr?

The Zig merely tilted his head in confusion, but Baron puffed up in indignation before taking alight and flapping his wings in Cardinal’s face.]

Baron: -We are a battle beast, excuse— -

Cardinal: Heh. Think you can take on a den of assassins, do you?

[The bird gave a fiery huff before landing on the ground and strutting haughtily, beak in the air.

Cardinal smiled sadly, reminded of gentler days when hope was young.]

Cardinal: I guess they’re right in what they say… you really ARE a bird version of me…

Cardinal: -Of course, that’s why I chose you, in the first place-

[He shook his head.]

Cardinal: Neither of you have enough levels to take this challenge on. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay behind.

Scout: -Whine of protest-

Cardinal: I know, I know… but there’s more to it than just that. It’s really cramped in there. When things start going south…

Cardinal: I don’t want to have to worry about trying not to hit you. Because that’s probably something that would happen.

Cardinal: So. I’m going to need the both of you to stay behind. Stay out of sight. And…

[He hesitated, not really all too eager to think on the matter he was about to bring up. But given the circumstances… he didn’t have much of a choice.]

Cardinal: …if there’s a big explosion…

[He turned to look away.

This was going to be dangerous. Almost certainly more dangerous than his last battle, but probably more so. The chances of him not making it…

…They were not something that could be ignored.]

Cardinal: -CLEARLY unhappy-

Scout: -Wha— why are you sad all of a sudden??-

Scout: -Whiiiine, no don’t be saaad—here have some kisses on your hand–

[Cardinal sighed and gave the thieving ‘coon some scritches.]

Cardinal: …Well, if that happens, then just get out of there and head to Sanda Enterprises. Just… just do it, okay?

Scout: D: > -Whiiiiiiine, no, we can't leave short master behind— -

Cardinal: …Scout… -Sighs, putting a hand to his face-

Scout: -Will Dig out if needed, not leaving behind--

Scout: -Sits stubbornly- -Whiiiine-

Cardinal: (No! I—!)

Cardinal: (I can't let you be the one to find out…!)

Cardinal: -Struggles to come up with a plausible lie- You…

Cardinal: …you'll probably… probably want help from Mic. Or Digger or something.

Cardinal: (If he could somehow communicate what had happened, I'm sure Diggs would know that I'm gone…)

Cardinal: So just. Go home, if that happens. Okay? Both of you.

Scout: -Whiiiiiiine...-

[Scout STILL seemed very sad and displeased at the command, but in the end, he gave a sad 'Borf' of confirmation.]

Scout: -Rarf.-

Baron: -Huff- -Puffs up into a borb, shrinking down in on himself to indicate he'd stay put… for now.-

Cardinal: Good. Thank you.

[He returns his attention to the entrance.]

Cardinal: All my efforts have led me here. I always knew in my heart it would come down to this….

[There was a mechanical whine as his blaster began priming for a charged shot.]

Cardinal: Time to end this.

<DLN-000 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

Cardinal: -Rushes through the door-

[He stood ready for the first obstacle—the Search Snake hadn't made it very far inside, after all, before—]

[SSSSPPPT!]

[There's a shot of sticky strings that shoot out from one shadowy corner of the ceiling—a humanoid spider bot with beady, sickly, magenta eyes, fangs glinting in the low lighting. She has many legs to move around with—but the strings seem to come from her fingertips.]

Arachnia: -Mine—!-

Cardinal: !!

Arachnia: Stupid fly, walking into our web—

[She YANKS at where she had aimed, which propels her in a savage POUNCE for Cardinal himself—]

Arachnia: MINE—!

Cardinal: Not likely—!

BLAM!

[He aimed right for the abdomen, releasing the charged shot that had been building up the whole time!]

Arachnia: -SCREECH—-

[She skids away across the room, her many legs failing to find perchance in anything as she flails in pain where she landed—]

[He began preparing another charged shot, but this time, it appeared as a flaming orb.]

Cardinal: -Eyes taking on a more nasty red color, almost visible behind his visor-

Cardinal: You know what the only way to be sure is when exterminating pests?

Cardinal: TO KILL IT WITH FIRE!

[Cardinal used ATOMIC FIRE!]

[The spider assassin SCREAMS in agony, flailing harder as the fire spread to the area around her, and desperately rolls put it out. There's movement from somewhere deeper in the den, and—]

[BANG BANG—!]

[Shots expertly fired from the main room up ahead, although these are merely standard bullets.]

[KTING! KTEOW!]

[The shots bounced harmlessly off of Cardinal's shield, and he openly blared his thoughts on the source: unamused, and very unimpressed.]

Cardinal: You PUNKS! What is this, amateur hour?!

[He fires a non-charged blast of Atomic Fire right down the hallway before charging for the source, shield-first.]

[The temperature in here was quickly rising—]

"HISSSSS—"

Cardinal: ?!

[He couldn't FEEL that specific signal, but if he had turned off his transceiver…]

Cardinal: Viper, I swear that IF THAT IS /YOU/—

"Stop STRUGGLING."

[Coils of something long and slim circled fast near the First, a hooded figure rising rapidly with venom dripping fangs not unlike the spider bot before her.]

Tanith: I HATE men that only spout nonsense!

Tanith: DIE!

[Okay. Not QUITE what Cardinal had expected. Being crushed to death by a fetching snake woman had not been on his list of things he anticipated with dealing with that day.]

Tenith: -Hissss— -

[Panels that looked like her hair at first extended outward, giving her the appearance of a cobra hood. She sashayed from left to right, before LUNGING for his neck—]

[Cardinal used LEAF SHIELD!]

[A swirling cloud of ceratanium death enveloped them both, originating from within the coils. It was like a rain of daggers and shrapnel, carried upon violent winds.

Rather than getting a mouthful of his cabling and wires, she ended up getting her mouth impaled with such force that it effectively was like hitting a solid wall. That was on top of the dozens and dozens of cuts all along the underside of her lower half that had been coiled around her prey.]

[BWIP!]

[To add insult to injury, the short intruder was suddenly gone, causing her to fall into a heap when that solid support was no longer there.]

Cardinal: I’ll give you this, /Lady/…

[Since when was he several feet back near where he’d started from?]

Cardinal: Unlike my brother, at least you’re no COWARD!

[Cardinal used NEEDLE CANNON!]

THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

[The Needle Cannon made a deep booming noise, firing at a relatively slow rate compared to a normal plasma blast. It was still fast enough, especially with the first impalement pinning her into place.]

Tanith: NHAAAAAA—!

[Her tail wildly destroyed the environment around her as she wailed, trying to yank the needle out of her--but it was far too wedged into the concrete.]

[—?]

[...Why was her tail going through the wall?]

Cardinal: (Hologram? Ugh, Xel technology must be so advanced for me not to notice!)

[He huffed and turned his back to her, pinging for Jazz to come on inside.]

Cardinal: (Whatever. I don't have time for…)

Bzzzzzzz…

Cardinal: …?

[He quickly brought up another Leaf Shield, trying to identify where he’d heard that noise before. It wasn’t long before he found out.]

BZZZZZZZZZ!!

[A swarm of wasp-like drones zoomed into view, bearing down on him with surprising speed. Most of the swarm got shredded up by the shield, but there were still dozens left over. Dozens that tore into him mercilessly, clearly meant for the kill.

The stings, however, had no effect. Most did not even manage to get past his armor. The few that went for his neck and audio cables merely caused small puncture wounds that were very cheap to heal over. He could tell by the chemical analysis that there was some sort of toxin in them: something lethal to Xelbots (and maybe also humans), no doubt. But on him, it had no effect at all. No effect except to make him annoyed, that is.]

Cardinal: (Ugh, what a bunch of pests…)

[While they didn’t really cause any major damage, they were a distraction that he didn’t particularly care for. And not necessarily one easy to get rid of, either. If he were in a more casual setting, he would have admired the genius of it; using a swarm of unassuming, small, fast moving, hard to hit, toxic drones may or may not be as effective in the arena against bulky opponents like Mic, but they would be terrifyingly effective against the average civilian, human or Xelbot.

Sadly, he didn’t have the time or inclination to make an a deep analysis of the situation.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: > JAZZ—!

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: > Time to shine!

[He teleported out of the swarm of wasps, leaving them a prone and concentrated target. His (ultimately) faithful support unit came charging down the hallway.]

Jazz: HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSS…!

[There was a brief clicking noise, followed by a stream of fire. The drones got burnt into a crisp.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >Well done, Jazz!

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: > Now let’s go say hello!

[The two of them ran down the open hallway. More shots were fired, prompting him to bring up the shield again.]

Cardinal: (This is very odd. Shade had his own ROOM rigged with traps. But other than the false wall, I haven’t run into a single one so—)

SHUNK!

[As Cardinal entered into the main room, a solid square foot of wicked looking spikes shot up through the floor with such force that they would have impaled a lesser man. They crackled with strange energy that seemed to try and shake him to the core, sending a wave of odd sensation all through his body. It was as if it were trying to thrash him on a much smaller level, until he flew apart into a pile of pieces, but it wasn’t even close to working on him. Thanks to his armor, he didn’t get impaled, either…]

Cardinal: Woah—!

[But it WAS enough of a sudden change in his footing to cause him to stumble and nearly lose his balance.

As it turned out…]

BZZZZZZZ BANG BANG BANG—

[That was all the time that the assassins needed.]

Cardinal: -More out of annoyance than anything else- Gah!

[With the shots coming in from a corner rather than head on, he took some minor damage from the bullets. The stings were even less effective, though the cloud of insect signals was making it harder to focus on the other signals in the background. The room was starting to grow even hotter…]

Cardinal: -Starts charging his blaster- (Not THIS again—)

[Before he could even finish that line of thinking, there was a static-riddled roar, sounding almost like the rage of the ocean. There was a blast of cold air and a strong force that pushed him back, causing him to trip backwards over the spikes.]

Cardinal: -Oof— -

[Just as he was getting to his feet again, still under fire, there was a loud grinding noise to his right. He became alarmed as he heard the noise of loud and heavy footsteps bearing crashing down in his direction.]

Cardinal: !!!

[He turned and shielded just in time to prevent a large and heavy sword from slamming into him.]

[It was at this point that he noticed his blaster had been frozen over.]

Cardinal: Glitch!

[He didn’t think on it long, instead switching to something that didn’t require use of a blaster to work.]

[Cardinal used SUPER ARM!]

WHAM!

[He turned and hit the knight so hard that he was sent soaring across the room and slamming into the wall… which was dislodged by the application of force and spun around, continuing the knight’s path into the wall on the side of the other room, too.]

Cardinal: (Secret passages? Of COURSE there would—)

[He was slammed to the ground from the left.]

Cardinal: !!! -Brings up Leaf Shield-

[Once again, his attacker got nothing but a mouthful of leaves for their trouble—though THIS time, the opponent in question appeared to be a massively buff, anthropomorphic shark.]

Riptide: -Gives off a staticky ROAR again-

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: > STALL FOR ME!

[Cardinal used SKULL BARRIER!]

HHHHHHHHSSSSSSSS CLICK FOOOOOOOOOOSH—

[Both of them were blasted by fire, though Cardinal was unaffected by it. Riptide gave glitched roars of pain, lashing out at Cardinal in a frenzy. Cardinal responded by using a self-defense move carried out to flip off an attacker that was on top of you—]

Cardinal: -Shatters the half-melted ice against the spikes-

[—and then tossing the marine predator across the room, slamming him into the marksman that had been pestering him the whole time.]

???: -Muffled cursing-

[He smirked to see that the marksman wasn’t strong enough to move his massive coworker, though he didn’t have long to gloat on it.]

BZZZZZZ…

[He was swarmed again, his time by a cloud so thick that he couldn’t even see—though he had seen enough in the split second to find out where they were all coming from. There was an unassuming, gardener looking fellow standing in the hallway opposite the entrance, looking very out of place in a den of ruthless killers and spies.

But then again—just as with the unassuming nature of their weapon of choice—that’s probably what made them so successful, wasn’t it?]

Cardinal: Buzz off!

[Cardinal used FIRE STORM!]

[He dropped the Skull Barrier for the time being, becoming engulfed by a protective shield of flames. This also fired a sizable fire charge in front of him, roaring across the room to blast the unfortunate nature assassin in the face.]

Vera: -SCREEEE, PAAAIIINNNN— -

[He could hear her running off—likely to go out some secret exit that led around to the holographic wall from earlier—but he didn’t care at this juncture. All the battle, the frustration, the annoying fights— it was starting to feed into an aggressive frenzy of his own.

He may not be infected with a virus that corrupted his free will, but he was damn well cursed with the sin of Wrath, especially when worked up into such a state.]

Cardinal: I’m GOING TO GET INFORMATION TONIGHT! I won’t stop until I do!

Cardinal: If you know what’s good for you, you will TELL ME ABOUT RADAR!

[His eyes were becoming a deeper red in rage, the heat starting to become quite uncomfortable.]

Cardinal: Someone will talk, and I don't care who—even if I have to BEAT you within an INCH OF YOUR LIFE!

[He was hit square-on with a blast of ice, which melted upon contact with the Fire Storm. The water did put his shield out, however, leaving him back to normal again.

This minor setback was nothing compared to the searing beam that followed.]

"Radar is LONG gone, Mr. Light."

Cardinal: -Pain-

[He suffered under the intensity of the scorching light, the likes of which he could only remember fragments of—the smallest snippets of memory of his life as a newon, in decades long past.

The searing of the mechanism that had branded his serial into his shoulder, leaving it neatly engraved.]

Cardinal: -It burns-

[Light seems to shine from the construct who's voice was as perfect as her appearance—one is lead to think that she had chosen this time to shine so brightly, as there was no indicator that she was even there.]

Diamond: -Grabs one of her prism floating near her, still smoking-

Diamond: You're almost too pitiful to even think about. Did you really think Radar would come back here?

Diamond: If he did, the lot of us would be Xel stains on the floor.

Cardinal: Nnn…

Cardinal: Who are you?

Diamond: -Gives a look-

Diamond: Really.

Diamond: ...Well, I suppose he wouldn't have mentioned my name, even in passing...

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …!!

[Wait.

Those prisms.

They almost looked like… diamonds…]

>1 CROSS REFERENCE IDENTIFIED

[It led to nothing but a blank file. Nothing but a name, one mentioned months ago in passing.]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Don't wanna ruin this lil tour here for ya, so I'll chime ahead to Diamond and tell her you'll be there tonight. Could really use your help.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cardinal: Sh-Shade’s boss…?

[Her lips curl into a cruel smile.]

Diamond: Oh, so he did? I wonder, how much he actually told you…

Diamond: Given that you two are so close, despite circumstances.

Diamond: -Tch- Stupid cowboy can't keep his mouth shut, huh.

Diamond: Idiot.

[This insult might as well have been aimed at him instead, for the effect it had on Cardinal. He felt a burning need to defend Shade’s honor, even with the situation being what it was.]

Cardinal: -Annoyance data, speaking aloud now- No!

Cardinal: Bladeblaster was the moron who opened his mouth!

Diamond: Him? He was always a troublesome little flaw…

Diamond: Absolutely obsessed with the Mighty Numbers ever since he ditched us for whoever had offered him that new leader position.

Diamond: Good...

Cardinal: —?

[Three of the floating prisms suddenly make a triangle formation, and—]

Diamond: RIDDANCE!

Cardinal: !

[He brings his shield out in front of him out of instinct.]

[Another searing laser shoots out of the prisms, and Diamond herself seems to—fade?, No, wait, it was the LIGHT around her that was fading—]

[Cardinal was not amused to be fighting another invisible opponent.]

Cardinal: Are you kidding me?!

Diamond: Thanks for the bonfires, Cardinal Light.

Diamond: Plenty for me to work with.

Cardinal: (I was WONDERING what sort of things his BOSS would be capable of…)

Cardinal: (But if she's his boss… that means she knows what I need!)

Diamond: -Snaps fingers, making a perfect ringing tone- Riptide.

Diamond: Tear him apart.

[Riptide laughed at this before charging across the room. Somewhat to his surprise, Cardinal responded by charging forward, himself.

While Riptide leaped at him, Cardinal dropped down to a slide, using his shield to vault the shark over him. Jazz snarled and leaped onto the shark, digging into him with claws and teeth.

This placed Cardinal right at the edge of the room, next to the marksman.]

BANG!

[There was a slight chipping and shattering noise as Cardinal's visor crumbled where it had been shot. Cardinal growled.]

Cardinal: I've had enough of you!

[Cardinal used ICE SLASHER!]

[Six rounds of ice blasts were fired off in extremely rapid succession.

Any soul unfortunate enough to get caught by such arrows found themselves impaled by blades of ice -200ºF.

The marksman was abruptly rendered inactive, the cold that seeped throughout his body making it too hard to breathe, let alone to fire.]

Cardinal: -Hmph-

WHAM!

[He turned his attention to Riptide, who was trying to pull Jazz off of him. When that hadn't worked, he'd tried ramming her against a wall. She was more nimble than that, and had landed on top of his head.]

Cardinal: (She seems to be doing fine, but where is—)

[BSSSSS—!]

[Pain, searing pain, another beam of searing LIGHT had hit him square on his back—]

Cardinal: -OW-

Diamond: Sturdy thing for someone that's not even Xel.

Cardinal: (How much does she KNOW?)

[He vaguely knew that he'd already survived things that would have more than disabled a Xelbot in the past few minutes in the den, but still—]

Cardinal: Yeah, that's the general idea!

Diamond: No Xel signal, no previous data—I thought something seemed wrong when he pulled some favors...

Cardinal: (That's it, keep talking…)

Diamond: And look where THAT brought you.

Diamond: Looking for the second highest kill count in CAL behind me.

Diamond: But that's not gonna stop you, isn't it?

[Cardinal didn't answer right away, instead firing in the direction of the sound: this time, using two Power Capsules at once.]

[Cardinal used METAL BLADE! Cardinal used THUNDER BEAM!]

Diamond: -HNK—!-

[The Metal Blades were avoided, but she wasn't fast enough to dodge the lighting—she was thrown back enough to hit the wall and convulses for a moment from the volts of electricity wracking her frame.]

Cardinal: -Eyes starting to creep into a full green- (Ha! Not impervious!)

Diamond: You....

[Her head is low, but the aura she's emitting suddenly flares, and several virus alarms once again silently blare in response.

When she raises her head, it's jerky and unnatural.

Her once golden hues are now a sickly mixture of a chilling, icy blue and an all too familiar magenta.]

Cardinal: (What the hell…? The Prairie Kings weren't like this…)

Diamond?: Go home, Songbird.

Diamond?: This burning world has nothing to do with you anymore.

Cardinal: !!!

[Her voice isn't... it's not just hers...]

Diamond?: This isn't your FIGHT.

Cardinal: Seeing as I'm here fighting right now, that appears not to be the case!

[He began cracking with electricity again.]

Cardinal: There are only three things that happen now! Either I go home once he's there, I bring him back myself, or I die trying!

Cardinal: There are no other options!

[Diamond—or whatever was controlling her now—seemed very tired at that sentence, which bled away into annoyance.]

Diamond?: Moron. Then D I E.

[She raises her arm again, and another beam fires at Cardinal. By the end of the attack, her aura dies down, and Diamond seems to not have noticed what just had occurred, herself.]

Diamond: They don't call Radar a ghost for nothing!

Cardinal: …

[He decided to shake it off, focusing on the present.]

Cardinal: Even ghosts must materialize somewhere eventually!

Cardinal: You’re the one who has the answers, Diamond!

Cardinal: ANSWERS I NEED!

[Cardinal used THUNDER BEAM!]

Diamond: -HN—-

Diamond: CINDERUS! Check him!

Diamond: Riptide, for Xel's sake, I told you to TEAR HIM APART!

Diamond: SOMEBODY KILL THAT MAN ALREADY!

[There was a large crash and Cardinal had to whirl around to face the knight that was bearing down on him. Meanwhile—spurned on, perhaps, by the fear of the boss—Riptide finally threw Jazz off of him and rushed from the other direction.

Cardinal was clearly caught between the hammer and the anvil—]

[BWIP!]

[He teleported across the room, causing Riptide to fall over. Cinderus dodged to the side, jumping over him quite easily.]

Jazz: RRRRRRRRREEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRNNNNGGGHHHHH…

Jazz: HHHHHHHHSSSSSSS…

[Click FOOOOOOOOSH]

[This time, she set the floor on fire as well.]

Bareeeeeeeep! Bareeeeeeep!

[Fire alarms starting going off, followed by the sprinkler system. The water was black from being dirty, as was prone to happen with sprinklers.]

Cardinal: Game's over, Cinders!

[He was not about to let this drag out any longer in such a way than he had to. When his two opponents turned to rush at him again, this time he stood his ground.]

Cardinal: CHECKMATE!

[Cardinal used METAL BLADE!]

[He absolutely spammed the attack, deadly saw blades spinning through the air. They went right into the armor, which was nothing compared to what they did to Riptide's face. The shark roared in pain, starting to gush infected Xel.]

Diamond: —!!

Diamond: Glitch—

[One of them nicked her legs, and another her arms—which only enraged her further.]

Diamond: You ruined me—

Diamond: I'm going to BURY you so deep NO ONE will EVER find you!

[DOZENS of her prisms suddenly materialize, the room becoming ever darker by the second. Diamond was hard to see, but one could still make out her outline.]

Cardinal: You wouldn't be the first to TRY—

[Cinderus let out a battle cry and rushed at him, forcing him to turn his attention elsewhere.]

Cardinal: !

[He pivoted to the side, but the black knight was quick on his feet. He, too, stepped in turn, bearing his sword down on Cardinal's shield. Cardinal shoved him off, doing a backflip to give himself a bit of distance.]

[Cardinal used NEEDLE CANNON!]

[The attack served as a lance, piercing the knight right in the shoulder. By now, the room was so dark that Cardinal had switched over to night vision.]

[BSSSST—]

[There was a priming noise—and then a blast of blinding light—!] Cardinal: -PAIN— -

>WARNING! INTERNAL TEMPERATURE HAS EXCEEDED SAFE LEVELS!

[He couldn't see anything. Not anymore. His visual receptors had been overflooded. All he could feel right now was the baking heat of his core, roasting away at his insides.]

Cardinal: -Hot, too hot to move-

Diamond: Gnh…

Diamond: Took us long enough, damnit…

Diamond: You're beyond stupid to even THINK about coming here and coming out alive.

Diamond: -Prism in hand, pointing right at Cardinal's face—-

Cardinal: Hhhh…

[Was this to be the end? He was too hot to teleport safely. And he didn’t want to.]

Cardinal: -Coughs on the heat-

[He wasn’t sure whether the next blast would prove fatal. He was strong, but his body was old… and she was powerful, and exacerbating his weakness.

But there was one thing certain.

If Diamond truly dealt a killing blow…]

Cardinal: Say your goodbyes too, then, Diamond…

[…They’d both be vaporized in the ensuing explosion.]

Diamond: Please.

Diamond: Why do you think they formed CAL in the first place?

[There was a priming noise, and Cardinal gave an aggravated sigh as he stared at the prism.]

Diamond: For the bots too dangerous, too volatile, too much for anyone out there!

Cardinal: (I can move quickly—my shield—)

Diamond: They send us into the dark to take care of problems they've lost the NERVE for.

Cardinal: (But not at the speed of LIGHT…)

Diamond: Because they're all too scared to clean up their own me—

[SHNK!]

Diamond: GHAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!

Cardinal: —?!

[That hadn't been him. And it sure wasn't Jazz.]

[The assassin leader SCREAMED as Xel ran down her face, from the metal arrow that had found it's mark—right in her eye.]

"Score!"

Cardinal: -Vents enough heat to turn around somewhat quickly- ?

[SHNK—]

Cardinal: AUGH!

[Maybe moving in the process was a bad idea.]

[Out from the shadows, the first thing one would see is two glowing, yellow eyes. A wolf's head...]

((Pic—Howlstriker))

[—But as the new construct quickly came into view, it was merely a very convincing headdress. A young woman with facepaint and many feathers, beads, and such on her person, grinning with cheerful glee as she aimed a longbow at Diamond.]

???: Hi, boss!

Diamond: Howlstriker—!

[SHNK—]

[Another arrow flew through the air, catching Diamond off guard as it dug into her shoulder.]

Howl: -Drawing another arrow- Ha, I've always wanted to do this.

Diamond: You—You stupid mutt—

Howl: Wooow, I'm so offended.

[SHNK—!]

Jazz: RRRROOOOOOOWWRRRR!

[Cardinal winced as he used Super Arm to pull the arrow out of his shoulder, where it had impaled him. Oil and coolant flowed out onto his armor, and crackling and other noises from broken mechanics could be faintly heard.]

Cardinal: (No—! I NEED HER ALIVE TO TALK—!)

[As the last arrow struck Diamond in her abdomen, Howlstriker's wolf ears twitched at the faint crackling from Cardinal. She turns.]

Howl: ...

Howl: O.O

Howl: .....coooool.....

[As they were talking, the wound was glowing with a white light. Frayed wires were wrapping back together, bent fan blades straightening back into shape, punctured plating sealing over.

Within mere moments, the damage was undone completely.]

Howl: O . O !!

Howl: -GAAAASP-

Howl: You!

Howl: You you you, I found you—

[Cardinal was alarmed at this.]

Cardinal: (She's been HUNTING me?!)

Howl: : D!! You made me go in a big huge circle! Usually, I'd be mad, but you're too good.

Diamond: Gh....

[Cinderus moves from where he had fallen—]

[SHNK—!]

[—Only to fall unconscious once Howl fires another arrow at his hip.]

Howl: -Sniff sniff- You smell like barbecue. C:

Cardinal: —… (Augh, she must be like Jazz…)

[Spending several days in Kansas City without washing his scarf had undoubtedly led to it getting infused with scents from the local culture.]

Howl: -Takes a step forward--

Cardinal: -Shifts his arm back into a blaster- Stay back, hunter!

Howl: —?

Howl: -Whiiiiines- Awwww...

Howl: I was only trying to help? Was it because I shot you?

Howl: I mean, in my defense, you kinda got in the way, dumbass. : /

Cardinal: I have enough hunters looking for the prize as it is!

Howl: ....

Howl: -Aaaand it clicks- Oooooooh....

Howl: -Laughs- Oh my gaaaawwwd, you're funny—

Howl: If I wanted you dead, I would've tried harder, duuuuh.

Cardinal: Not if you wanted to toy with me first!

Diamond: Howl...

Howl: -Ignores- Nah, wolves don't do that.

Cardinal: Not NORMALLY, anyway…

Howl: Come oooooon, I'm not crazy like everyone else—I was taking a nap when everyone went insane.

Howl: Which I don't mind! : D I never liked anyone down here anyway!

Howl: Especially Refractor, maaaan that felt good.

Diamond: -Grumbles of protest-

Cardinal: (She… she's not sick? But…)

Cardinal: (But if she touched the Xel—)

Cardinal: (She has to get out of here, it's not safe— but I still need—!)

Cardinal: Howlstriker, was it?

Howl: Yuuup. c:

Howl: That's my name, don't wear it out.~ -Wink-

Cardinal: I need data. I need to find Radar—!

Howl: Radar...?

[It takes her a moment to think, crossing her arms and then--]

Howl: Diamoooond, I forget, who's Radar again?

Diamond: -Coughs- Are you kidding me, he's talking about Bullseye—

Howl: OH, okay—

Howl: Sorry, that guy has, like, a bajillon different names—

Cardinal: I need to know what sort of access he had to top-secret information and restricted entry in matters of national security!

Howl: Uuuuh.

Howl: -Thinks again-

Howl: ...I guess since everything is pretty much borked right now, I guess I could tell you...

Diamond: You will do no such—

[SHNK—! Another arrow to her leg.]

Diamond: -NNH—-

Howl: Well...

Howl: Bullesye, Radar, I dunno, I'm just gonna call him Shade, he's pretty much the favor guy.

Cardinal: (The… huh?)

Howl: You need something done, Shade can get it for ya.

Howl: Like, every single time.

Howl: Papers, info, stuff that ya don't have clearance for?

Howl: Shade got it all cuz he has access to it. Kinda like how Diamond does?

Diamond: You useless blabbermouth—!

Howl: -Yet again ignores- I haven't seen him have any trouble with clearance or anything like that.

Howl: He's great! : D I like him.

Cardinal: He… he really is, but… Augh…

[He started pacing a bit.]

Jazz: Ree-ow.

Cardinal: (I'd… really hoped that learning these things would narrow it down for me, would give me a clue…)

[Jazz came over to sniff at Howlstriker, flicking her tail as her master paced around.]

Howl: Kitty! :D

Jazz: -Prrrr-

Howl: Oh gosh I love cats—

Cardinal: (Come on, Cardinal, THINK…. He could be ANYWHERE…)

Diamond: -Nnnh...- -Fading in and out of consciousness, why this-

Cardinal: (What did the virus do to you, Shade?)

Cardinal: (What would it do with someone who can go just about…)

Howl: -Scritches for them- Hey, so, you're looking for him?

Cardinal: Need, need to find him…

Cardinal: Need to find him before the—

Cardinal: —!!!

Howl: o.o?

[There was a painful SCREEEEEEEEE noise from his fans grinding in alarm.]

Howl: -Ooow ears—-

Cardinal: OH GOD, SHADE—

Howl: ???

[He needed to find him before the feds did, before they turned him to cinders…

But if Shade got to THEM first… ]

Cardinal: Howlstriker you need to leave it's not safe you'll get sick dunno if Beck should know where this is there's no time to debate JAZZ WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE—

Howl: Huh—

Howl: Sloooow down, you're talkin' way too fast—

[He grabbed his cat, prompting her to turn into her Civvie form so she could be carried. Cardinal was blaring data that screamed alarm and near panic.]

Cardinal: Can't tell them 'til I'm sure, too early in the morning, they'd take me away—

[He was already halfway down the hall at this point.]

Howl: Hey wait I want answers, HEEEEY—

[Howl gave pursuit, leaving Diamond to bleed there along with the rest of the constructs in the assassin den.]

Cardinal: DON'T HAVE TIME, NEED TO LEAVE—

Cardinal: HE'S HEADED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE!

Howl: Wha—RADAR?

Howl: -But that doesn't make sense, when everyone went crazy we all went after targets we were already assigned to, unless—-

Howl: ...unless someone else gave him a...?

Howl: -...Oh, oh that ain't good—-

[He didn't bother keeping quiet as he exited back into the dark pre-sunrise air.]

Cardinal: SCOUT! BARON! WE'RE LEAVING!

Scout: RARF—

Howl: —??? -Dog bark but that's a raccoon—-

Baron: -Flies over to sit on Cardinal's shoulder-

[Cardinal used PROTO JET!]

[A windsurfer that looked a great deal like his shield appeared. This one was larger than normal, set to accommodate several additional little passengers.]

Cardinal: -Scoops up Scout- Bye, Howlstriker. Give my regards to Sanda Enterprises if I don't return!

Howl: D:>??? -I'M STILL SO CONFUSED-

Howl: WHAT EVEN ARE YOU, THOUGH—

Howl: HEEEEEY—

Cardinal: Ask Brand or something if I don't make it back! I'll explain it myself someday if I do!

Howl: BUT—

[With that, he took off to the skies.]

Howl: I looked for days and you just fly away—

Howl: D |< What kind of chase was that?! Uuuuugh...

Howl: ....

Howl: (...Didn't he say something about Sanda Enterprises?)

Cardinal: -Calls out- Hopefully one with a happy ending! Sorry, gotta jet!

[He took a sharp turn just out of sight, but when one followed him around the corner… he was gone.]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

{Washington D.C.}

[Cardinal kept an impressive degree of balance as he took out an E-tank and a W-tank, downing them one at a time as they raced through the wind. He would need all his energy in the upcoming fight.

He was glad for the company, here at the end of his journey—and now, Baron would be crucial to communication, should his guess prove right.

He honestly wasn’t sure what he hoped for more, or dreaded worse… that he might have guessed wrong (and thus traveled all that way for nothing, with Shade still at large…)

…or that he would have guessed right, and things were about to get so much /worse./

A soft whine reminded him that he wasn’t the only one worried about the matter.]

Cardinal: We’ll be there soon, Scout. …Baron, you know what to do.

[ALMOST THERE.

He had to make it, he had to— he was going as fast as he possibly could, now was the time—]

Cardinal: (Hang in there, Shade…)

[From this height, he could see a few of the numerous iconic buildings and structures that served as blatant landmarks for his destination.]

Cardinal: I will stop you!

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

=CHAPTER 7D: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Washington, D.C. White House Oval Office

June 30th, 10:00 AM EDT}

[Though it was early in the morning on the West Coast, the day was already well underway on the East Coast.

President Morandi had already been up for a good four hours, busy as always. She was honestly rather tired; she had been in a conference call with Japan right through breakfast, and had been put behind schedule as the call went on for longer than anticipated. There had been no time to stop for a breather—she had reports to look through and people to call.

By the time Secretary Donald had readied his report and made his way to her office, she was already five layers deep in paperwork.

She looked up at him—more tired than usual—when he entered.]

Min: Good morning, Mister Secretary. I trust you have news?

Min: (Hoping for good news would be a bit much, I suppose.)

Des: -Sighs- Well...news, depends if you want it to be good.

Des: ...Jeez, Min--have you even eaten?

Min: …

Min: I plead the Fifth.

Des: No, then. -Sighs- I'll order room service later.

Des: For now, I think you wanna see these.

Min: Oh?

[He pulls a vanilla folder from the inside of his suit.]

Des: Took a while, but...

Des: We finally got something on the bot that got shredded to bits in the Queen's Tournament Finals.

[Minerva opened up the folder, looking at the files within.

There was a fairly good outline, stating the serial number, name, abilities, affiliation, relatives, and so on of the 'bot responsible.]

Min: "Tobias Wily", hmm? An Industrial after all, just as was suspected.

Des: ...I'm honestly not surprised Doctor Blackwell was on the dot... >>;; (Still could use better bedside manner, though.)

Des: The list is...pretty much legit, albeit for one minor detail.

Des: Take a look at the date.

Min: -Adjusts her glasses, narrowing her eyes- …

Min: The file says he was built nearly twenty years ago, but he was only registered…

Min: … this April?

Min: That does not add up.

Des: Obviously. This was entered manually, yet somehow no one noticed.

Des: Or ignored it.

Des: -Puts a hand to his chin- Though this means that they're probably falsified, I'm willing to bet my salary that the info on them holds more truth than what it simply is.

Min: Well, given Mr. Wily's ability to bypass security, it would not surprise me that he and/or his Doctor would also be able to put such abilities in use for falsifying papers.

Min: But what do you mean by holding more truth?

Des: His name's Wily, true.

Des: -Points to the listed Doctor- That fact alone makes this very, very curious.

Min: … Михаил Сергеевич Казак??

Min: That's Russian— it's even using the cyrillic alphabet!

Des: -Pinches nose- Doctor Mikhail Sergeyevich Cossack, at that. God, Min, a Russian connection in all this mess and...

Des: -This could be worse than we thought-

Des: -Much MUCH worse-

Min: Has he ever come across your radar before?

Des: Actually.

Des: -Pulls out yet another file-

Des: Just so happens that he has a file dating to this April, too.

[Minerva opens up the file, studying the picture very carefully, before reading up on the text.]

Min: Stravinsky Science Academy… widowed with one biological daughter and eight Xelbot sons…

Min: —…Wait. -Narrows her eyes, squinting at the list- This one— didn't someone report that Beck had assistance with retrieving Seismic with the aid of a mining Industrial?

Des: Right. This Digger fits the bill rather well, huh?

Min: That's not a coincidence. That's thrice now that 'bots connected to him have ties to the Mighty Numbers.

Des: Which begs the question--

Des: Why?

Des: -Crosses arms- Sanda Tech has Japanese roots, but now a Russian thread? Doesn't make sense.

Des: Dr. Cossack's not under their payroll either--and yet, here we have both groups more or less cooperating with each other.

Des: Something isn't adding up.

Min: Hmmn…

Min: -Rests her right cheek on a curled fist, drumming her fingers on her desk- Files don't just appear out of nowhere. Either he made the files himself, or else someone did it for him. It's obvious that they wanted to be able to move about freely.

Des: Right. That's too many red flags--and we need to question Sanda Tech's involvement. If any. -Pause.-

Des: ...though they have been nothing but helpful these past days. I doubt this is on the forefront of their troubles.

Des: -Irritated groan- I hate to say it, Min, but...

Des: This all points to something along the lines of a possible ORIE angle.

[The President puts her face in her hands and groans softly.]

Min: All this and now the Russians, too?

Min: Ugh, the mere idea of getting into conflict with them at a time like this…

Min: I can't handle such demands on civility before breakfast.

Des: Ahah. A confession.

Min: -Soft snort- Oh no. You've caught me.

Min: Yes, the meeting with Japan ran on rather… overmuch.

Des: Still no dice until we clean up this mess, huh.

Min: They're an island nation, Des. They're like this with any illness. You can't exactly blame them.

Min: Well. I suppose there's nothing to it. -Stands- It is what it is… best nourish and gird against the next task—

Des: And lots of caffeine, to help that along...

Min: Well! Let's get going then.

Des: You want anything specific...?

Min: You're talking as if I'm not getting some myself.

Des: -Holds up hands in surrender- Say no more. I know better than to get in the way of a woman and food.

Min: -Amused-

[She starts heading for the door.]

Des: ...--Actually--I take that back.

Min: -Turns to face him- Beg pardon?

Des: I said I'd call room service--It would be better it just eat while we work anyway, and you'd be safer in here.

Des: ...we...

Des: ...Still don't know where Mighty No. 8 is, after all...

Min: Nnn… oh, I suppose you're right…

Min: He could be anywhere…

[…….]

[They say that slow and steady wins the race.

And that the patient man would reap the rewards for his virtues.

Mighty No. 8 was not patient, nor was he particularly fond of waiting.

Sleep was a preferred alternative to that.

And it was a long sleep.

But now…

The wheels of fate were turning fast, far, far too fast.]

[PING!]

“Zzz…”

[PING!]

“….”

[PING!]

“Mggrh, quit yer complainin’, m'UP.”

[…….]

“…S'that so.”

“Suppose ya want me t’ DO somethin’ about it?”

[……..]

“Well, make up yer mind, elsewise I’m goin’ back t'sleep.”

[………]

“….!”

“Ooooh…”

“Ah’ see.”

“Heh.”

“Go big or go home. Ah’ like that.”

“Sounds t’ me yer gettin’ desperate, though.”

“Eh, but what do Ah’ know.”

“Ah’m just the hitman.~”

[PING!]

“Alright, alright, m'goin. Don’t gotta shout.”

[A faint red light flickers in the darkness, a cross-hairs symbol focusing into view.]

“Target confirmed. Take no prisoners.”

“Now THIS is gonna be a REAL challenge, Ah’ hope. Heheh!”

[There is the sound of some lock unlatching, and the unmistakable sound of boots with spurs thumping against polished floor.]

“S'cuse me, boys.”

[Click.]

“Ya wouldn’t mind pointin’ me t’ mah new office, now, would ya?”

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

=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—>>

=CHAPTER 8B: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Washington, D.C., Shortly Beforehand…}

Cardinal: FINALLY…

[He was only a few blocks away. He could see from here that there was a crowd gathered some ways away from his target—

—just outside a clearly defined radius.]

Cardinal: (Ugh…)

Cardinal: (I’m going to have to go right through a window.)

[He yelled over the wind. They were going to come in fast.]

Cardinal: Looks like I was right, Scout!

Cardinal: Hang on, okay?! This is going to be a really rough ride!

Scout: Rarf!

[He tossed a dual-colored sphere in the air, releasing a burst of red light. This materialized into a bird, which caught said sphere before it fell.]

Cardinal: Baron, it’s confirmed. FLY.

[The robin shot off at an astounding speed, almost as if it had teleported itself.

There was a grated rumbling noise.]

Cardinal: Sorry, Jazz. Get somewhere safe—the roof, if you insist on sticking around. I won’t let you crash-land.

[He leaped out of the transformed flying panther…]

[CARDINAL used ITEM-2!]

[…right onto another gadget. He held out his shield in front of him, angling down at one of the windows that looked out into the sky from a roof.]

[MISSION DETAILS: MNN-008, COUNTERSHADE AURTHUR WHITE, HAS TAKEN THE WHITE HOUSE HOSTAGE. AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF OFFICIALS AND STAFF ARE TRAPPED INSIDE.

MISSION OBJECTIVE: EVACUATE THE BUILDING OF ALL PERSONS WITH NO CASUALTIES. RESCUE COUNTERSHADE.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: PRESERVE CULTURAL ARTIFACTS AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

Cardinal: We’re going in!

Scout: Rarf! -LET'S GOOOO—-

[He didn’t really hear the shouting from the crowd in their surprise, but he sure felt their “welcome party” favors. It hurt, but it didn’t phase him one bit. Even when he started taking fire from the White House security system as well.

He did leap down off of the ITEM-2, and there was a VERY high pitched whine noise as his blaster primed.]

BLAM!

[Top of the line security, down to bullet-proof windows? Yes.

Able to withstand a charged shot from a plasma blaster designed to take out tanks—as in plural, multiple at once?

Nooot quite so much.

The sound of glass shattering mixed with that of a starting fire. There was a click and a whirr, the barrel of Cardinal’s weapon changing as he fired again, just as they were landing.

It started to rain.]

Scout: -OOO I DIDN'T KNOW HE KNEW RAIN DANCE-

WHAM.

[They landed down in a hallway hard, the rain putting out the fire.

The security countermeasures started to go berserk, and Cardinal was forced to put up a wall of razor sharp leaf-shaped projectiles to give him time for his next move.]

Scout: -AND Razor Leaf, ooooo-

Scout: Rarf!

[There was a rotating noise and another click, and then…]

Ptew pew pew pew pew!

[…Dozens of tiny snakes—they looked like little mechanical coral snakes.

Then he stood to his full height and blasted a tune.]

Cardinal: (Ready or not, Shade, here I come!)

[The White House was indeed large and vast--finding Shade in this mess was to prove difficult, even with the Search Snakes.

....But it wasn't long before they found traces of his obvious presence.

There were strange, gray orbs floating around the hallways and entrances, glowing a strange, greenish color.

At first, they seemed to be dormant—

...Until they turned red when the Snakes approached...]

————————————

"—?"

"Motion? Thought Ah' told them flesh wastes t'stay PUT. . . Lessee here. . ."

————————————

[The Search Snakes were spread out, but Cardinal had remained where he was.

He was in full armor—something he hadn’t done in real Combat since the last time he fought his brother. Because of this, his whole face was covered, and his expression was impossible to read.

Despite this, his fierce green eyes burned with a fire that pierced even his shades, visible to not only a sensitive camera, but also to the naked eye.

After a moment…]

SHING!

[The leaves that had shielded him scattered, slicing everything in their path as they moved down the hall.

This included, among other things, a security camera.

The feed went down immediately, followed by several others in the same hallway.]

KSSSSSSSS—

[Cardinal had created a small blind spot.]

————————————

"—!"

"Sonofva . . ."

"Who the hell IS this guy. ..?"

"Thinkin' he can come inta' MAH new home. .."

————————————

Scout: Rarf! -NICE SHOT-

Cardinal: Scout, we’ve got a problem. There are people trapped in here.

Scout: —!!

Cardinal: I’m going to have to start breaking down doors.

Cardinal: (If Shade were in his right mind, he’d want me to do this first.)

Cardinal: (And if the President THEMSELVES is here, nnng…)

[His fans whined even louder at the surge of compulsion to follow out a military-grade order.]

Scout: -RARF-

Scout: -WE KNOW HEADBUTT-

Scout: -WE CAN HELP—-

Cardinal: You might need to save that on the people inside, my friend. I’ll explain in a moment—

[He hit the floor to avoid a sudden stream of mixed projectile weaponry.]

Cardinal: Some cover, if you please? -Scout, use Sand Attack.-

Scout: -Rarf!-

[Scout used Sand Attack!]

[Scout didn't need to dig--he simply shook himself VERY rapidly, dust and sand scattering EVERYWHERE.]

[...He was apparently very dirty.]

Cardinal: Heh. -SMIRKS-

[He starts shouting in a taunting tone.]

Cardinal: HEY SHADE! Too bad your glasses got all dusty. Better wipe the dirt out of your eye!

————————————

"Grrrr. .."

"Just keep talkin', Birdy, see where THAT gets ya. .."

————————————

[.......]

[VEEEEEEEEEEEEE--]

Cardinal: I don’t think so.

[CARDINAL used FLASH STOPPER!]

[WOW, everything is hit not only with BLINDING light, but whatever is in those intangible waves of data is enough to STUN everything in the hall.]

Cardinal: >B]

[There is a HUGE clattering somewhere deeper in the house--it sounded like something very heavy just fell--]

————————————

"AUGH MOTHERSCRATCHIN' CHEATER—!"

————————————

Cardinal: -Speaks in a low voice- Scout, when I break through the door, the people inside are going to be terrified. Someone IS going to start shooting. Try and stun them, or at least get their aim off.

Scout: -Rarf!- -Nods-

[Another click.]

[Cardinal used SHADOW BLADE.]

[There was a hissing SHUNK noise as he cut RIGHT into a triple-reinforced, double-locked door of something much stronger than steel.

Another rotating click, and he stuffed a Crash Bomb into the hole the acid was eating away—he didn’t have time to wait.

It blinked and beeped a few times before…]

CRASH!

[Cardinal slammed through the opening shield-first.]

[Bullets start FLYING the second he does, and yes, there is much screaming—]

"GET DOWN—"

Scout: RARF!

[Scout used Tackle! ]

[One of the men in black goes down, gun clattering to the floor. Two more follow suit—it seems like Scout has gotten quite good at dodging incoming fire.]

[Scout used Growl!]

Scout: -GRRRR, STAY DOWN-

[Cardinal doesn’t make any witty comments this time. He just goes into a full-on tackle of his own. He grabs one man in one arm, another after dropping his shield—

And as soon as he rams into the third…]

[CARDINAL used TELEPORT!]

{Outside…}

[Cardinal reappears inches from the crowd outside the kill zone, dropping the two men he was carrying to the ground. The third, already on the ground, had also been taken with him.

This caused no small amount of panic, and he was lit up with half a dozen sniper scopes. A few even got off fire, hitting him square in the left part of his chest.]

Cardinal: -Huffs- (Are you kidding me?)

BWIP!

[He disappears, only to reappear a moment later with two other people, holding them by their wrists. One of them was shrieking and trying to mace him. Again, no effect.]

Cardinal: No offense, but I’ve been through worse!

Bwip!

Paramedics rushed over to the vic—]

BWIP!

[—ooooor not—]

Cardinal: -Drops the guns onto the ground with a clatter- DON’T shoot Beck if he shows up, officers!

[He also tosses over a file folder of notes someone had been working on, hiding behind his shield to better withstand incoming fire.]

Cardinal: Still—you guys might need those!

BWIP!

{Inside}

"HEY--THAT'S MY TIE--"

[One more man in black snuck in while Cardinal teleported back in--]

Scout: GRRRRR—

[Scout used Headbutt!]

WHAM!

[The security man skidded across the room and hit the back of his head with the wall, knocking him out instantly.]

Scout: -GRRRR—- -SHAKES HEAD AND TIE AGGRESSIVELY BEFORE SPITTING IT OUT-

Scout: | [

[Cardinal picks up the man, pausing for a moment as he hears the security out in the hall recovering from the stun he had put on them earlier.]

Cardinal: This is going to be a long day.

Scout: —!

Scout: -SNIFF SNIFF-

Scout: -NOSE IN THE AIR, COULD IT BE—-

[BANG!]

Scout: -YELPS-

[A red laser appears on the ground near Scout's feet, followed by a energy shot, scaring him out of his wits and causing him to run behind Cards.]

Scout: -Whimperrrrr-

Cardinal: -OW, that was loud- Gosh dangit, Shade!

[He grabs Scout with his other arm—]

BWIP!

Scout: —???

[—and when he reappears inside, it’s without the officer…

…and also out in the hallway, yards and yards from where he had ever set foot.

As long as he could see it, he could go there.]

Cardinal: You’re going to have to do better than that, KID!

Cardinal: But if you insist on playing hide and seek…

[Cardinal used SCREECH—]

[He briefly stopped the mufflers on his fans, causing their overworked whine to get broadcast over his speakers.

It was worse than metal grating mixed with fingernails on chalkboard.]

Scout: -WHIIIIINE-

————————————

"AAAAARUGH--!!!"

"Goddamn BUCKET OF BOLTS--AH'VE HAD IT UP T' HERE!"

"Fahn, if ya wanna DIE SO BADLY--"

————————————

[....Oh dear.]

[All of the orbs go active.

And there were red, red lasers, reflecting off of them all at once--which was real, which one was SHADE--]

Cardinal: Oh, please.

[He laughs as his arm shifts again.]

Cardinal: Guess what, Shade?

Cardinal: Two can play at this game.

[Cardinal used GEMINI LASER!]

[Aaaaaand suddenly, the hallway was filled with death laser ping-pong.

And Shade’s were NOT the only ones bouncing at angles!]

[BANG BANG BANG—]

[It was truly a sight to behold.

It was like watching a game of chess, except the pieces were far deadlier.

Gemini Lasers met energy shots, with every red laser changing to accommodate the angle and trajectory.]

[Cardinal didn’t stick around to watch the lights and display contest.

He had already grabbed Scout with one arm, running right into the fire shield-first. About partway through, he leaped and slid down the rest on his back, with his shield out in front.]

Scout: -RARF RARF—- -WHEEEEEEEEE-

[Cards was moving too fast for the lasers to lock onto him correctly—and once the one behind him figured this out—

...They all vanished.]

————————————

"Oh, Ah' see what yer goin' for, Birdy..."

"Can't have that, no sir."

————————————

[—This area seemed to be more decorated...]

[Cardinal barely noticed, and almost didn’t care. He got up to a knee.]

Cardinal: Scout, I need you to do something for me. Find a rope or a cord of some sort. Even a curtain tie will do if it’s long enough.

Scout: -Rarf!-

[He sets the Zig down.]

Cardinal: Please, be careful…

Scout: Rarf! -Sniff Sniff-

[Cardinal took a moment to take in his surroundings.

This looked like a historic display of American History.... Medals, paintings, photos of past presidents...]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (Nnngh… I can’t do anything too dramatic in here, I need to move out of this place…)

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -HOLDS UP A FANCY MILITARY ROPE THING-

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: Thanks, Scout. Now let’s get out of here—

Cardinal: Before Shade does something stupid!

Scout: -RARF!-

Cardinal: (What I wouldn’t give for backup from Tobias right about now…)

Cardinal: (At least that office was one of the only places with anyone inside of the work quarters. I guess most people managed to evacuate.)

Cardinal: (Looks like there’s different kinds of rooms over this way—man, I wish that I could have seen the White House back at home, I’m going into this totally blind—)

[A low noise and a rotating click.]

Ptew ptew pew!

[Another nest of Search Snakes slither on their way.]

Cardinal: (THIS room must be horribly dangerous. This much priceless history? That’s a screaming neon sign for “DEATH TRAP SECURITY” if I ever heard one.)

Cardinal: (I’m going to have to tank some hits, probably…)

[He looks around the room skeptically.]

Cardinal: …

[He grabs Scout and holds him directly between his shield and his body, and makes a run for it.]

[BWAAAAN—]

[Something from the ceiling unlocks—]

[Oh dear THOSE ARE VERY MUCH MILITARY GRADE MACHINE GUN TURRENTS—]

Cardinal: (Aw glitch.)

[There’s a whine as he holds up his free arm, it shifting to have a wrist launcher.]

KTANG KTANG!

[Cardinal used MAGNET MISSILE!]

Cardinal: -EVEN MORE RUNNING FOR IT—-

[The missiles lock onto the turrets, attaching to them before exploding. Unfortunately, while this takes SOME of them out…

…some of them merely malfunction, firing at random.]

Cardinal: DAMMIT—

[CARDINAL used METAL BLADE!]

[He took some hits protecting older paintings from the unfriendly fire, but his shield held firm.

The same couldn’t be said for the turrets that were introduced to one of THE most deadly Power Capsule weapons known to man.

They crashed down to the floor. And as Cardinal approached the end of the room—]

Cardinal: GOSH DANGIT!

[…Locked doors barred his way.

And he could hear the whine, feel the psychological heat of lasers lighting up his back for long ranged target sights.

He whirled around, back pressed up against the surface, taking the incoming fire to his shield.]

Cardinal: (WHY are there locked doors in here?!)

Cardinal: (Augh…)

[To the unfamiliar observer, it would appear the bird had been cornered.]

[VRRRRRRRR...]

[A laser.]

[A very familiar one.]

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Not so sassy nao, are ya.

<DLN-000>: >Shade.

<DLN-000>: >This is stupid floor design, Shade.

<DLN-000>: >I’ll have to have a word with your brother about this after I haul your chass out of here.

[Oh, he was rushing robodrenaline, alright. “Heart” rate had increased, his fans (while thankfully muffled) were louder, giving off more heat than earlier.

There was also that clicking and whining noise again…]

<DLN-000>: >Your desire for sass is very important to us. Please hold, and the next available representative…

[Cardinal used DRILL BOMB!]

[He shoved something very much like a Crash Bomb into the door behind him. It ground away at the metal as it tunneled in, embedding itself in the door before exploding.]

<DLN-000>: > —WILL GET BACK TO YOU!

[Cardinal used FLASH STOPPER!]

[AUGH, again with the BLINDING light—]

[MN.8] //: -—GNGH-

[There was a deep growl on the other end before it cut out--clearly Shade had not been pleased with that.

Not at all.]

[Cardinal didn’t waste a moment. He turned his back to Shade—he had no choice—and his arm shifted again—]

[CARDINAL used SUPER ARM!]

WHUNK!

[He punched a bigger opening through the thick door where the Drill Bomb had made the first breach.]

WHAM!

Cardinal: -IN YOU GO, SCOUT—-

Scout: RARF!

"WHAT IS THAT—"

Cardinal: Tie them up for me— OW!

Scout: ! D:

???: Please stay behind me—

???: TAKE ANOTHER STEP AND I WILL OPEN FIRE—

Scout: -GRRRRR-

Cardinal: Go ahead, it’ll just put you in the hospital! Metal ricochets, genius!

[He squeezed his way through, hearing things becoming active again behind him.]

Cardinal: I don’t have— ouch! —time for this—

[He grabbed one end of the rope and then—]

[Cardinal used TOP SPIN!]

bbbZZZZZZZzzzKT—

[The top clattered along, circling and snaking around the people in the room. The rope he had tied to it followed after.]

Cardinal: -YANK!-

[WHAM.]

[The sound of multiple human beings hitting the floor at the same time follows suit.

Cardinal used the Super Arm again to sort of push them all into one pile of disgruntled, frightened, aggressive humanity.]

BWIP!

{Outside…}

[Cardinal jumped off and did a backflip out of the way off of the piled people, bringing his shield out in front of him.]

[.......]

[That's weird.]

[No sniper fire?]

Cardinal: -Takes a moment to catch his breath- (Ugh… I can feel the slugs embedded inside me. I’m going to need to shed this armor before too long, at the rate this is going—)

[It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t being shot at.]

Cardinal: …???

Cardinal: -Peeks out behind his shield- ,’B/?

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[...? Wait, that sound—those sound like propellers—]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: -Looks uuuuuuup—-

AviCam: -FLOATS IN-

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: … -COCKY GRIN BENEATH MASK-

Cardinal: Smile, you’re on candid camera!

AviCam: -MAKES SOME LETTERS IN THE AIR-

[G O F O R R E S C U E—G L.]

Cardinal: See ya later, Hoverbrother. Send my love if things…

Cardinal: … blow up in my face ;D

[He takes the moment to take off his helm entirely. Man, he looks exhausted.]

Cardinal: I can only assume you’re keeping them from crowding around with questions—thanks, because—

[He pulls out what looks like a miniature oil can and douses himself with it. And then another one. Oddly enough, he seems bone dry after. Huh.]

Cardinal: -Puts his helm back on- —I gotta scram!

Bwip!

{Inside}

[He reappears back inside.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …???

Cardinal: (Where the heck did Scout go?)

[The happy Zig was nowhere in sight.]

Cardinal: Nnnngh… (I told him what would happen, so… I guess something went wrong. I hope I run into him on the way rounding up stragglers…)

[There was a buzzing noise as he was lit up with lasers again.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: Really, Shade? This is SO boring.

[Buuuuut then they… start spazzing out?]

Cardinal: …?

Kkkkk…

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: (Wait a second—music?)

[Not just any music…]

Cardinal: Eight!

[PING!]

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

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

[PING!]

[A surprisingly firm voice echoes though the comms—]

[MN.9] // COUNTERSHADE!

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

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

[The whole building abruptly seemed to fill with harsh static. Not just the noise—the electricity itself. And, as Tobias had predicted, Cardinal was NOT pleased.]

Cardinal: Cut that out, Eight.

Cardinal: Is there anyone else in here?!

<DLN-008>: > Yes—

Cardinal: Then cover Beck and STALL for me, dammit!

[He takes off.]

Cardinal: (With Tobias messing with the security system, that should make it marginally less deadly by making the systems cut in and out—)

Cardinal: (And there’s two of us, he can only be in one place at a time, he’s not Siam, after all—)

[BANG BANG BANG.]

[Crack!]

[Cardinal’s armor had finally taken too much damage from energy shots. It shifted away into his normal gear.]

Cardinal: Fantastic.

Cardinal: -RUNNING FOR IT AGAIN-

[Lasers in all directions--]

[Wait—no...It couldn't be.]

[That can't be him just down the corner.]

Shade: Boo.

Cardinal: Shade, I’m not—

[CARDINAL USED RAIN FLUSH!]

[It was raining indoors and now EVERYTHING was wet—]

[His other arm turned into a blaster.]

[Cardinal used SPARK SHOCK!]

Cardinal: —IN THE MOOD FOR THIS!

[He suddenly was surrounded by live electricity.]

Cardinal: Out of my way or I swear to God I’ll fry you to a core.

Shade: ....

[He stands there for a moment, looking as if he is complimenting the threat.]

[Then.]

Shade: -Grins-

Shade: Alright.

[BANG—]

[—???]

[Wait, that shot came from behind him—

And where did Shade go?!]

Cardinal: -Ow-

[In the bad mood he was, he jumped up onto ITEM-2.]

Cardinal: I told you I’ll get back to you, you impatient brat.

[BZZZRRRRRKKKZZZZZGGGHHHHHHHVVVV—]

[…Well.

THAT hallway and everything in it was sure toast.

Various spheres dropped to the floor, but no sniper (or core thereof) was among the casualties.

Cardinal shot on down the hall, following flashing static panels along the way. Left, right, right, left, up a flight of stairs, down stairs—

He was suddenly thrown off his wind surfer when everything began to float and hold in place. And an object in motion…]

Cardinal: !

WHANG!

Cardinal: OW!

Cardinal: Tobias, what the frag was that for?!

[Disgruntled, he didn’t wait for an answer. Left, right—]

Cardinal: -Comes to a screeching halt- …

Cardinal: … And I thought the last room was a death trap…

[Standing before him were two more impressive looking doors. They were more grandiose and obviously stronger than the last. And… the Presidential Seal was in proud, bold colors right in the center.]

Cardinal: (That’s gotta be the way to the Oval Office!)

Cardinal: … (But… Tobias led me here, so that means…)

Cardinal: (Oh hell…)

[VRRRRRRRR--!!]

[There was a wave of UFO-like Xelbots that flashed into view--before vanishing into thin air, barreling themselves straight into Cardinal's path--]

Cardinal: -NOPE-

TSSSSEW!

[Cardinal used Rolling Cutter!

It’s super effective!]

Cardinal: Hey, Area 51 called! They want their rides back!

Cardinal: Hope those came with a warranty.

[VRRRRRRRRR!]

[Oh, lovely, more turrets--]

[VVVVRRRRrrrrrrrr....]

[....They...powered off?

Suddenly, the lights flickered.]

Cardinal: …

[And dimmed. ]

Cardinal: ?

[To his slight surprise (and fair annoyance), Cardinal began floating again.]

Cardinal: Tobias, for the LAST time—

[PING!]

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

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

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

[MN.3] //: YOU CAN'T PLAY HIDE AND ZZZSEEK FOREVER--

Cardinal: … Dyna?

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

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

Cardinal: -Aaaalrighty then- (I better hurry up before the whole gang arrives.)

Cardinal: -Bounces through the lower gravity before it abruptly changes-

[He takes one look at the door.]

Cardinal: (How am I going to—)

[…But was interrupted by the sound of the security systems starting up again.]

Cardinal: .___.

[CARDINAL used SKULL BARRIER!]

[He was just in time to prevent becoming an energy and lead pincushion. Still under fire and holding up the shield, he rotated through his capsules until…]

POW!

[He lowered his hand, turning off the Thunder Beam.

He had managed to blow the fuse, which turned off the security in the hallway…

…and the lights…

…and the air conditioning.

It was starting to get very hot, and things smelled like burnt electronics.]

Cardinal: Man…

[He takes out the Shadow Blade again.]

Cardinal: I feel sorry for whoever holds the homeowners insurance on this place.

[He sliced at the door repeatedly in intersecting diagonal lines. This time, he let the acid eat away at the door.

He didn’t like how unnaturally silent it was now that he had put the whole hallway into radio silence. Only the windows brought any light in at all.]

Cardinal: (Here’s to hoping I’m not too late… not for them, OR for him…)

[Cardinal used HARD KNUCKLE!]

C R A C K!

[Cardinal used SHIELD BASH!]

[And burst RIGHT into the Oval Office!]

[There were only three people inside, all standing around the desk, as if discussing something. The ladies had looked up sharply at the noise, and had backed away before he came crashing in.]

Des: Crap--

[The only other male in the room pulls out a firearm and pulls the trigger--]

[BLAM!]

[A moment of silence.]

Maid: -Oh thank GOODNESS—-

Cardinal: -Looks up with a slight smile-

Cardinal: Nice headshot, sir.

[The maid shrieks.]

Maid: OH MY GOD IT’S IMMORTAL—

Des: .....

Des: Or he just has a very good helmet.

Cardinal: Sorry to crash the party, Mister President.

Cardinal: But we do need to evacuate before my best friend does something he regrets when he gets over his hangover.

[The older lady gave a very puzzled expression.]

Min: …

Des: .......

Des: What?

[Despite the situation—even with his weapon still aimed at the intruder—Des couldn't help but press the subject. It was all as if something out of a surreal dream.]

Des: I'm not the president--

Des: I'm Secretary of Defense.

Des: -What made you think I was POTUS.- : /

Cardinal: …

[Cardinal was on his feet now, standing at attention, very military in posture.]

Cardinal: You’re standing behind the desk, sir.

[The older woman rolls her eyes.]

Des: -Narrows his eyes a little- And...?

Des: -It's 20XX, doesn't everyone know who POTUS is—-

[While he appreciated he wasn't still being shot at, Cardinal was losing patience. They were wasting time, when Shade was still out there.]

Cardinal: And I don’t have time for this. We’re leaving now—

BZAP!

Cardinal: -Baaaacks away from the stern looking woman, okay, she’s got a taser, that gave us pins and needles-

Des: Nice shot.

[Minerva looks down at Cardinal with disapproval. Humorously, her heels made her slightly taller than him.]

Cardinal: >_>;

[It didn't take long for Cardinal to realize where his mistake was. He spoke with begrudging respect.]

Cardinal: …Madame President, I presume.

[Minerva Morandi was not pleased. She sparked the taser again for emphasis, speaking sternly to the intruder that had broken past the last of their defenses.]

Min: Why should we believe you? You broke into the White House, through several top-notch levels of security, disengaged a good portion of the defenses in more than one hallway, and just mentioned your alliance with the terrorist who put us here to begin with.

Cardinal: …

[Cardinal had to admit she had a point. A point he hadn't even considered before.

He wasn't like his brother. Not like Beck. He wasn't a sanctioned hero, with the recognition and support of the masses. No, he was a nameless vigilante, and all he had was his honest answer.]

Cardinal: Because I’m not shooting right now?

Minerva: You didn’t think this through at all, did you.

Cardinal: No sir, I did not.

[The maid snorts a little at that. The poor woman looked like she had seen better days, especially before her sudden promotion after the whole mess had started.

Desmond Donald, on the other hand, seemed to be unsure of whether to be impressed or just incredulous.]

Des: Wow.

Des: He has guts, at least? (Or no forethought.)

Cardinal: Thanks, but we’ve got to—

[He saw a tiny, TINY red light.]

Cardinal: !!!

[He does a teleporting tackle to slam the President to the floor. Fractions of a split second later, there’s a VERY strong shot that leaves burn marks around the wall right behind where her head had been.]

Maid: -STRAINED NOISES, TRYING NOT TO SCREAM-

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Tch!

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

Cardinal: I could say the same to you, pal.

[Des had abruptly changed his aim toward the direction the shot had come from, even knowing that he was outmatched to handle such a foe. He was defending not just two innocent women: he was defending his President, and his long-time friend. If someone was going to try and take them out, it wouldn't be without a fight from him first.]

Des: -ARE YOU OKAY—-

[She was fine. Shaken, perhaps, but didn’t show it.

Then she became cross, and started to speak to the silent hunter.]

Minerva: So, you've finally shown yourself, have you? Such actions will land you in a great deal more trouble than you can hide from, Radar. This is your last chance— hand yourself over to the authorities, or you will be facing the consequences—

Cardinal: NO!

Cardinal: Leave him alone!

[For the first time since he had come in…

He actually SOUNDED scared.

Desperate, even.]

[MN.8] //: Heh.

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

[MN.8] //: -LAUGHTER-

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

[MN.8] //: Now.

[CLICK.]

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

[For a brief moment, silence.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …Heh…

[He starts laughing.]

Min: ???

Des: ....-Whispers- Um I don't think this guy is all mentally sound—

Cardinal: Shade, Shade, Shade…

Cardinal: You know what?

Cardinal: You’re right.

Maid: ?!

Des: (What—?!)

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

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

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

Cardinal: Hardly.

Cardinal: More like…

Cardinal: I don’t have time for this, Shade.

Cardinal: Guess I’ll have to make my own!

[He turns and FIRES—]

[Cardinal used TIME STOPPER!]

[There's a harsh KFLSHK! noise and the very dust itself seems to hang suspended in the air, frozen in time.]

Min: ???

[Cardinal waltzes over toward the door, grinning.]

Cardinal: Now then…

Cardinal: Judging from the trajectory of the shot…

Cardinal: -ELBOWS, hard-

CRASH!

[Cardinal pulls a nearby curtain down and tosses it onto… well. Now that it was given form, it was clearly the fallen sniper.]

Cardinal: -Pulls something out of his traveling bag, shaking it- ~

Cardinal: -PSSSHT!-

[After spraying his own symbol on the cape once he found it, he quickly tagged “HOPE lives” on the floor. Then, and only then, could he relaxed and be satisfied.]

Cardinal: B]

Cardinal: -Tosses empty paint can behind him, looking down at the time-frozen sniper- Looks like you lost hide-and-seek, kid.

Cardinal: Too bad.

Min: -Just. Stares- o_o

[The President was both grateful and impressed.]

Min: What… did you do? -Okay his methods are VERY strange but that was rather impressive-

Des: -...What DIVISION is he in is the better question--

Min: -Starts advancing- Who built you?

[Cardinal had not been expecting this sort of response at all.]

Cardinal: I—

[She grabs at his scarf and yanks up a metal bit that glitters in the light.]

Min: I thought I saw a glint of these. -Shakes them once- -Dog tags, Des.- Is there something ELSE you need to tell me about, Desmond?

Des: Min, I swear I don't know about this—

Cardinal: (Uh…)

[It was then that Des noticed the serial number branded into Cardinal's shoulder.]

Des: Wait a second—! You're DLN-000?

Min: ! Seriously?

[Cardinal had had enough. He forces her hand away, holding (gently but firmly) onto her wrist.]

Cardinal: As charming as it is to have conversations with you…

Cardinal: -WHISTLES SHARPLY, SCOUT WE’RE LEAVING—-

Scout: -RARF RARF RARF—-

Cardinal: That effect kinda won’t last forever, we really do need to get out of here—

Des: .....Is...Is that a raccoon—

Cardinal: Close enough. Group hug, everybody!

Scout: -BOUNCES INTO MIN'S ARMS-

Scout: -HALLO NICE LADY-

Min: ! Oh goodness— Now wait just a—

[Nope, he’s already scooped her up and grabbed the others by their jacket fringes.]

Byuubyuubyuu…

{Outside}

Des: —?????

Des: -He can TELEPORT--

[Cheers erupt from the crowd, with the recovered Secret Service members forcing their way through, hemming out reporters and warning back drones with sniper lasers. One camera WAS allowed to come in closer.]

Cardinal: Heh…

Cardinal: Hello again, Avs.

Cardinal: -Puts Madame President down- I see you’ve upgraded this to include a speaker now. Your faith in me is reassuring. B]

[Avi’s voice crackled through the speakers.]

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

Cardinal: Sadly. That’s a cost I’ll have to carry.

Min: (…Hide? Cost?)

Des: (They're talking like they know each other…!)

Avi: OKAY GOOD JUST CHECKING.

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

[The vague, stressed pun didn’t seem to have any effect… other than making Cardinal’s shoulders sag with weariness.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: -Quietly- I’m sorry, Avi. I’m not done yet.

Avi: --....

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

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

[He douses himself in those strange cans again.]

Cardinal: —I’m tired of seeing my brothers die. I won’t risk any chance of that happening again.

Min: Excuse me—! It's too dangerous to go back inside, and we have some questions for you, 000! Where do you THINK you’re going—

Cardinal: Here, take this, it may help you on your journey— -SHOVES SLIGHTLY SINGED SCOUT-

Scout: -LICKS FOR NICE LADY-

Min: -Ackpth—-

Scout: ~ < 3

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

Avi: please don't hurt him too bad.

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

[He gritted his teeth. It hurt, again. Hurt because there was all this pressure, and nowhere for it to go.

Hurt because he couldn’t cry.]

Cardinal: …See you in clearer skies, Avs.

Cardinal: Goodbye…

BWIP.

Min: —…

Min: …Get me Sanda Labs on a secure line. -Stop wriggling, strange raccoon thing—- NOW.

{Back Inside…}

[Cardinal chose not to reappear in the Oval Office, but instead in an open room he had passed through on the journey. From the looks of things, Beck and Dyna had been through not long ago, themselves.]

Cardinal: -Takes in a shaky breath, hoo- (…Okay. Orders… orders over. Good… good, now—just need to find either Eight or Nine…)

Cardinal: (Can’t turn on my transceiver. They know I’m here and they want me out. But I can’t just stand by and let those two slice each other up and stain the rug with their Xel.)

Cardinal: -Grumbles- Where are you, Shade…

[He walks through several halls. Everything was dead silent. The expected countermeasures of security never came.]

Cardinal: …

[He was beginning to get very puzzled.]

Cardinal: (Did Beck already get to you? …And wow, I seriously made this big a mess?)

Cardinal: -Crosses his arms absentmindedly as he enters the secretary’s office- Come on, Shade, I said I would get back to you—

________________

Thaaaaat's it, just a lil further…

______________

[He held his shield loosely by his side as he meandered the halls for another good five minutes.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …I guess Avi was right?

Cardinal: Maybe I should turn my transceiver back on, find out if they’re outside…

[He goes over to look out a window that faces the lawn, scanning the crowds for signs of his energetic young counterpart.]

Cardinal: Just my luck to miss out on the party…

_________________

Heh. Stupid bird.

Should've paid attention t' where you were goin'…

________________

[He turns away from the window, glancing at it over his shoulder.]

Cardinal: I should probably apologize to the President—

[CRUNCH.]

Cardinal: (What—? That doesn’t sound like glass—) -Looks down-

[What Cards saw on the ground--

A dart.

Several.

In the shape of a figure eight, all black as night.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (Wait a dAMN SECOND HE SAID ALL HIS DARTS DO SOMETHING—)

[BANG!]

[The darts all exploded into shrapnel, sharp, dangerous pieces flying everywhere, breaking pottering and lights and anything else that was in its radius.]

[Cardinal wasn’t shielding, so he took a direct hit.

Now, he was made to withstand exactly this sort of thing. To take it and tank it.

Didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.]

Cardinal: -GAH—-

[He staggered back, disoriented by the damage.]

[BANG--!]

[Red lasers fill the room, reflecting off of various objects to keep Cardinal guessing--]

[BANG BANG--]

[--With two more ACTUALLY aimed for him--]

[He took the hits, but answered back with a vengeance.]

KTANG!

[Leaping onto the walls and vaulting onto a statue, he peppered the room with high speed Quick Boomerangs.]

Cardinal: |[

Cardinal: You clearly haven’t learned I don’t go down so easy, Counter.

"Haven't ya heard of try, try again?"

[BANG--]

[A dart this time, yellow--]

[Cardinal used METAL BLADE!]

[The net was torn up even as it came onto him. He leaped onto a chandelier.]

[Cardinal used RING BOOMERANG!]

Cardinal: Haven’t you ever heard “Doing the same thing twice and expecting different results is the definition of insanity?”

[Laughter.]

"Look who's TALKIN'!"

"Ya sure are persistent."

[Cardinal was beginning to lose patience.

He was tired. He felt tired and old.]

Cardinal: Countershade, I have been chasing after you for over a WEEK now. I’ll hardly give up because you’re throwing a temper tantrum.

Cardinal: Get a grip, Shade— Snap out of it! This isn’t like you!

Cardinal: -Crossly- WAKE UP ALREADY!

"Temper tantrum? Boy, ya must be a real antique by now. Seein' as ya ain't made of Xel."

"Who even ARE ya, anyway?"

Cardinal: You can’t be serious. You recognized my brother and you don’t know me? That’s not a funny insult. -Actually sounds rather put out-

"Nope. Ya don't ring a bell."

Cardinal: Are you REALLY that out of it? That’s honestly just pathetic. The “sad, pitiful” kind.

"Gotta hand it t' ya, Birdy, as ya are annoyin', yer good. Heh."

"And Ah' do so love a good challenge."

Cardinal: Fine then.

Cardinal: I’ll make you remember—I’ll bring you out of this, I am going to snap you out of this if it’s the last thing I ever do!

[Cardinal used DUST CRUSHER!]

[All the shrapnel and debris that had been created by Shade and others before him was kicked up in a whirling cloud of sharp death that enveloped half the room, shredding everything in its path before getting embedded into the wall.]

"--Ngh--!"

[There is some painful data, but it is quickly snuffed out by something other than Shade.]

"Oh, it WILL be--ya can't keep flyin' FOREVER, Lil' Birdy..."

Cardinal: Try me.

[…Not his best choice of words.]

"Heh."

"Since ya ASKED so nicely!"

KSSSH!!!

[The chandelier came crashing down, with him inside it.

Even though he teleported away, he still had the force of momentum, and crashed down into the ground pretty hard.]

Cardinal: Hggghhhh…

Cardinal: (Gah… hate HATE falling from heights, come BACK, vision—)

[BANG!]

[Countershade took this perfect opportunity to fire off another shot--it was so easy, once he was blind--]

Cardinal: AUGH!

[Cardinal counteracted with a spam of Metal Blades that went in ALL directions, embedding DEEP into wherever they found score—

And there is a LOT OF rolling around and taking cover--seeing the saw blades stirred up something...Something that made him even angrier. ]

"MOTHERSCRATCHIN'--Ah' HATE when it takes more than one bullet!"

Cardinal: See now, if you REMEMBERED anything, you’d KNOW I don’t go down to one hit!

"Goddamn waste of mah TIME--"

Cardinal: Tch.

Cardinal: Anything you don’t have time to do right the first time, you’ll need to have time to do over.

Cardinal: And I’ve put a hell of a few lifetimes more into this than you.

[BANG BANG--]

[The explosive darts were out now, but single striped instead of the deadly double. Perhaps Shade didn't want to ruin his new 'Home' anymore than it already was. Cardinal tanked the hit with his shield.]

[The Proto Shield held firm as ever, though he moved aside to avoid being backed into the wall.]

Cardinal: -Gets back to his feet, shifting his weaponry again with another click.-

Cardinal: This is not the first time we’ve done this song and dance, Shade!

[Cardinal used BUBBLE LEAD!]

[The acid pellets burst upon contact, hissing and eating away at the floor and various high ground on the other side of the room.]

[SSSSSSSS...]

"Aw FRAG IT--"

Cardinal: You forgetting?! Just means I have ALL THE MORE ADVANTAGE OVER YOU!

[Cardinal used TOP SPIN!]

kzzzZZZZZZZZGGGVVVVGGGHHHTTTT—

[Marble columns were sliced clean through and brought crashing down.]

[CRASH--!!]

"--!!!!"

[There was a few moments of scrambling and--]

[--Silence?]

Cardinal: Nice try, but I know you’re fine. Your camo goes out if you’re not.

Cardinal: And if you want to play this the hard way, I’ll do just that. >B |

[....]

"Alright."

[Click.]

[That came from RIGHT beside him!]

Cardinal: (Glitch—)

[Cardinal used ICE SLASHER!]

[It wasn’t fast enough to prevent the shot that seared through his right shoulder, but. It was enough to send the whole room about ten degrees below zero, and send icicle spears flying.

There was a HISS of pain and a grunt, Shade's camo flickering for a moment--

--Before returning to normal, and the lasers that herald his presence once again came from a completely different direction--

Cardinal ends up backed against the wall, having no other option besides his shield at this point. The Skull Barrier and the Leaf Shield had both been spent during the rescues.]

Cardinal: B[

[Cardinal used ITEM-1!]

[He jumps onto a hovering platform to gain height before firing off some plasma blasts at strategic surfaces—places where he would go if he had that side of the battlefield.]

[BLAM!]

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[As if in response, Shade shoots at the ITEM-1 before unleashing a trio of--oh, no, double stripped darts--!]

Cardinal: !

[Cardinal used WIRE!]

ZZZZZZZIP!

[A grappling hook shot out of his arm, bringing him up toward the ceiling and away from the explosion.

Unfortunately, this position offered him no cover whatsoever, except for his shield—which, as always, remained squarely over his central mass.]

Cardinal: This is getting a bit old.

Cardinal: I’d rather light things on fire, but that wouldn’t be being…

[He smirked.]

Cardinal: …a good House guest~

[BANG--]

[CRASH!]

[He had the wind knocked out of him again, but…

Judging from his wheezing and shaking laughter…]

Cardinal: -Worth it-

[CLICK.]

[....Uh oh.]

Shade: Was it?

Cardinal: Yup.

Cardinal: Too bad it didn’t…

[Cardinal used AIR SHOOTER!]

[STRONG gusts swept across the room, moving EVEN the fallen marble slamming into the wall!]

Shade: --!!!

Cardinal: BLOW YOU AWAY!

Shade: Ngh--

[Shade loses his footing and is forced to back up a ways in order to keep Cardinal in front of him--and on his sights.]

Shade: Enough of this--

[CLICK.]

[...Not even Shade could make a shot in these kinds of winds--]

[...Right?]

[BANG!]

Cardinal: -OOF!-

[Okay. He was really taking a beating now.]

Cardinal: (This has got to stop. Man… haven’t even knocked out his active camo yet, lame. I wish I could use more explosions and fire, that might have helped…)

Cardinal: … (Then again, not being in such a cramped space would have helped anyway.)

Cardinal: Hoo… man, you do hit hard…

[BANG--

BANG BANG BANG--]

[...Shade doesn't answer back.

He just keeps shooting.]

Cardinal: It really is too bad Round Two had to be like this—nngh!

Cardinal: I think you would have preferred remembering!

Shade: Hey.

Shade: Birdy.

Cardinal: What.

Shade: Do me a favor.

[--Wait--why was his voice coming from behind, Shade was right in front of him--]

Shade: Stop yer PRATTLE.

[BANG--!]

[Cardinal was put to the floor, dizzy from being shot in the back. His fans were buzzing a bit, and he had to prop himself up with an arm.]

Cardinal: -WHEEZE- Now that was beneath you, my friend.

Cardinal: You’re an assassin, not a traitor.

Shade: Not my fault yer bein' difficult, Birdy.

Shade: All yer...

[BANG.]

Shade: Sass, all yer brave front--

[BANG!]

Shade: Ya don't fool ME.

[He had to deflect the shots with his shield, but his arm was starting to tire from taking the shock of the blows. He gritted his teeth.]

Cardinal: Is that supposed to mean something, Shade? I’m honestly—nnn!—confused.

Shade: It does. You'll get it REAL soon.

[BANG--]

[...???]

[That's...that's a red dart.]

[Completely red, stuck to Cardinal's shield.]

[--And then it started to glow RED, RED HOT, OW--]

Cardinal: AUGH!

[He could NOT handle that much heat, not so close to his core!

He was forced to drop it to the ground and roll to the side.]

[Cardinal used NEEDLE CANNON!]

[Needle shaped spears skewered anything and everything in sight…

…and some things out of sight.

A slight rip noise betrayed that Cardinal had scored a hit and pinned the sniper’s cloak to the wall.]

Shade: TCH!

Shade: Oh, that is IT.

Shade: -LOCK ON TO CARDINAL'S SYMBOL--

Shade: Yer SCRAP.

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[Cardinal hit the floor, hard.

Silence.]

Shade: -That was mah CLOAK, FRAG YA-

[…But after a moment, he did manage to sit up again, coughing a bit.]

Shade: Fer the love of--

Shade: Ya just don't DIE.

Cardinal: -Raspy- So I’ve been told…

Cardinal: (Great… all I have left is fire…)

Cardinal: You…

[He spoke seriously now.]

Cardinal: You’ve… got to stop, Shade.

Cardinal: You’ve… got to stop…!

[He staggered to his feet.]

Cardinal: This isn’t you. It’s not your fault, but you need to stop—

Cardinal: Don’t you remember who you are?!

Shade: — . . .

[Who...]

[Cardinal grabbed his scarf and shook it. The dart there from Shade, a gift from so long ago, stood out in sharp contrast.]

Shade: ......

[Why did he have his...]

Cardinal: PLEASE! Don’t you REMEMBER me at ALL?!

_____________________

"Yer stuck with me. B]"

___________________

"Catch me if ya can, hunting doggie!"

_________________

[Memories, as if from some far off forgotten dream...]

Shade: --...

Shade: -Confused--

Shade: The hell...

[Cardinal took a quiet step forward.]

Cardinal: Shade!

Cardinal: You’re my best friend.

Cardinal: We TRUST each other, remember?!

—————————————————

“Being able to trust someone and want to be around them, miss them if they’re gone… That’s its own vulnerability, in a way.”

—————————————————

[Another step.]

Cardinal: (Just…)

Cardinal: (Need to get close enough…!)

[Trust...]

Shade: -Blinks--

[The purple and magenta fade from his eye for a second--]

Shade: (What...)

[....And then.]

[....A name.]

Shade: . . .

Shade: Cardinal...?

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: -Another step- YES! I’m here, Shade—

Cardinal: I promised nothing would make me give up on you, and I mean it.

Cardinal: -Another step- You’re sick, but we can fix that— come home, Shade, before you do something you can’t fix.

[…

…Fix…?]

—————————————

[An admission of weakness.

His core was messed up so badly, that…]

[From a powerful enough opponent, a direct hit at full charge, if exposed, would cause him to explode.

And no armor in the world would ever fix it.]

—————————————

Shade: ...ngh...

[The assassin staggers, as if something dull was pressing on his mind, something that was NOT a part of him, something that didn't want him to--]

Shade: !

[Something within screamed--]

[--But then, it all became clear.]

[Clear to the virus, that is.]

Shade: ... ...

[Cardinal was reaching out his hand to touch him. If he could just get a hold of him, he had just enough energy to get them out of here. Away from this place—if not to safety, at least where he couldn’t do any more damage.]

Cardinal: Shade…?

Shade: . . .

Shade: Songbird...Eh...

Shade: Well, that explains the bird part.

[CLICK.]

[There was an unsettling PREDATORY grin on Eight's face, as his rifle was pointed DIRECTLY AT CARDINAL'S CORE--]

Cardinal: !?

[He was too shocked, totally blindsided, taken completely off guard—he didn't even have time to get scared before—]

Shade: Adios, Songbird.

BANG—

[The direct hit from such a close range— point blank range—had done massive amounts of damage.

He didn’t really feel hitting the floor, no…

It was all lost in a vast sea of white-hot pain that engulfed his senses, enveloped his whole body—

He couldn’t even say for sure if he screamed.]

Shade: That hurt, Birdy?

Shade: Ah' BET it DID.

[Cardinal had to turn to his side to avoid choking on oil. Now he felt sick, shivering from the pain and errors that were wracking his body.]

Shade: Oh, Ah' remembered ya, yes—ah' sure did... -GRIN-

Shade: Ah' remembered how t' finally KILL YA.

[Cardinal could hear the words, but they just wouldn’t register— but if they had, he would have been crushed not just in body, but also in soul.]

Shade: That was STUPID, bah the way.

Shade: What were ya even thinkin', huh?

[Even if he wanted to run now, there was no way out. He didn’t have the energy to teleport—he barely had enough to move.

Move he did, though, at least enough to get to his knees.

…]

[…relatively speaking.]

Shade: Eheh...

Shade: Looks like yer wings have been CLIPPED...Lil' Birdy.

Shade: Nowhere t' RUN, nao, is there. Even if ya COULD move....

Cardinal: Hnnnghnnnnnggh…

Cardinal: … (Can’t… can’t move…)

Cardinal: (Need… need repairs…)

Cardinal: (N-need to partition energy into repairs—)

Shade: Still breathin'?

Shade: Ya really ARE persistent!

[The world became a white void of pain as he was kicked in the side, hard. He fell over, and Shade forced him onto his back with a bit of pressure. His vision started to come back in, but—]

[CRUNCH--]

[A boot crunches on top of Cardinal's chest--]

Cardinal: (AUGH!)

[He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t. Breathe.

The weight was crushing him, breaking him, threatening to put pressure on his core—his constant massive conversion of energy into matter to save him was only intensifying the pain.]

Cardinal: Ghhghkk—!

[He was too badly injured to move. He was using all of his power just to stay alive, now—he could barely hear, barely see—]

>ERROR: HARDWARE DAMAGE CRITICAL

Cardinal: !

>COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE IMMINENT

Cardinal: (nnnONONO—)

>INITIATE SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE

Cardinal: AAAAUUUGH!

[Cardinal gave a choked cry of despair as the countdown began— audibly, no less—]

>TEN…

Shade: -Ooh, now... What is this?-

>NINE…

Shade: Oh, right...

>EIGHT…

Shade: Ya Wily constructs go up with a bang when yer too helpless t' RUN.

>SEVEN…

Shade: -Chuckles.-

>SIX…

Shade: Nao ain't that somethin'...

>FIVE…

Cardinal: (No…!)

>FOUR…

>SYSTEM OVERRIDE

>THREE…

>RUN PROGRAM: FINAL_DAYS.EXE

>TWO…

>WARNING: FINAL_DAYS.EXE IS AN UNAUTHORIZED PROGRAM. USING THIS PROGRAM WILL PREVENT COMBAT.EXE INITIATIVES OR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FROM RUNNING NORMALLY. CONTINUE?

>ONE…

>YES

>DON’T ASK ME AGAIN

> -PING!- COMMAND CONFIRMED.

>SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Shade: ....

Shade: Tch.

Shade: Was hopin' t' see fireworks. Oh, well.

>EXECUTING PROGRAM: FINAL_DAYS.EXE

[He became limp and weak as the program went live.

He was no longer burdened by instincts meant to preserve him to be fighting fit later, or to continue fighting on.

All the energy that had been spent toward those goals was now going into extensive repair, to keep his vitals up and his senses working. This process would not be interrupted, no matter how much energy it drained from him.

…But as a result…]

Cardinal: -Rattled wheezing from shaky, submissive gasps for air-

Shade: Heh... -Smug smirk-

[He was now completely helpless.]

Shade: Look at ya...

[Everything felt faint. It hurt, and yet…]

Cardinal: -Hazily- (Can’t even move…)

[He felt so tired. So tired.

He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and get his rest….]

Cardinal: (C-can’t…)

Cardinal: (So… so tired…)

Shade: Just look at ya, ya waste of scrap.

Shade: All yer talk and sass and comebacks and fancy display...

[CRUNCH--]

Cardinal: (-PAIN!-)

[Cardinal became briefly blinded by pain, his eyes glazing over. His fans wailed in protest at the crushing weight put on his chest.]

Shade: --And all it took--

[His armor—!]

[SNAP--!]

[His inner plate armor split open—]

<DLN-000>: > -PAIN!-

[With his transceiver off, no one could hear him— no one could hear his anguished data streams—]

Shade: --Was a few shots, from one bot--

C R A C K—!!

[He jerked sharply, almost convulsing as the armor clattered, giving way to expose the energy core within. It was glowing like a small sun—white hot, too.]

Shade: - T'prepare ya t' meet yer Maker. That is... Assumin' there's an afterlife for ya pathetic box bolts...

[Cardinal gave off bleak rattling noises as his coolant system attempted to draw air over broken fans.]

Shade: Best start prayin', lil' Birdy. Yer gonna learn the answer t' that question the hard way.

Cardinal: -Repairs, need… need repairs…-

[His vision came back to him as the conversion went into overdrive, desperate on keeping the fans running, to keep him alive.

This allowed his eyes, dulled before, to resume their green spark—his sunglasses had been knocked off long ago, and so there was nothing between the green fire and the sickly purple gaze.]

Shade: --?

Shade: What in tarnation--

Cardinal: Hnnnnggghh…

Shade: --....

[Wait a second...

There was something just right of the power core, mostly tucked behind it. As it glowed, the mobility rig seemed to just… rebuild itself.

Enough for Cardinal to grasp at something, clutching it with a stubborn resignation.]

[.....]

[Two and two were put together within a second, and the Teal Silence let out a dark chuckle.]

Shade: Stubborn jackass! So THIS is how ya kept yerslef goin' so long, hmm?

Shade: Real clever...

[He suddenly JABBED right at it with his rifle-- which was a VERY bad mistake…]

Shade: ARUGH--!

[…as far as the sniper was concerned.

The tip of the rifle had been vaporized, and Cardinal was filled with a jolt of energy that the conversion provided. From the strength Shade had unwittingly donated, he knocked the rifle out of the way to prevent his friend from losing balance, and possibly ending up losing the rest of his arm to the power converter.]

Shade: NGH--

Shade: Little goddamn bastard--should've known ya had 'nother cheap shot like that up yer sleeve...

Cardinal: -Irratable snort- (Oh please, that’s just how I’m BUILT—you wouldn’t go sticking your hand in stomach acid, would you?!)

[There was still enough strength left from that for him to regain some focus. It took effort, and he struggled to reallocate repairs to non-vital systems.

Like… talking, for example.

Cardinal vented a bit and scrunched his eyes in a grimace, trying his hardest to work up the energy to talk.]

Cardinal: Nnnngh…

[…But he could only groan. The pain was so heavy…]

Shade: Bah, for the love of— spare me yer theatrics, Songbird, S'not like ya can sing anymore.

Cardinal: (But…)

Cardinal: (I’ve GOT to, I need to tell you…!)

[CLICK.]

Cardinal: —hghkkt!

[He knew that noise.]

[He KNEW that noise, and it filled him with dread.]

Cardinal: (No…)

Shade: Heheheh...

[A sadistic smile partnered the laugh that escaped from Shade--the dart that was usually in his mouth was gone...]

Cardinal: (Shade, oh God no— please… no, don’t… you can’t do this…)

Cardinal: -Weak ping of protest-

Shade: Ah' TOLD ya...Ya can't fool me.

Shade: Ya scared now, li' Birdy?

Cardinal: -Strained fan whine of despair-

[He was in distress, that was for sure. A heartbroken dismay was sapping away at the willpower maintaining the diminishing fumes of strength in his body.

Shade leaned over, resting his rifle arm on his left knee as he put his weight on Cardinal’s shoulder. The fans there screeched as they were crushed beneath the sniper’s considerable weight.]

Shade: Good.

[The blinding pain lifted as the weight was drawn away. When Cardinal could see again, he saw his friend’s back facing him.]

Shade: I'll give ya this . ..

Cardinal: …

[A low hum...]

Cardinal: … -even weaker ping-

[He couldn’t mask it. When Shade turned around, Cardinal couldn’t help but give off a faint signal of hopelessness—

Shade was using a sniper scope to light up his core as a target, purely to mock him out of spite.]

Shade: Ya were better ’n most. Damn freakin' annoyin’, too. Shoulda known better ’n ‘’ta come HERE, t' mah huntin' grounds. You got a death wish, songbird? Huh?

[He took a step forward, letting his spurs rattle loudly in his stride across the floor...]

[Slowly.]

[It was tempting. So tempting.

He was tired. He hurt. He was scared. If… if he just let go, the pain would stop, it wouldn’t hurt anymore… he could rest, he could leave before…]

Cardinal: … (No… can’t…)

[Cardinal took in a shaky breath, willing himself to stay alive, even though his energy core…]

Cardinal: (Can’t let it end… like this…)

[…was starting to turn cold.]

Shade: -Data-

Shade: -Well, if ya insist, we can GRANT it for ya.-

Cardinal: (Can’t…!)

Cardinal: (I CAN’T LET IT END LIKE THIS!)

[Cardinal struggled to focus through his failing vision, to look that menacing red-violet eye directly on with his own, dimming green pair.

He shut down all but his central core mass fans to get the energy to speak.]

Cardinal: -Very raspy, distorted gasp- Shade…

Shade: --....

[...He's not sure if he should be annoyed or impressed.]

[Cardinal spoke again. There was a clear but quiet, submissive air of despair in his frail voice.]

Cardinal: Countershade, please…

[Oh.]

[He took a step forward...]

Shade: What was that?

Cardinal: Don’t… don’t do this…

Cardinal: …beg… begging you, please…

[.....]

Shade: -GRIN-

[He smirked cruelly at this, at the sight and sounds of Cardinal begging, pleading for his life, for mercy. Ha! Finally, after all of his talk and bravo!

What a delightful feeling.]

Shade: Heheheheh!

Cardinal: please…

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

Cardinal: …it’s only… only… g…going to…

Shade: --?

Cardinal: …going to hurt y o u…

Shade: --. .. . ..

[For a moment, that makes Shade pause.

The sick, purple aura left him, the malice, the evil that had dug it's way deep into his core was lifted for just a brief moment—]

Shade: -N-No—-

Shade: (No, no, no…!)

Shade: -Straining- M-must… fight… the power…

[He, too, seemed like he was in just as much pain as Cardinal was.]

[…]

[CLICK.]

[...But the moment... Passed.]

Shade: Enough!

[He spoke with a firm, authoritative command of finality.]

Shade: I don’t have time t’ waste on you. Obviously ya ain’t gonna stay out of my way while ya still runnin’.

Shade: An’ as we’ve already established, ya have this fraggin’ annoyin’ tendency to keep hangin’ on. Fahn, then—I’ll give ya the honor a’ takin’ ya out myself!

Cardinal: (No…)

[Cardinal gripped his hand tighter, as if bracing himself.]

Shade: An’ just tah make SURE you don’t get out of sight at the last second. ..

[He lowered his gaze, and his aim, right down to Cardinal's exposed core.]

Shade: This'll be the last bullet Ah' waste on ya.

[Cardinal forced himself to maintain eye contact, even as Shade lowered his rifle to point directly at the exposed core.

He didn’t… feel scared anymore. Just… defeated.

Hopeless.

…Accepting of his time, resigned to his fate… even as he dwelt with lingering, final regret, on his failure and shame.]

Shade…

[Darkness overtook his eyes.

His power was nearly entirely depleted. He would only last a few minutes longer, at most—one way or another, he had reached, at last… his final day.]

[Vrrrrrrr...]

Oh, Shade…!

[He could faintly hear the sound of Shade’s deadly aim setting up. It seemed… so far away…]

I…

[He heard a faint fizzling and hissing noise as the energy converter fell silent.

There could only be one reason for that—

No more energy left to convert from.

He could feel his heart becoming as cold as i c e …]

I’m… so sorry…!

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

=CHAPTER 8C: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[C R A A A C K!]

[THUD—]

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

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[THREAT IDENTIFIED.]

[XEL OVERRIDE SEQUENCE INITIATED.]

[COMMENCING WEAPON LOCK.]

Beck: STOP!

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

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

Shade: —!

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

Beck: NNGH—!

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

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

Beck: S-Shade—!

Shade: ....

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

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

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

Beck: Nnngh—!

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

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

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: C-Cards—!

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

Shade: -GRIN-

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

Beck: That...

Voice… voices…

> Procc…essin…g…

Beck: THAT'S ENOUGH—!

Beck: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS—?!

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

Beck: I'm not TALKING to you.

> Proccess…ing…

Shade: —....

Beck: Yeah. That's right.

Beck: You.

Beck: I KNOW you can hear me.

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

Beck: I know—you're like ME.

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

> Proccess…ing…

Shade: … …

Shade?: Like...you—?

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

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

Beck: So...

Beck: ...So please.

Beck: I'm begging you.

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

Beck: No more.

Beck: Just...no more.

> Proccess…ing…

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

Beck: I don't want to fight.

Beck: I...

Beck: I don't want to fight anymore—

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

Beck: —!

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

———————————

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

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

——————————————

[Oh no—]

[PING!]

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

Beck: -Blinks—- ??????

Beck: (Wha—)

[BANG!]

Beck: Guh—!

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

Shade: Alright.

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

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

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

Beck: —Shade, wait—!

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

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

Beck: Cards--

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

Beck: C-Cards...

Tired…

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

Cardinal: …

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

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

{Go… on… 9.}

Beck: —!

Beck: ....

[His vision began to grow out of focus.]

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

[Those were tears.]

Beck: N-No—

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

((Pic—Beck crying over Cardinal))

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

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

[Whether Cardinal didn’t hear him, or else didn’t care… that was hard to say.]

{Go… now…}

{SAVE… HIM…}

{Save… 8…}

{Go.}

Beck: I—I—

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

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

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

Beck: -Hurts—-

[Shade—his brother—]

[And Cards, Shade's best friend—]

___________________

"Beck."

___________________

Beck: —!

[A voice...]

_______________________

"Ow...yeah?"

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

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

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

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

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

"I..."

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

"Until WHAT, Beck—?"

"I..."

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

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

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

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

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

"Hey, what do you mean by—"

"You can't help everyone, Amadeus."

"Wha—yes, I can—!"

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

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

"...Mighty No. 9."

___________________________

Beck: .......

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (...I...)

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

Beck: .......

>Shutting down…

Beck: . . . . .

Beck: O...Okay.

Beck: I'll go.

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

Beck: And...

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

Beck: ...

Beck: Promise.

-Ping-

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

<RMDC>: > Processing…

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

Beck: ....

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

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

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

[PING!]

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

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

[MN.9] //: But—C...Cards...

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

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

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

Beck: ......

[Which means...]

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

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

[.....]

[There was...no other choice.]

[He had to move forward.]

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (Cards...)

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

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

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

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

[This was far from over.]

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

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

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

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

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

[...But only a little.]

[SHING!]

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

[SHING!]

[But where...]

Beck: SHADE!

[PING!]

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

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

Beck: So where ARE you?

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

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

Beck: Besides YOU? Oh, come on—

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

Beck: —Huh?

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

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

Beck: What...?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: —......

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

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

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

[MN.8] //: Heh.

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

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

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

Beck: What's your plan?

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

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

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

[MN.8] //: By FORCE.

Beck: —!!!!

Beck: Y-You can't do that—!

Beck: The IBCA isn't EVIL, Shade—!

Beck: Don't do that—

Beck: -PANIC-

Beck: PLEASE—!

[MN.8] //: Oh?

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.8] //: Heh.

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

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

[KSSSSSST--]

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (Those words...)

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

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

Beck: (You...)

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

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

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

Beck: .......

Beck: (No...)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: -Ngh--

Beck: (No, stop that--)

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

Beck: ....

Beck: (I have to keep going.)

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

[His new office, Shade said.]

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

[Beck knew exactly where to go.]

Beck: . . . .

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

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

Sunny: D:

Beck: ...Hi, Sunny.

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

Beck: --?

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

Beck: !

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

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

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

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

[And some marshmallows from Sanda.]

[…!]

[And a note!]

Beck: ...?

“{LAST NIGHT—FOUND WORKING REPLACEMENT.}”

Beck: Working...Replacement...?

[.....]

Beck: --!!!!!

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

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

Beck: (They did it--?)

Beck: ....

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

[...There was hope.]

Beck: (I get it now...)

[There was a chance--!]

Beck: (I gotta save Shade--)

Beck: (So Cards can get help--)

Beck: (So he can be SAVED--)

Beck: (So he can live--!)

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

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

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

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

Beck: (Alright, Shade--)

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

Beck: (Let's end this.)

[CAPITOL BUILDING: OVAL OFFICE...]

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

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

[But he was here.]

Beck: (...Yeah...)

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

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

Beck: ....

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

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

"Heh."

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

Shade: So ya do learn.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shade: …

Beck: Please...

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

Beck: ....

Beck: I won't disagree with you.

Beck: ....

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: That being said--

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

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

Beck: Mao, Felix, Piers--

Beck: The people that look up to us--

Beck: The people that we FIGHT for--!

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

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

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

Shade: Tch.

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

Beck: --!

Shade: Emancipation is worth ANY price...

Shade: Even at the cost of human lives.

[SCANNING.....]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

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

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

[CLICK.]

Shade: Or yours.

[BANG!]

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

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

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

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

Beck: (Argh...)

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

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

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

[...Wrong.]

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

[Beck had to be prepared for anything.]

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

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

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

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

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

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

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

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

[BANG BANG BANG--]

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

"That's right--RUN."

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

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

Beck: (Where are you--)

"Here."

Beck: --!?

[He looked up--]

[BANG--!]

Beck: --?!?

[Dizzy--]

[ERROR--GYRO SYSTEMS OFFLINE.]

Beck: Wh--Whoa--!

Shade: Heh! DANCE, Lil' Doggy!

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

[WHAM--!]

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

Beck: @~@!

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

[BANG!]

Beck: NGH--!

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

[BANG!]

Beck: OW--

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

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

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

[THUD--]

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

[BANG--!]

Beck: ARGH--!

"Havin' fun, Lil' doggy?"

Beck: NO!

"Heheh."

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

[RUNNING XEL_FILTER.EXE...]

[NO MALWARE FOUND.]

Beck: (Wha--then how--)

Beck: !

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

[A purple dart--?]

Beck: --!

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

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

[Left moves right, and vice versa--]

[So moving his right arm should--!]

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

[BANG BANG BANG--!]

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

Beck: Nngh...

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

[SMACK--]

Beck: Mmmph--!

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

((Pic—Beck pinned))

Shade: S'that ALL?

Shade: Ya didn't even last HALF of what the Songbird did. An’ HE was as soft as the sap he choked on!

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

Beck: (Nngh--)

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

Beck: Sh... Shade--!

[...?]

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

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

[Cardinal's handwriting...]

[HOPE LIVES.]

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

Shade: Ah’ll make this short. After ‘m done with yew, ‘m gonna make SURE that birdy hasn’t pulled one last trick out of his arsenal. So.

Shade: Any last words, Doggy?

[CLICK.]

Beck: --Shade--

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

Beck: They did it, Shade--!

Shade: --!

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

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

Shade: -Blink-

Shade: R..Really--?

Beck: Yeah--

[YANK--]

[GYRO SYSTEMS RESTORED.]

Beck: So you need to COME BACK HOME WITH ME--!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON.]

[BZZZZZZZZZRT!!]

Shade: MOTHERSCRA--

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

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: So you and Cards--

[BZZZZZZZZZRT!]

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

Shade: Ngh--!

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

Beck: So we can all Live—together--!!

Beck: IT'S JUST YOU LEFT--!

Beck: SO JUST LET ME--

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

[Fzzt!]

Beck: --?!?!?

[....Did...]

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

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

Shade: -GRIN-

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

Shade: What's wrong, Lil' Doggy?

[And then he just disappeared.]

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

[BANG!]

Beck: Gh--

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

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

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

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

Shade: Just like that?

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

Shade: Heh.

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

Shade: S'just like them, huh?

Shade: T'covet what they hold DEAR--

[VRRRRR....]

Beck: !

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

Shade: T'WORSHIP UNTIL THEY GET BORED!

[BANG BANG BANG--]

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

Beck: --?!?!?

Beck: (HOW IS HE DOING THAT--)

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

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

[BANG BANG BANG!]

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

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

Beck: --?

[What's this--?

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

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

Beck: (What the heck...)

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

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PEW PEW PEW!]

Shade: HGNN--

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

Shade: Freakin' MUTT!

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

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

Shade: S'called--

[FZZT!]

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

Shade and Shade: Which is it?

Beck: !

Beck: -DUCK--

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

[SCANNING...]

[ERROR--MN.8 SIGNAL NOT FOUND]

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

Beck: (UGH--)

[PEW--!]

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

Beck: (Aha!)

[Fzzt!]

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

Beck: (No--!)

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

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

Beck: --?

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

Beck: --!!!

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

[PEW!]

Shade: --?!?

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Thank you, Cards--!)

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

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON.]

Shade: Nngghr--...

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

Beck: I'm not a DOG--

[BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

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

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

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

Shade: You...

Shade?: You IDIOT.

Beck: --?!

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

[CLICK.]

Shade?: LET ME HAVE THIS!

[VRRRRRRRR--!]

[BANG BANG BANG BANG BANGBANGBANGBANG--!]

[It was just like the first fight Shade had had against Cardinal, where he’d taken out all the lights. The fixtures shattered.

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

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

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

[But...]

[WARNING: XEL LOSS DETECTED.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: -Gnh--

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

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

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

Shade: Gah, sloppy--

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

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

Beck: Ngh--

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

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

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

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

Beck: I AM NOT--

Shade: --!!!

Beck: LIKE THAT--!

[C R A C K !!]

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

[K-ZAP!]

[Well THAT was certainly stronger than expected—!]

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

Beck: ....

Beck: -cough, ugh--

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

"N...Ngh..."

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: --!

Beck: SHADE WAIT--

[ZZT.]

Shade: OW--

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

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

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

[ZZZT.]

Beck: OW--

Beck: ......

[ZZZT. ZZZT. ZZZT.]

Beck: Ow ow ow--

Shade: Wh--

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

Beck: @-@

Beck: Ow.

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

Beck: Okay, Shade...

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

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

Beck: .....

Beck: No.

Beck: I think I do.

Beck: I think I have all this time.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

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

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

Beck: I know you're listening.

Beck: ...

Beck: Everything is going to be okay.

Beck: I will help everyone.

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

Beck: And, Shade...

Shade: --?

Beck: Cards is going to be okay.

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

Shade: .....

Shade: C... Cards...

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

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

[.........]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh...Okay."

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

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

"Mm?"

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

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

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

"Hush, nao..."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Heh."

[.......]

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

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

"...?"

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

Beck: --!!!!

"Just remember this."

"There is such a thang as second chances."

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

Shade: Ah'....

"But they're there."

((Pic—Shade’s purging))

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

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

[THUD.]

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

Beck: Shade--!

-PING!-

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

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

Beck: ! Yeah, but Shade--

Shade: .....

Shade: Zzzzzz....

Beck: . . .

[…

Mikhail laughs.

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

Beck: ....

Beck: Heh...

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

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

Mikhail: They’ll…

Mikhail: They’ll be fine, Beck.

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

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

Beck: !

Beck: R...Really?

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

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

Mikhail: He’ll be alright.

Beck: Heh...

Beck: (I...)

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: -Sleepily- Mmm mmm...

Mikhail: Call, if you please…

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

=CHAPTER 8D: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[SANDA LABS....]

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

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

Beck: Zzzzz....

Shade: Zzz....

[Peacefully asleep.]

Pyro: -I am hardly surprised at this-

Will: Shade...

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

Dyna: -BZZZT BABY BROSZZ—-

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

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

Avi: -WEEEEEH, SHAAAAADEY, BECKERSSS—-

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

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

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

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

Bat: -Hnmm- Too right, brother.

Bat: ...good to be home.

Will: (At long last…)

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

Mikhail: But I know you’re still busy…

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

Will: .....

Will: I...I know.

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

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

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

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

Will: Once Shade wakes up....

Will: ......

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

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

Mikhail: Will.

Mikhail: You don’t look very good.

Will: I—

Soi: Will had a panic attack.

Will: —....

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

Will: (Soi...)

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

Brandish: …Doctor, are you alright?

Mikhail: …

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

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

Will: —…

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

Will: Where…

Will: Where is Cardinal?

Mikhail: -Looks away- …

[He swallows after a moment.]

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

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

Mikhail: He… is still at the White House.

Will: —! What?

Pyro: . . .

Brand: ...Doctor?

Will: Why...hasn't he returned—?

Mikhail: …

[He looks away again.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: …

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

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

Mikhail: -Deep breath again- Cardinal…

Mikhail: Cardinal is Offline.

Will: C...Cardinal—!?

Pyro: It—no—

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

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

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

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

Call: Attention.

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

Will: What?

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

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

Will: --!!

Mikhail: …

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

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

A man at the end of his rope.]

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

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

Mikhail: Soichiro…

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

Soi: Both of you. <<

Mikhail: …

[The older man doesn’t even argue.]

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

Call: Yes, Doctor Cossack.

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

Mikhail: Good day.

Soi: See you later, Mikhail.

Will: .....-Waves-

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

Will: (When will this nightmare END?)

[SANDA LABS, EVENING…]

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

They were together again.

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

But together.]

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

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

…And yet…

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

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

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

Beck: … .

[…Or has he?]

[Love, compassion, respect and trust…

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

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

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

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

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

…

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

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

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

[So…

Was it not enough?

Did he not try…hard enough…?]

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

He saw it.

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

He saw it.]

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

A ray of hope beneath the mask.]

Beck: ……..

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

Beck: (Where are you…?)

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

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

Beck: …..

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

Beck: (Ugh…)

Beck: (This sucks…)

Beck: ……

Beck: (Maybe…maybe she’s okay…)

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

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

Beck: (So does…that mean…)

Beck: ………

Beck: -Siiiiigh-

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

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

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

Beck: …..

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

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

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

Beck: -Stares at the ceiling-

Beck: ….

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

[SANDA LABS, REPAIR BAY…]

Soi: Whew…

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

Will: Hrmmm…

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

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

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

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

Soi: …I see…

Will: (….)

Will: (I thought I was… through.)

Will: (I really, really thought so…)

Will: -Sighs, locks the code again-

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

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

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

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

But despite being in the same room…

…he was asleep on his notes.]

Mikhail: Zzz…

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

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

Oh, he was resting, alright.

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

Soi: … >> I told him to–

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

Will: He has his…his own troubles now.

Will: ……

Will: (I’m sorry…)

[PING!]

Will: –?

Mikhail: Zzz…

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

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

[CALL] //: Our private emergency line.

Sanda: –?!!

Mikhail: Zzz…

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

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

Mikhail: Zzz…

Will: ……

Will: And…That would be….?

[CALL] //: Madame President Minerva.

Will: …….

Will: Call…

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

[CALL] //: Affirmative, Doctor White.

Will: No no NO–!

[Mikhail abruptly wakes up, looking startled.

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

Soi: Will–!

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

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

Soi: E–Er–

Soi: Oh man…

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

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

Mikhail: …

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

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

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: Stall for me.

[AAAAAAND HE’S OUT.]

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

Soi: ….

Soi: (Crikey…)

{Meanwhile…}

“Will! WILL!”

Mikhail: -Runs after him- Will, wait!

Mikhail: {Will! We… we need to talk!}

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

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

Will: I–…Mikhail…

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

Mikhail: I’m sorry.

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

Will: (–!)

Mikhail: I…

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

Will: –!!

Will: Wh–What–?! No–! You can’t–!

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

Mikhail: I HAVE THINGS TO ANSWER FOR, WILL!

((Pic—Mikhail & Will (shouting)))

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

Will: -Wince- (But…–!)

Mikhail: I’m sorry, Will…

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

Will: (P-price…!)

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

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

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

Mikhail: …

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

Will: I don’t understand…

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

Mikhail: Backups to the database are inactive copies.

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

Will: –!!

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

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

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

Will: –?!

Will: T…Too…Old?

Will: (C… Cardinal…?)

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

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

Will: ……

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

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

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

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

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

Will: John 15:13…?

Sanda: Why would…?

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

[MN.1] //: ….

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

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

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

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

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

[His voice becomes bitter in pain.]

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

Mikhail: What that would have done to your son…

Will: … .

Will: (Oh, Mikhail…!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: I am willing to pay.

Will: … (Mikhail…)

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: That is no longer the case.

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: Me.

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

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

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

Mikhail: Such… such an action is…

Mikhail: …not something easily forgiven.

Will: (N…No…!)

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

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

Mikhail: I’m sorry, William…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will: (Gnk–!)

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

Mikhail: But you…

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

Will: … … ….

[Too much. It was all too much.]

[Of all the things Will had to hide…]

[Tears…]

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

Will: Gh…!

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

((Pic—Mikhail & Will (hug)))

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

Will: You–You have to promise me–!

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

Mikhail: -Blinks- …

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

Mikhail: Oh, William…

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

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

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

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

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

-*-*-*-*-

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

-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: I intend to keep to that.

[…..]

Will: -Sniff-

Will: (…Mikhail…)

Will: (…That’s right…The two of us…)

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

Will: …I…

Will: I really…wanted to show you around…

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

Mikhail: -Weary smile-

[He ruffles Will’s hair a bit.]

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

Will: -Sniff- Right…Here be dragons…

Mikhail: да.

Mikhail: Go…

Mikhail: Go see your sons, Will.

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

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

Will: ….

Will: Y…Yes…

Will: Alright…

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Gently- Will?

Will: Mm?

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

Will: ….

Will: …!

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

Will: -Awkward noodle, how do we people–

[That gets Mikhail to laugh.]

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

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

Will: …Okay…

Will: ….

Will: (…..)

Will: I’ll…do that.

Will: …

Will: (Friend…)

{Meanwhile}

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

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

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

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

Soi: -Ahem-

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

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

Min: Doctor Sanda.

[She lifts something onto the screen.]

Min: Is this yours?

Soi: –!!!

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

Scout: -LICKS THE SCREEN-

Soi: …..

Soi: Uuuuh…

Soi: I…Oh, dear…

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

Soi: (–Oh, right…)

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

Min: And the cat?

Soi: –?

Soi: I…I’m sorry, cat–?

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

Soi: –!?!?

Soi: (Giant cat–oh no—JAZZ–)

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

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

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

Soi: –….

Soi: (Cardinal….)

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

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

Soi: (Ack!)

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

Soi: (What…What do I do…)

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

Soi: –!!

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

Soi: Wh–what are–?

Soi: (What are you doing, Mikhail–!)

[DR.WHITE to DR. SANDA] //: S–Soi….

Soi: –!

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

Min: …

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

Min: Doctor Михаил Сергеевич Казак.

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

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

Soi: …

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

Min: …

Soi: —! (R…Right off the bat—?!)

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

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

Min: —?!

Min: That…

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

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

Soi: … … ...

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

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

[A pause.]

Mikhail: …

Mikahail: -Decides to start over- Well…

Mikhail: …She’s a cat. -___-;;

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

Mikhail: >_>

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

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

Min: So you are all working together, then.

Soi: -Wince- (Mikhaaaaaaaail…)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Min: Why are you being so defensive and confrontational?

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

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

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

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

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

Min: —…

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

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

Soi: (You have no idea.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: -Ngh…-

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

Soi: ….

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

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

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

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

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

Min: Very well, you do have a point.

[She looks over her shoulder.]

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

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

Min: -Smiles a bit at that-

Mikhail: … -Blinks-

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

Des: -Peeks over Min’s shoulder-

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

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

Mikhail: -Flatly- No, I’m not a spy.

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

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

Mikhail: нет.

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

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

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

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

Soi: ( ! He mentioned Kalinka…)

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

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

Des: … a right to know, huh…

Des: Well, I think I do.

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

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

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

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

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

Des: Look…

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

Des: …Well.

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

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

Des: ….

Des: -Turns to Min again-

Des: He’s a soldier, Min.

Des: No one left behind.

Min: …

Min: -Siiiighs-

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: …

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

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

Soi: ….

Soi: I…If I may…Suggest something…?

Mikhail: -Turns to look at Soi- ?

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: -Exhales-

Soi: …..

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

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

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

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Trust me–

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

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

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Soichiro–!

Soi: Just…

Soi: He’s….he’s our friend. Please…

Soi: The more we wait…

Min: …

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

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

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

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

Soi: Yes…Yes, certainly…

Min: -Looks at Des for a moment- …

Des: …..

Min: -Looks back- Very well.

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

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

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

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

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

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: –!!!

Min: And after that…

[She holds up Scout again.]

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

Scout: : D!!!!

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

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

Min: But before I let you go—

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

Soi: !

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

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

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

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

Des: ??? -Again–

Min: Even from up to several yards away.

Scout:  D: -Nuuuuu-

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

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

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

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

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

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

Min: -Chuckles- Alright.

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

Min: -Signals for the feed to cut out-

-BLIP!-

Soi: …..

[Suddenly, someone running into the room–]

Mikhail: ?

[GLOMP–]

Will: You did it–

Will: Both of you did it–!

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

Soi: –Oof–

Soi: Aw, Will… ^^

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

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

Will: …..

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

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

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

Soi: It’s worth it.

Will: …Soi…

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

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

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor.

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

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

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

Will: I–

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

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

Will: Eheh…Up the creek with no paddle…

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

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

Pyro: ...Doctor...

Pyro: Father...

Will: ...Son.

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

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

Pyro: I--beg pardon--?

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

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

Pyro: —…

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

Pyro: ...I...

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

Mikhail: Yes and no…

Pyro: ?

Mikhail:  Pyro…

Mikhail: …I’m afraid I rather volunteered you for a journey. I’m going to need you to do something.

Pyro: —?

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

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

Will: Not yet...

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

Will: ...

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

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

[Mikhail pinched the bridge of his nose.]

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

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

Will: But with the Robot Masters offline...

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

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

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

Mikhail: Will…

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

Mikhail: That’s what he would have wanted.

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

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

Pyro: -wINCE-

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

Mikhail: Pyrogen…

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

Mikhail: I fear, Pyrogen…

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

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

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

Pyro: (He's...)

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

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

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

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

Pyro: …

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

Pyro: (You...)

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

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

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

Pyro: Beck...

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: …

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

Mikhail: Good luck, Pyrogen.

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

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

=CHAPTER 9A: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v2.0~

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

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

{Soon, outside the White House…}

[…It was a shambled mess. Not like how it was usually seen in pictures or in movies or TV. Windows broken, smashed, smoke coming from various places…]

Desmond: ….. -Sighs- (Never though I’d live to see myself going through a living White House Down movie…)

"Secretary."

[Desmond turned around at a very familiar voice–one that many people knew at this point.

Pyrogen, leader of the Mighty Numbers, the highest ranked IBCA team on the planet.

While Desmond knew the gravity of the situation…He couldn’t help but feel honored, really, when the fire bot strode over with focus and purpose.]

Pyro: Mighty No. 1, reporting for duty. I’m here to retrieve DLN-000 and his support unit.

Desmond: -Nods- Desmond Donald. It’s an honor. And right on time….

Pyro: I like to be when there are lives at stake.

Desmond: –….

Desmond: I’m aware of the situation, One… >>;

Desmond: (He really does possess an air of authority…)

Pyro: Am I cleared to enter?

Desmond: Yes. There are some areas that have caught fire, due to the… fire breathing cat…

Desmond: –But–that should pose no problem for you. I assume you are going to disable her…?

Pyro: I will, if my first plan doesn’t work.

Desmond: ….?

Pyro: Need I remind you that she is a cat.

Pyro: There are less aggressive ways to calm an angry feline, Secretary.

Pyro: If you are coming with me, I suggest you change into casual clothing. A man in a suit with a fire arm will make her even more aggressive.

Desmond: …..

Desmond: You seem to know much about this support unit anyway, One.

Pyro: You are already going to question my Father and Doctor Cossack. I am here to retrieve DLN-000 and the support unit, nothing more. If you want to question me, you will have to go though him first.

Desmond: ….

Desmond: -~- I see.

Desmond: Give me a few minutes to change.

Pyro: Affirmative.

[INSIDE…]

Desmond: -Now in a green cotton shirt and jeans- She’s this way.

Pyro: …….

Pyro: (Good Lord, I can’t tell if it’s Beck that made this, Shade in his illness, or Cardinal…)

Pyro: (All of them at once, I suspect, even…)

Desmond: Yeah, I know. It’s like Hurricane Jeremiah had a kid with a tornado and then this happened….

Pyro: … ….

Desmond: It’s going to take weeks to clean this up… (And I don’t even want to THINK about the damage done to the historical artifacts–guh, I can hear the protesters and crazed historians matches already…)

Pyro: ….

Pyro: You said they were in the room overlooking the Lawn, yes?

Des: …Yeah. This way. We’re still getting rid of the rest of MN.8’s traps so we have to take the other way around.

Des: Careful, some of the flooring is unstable–some of the hallways should be safe, though. -Pause-

Pyro: …?

Des: Your mysterious soldier friend kind of made sure of that. >>;;

Pyro: –!

[….Case in point, they had reached one such hallway….]

Pyro: …..

Pyro: -S I G H-.

Pyro: Cardinaaaal… | (

Des: –?

Des: What?

Pyro: –….

Des: Cardinal?

Pyro: ….

Pyro: (Glitch–)

Des: –…Is that his name?

[He hadn’t actually had the time to look up all of the related files on the DLN-008 case; as a privacy feature, related files were only listed by serial number, nothing more.]

Pyro: ….

Pyro: Yes. -~-;;;;   (Damn it, Cardinal, if you weren’t such a trouble maker, I wouldn’t have had such a reaction–)

Des: ….That… explains why Countershade was calling him ‘Birdy’…

Pyro: -Sigh- Yes…

Des: So they do know each other.

Pyro: Are we going to save him or not?

Pyro: I told you, you’re going to question the Doctors, you can ask them.

Pyro: If you’re only going to play 20 Questions, I can find my own way there myself. | [

Des: ….

Des: | \ I’m the one escorting you, One–

Pyro: And I have a mission.

Pyro: You are just along for the ride.

Des: ….

Pyro: | [

Des: ….

[While that was not quite true, he knew that it wasn’t really in their best interests to argue the point.]

Des: -Begrudging tone- Fine.

[After carefully going through the wreckage and debris left behind by the resulting battle, Pyro and the Secretary of Defense didn’t say a word to each other as they came up upon one of the last hallways to the room in question.]

Des: !

Des: Oh, come on, he smashed nearly HALF of the Presidential Busts too–?!

Des: -n-

Pyro: …. (No, Cardinal wouldn’t do that. Shade, perhaps….)

Des: At least it’s all on THIS end instead of all over the place…

Pyro: …..The door’s been knocked down…

Pyro: (Cardinal DID use his shield to break some open, didn’t he?)

[Something could be seen moving inside…]

Pyro: –?

Pyro: I can see something…

Des: -~- That must be her. She was standing guard by the door until we left her alone…

Des: …After we found out she could breathe fire.

Pyro: …Breathe fire…

Des: It was sudden too. She hissed at us a lot like cats do–and then… whoosh.

Pyro: ….

Pyro: (Hissed?)

“HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSSS…”

[Glowing red eyes. FULL RED EYES.]

Pyro: —!!!

Pyro: (That is NOT just a cat hiss—! That’s—! That’s the sound of flammable gas being released!)

Pyro: Back! Now!

Des: —!!!

Click click FOOSH!

[Pyro tanked it, alright!]

Jazz: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH…

Jazz: -Digs claws into floor-

Jazz: -HHHHSSS! HHHHHSSSS!-

Jazz: -COME NO CLOSER-

Pyro: -Is now aflame but slowly dying it down-

Pyro: Stay behind me, Secretary.

Des: Holy…

[The mechanical panther seemed absolutely ENRAGED.]

Jazz: RRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNGGGGGHHH! >K

Jazz: -Bats a bit at the air in front of us, SEE, RAZOR CLAWS, come no closerrrr-

Pyro: -And we back up, like she wants-

Pyro: Jazz…

Pyro: Look at me. It’s me, Pyro. I know you’re just trying to protect him…

[The full red glow fades to just red irises.]

Jazz: Rrrrrrrnnngh…

Pyro: I know he is hurt, badly, and I know people have been trying to get in that you do not like, I understand.

Jazz: Rrr…

Jazz: -Sits, flicking tail-

Des: (—!)

Pyro: Jazz…

Pyro: He needs help, and repairs. He needs to get out of here.

Pyro: That’s why I’m here. To take him back home.

Pyro: And you trust me, yes?

Jazz: …

Jazz: |K

Jazz: -Lays down, looking over her shoulder at them in a sulk-

Pyro: Yes, I know you don’t like it. I know you must be worried.

Pyro: How about this. You let me and this man pass and let us retrieve him…

Pyro: And you can have these.

[…Is…Is that a bag of cooked fishes and some jerky he’s pulling out of his outfit–]

Pyro: You must be hungry, no?

Jazz: …

Jazz: Ree-ow.

[Whew. Green eyes again.]

[PING!]

[It’s… a memory file, showing Cardinal in the Titus alleyways with Baron, Jazz, and Scout.]

Jazz: -The spiky thing ate our share of the sandwich-

Pyro: …..

Pyro: -Laughs-

Des: –????

Pyro: (So he DID travel with you two…)

Jazz: -Prrrrr, yes, we like that sound- -That is the happy sound-

[Ping!]

[Another memory file, with Cardinal and Shade laughing really hard at something… hard to say what.]

Pyro: ……

Pyro: Hmmn…

Pyro: (…I worry that they’ll never share that again…)

Pyro: (…I know that they’re practically chained at the waist together but…)

Pyro: (….)

Pyro: (No…They’ll be fine…)

Jazz: -Tailflick, closing eyes and putting head down-

[Pyro comes over and places the bag in front of Jazz, then motions for Des to follow.]

Pyro: Hurry.

Des: -Yup we’re going, alright–

Des: What the heck were you laughing about back there?

Pyro: …The cat.

Des: : /

Jazz: -Sniff sniff- -Starts poking her nose and then face into it the way cats do- -Munch munch-

Pyro: …Rather hard to see…

Des: Hang on, I got a—

[Foosh!]

[Pyro’s hand is now alight with flame. It brights the area around them–not as much as a conventional light, but better than before.]

((Pic—Pyro & Des))

Pyro: …..

Des: …. (Oh. Right. Fire bot.)

[Other than Jazz and the crackle of flames, the room was… eerily quiet, and still. There was no signal. No sound. Only… cold, lifeless… silence.

The whole room was almost as silent as a tomb.]

Pyro: … . .

Des: …. (This…silence…why does it feel so grim…)

Pyro: (Where are you, Cardinal…)

Pyro: I’ll search the left side. You search the right.

Des: -Turning on his flashlight- Got it…

[The room was an absolute disaster. There were marble columns on the floor (not to mention the chandelier), Metal Blades and Quick Boomerangs in the ceiling, acid damage on the far side, bits of shrapnel embedded in the walls, giant spikes scattering the landscape, and even plasma burns on the floor. Most of the debris had been swept aside by some strong force, though…]

[…]

[…there were… oil paw prints on the floor…]

Pyro: (God Almighty… you used all this against Shade and…?)

Pyro: …..

Pyro: –? (Prints…This is oil…)

[Now one could smell it. The smell of… oil and coolant…]

-*-*-*-*-*-

SKLLLKTTKRRRSHHHLLLRRRKKT—

[Oil and cooling fluids spattered all over Bladeblaster’s hands and weapon, as if they were blood….]

-*-*-*-*-*-

Pyro: (Gh–)

Pyro: (Coolant…Oil…)

Pyro: (Shade…No, that accursed VIRUS–)

Pyro: (That virus–what have you done to him–?)

Pyro: …..

Pyro: (I feel no signal…)

Pyro: (Nothing.)

Pyro: (Not even the error message, it…It’s as if he just vanished–)

[—?]

[A…a shadow—Pyro can make out a form—a frame on the ground—]

[Not moving.]

Pyro: !

Pyro: Cardinal—

[What Pyro found was… not pretty.

Cardinal was looking up with a gaze that seemed to go beyond the roof, beyond the sky—right into the stars—but there was no light at all in those eyes. They weren’t just dulled… they were off entirely.

As the gaze moved downward, one could see he was holding onto something with his left hand—the grip was tight, having locked in when the power shut off.

And even further—

…

… … …]

Pyro: !!!!

Pyro: -Choked g a s p–

[Cardinal’s outer armor was in tatters. Most of the inner armor around his torso was gone— leaving his vital inner mechanics exposed. It was clear that some of the mobility and coolant systems (including the fans) had been repeatedly crushed and repaired. There was a largish sphere in the center of the cavity, with another device hooked to the side. The coloration on the surfaces around it suggested it had recently burned white hot….

…But now it was cold and dulled, like a dead bulb that had been utterly spent.

The core was exposed… and the power was gone.]

[The core– exposed–]

[Pyro immediately felt sick– sick to his very Xel, he couldn’t–he just couldn’t lay eyes on Cardinal’s broken form like this, not with his very chest open–]

[The core…

For Robot Masters, the core was nothing more than a power source–something that kept them alive, kept them running.

But for those made of Xel, it was so much more.

The central core of a Xel robot contained everything–their self, their personality, their function and weapon data, their very heart and soul.

To see Cardinal’s own core so dead and lifeless—!]

Pyro: CARDINAL—!!

Des: –?! Wha—

Des: Hey, what’s—

[He turned and shone his flashlight in their direction. For a brief moment, the light glinted off of punctured metal and crushed gears, and the smoky dullness of the power core became soft in reflection, like a very faint moon.

Desmond was alarmed at the sight of the core, and trailed off immediately.

His view was quickly obstructed by Jazz stepping in the way, giving him an eerily judgmental look.]

Pyro: (…Oh– Oh dear GOD—)

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

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

-*-*-*-*-

Skull: -The fact that he’s emphasizing that nothing will make him lose faith suggests that he anticipates something happening that would be the end of a friendship in lesser hearts-

Skull:  -And that it’s something that Shade would feel were his own fault, should it be too late for him to recognize until after the fact-

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

Pyro: (Oh Shade–!)

Pyro: (Brother–to have been forced to do something like this–!)

Pyro: (To…To have harmed your own…)

____________________________

"PYRO CRASH, AND YOU...BUUUUUUUUURRRN!"

___________________________

[A sharp SPLITTING pain shot through his head–]

Pyro: Ngggh–!

Des: –!

Des: One–?

Jazz: Ree-ow…

[She pads over to Pyro, giving him a gentle headbutt the way cats do.]

Jazz: Ree-ow.

Pyro: —!

Pyro: …..

Pyro: Oh, Jazz…

Pyro: I…

Pyro: I’m sorry.

Pyro: (…Shade…)

Pyro: ……

Pyro: (…Cardinal…)

Pyro: (Neither of you are at fault…)

Pyro: (I can only hope both of you remember that…)

Pyro: (The real culprit…)

Pyro: (…Is the one who is behind all of this.)

Pyro: …..

Pyro: (I don’t even want to move him, but…Father trusted me to be delicate enough to do so.)

Pyro: (…He’ll want his shield…)

[Said shield was laying beside him. It had a dart stuck in it and what appeared to be tooth marks…

…Oh.

Well that would explain the oil paw print trail.]

Pyro: …

Pyro: Secretary.

[Pyro’s tone was grave, sad, and incredibly heavy with guilt and worry.]

Pyro: …Take his shield.

Des: …..Right….

Des: —!

Des: ….

Des: (There’s still a dart in it…)

[Carefully taking great caution to not injure Cardinal any further than he is now, Pyro placed his arms over his torso, and moved to tuck his own unlit arms under his legs and back…]

Pyro: (He’s…clutching something in his hand…)

[…Seemed to be a chain leading out of his hand and around his neck…]

Pyro: … ….

[…Pyro took a moment to close Cardinal’s eyelids before lifting him up gently–he was certainly strong enough to lift him, given his weight.]

Pyro: …

((Pic—One Last Journey (Pyro carrying Cardinal) ))

Pyro: Time to come home…

Jazz: Ree-ow. -Paws at the dropped scarf until she gets her claws into it-

Des: …Is that his?

Pyro: –…..Yes.

Pyro: I think Jazz will hold onto it…

Jazz: Ree-ow.

Jazz: -Picks the scarf up in her teeth and then goes over to rub her face against Pyro’s legs-

[…She’s… becoming smaller…?]

Des: –????

Des: What the–

[Jazz shifts into her own Civilian form, that of a house cat. After making a figure eight around Pyro’s legs the way cat’s do, she hunched up and then leaped onto his shoulder.]

Jazz: -Prrrrrr, things will be safe now-

Des: What…

Pyro: …..

Pyro: Right…

Pyro: Right.

[The Leader of the Mighty Numbers stood up, shoulders back and standing tall–the First’s broken form in his arms, the last lights of day finally fading off in the distance.]

Pyro: ….

Pyro: Mr. Donald.

Pyro: There is a teleportation ban in effect, yes?

Des: I…Yes. for security reasons.

Pyro: Is there another way out of the building? A back door?

Des: …One, this is the White House.

Des: Follow me.

[Des had to be Pyro’s lead now—he couldn’t light himself up with Cardinal on his person, so Des’s flashlight would have to do.]

Des: We’ll take Passage Reyes. That leads to the Presidential Garden.

Pyro: —…I assume this is one of those secret passages the House is famous for having?

Des: ….

Des: Yes.

Des: ….

Des: One…

Des: When…. When the White House was attacked…

Des: MN.8 came out of one of these passages.

Des: That particular passage was a planned escape route for POTUS for situations like… like what happened.

Des: And he was already there.

Des: I have no idea for how long—

Pyro: Wait.

Pyro: Are you telling me.

Pyro: Countershade was ALREADY in the White House–possibly asleep, I bet my own core on that–

Pyro: He was ALREADY in the WHITE HOUSE, SLEEPING, THIS ENTIRE WEEK, AND NO ONE NOTICED?!

Pyro:  -DO YOU NOT PERFORM DRILLS, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, DOES NO ONE CHECK THESE THINGS–

Jazz: -Bats at Pyro- >: 3

[She sends a ping. It’s another one of those memory files—Cardinal commenting on how Shade “weighs like a truck”.

Any attempt to go through a passage with him blocking the door would undoubtedly be difficult, leading to people writing it off as immobile from age.]

Pyro: Just—

Pyro: -Growl that kinda fades off into a groan-

Des: Look, these passages are very old and yes, some of them don’t have much use anymore or are unstable–

Pyro: Just–Just stop–

Pyro: -________-;;;;

Jazz: -Prrrrr, rubs face against face of firebro-

Pyro: -Siiiighs, we’re going to have a long rest after this-

[As soon as they got outside, Jazz got a ping. She flicked her ears and put it onto her audio speakers.]

<MC005>: > {I’m picking up your signals… are you outside and in an accessible environment now?}

[MN.1] //: ….

[MN.1] //: -Quietly- Yes, Doctor Cossack.

[MN.1] //: …We…We have him now.

[MN.1] //: I managed to calm down Jazz without hurting her as well.

<MC005>: > {Good… her mobility rig is rather complicated…}

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > {I hear feedback. Is Jazz broadcasting my voice?}

Jazz: Ree-ow.

<MC005>: > … {I seeee…}

<MC005>: >Mr. Donald, will you be coming over to the lab also?

Des: …I might as well. (Since we ARE going to be questioning you.)

Des: I’m sort of holding something of his anyway, so I feel obligated to return it, at least.

<MC005>: > Understood. Call will bring you all over shortly.

[MN.1] //: … Yes, sir.

[MN.1] //: …Has…Has Shade awakened yet?

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Negative, One. He is still in Deep Sleep Mode.

[MN.1] //: …I see…

<MC005>: >He’s worn out. One?

[MN.1] //: …Yes?

<MC005>: >When you get home, please come straight to the lab. It… is not a state he would want many others to see him in.

<MC005>: >And I may have other tasks for you afterward.

[MN.1] //: …..

Pyro: (Honestly, I would like to get some rest myself…But I do not come first.)

[MN.1] //: Of course, Doctor Cossack.

[CALL] //: Coordinates locked.

[CALL] //: Initiating Xel Transfer…

[…

… … …

After they left the premises, a singular green metal snake crawled out of a bush, its beady eyes blinking red…]

[Pyro walked briskly from the platform over to the lab, where Mikhail was waiting for them. The transition between the blackness of the night and the bright lights of the lab was a little hard on Desmond’s eyes, causing him to squint a little.

As they approached the lab, Battalion gave a stiff salute—as best as he could give it. But his eyes and those of his giant older brother’s seemed… rather wary.]

Desmond: (…Why do I get the feeling I’m less than welcome here…?)

[Countershade was laying nearby, deep asleep and receiving an infusion as part of his repairs. Beck, too, was asleep—the worse for wear, but better off than the other two by a long shot. Although Dr. White was nowhere to be seen—asleep, Desmond assumed—Dr. Sanda could be seen working away at their repairs.

Mikhail rose to meet them.]

Pyro: … (He slept all day, but still looks tired…)

Mikhail: Pyrogen. Please place him down on the table…

[Pyrogen seemed hesitant. Mikhail noticed that Desmond was now showing particular interest.

He moved between them to block the view, placing his hand on a curtain that was hanging from a rod up above them.

Mikhail: Mister Secretary. Thank you for… for letting us bring him back in peace….

Des: ...Of course. No man left behind.

Mikhail: I am sorry we had to meet under such circumstances. I hope you will forgive me, but…

[He draws the curtain between them, obscuring most everything from view. There was still a clear window of plastic, but it was a bit warped and difficult to see in clear detail.]

Mikhail: Master Cardinal deserves the dignity of privacy as a patient with heavy injuries.

Des: (...Is it...is it really that bad?) ...Right. I'll be over here, then...

Des: ....

[Mikhail took in a deep breath and let it out sharply, turning his back to the ill omen and focusing on his patient. As Pyrogen drew away, Mikhail could see the extent of the damage.]

Mikhail: -Sucks in air between his teeth- …! (I knew it was going to be bad, but I did NOT expect this…!)

[His face became lined with sorrow.]

Mikhail: (Oh, Cardinal…! I can only imagine from my darkest of days what terrible pain you must have endured that hour, when he crushed your armor to expose your heart…)

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Doctor...

Pyro: You...You can fix him?

Pyro: He can be fixed?

Mikhail: …

Pyro: . . .

Pyro: (...I can't stand this, please just answer--he will be fine, please let him be fine--)

Des: (...This suspense is...almost suffocating...)

Mikhail: -With equal hesitation- …I can fix the damage, yes. The physical damage, at any rate.

Pyro: -Sigh of relief-

Mikhail: (The damage to his heart and soul… alas, that is a cross I cannot lift from his shoulders, and may yet take years to heal…)

Des: …How long will that be, Doctor? (Can’t really question him until he’s done—)

Mikhail: As long as it has to.

Des: —… (Right…)

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: There is a lot of work to be done. If this is to happen in a timely manner, I can’t work alone. But it is a fearful thing….

Mikhail: Doctor Sanda?

Soi: What—oh, yes?

Mikhail: Can Call be spared to work as my assistant? -Russian- {It’s a rather… grievous sight, and her even demeanor would allow her to remain calm in the face of such… ghastly and painfully sorrowful things..}

Soi: Ah...right...right. (Ho, man...right, Call...Call doesn't--well, she DOES understand, just... she can't make the emotional connection yet. At least she'd be able to handle it...)

Soi: She'll help. I'll call her in.

Mikhail: Thank you…

Des: (…Sanda knows Russian? Or was the Doctor just thinking aloud?)

Mikhail: (…This still isn’t going to be enough. Not with the amount of damage here. I need one person at the computer, and another helping me with the actual cleaning and repair process. I need Call for the latter, but…)

Mikhail: … (Perhaps Jack for the former…? He’s doing a lot better now, as is Felix… but I’ll need Felix to go get a different core, and… I don’t think it would be a good idea for Mr. Donald to see Felix’s power unless we had no other choice.)

Mikhail: … (But… Jack is still in hiding, so to speak…. He was supposed to lay low for a while. There’s no records of him leaving England, so at the very least, people might get suspicious if he was seen here, assuming they aren’t trying to find him anyway….)

Mikhail: … … …

Mikhail: (I need to get Desmond Donald out of the lab.)

Mikhail: -Looks over at Pyro-

Pyro: -Clearly troubled, lost in thought at what he had seen-

[Mikhail was moved with pity.]

Mikhail: (He needs a distraction, too…)

Mikhail: Pyro?

Pyro: Yes, Doctor?

Mikhail: Why don’t you prepare dinner for our visitor, and show him to the guest quarters? I’m going to be working for some while.

Mikhail: Besides…. Countershade will likely be starved once he wakes up—whenever that may be—even before he is coherent enough to think about anything…

Pyro: (...He's right. Shade was asleep during all this, he probably hasn't eaten at all...)

Pyro: Right. I'll go make something for all of us.

Des: … (I get the feeling I’m being pushed out, but…)

Des: (I do have to admit I’m rather hungry and REALLY tired…)

Mikhail: Put the shield in Shade’s room. It’d really only be in the way here, and that’s where Cardinal would want it to be…. Get Brandish to do that, if he’s still awake.

Pyro: Very well...I'll ping Brandish once I get started on dinner.

Pyro: Right this way, Mister Secretary.

Des: …See you tomorrow, Doctor.

Mikhail: -Wearily- Yes, I haven’t forgotten. Good evening.

[The kitchen was, unsurprisingly, crowed with hungry arena bots. Cryo was declaring herself queen of the freezer and all of it's sugary sweets, much to Avi's and Mic's dismay. Brand, however, was content with his own meal of instant noodles, leaning against his elder Bat--and Dyna was just about to raid the pantry when Pyro and Des showed up.]

Bat: -SALUTES- Sir!

Dyna: Big broooo--

Pyro: -Yes, we are going to make dinner, you don't have to ask--

[There is collective cheers from all present!]

Cryo: FINALLY, I'M SO HUNGRY I'M GONNA EAT AN ENTIRE SHARK--

Avi: -I want pastaaaaaa--

Mic: -Mic HUNGRY, want something meaty-

Brand: ...-Stares at his cup of noodles and promptly downs it in one go to make room for better food-

Pyro: --...Really?

Brand: ...-Ignores- Secretary.

Pyro: =~=;;;

Des: Er...hello...

Cryo: OH, HEY, IT'S SUIT GUY, hi--

Cryo: You gonna chow down with us?

Des: Well...I really haven't eaten anything, so...yeah. That would be nice.

Pyro: Pasta it is, then. If that's the general vote.

[All agree to it, and the Mighty Leader wastes no time in preparation of making a large pot of pasta. The Mighties--the ones awake and there, anyway--all make idle chatter as they await their dinner.]

[...Idle chatter being an understatement.]

Avi: Man...can you believe it's been, like...a whole week and a half??

Dyna: I know, bzz--it zzseems like forever ago...

Bat: Combat does that t' ya. Makes time seem to stretch on and on.

Dyna: Pfft, easy for you to zzsay, I don't really remember the firszzt part of it...

Bat: ...fair point.

Cryo: Yo, I'm just glad we're all not iced, or worse. -Chomps on a ice cream bar- We're all home now and junk, in once piece--right, Brandy?

Brand: ...Yes...

Mic: ^^

Cryo: Hey, speaking of that--

Cryo: How's Cards?

Cryo: Is he, like...gonna be okay?

Des: --.....

Pyro: . . .

[Pyrogen hovers his spoon over the pasta, clearly internally conflicted. Des, of course, feels the same--but he keeps his lips sealed.]

Des: (...Man...One, I...)

Pyro: . . .

Pyro: Cardinal is...very...badly injured.

Avi: --...no joke?

Pyro: Yes. Dr. Cossack says he can repair the damage, though.

Brand: -...Hmnn...-

Dyna: Zzzso...he'szz...like, gonna be okay? -Like... physically, because we know better-

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Yes...he will.

[But as Pyro continues to stir the pot of pasta, Des can tell that the Leader of the Mighty Numbers wasn't even too sure of that himself, given his upset expression.]

[His younger sister seems to pick up on this--]

[Aaaand promptly lobs a snowball to the back of his head.]

Pyro: -GAH--

Cryo: Bro, we don't need to taste worrywart in our food--

Pyro: -How many times have I told you not to throw snow in the kitchen, you might get it in the pot--

Des: -...has to snort at this- (Those two seem very close--no surprise, they ARE the oldest...)

Des: -Laughs a little-

Cryo: See?! Suit man gets it!

Bat: You are embarrassing us in front of the Secretary of Defense, show some respect--

Des: No, no--it's fine. At ease and all, Heh...

Des: Just, reminds me of...other things. Family, you know how it is...

Brand: --You are a father? | /?

Des: Oh, no--but I know someone that is a parent, and we do have outings...that I am invited to, at least...?

Cryo: OH YEAH, Prez lady has kids! I saw them on TV--

Des: Right, heh...

Des: You know, if...if it wasn't for your little brother, Two...

Des: I...I really think I wouldn't get to see them again. They're good kids--Min raised them right...

Des: I just...

Des: ...Really do want to thank you all.

Brand: -Blinks-

Des: If it wasn't for your brother--and your friend Cardinal, of course--

Des: If it wasn't for them rising up in this absolute nightmare...

Des: I don't think any of us would be standing here. And it really IS because of your cooperation and support--not only as a team, but Sanda Tech as a whole.

Avi: ...

Avi: ....but...

Avi: <<;;; Weren't... weren't we kinda part of the problem...?

[The Mighties all shift glances at one another--and a heavy air of shame fills the air.]

Des: ...

Des: Well, by no means was that your fault...

Avi: But--

Des: -Rasies a finger- And, all of you have played some part in trying to fix this, afterwards--that DOES mean something, Mighties. Don't think that it doesn't.

Des: I am... truly grateful for your help--and I say this on behalf of a nation still in crisis.

Des: Your friend--a soldier, no less--saved Minerva's life, and mine--and your brother...

Des: ...I've met many heroes, folks. And I can say with full confidence that Beck and Cardinal--and all of you-- are, without a doubt, real ones.

Des: (Full honors, I'll make sure of that...)

Des: .....

Des: Sorry, I just...I just wanted to let you guys know before we get caught up in work again. ^^;;

Mic: ;w; -D'awwww....-

Brand: <//< -Clearly thinking of disappearing--

[This does clear the atmosphere of the previous mood--and even incites chatter of their own brother. Des quietly listens in while he enjoys a nice hot meal of pasta, listening carefully as the elder Mighties all conversed about Beck's past--and how far he has come.]

Cryo: Hey, Pyro...

Pyro: --Yes?

Cryo: Ya know...don't ya think, maybe, after this...

Cryo: We can let you know who back on the team?

Brand: -Looks up with interest-

[As did the rest of the Mighties.]

Pyro: ...ah...

Pyro: Well, it would depend on where the season picks up again, it's still too early to say--

[...But he does smile a bit after he puts away his oven mitts to grab a plate for himself.]

Pyro: But why don't we shelve that for now?

Pyro: I think that would be only fair to be another reward for all his hard work...

[After settling in for the night, Desmond used the private lines to make another call…]

Des: …And that’s where we stand right now.

[President Minerva sighed.]

Minerva: …You’re right. The Smithsonian is going to have a fit. Covering the cost of repairs is going to be a nightmare—several hallways need to have the entire security system reset and/or replaced, and some are so bad as to need electrical rewiring. No doubt some of Congress is going to want to use this as an excuse to update styles or otherwise be extravagant about it.

[She gave another exasperated sigh before shaking her head.]

Minerva: The VP is currently handling affairs at the White House itself. I’ve submitted some paperwork to my speechwriters regarding a public statement on the incident. There’s not much to say, even if I felt like saying it; I can truthfully say that the matter is under investigation, but everyone working there was safely evacuated thanks to the combined efforts of the Mighty Numbers.

[She paused.]

Minerva: DLN-000 has really brought a lot of attention to himself, but it seems the media didn’t catch on to his serial number. I’d like to keep it that way for now—the investigation is proving difficult enough as it is without adding in false reports to the mix.

[She frowned.]

Minerva: What do you make of Dr. Cossack so far, Desmond?

Des: -Crosses arms- Well.

Des: He’s cooperative, at least. Which worries me a little, because this isn’t the first time we’ve seen someone seemingly open to questioning and not be a spy of sorts.

Des: He personally doesn’t strike me as one, if I’m being very honest.

Des: I’m going with my gut on this one and saying he’s not, but the fact that he’s Russian and probably working with Dr. Sanda…

Minerva: Mmmn. There’s something very strange about this. (How does a Russian doctor come to care for a military grade American Combat construct, anyway?!) -.-

Des: Dr. Sanda has Japanese ties with his brother overseas, there’s that to think about too…

Minerva: You bring up an interesting point–Russia and Japan aren’t exactly friends. (I can’t seem to recall they EVER made a peace treaty…)

Des: Exactly.

Des: Which just further backs up the point that Dr. Cossack isn’t a spy, but…

Minerva: Well, let’s just consider him a Person of Interest at this point.

Des: I’m wondering how they met in the first place, because they clearly know each other, and I’m willing to bet that goes the same for Dr. White.

Des: Not much going on for him, though. Full blooded American, mother is Rebecca White, father ditched when he was 10.

Des: He’s very clean—heck, not even a parking ticket.

Minerva: That’s not really unusual for… withdrawn geniuses, shall we say?

Des: True.

Minerva: Genius is often accompanied by social issues. From what you’ve told me, he almost never makes public appearances. He probably doesn’t feel comfortable in a public setting. I’ve worked with plenty of students like that.

Des: Yeah, there’s not even a lot of pictures of the guy, aside from social media from the Mighties themselves.

Des: (And even then, he’s sorta in the background…)

Des: Should we cover all the bases and ask to question him too?

Des: Though, uh… a guy that withdrawn, might be hard to get anything from him…

Minerva: That would be something for Homeland Security to cover if it came to it. I’ll speak with the Secretary and see what they say.

Minerva: However, I don’t think that will be necessary–not unless something comes up in the questioning.

Minerva: For people who have a hard time being around others, they come to rely very deeply on a select few they trust and feel comfortable with. This can lead to being taken advantage of, though–if he is involved in anything, I would suspect it would be because someone took advantage of him in some way.

Minerva: Dr. White is very withdrawn—Dr. Sanda is his main point of contact with most of the world, from what we have seen. He doesn’t attend conventions with his contemporaries. So if Mikhail Cossack is a family friend, it had to have been through Sanda first.   (How would an unknown and very secretive Russian scientist become such good friends with a Japanese scientist of a very high profile? He must be very busy, and they don’t seem to be business partners so much as friends…)

Minerva: At the moment, the cyber units are working with him to combat the virus. Let them continue to monitor the situation– they will let us know if something is wrong.

Minerva: And beyond that–

Minerva: A man’s house is his castle.

Minerva: You are in that castle by yourself right now, and there are more than a few knights at his command.

Des: –… (Yeah… that…)

Minerva: Trying to place pressure on the king could end poorly, and I’d rather not risk you.

Des: Aw, you care. | )

Minerva: | } I could make a remark to pass it off, but yes, I do care. I try.

Des: -Stretches- Well…

Des: If anything, the cyber units and White’ll think of something. Doc is a genius, after all, made the Mighty Numbers and everything.

Des: Hopefully this virus mess gets cleaned up soon, then we can fully focus on damage control and repair…

Minerva: That would be nice, especially if Dr. Cossack proves to be a potential asset. Though I get the feeling he won’t be easy to work with. (He’s stubborn and doesn’t give way to pressure or fear–even great fear.)

Minerva: I don’t think intimidation will work on him. It may prove counterproductive to try for that right away.

Minerva: It might help to see if you can learn more from the Mighty Numbers–if he knows Sanda and White, he has to be a part of their inner circle. Try talking to Six.

Minerva: You need to talk to him anyway. It’s clear he’s linked to DLN-008—the footage he broadcast while sick shows that much. And the Brits are asking about him again. >.> (Someone must have leaked that the child was involved with the incident at the White House.)

Des: Yeah, we might get answers there.

Des: And then there’s Nine himself, but poor kid’s been though a whole week and a half practically saving the nation.

Minerva: Oh, heavens, try to let the poor child be if you can at all help it.

Des: Yeah, I’m with you there.

Minerva: Your coworkers were hellbent on destroying that compound, barely even were going to give him enough time to get out… >_> -Pursed lips, WE ARE STILL VERY DISPLEASED ABOUT ALL OF THAT- -Simmering-

Des: -Grimace- I’m still going to get to the bottom of how an entire base full of military grade constructs was still functioning without me knowing about it. I swear I’m gonna discharge whomever’s involved…

Minerva: This begs the question. Does Dr. Cossack know about that? I wonder if he knows who was behind the security breach there. It didn’t have the style of DLN-008′s breakthroughs…

Des: If he did, he’s not going to tell us outright. Not sure how long he’s been involved in this…

Minerva: The earliest dates the files connected to him have is April 5th, so it has to have been before that.

[She leans back and sighs.]

Minerva: 000 probably knows most of the answers. And he certainly seemed talkative.

[She looks up.]

Minerva: How did the retrieval go?

Minerva: I take it you were successful?

Des: ….

Des: >>

Des: …Yeah.

Des: ….

Des: He was in…

Des: Very bad shape.

Des: Got a name, though.

Des: Cardinal.

Minerva: …

——————

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

——————

Minerva: -Thoughtful frown-

Des: That does explain all the bird metaphors Eight was using in his illness…

Des: -SIGH- One mentioned that name out loud when he saw how much damage 000 did trying to get into the Oval Office.

Des: …Used an exasperated tone, like he’s said that more than once.

Minerva: -Raises an eyebrow- That’s interesting. Authoritative tones are normally used with equals or subordinates.

Minerva: 000 didn’t seem like one to dance to someone else’s tune, though. His methods were rather… unconventional.

Des: -Shrugs- If 000 knows Eight, he probably knows the rest of the Mighty Number line, too. Isn’t that far of a stretch. He did speak like he knew Six too.

Minerva: …

Minerva: Yes, he did. -Thoughtful- …He was trying to be gentle with him about going back.

Des: Yeah…

Minerva: All the more reason to talk to Six…. I wonder how much he knows?

[There was a thoughtful silence between them for a while.]

Minerva: …When you say very bad shape…

Minerva: (Cossack said he would need to have a core replaced. Was he understating, or being technically correct?)

Minerva: Do they have the resources to fix it?

Des: Good Lord, I hope so.

Des: He was practically almost in pieces.

Des: Core exposed, even…

Minerva: …

Minerva: What?

Minerva: How is he still alive?

Minerva: That was hours after—!

Minerva: The xel loss, wouldn’t that have been too much?

Des: ….Min?

Minerva: —…?

Des: I…

Des: I couldn’t see very well, but…

Des: I saw oil, and I saw him.

Des: -Very puzzled expression- But not an ounce of Xel around him.

Minerva: —…

Minerva: -Now VERY confused- That’s… how is that possible?

Minerva: Wasn’t he fighting with Eight?

Minerva: He seemed to know quite well how to handle him. I’m sure he got off some hits on Eight, too.

Minerva: There should be something, there were TWO of them there.

Minerva: Do you suppose Nine could have picked it up?

Des: I’m not sure if Nine would take Xel from someone that’s already bleeding out–

Des: –Actually…

Des: Nine went in a little while before we got pulled out–

Des: Why didn’t he try to help him with Xel loss, if any?

Minerva: …

Minerva: You heard him, Des, as much as I did.

Minerva: Nothing would deter him from his mission.

Minerva: If it was coming down to rescuing Countershade or rescuing him— he probably told Nine to leave him behind.

Des: ….

Des: (Poor kid…)

Des: You’re probably right…

Des: -Grumbles- Doesn’t make sense, though.

Des: No Xel, yet 000 seems…I don’t know.

Des: Call it a hunch, Min, but he just seems… different.

Minerva: Well. No one in the Pentagon has stepped forward to claim responsibility for him just yet.

Minerva: …

Minerva: Though I probably scared off anyone from doing that with how obviously displeased I am with what has been going there. >________>

Des: -Snorts- Yeah, you do tend to have that effect on people. | )

Minerva: I can’t believe tax money was being used to maintain such facilities and no one noticed.

Des: -I know, geez—-

Minerva: The IRS has a lot of explaining to do. |K

Des: -Groans- And then we got to deal with investigation into who caused the whole mess…

Des: I’m tellin’ ya, Min, we’re getting nothing but dead ends on that front. We’re not getting though to CherryDyn’s lawyer dogs and Blackwell’s an uncrackable nut.

Minerva: …  -.-;  -Rubs temples- -Grumbles- Fighting fire with fire is dangerous…

Minerva: I wish we knew what happened to Dencerjack.

Minerva: There are no records of him leaving the country, but he hasn’t been found yet. There are only so many places you can hide on an island that small. >__>

Minerva: I dearly hope he didn’t get eliminated.

Des: Beats me… England might be small, but plenty of quiet countryside. He might have gone off the grid, even.

Minerva: I suppose, but given the circumstances—

Minerva: The other possibility is that he was eliminated. Someone has had it out for that team.

Minerva: Oh well. The UK has been very cooperative about that, at least. Even though the only thing they had to report were explosive metal snakes. (Not exactly helpful, but points for effort.)

Des: -Weird…-

Minerva: I had the FBI run a full report, since the files you gave me were left behind in my office, and were just preliminary anyway. Here’s what they’ve found so far…

Minerva: There are only two reported members of the Doctor Light Numbers lines: 000 and 008. Both have Doctor Cossack as their listed Doctor.

Minerva: There were other files that are around the same timeframe that also list Cossack as the Doctor: seven members of the Doctor Wily Numbers series. One of those is DWN-024, who was seen on the highways fighting Mighty Number Seven. …The footage on that has to be seen to be believed…

Minerva: There are also nine registered Doctor Cossack Numbers, and one biological daughter.

Minerva: Dr. Cossack himself is a widower. Apparently, he’s cared for these series due to abuse and neglect issues from Doctors Light and Wily… though nothing has been found on them so far.

Minerva: However, I’m sure they probably exist, or did exist, as these bots all have their serial numbers branded onto them. ¬__¬ Things are made complicated by all the records that have gone missing.

Minerva: Prior to his time in Kansas City before he came to the White House—reports confirm that he is the mysterious Xelbot who helped liberate Kansas City recently—there was only one public record of 000. According to the reports, he went to visit the Colosseum back in late May. With Eight and Nine.

Minerva: And you’ll never guess what happened while he was there.

Des: -This we gotta hear–

Minerva: They were attacked.

Des: -Sputters–  Right there–in the sands–?!

Minerva: By Bladeblaster.

Des: What.

Des: (I don’t get it, did–was he DRUNK?)

Minerva: According to the witnesses, 000 did not react in a way that would have suggested he were as much of a Combat master as he has proven to be. He made an effort not to reveal what he was capable of, even when taken by surprise. It would seem his instinct was to protect his friend, though.

Minerva: I may be wrong, but I think someone with the secondary jobs that he and Eight had would have had access to more information about people than the general public. Which means either there was no information suggesting 000 was what he was, or else he didn’t care.

Minerva: The three of them were seen talking after that. He must have said something offensive just before leaving, because both Eight and 000 were described to have reacted adversely.

Minerva: (Even if he didn’t know or care, he was surely sorely pressing his luck.)

Des: -_-;;;;

Des: It kind of sounds like outright stupidity to me, but…. Late May, huh, not too long after the date the files came in…

Minerva: They’re trying to find the receptionist who checked him in, but it’s very chaotic down there.

[She gives a slight smile.]

Minerva: At least there’s a humorous side to the story.

Minerva: According to witnesses, 000 was playing around on the gymnastics equipment before that confrontation. I’m sure it wouldn’t surprise you to hear he displayed aptitude for parkour and gymnastics in general.

Des: Heh…

Minerva: It was apparently enough to catch the attention of at least one recruiter. But by the time they went in there, he and Shade had already left. The recruiters were rather disappointed.

Minerva: We’ll have to try and talk with him as soon as he’s awake. -Smile fades, slight sigh- If nothing else, just to work out how to handle the press coverage.

Minerva: As far as I know, it hasn’t gotten out yet that he was injured so badly, or where he went… but the former has been almost universally accepted to be true, given the alternative was vanishing as suddenly as he came, as if some comic book superhero.

Minerva: I don’t want anyone knowing he’s at Sanda Labs just yet.

Des: No kidding, they don’t need that kind of publicity right now…

Minerva: … True….

Minerva: Be careful, Mister Secretary. Not in just what you say, but also in how you say it. Questioning the Doctors the way you will be doing is highly unconventional, and there could be consequences to deviating from procedure, even with the extenuating circumstances.

Minerva: Keep us posted, and stay safe.

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

=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