=CHAPTER 6C: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

=CHAPTER 3D: VOLTAIC DYNATRON=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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[MEANWHILE, IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON...]

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

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

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

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

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

Eli: Everyone just CALM DOWN--

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

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

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

Jack: Yo, toss me that tablecloth...

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

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

Jack: Nope.

[B O O M!]

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

Jack: Hooookay...

[Now here comes the HARD part.]

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

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

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

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

Jack: ........

Eli: ......

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

Jack: . . .

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

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

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

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

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

Eli: --?? Wait--why?

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

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

Eli: Wait--but--

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

Eli: You?

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

Jack: .......

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

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

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

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

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

Eli: ...Hey.

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

Eli: ....Thank you.

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

Eli: Ha...yeah...

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

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

[Pop!]

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

Jack: (...Oh.)

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

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

Jack: ......

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

Jack: (HOOOOOOKAYcomeonjackdoitforherdoitforthepeopleinhere--)

Jack: (ThereisaBABYinheremanDOIT--)

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAH--

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

"OH MY GOD--"

"WHAT THE--"

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

[.......]

[Was he terrified?]

[Yes.]

[...But.]

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAH--

[ZIIIIIIP--!]

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

Jack: --HAAAAAAAHAHAWOO!

[Even HE didn't understand why--]

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

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

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

Jack: WOOOOOOO--

Jack: --OOOOOOOOH SH--

[BAM--!]

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

[Landing was...a learned trait.]

Jack: OWFRA--

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

Jack: OwcrapOW...

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

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

Jack: Nnngh gonna feel that in the morning--

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

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

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

Jack: (Where is that flagpole--)

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

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

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

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

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

———————————

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

———————————

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

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

{G O.}

[........]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[.........]

Jack: pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease--

Jack: --!!!

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

Jack: YES!!

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

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

[Which wasn't much fun for anyone.]

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

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

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

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

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

Jack: OOF--!

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

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

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

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

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

Eli: God, how can we--

[B O O M!]

"GNNNRRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Jack: --!!!

Jack: (...Landcrusher.)

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

[Goggles on, time to roll--]

Jack: --?!

Eli: YOU'RE COMING TOO--!

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

Jack: WAIT--STOP--!

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

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

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

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

Jack: --??!

Jack: What--?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jack: --I can't...

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

Eli: ...You were SERIOUS?

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

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

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

Eli: JACK.

Jack: --...

Eli: ......

Eli: Where do you think she is?

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

Eli: .....

Eli: Well.

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

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

Jack: --?

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

Jack: But--

Jack: It's not mine--

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

Jack: Well--but--

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

Jack: Uh--I...um.

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

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=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #7=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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((Excerpt: Ch. 8B, en español))

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

Cardinal: (Pero...)

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

[CLIC.]

Cardinal: ¡—hghkkt!

[Él conocía ese ruido.]

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

Cardinal: (No...)

Shade: Jejejeje...

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

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

Cardinal: -sonido débil corto y metálico de protesta-

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

Shade: ¿Tengas miedo ahora, Pájarito?

Cardinal: -sonido de desesperación de los ventiladores-

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

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

Shade: Perfecto.

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

Shade: Te daré esto...

Cardinal: …

[Un zumbido bajo...]

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

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

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

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

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

[Despacio.]

[Fue tentador. Muy tentador.

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

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

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

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

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

Shade: -Datos-

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

Cardinal: (¡No puedo...!)

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

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

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

Cardinal: - resuello muy distorsionado- Shade...

Shade: —....

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

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

Cardinal: Countershade, por favor...

[Oh.]

[Dio un paso adelante ...]

Shade: ¿Qué fue eso?

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

Shade: …

Shade: -SONRÍE MALICIOSAMENTE-

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

Qué sensación tan deliciosa.]

Shade: ¡Jejeje!

[Otro paso adelante.]

Cardinal: Por favor…

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

Cardinal: Esto sólo… sólo causaráte…

Shade: …?

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

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=CHAPTER 9D: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

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

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

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

Des: …—! (Oh, right…)

Des: ...You have a daughter.

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

Mikhail: …

Des: ....

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

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

Mikhail: …

Des: ...

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

Des: .....

Des: -Sigh-

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

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

Des: ....Who?

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

Des: -Freezes- What?

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

((Des reaction))

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

[His expression softened.]

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

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

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

[CRASH--]

Mikhail: ?!

"AH' SAID LEMMIE GO--"

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

Avi: BRO COME ON STOP IT--

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

Des: ( “Uncle”? And how—)

Beck: But he's right there--

Beck: --!

Beck: H...Huh?

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

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

Des: How did he--

[SLAM--]

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

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

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

Soi: WILL CALM DOWN--

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

"ENOUGH."

Beck: --!

Beck: Felix--?

((pic))

[FELIX used HALT!]

Shade: --?!

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

Will: --!!

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

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

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

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

[Felix strode into view. He looked annoyed.]

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

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

Felix: Talk.

Soi: --Oof--

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

Des: Ngh...

Felix: -Glares!-

Des: --!

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

Des: -Ow-

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

Beck: (What--?!)

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

Mikhail: … -Looks away and sighs-

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

Brand: . . .

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

Brand: Can you not question him here further?

Des: -...Looks at Mikhail-

Des: ....

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

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

Des: (And THEN some.)

Brand: .... -Also glares-

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

Des: --....

Mikhail: -Warning tone- Brandish—

Brand: Besides.

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

[Mikhail scowled as he scolded Brand.]

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

Brand: ....

Brand: >>

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

Will: (Ngh--)

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

Des: (The full truth?)

Brand: ....

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

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

Des: This--

Soi: Er--

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

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

Beck: (--?)

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

Brand: --?

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

Brand: What?

Beck: (--!!)

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

Felix: ... And your sons?

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

Des: Wait--

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

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

Shade: B /

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

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

Felix: . . .

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

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

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

Brand: How did you even know?

Shade: -Watch signal-

Brand: --....

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

Des:

(I thought I completely disarmed him--)

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

[Mikhail was equally surprised.]

Mikhail: ...It does that?

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

Shade: -.....-

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

Brand: -______-;;;;;;

Des: .....

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

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

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

[Felix releases them.]

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

Will: .....

Will: (Mikhail...)

Will: ....

Des: ....

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

Des: ...Fine...

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

Soi: Come on, Will...

Will: .....

Will: -Sigh-

{Sanda’s Labs}

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

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

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

Des: ….

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: –….

Des: (…Is that…)

Mikhail: …

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

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

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

Des: –?!??

Des: Wha–….?

Des: (That…)

Des: (That is NOT a Xel structure–)

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

Des: But….

Des: How–?

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

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

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

Des: …Just…

Des: ….

Des: How old is he?

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

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

Des: …His kind?

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

Mikhail: Yes.

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

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

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

Mikhail: DLN-000: Protoman.

Des: I….

Des: (What in the world…)

Des: … .

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

Des: ….

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

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

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

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

Des: (Weyard–? What?)

Des: … .

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

Felix: Yes, of course.

[He took a few steps back.]

Des: –?

Des: (What–why is he–)

[Felix used LIFT!]

[The stone began to float in the air.]

Des: –…??????

Des: (What.)

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

[Felix used CARRY!]

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

Click.

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

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

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

Des: ?!?!??

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

[What was there TO say?]

Des: (This CANNOT be happening–)

Des: (But–)

Des: (It REALLY is–)

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

Mikhail: Only once you accept this reality…

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

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

Des: …..

Des: …….

Des: …..

Des: Why…

Des: Why are you showing me this?

Des: I mean…

Des: I’m the /Secretary of Defense./

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

Des: You were already covering for them, so…

Des: Why?

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

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

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

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

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

Des: ….

Des: So, in other words…

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

Mikhail: Something like that.

Mikhail: The truth, Desmond?

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

Des: …?

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

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

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

((pic))

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

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

Des: ….

Des: (I did not hear that right–)

Des: (Another–another reality?)

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

Des: …..

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

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: …Well.

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

Des: …

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: ……

Des: -Deep breath-

Des: (Christ…)

Des: …..

Des: So…

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

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

Des: From another world…

Des: …

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

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

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

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

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

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

Des: … .

Des: >> -Looks at Cardinal-

Des: I can see why.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikhail: Now that hiding is no longer an option…

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

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

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

Des: …..

Des: <<

Des: (Questioning him further seems, uh…kind of useless at this point, all things considering, but…)

Des: Yes, of course…

Des: -Picks up notes as they walk by- I’ll see if I can’t have an escort waiting outside the–

[PING!]

[WARNING. WARNING.]

Mikhail: -Looks up- ???

[CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED. CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED.]

Des: What–?!

[PING!]

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

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Starts to work up to a run- WILL?! WILL, WHAT’S GOING ON—

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

=CHAPTER 5C: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Titus}

[The streets of Titus, while still in significant disrepair, were quite busy. There were plenty of people bustling about, carrying on their daily lives in the big city.]

[Cardinal sauntered through the crowds, grateful for the cover. He was awfully close to Sanda Enterprises now, and he could not afford to catch their attention.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >Look at all these people, Jazz.

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >They’ve already started working on some basic repairs.

[No one really seemed to pay any attention to him as he made his way downtown. He’d only been there once before, but it was easy to rely on the memory. It’s not as if he could really miss where he was going, anyway.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >No one seems to be trying to kill each other, or destroying robots out of hysterics and fear….

[He had halfway expected that it would be like the streets of Upper Monstropolis. He’d been shocked when he arrived in the city, only to find it operational, if not fully functioning.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: > I guess Beck must have cleaned up the city, and calmed people down. These people are pretty safe now, and able to use their technology….

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >I’m glad.

Jazz: Ree-ow.

[He paid no heed to the merchants along the row. He utterly ignored the gossip flying through the air around him, even if his analysis filter kept picking up keywords relating to the Mighty Numbers. It was highly unlikely that they knew anything useful, or else it would have made the news. Which it hadn’t, of course; he’d spent that morning at the library, leafing through various newspapers.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >Of course, I don’t think we’ll find him there. If he were in Titus, Beck would have figured it out by now. He’s definitely not home. We’re just looking for leads, here.

[His cat purred, rubbing her face against him. He grinned a little, looking up into the sky.]

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >Wish we could fly there. But now that Avi’s better… I’m sure he has sky cams all throughout the city. Really… it’s only a matter of time before someone catches on after analyzing video feeds.

<DLN-000 to CSU-001>: >Oh well. I’ll burn that bridge when I get there.

[If it weren’t for the fact that he was on a grave mission in the middle of an ongoing apocalypse, he would have really enjoyed the nice day. It was sunny out, with the sea breeze coming off the harbor. Not nearly as sweltering as it had been in Kansas City the day before.

As the buildings gave way to a massive open area near the arena’s parking lot, he was overcome by a sudden weight of wistfulness.]

Cardinal: (I remember the first time I saw the arena, when Shade showed me around.)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

{April 2nd, Earlier that Year…}

[MIGHTY NUMBERS LOCKER ROOM]

[The locker room...wasn't exactly a locker room. More like a quick maintenance area with spaces accommodated for each of the Mighty Numbers, like a pit stop for cars. There WAS a storage area, though, each marked with a symbol for each Mighty Number.]

Shade: Here we are.

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: Dude.

Cardinal: This is RAD.

[Aw, lookit him geeking out a bit over it, going from station to station.]

Shade: B]

Beck: We mostly come here for halftime or after a match, to refuel, reload and relax, and the stations make small repairs if we need them.

Cardinal: -Broadcasting abstract DAYDREAMS-

Cardinal: -GLORYYYYYYY-

Shade: Aw, there he goes. He's got arena fever, heh.

Cardinal: -Looks over with a grin-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cardinal: (Oh, Shade…. What I wouldn’t give right now to be back to those halcyon days. I hope your locker has some answers, though you’ll have to forgive me for breaking it open…)

[As he drew closer, however, he was surprised to see massive blockades.]

Cardinal: Oh? Now what’s all this?

[He hastened over to inquire into the matter, foregoing politeness for the sake of getting right to the point in a way that demanded an answer.]

Cardinal: You there. What’s the meaning of all this?

???: I’m sorry, sir, but the Colosseum is not currently open to visitors.

Cardinal: Why?

???: It’s not safe.

Cardinal: Again, why? Didn’t Beck heal everybody?

???: -Clearly getting tired of explaining this for the tenth time this hour- : | The building is structurally unsound. There was a lot of damage caused when the virus went live and sent every single of the powerhouse fighters into a rampage.

Cardinal: —…? (That… that day?)

???: -Now leave, please-

[Cardinal was compliant and willingly turned aside, but he didn’t go very far before he put a hand to his head, horribly confused.]

Cardinal: (I remember now…)

Cardinal: (I was supposed to go with them that day…)

Cardinal: (I went WITH them to the match…)

[He struggled in vain to find the cross-references. Every search he could think of turned up empty.]

>NO RESULTS FOUND.

Cardinal: (All I remember was going to bed that night, and then…?)

>NO RESULTS FOUND.

Cardinal: -Frowns- (Why can’t I remember the match? How did I even end up in Kansas City?)

>NO RESULTS FOUND.

[Puzzled and rather dismayed, he ran through all the data from that day to begin with. Much to his regret, the only entry prior to his memories in Kansas City was an error log report, stating he had suffered a Stop error and rebooted under a Code Red contingency.]

Cardinal: (What on earth could have made me black out like that? I wasn’t injured…)

Cardinal: (I don’t understand. I don’t understand it at all…)

[For a brief moment, he considered teleporting into the locker room anyway. He honestly didn’t care what the building security would think of it.

…But then he remembered that it was more than just a mere room. It was the personal space of the entire family—including Avi.]

Cardinal: (Augh…! He’s bound to have a camera or two in there! If not for security reasons, then for his own PR or personal amusement purposes…)

Cardinal: (This plan was flawed from the start. Stupid…)

[He vented a sigh and made his way back to the downtown district.]

Cardinal: (Shade said there was a sushi place around here, and we meant to go to it…)

[He knew that at this point, he was driven as much by nostalgia as by desperation. Walking the streets they had walked, going to the places they’d been to.

But it was all he had to go on. He had nothing, and… he was alone.]

Cardinal: (There’s got to be someone that has some sort of idea, some sort of clue…)

[…But, to his great disappointment, when he finally arrived at the sushi shop based on context and a lot of wandering…

…He found that it was closed, and locked up tight.]

Cardinal: -In a low growl- Well glitch. Isn’t that just swell.

[He sighed and leaned up against the boarded windows, crossing his arms.]

Cardinal: -Talking aloud now, since he didn’t sense anyone nearby to hear him- Where are you now, Shade? What are you after?

Cardinal: (I don’t know any other places. I can’t just wander around.)

[He knew he should get a move on and head out of the alley, but he just didn’t know where to go or what to do. He had no idea what sort of other places Shade might have frequented, people he would have talked to.

He’d never had the chance to find that out.]

Cardinal: (This isn’t fair, Shade.) You were supposed to show me around…

[He stuck his hands in his pockets and started to move down the streets. There was still someplace familiar he felt driven to go, even if he was only paying half-attention.]

[He found it more relaxing to move about at night, when people were paying even less attention to him. It was mercifully easy to use a fire escape to climb up to the rooftops and overlook the cityscape.]

Cardinal: …

[He found himself staring at a familiar building: the CherryDynamics headquarters.]

Cardinal: … -Somewhat broken smile- (Oh, right…. This is where we were that glorious night…)

Cardinal: (It was…)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

{April 16th, Earlier That Year…}

[The whole of CherryDyn looks to be blaring red in alarms in the distance, and some searchlights can be seen from the top of the building. The trio responsible is howling with hysterical laughter, chattering to themselves….]

Shade: They are flippin' out, God.-- -LAUGHS-

Cardinal: -Laughing like he’s a kid again-

Rockwell: Holy [frag]— -aaaand he's gone, laughing like mad-

Cardinal: DAMMIT I knew we shoulda brought popcorn!

Shade: THEY FOUND THE CRACKER.

[Sure enough, the spotlights settle on their own logo.]

Shade: -nOPE HE IS GONE HE IS FALLING ON HIS BACKSIDE IN LAUGHTER-

Cardinal: -HELP MY FANS, CAN’T BREEEEEEATHE FROM LAUGHING-

Rockwell: OH MY GODDDD -He can't breathe IT'S TOO MUCH-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cardinal: (That was…)

[He was overcome by a great sense of loss and longing, his sorrow drowning out the joy of that day to where he could no longer even feel it.]

Cardinal: (That was the happiest night of my entire, long, looooooong, long life…)

[He shook his head sadly.]

Cardinal: (What HAPPENED that day, Shade? Why did I leave you? How could I just… run AWAY…?)

[He gave a small whine.]

Cardinal: (I left you—all of you, the whole crowd—simply to turn up somewhere I associate to be safe…)

Cardinal: (Did I…)

Cardinal: (Did I end up being a giant coward…?)

[He couldn’t bear to dwell on the thought. There HAD to be some other reason, there just had to….

He had no idea what it was, but there just had to be…

…Right…?]

Cardinal: -Ruefully, narrowing his eyes at the logo of the building- (I saw the headlines. I read the newspapers today…)

[His eyes flickered a brighter and deeper green in intense emotion, his heart turning from disappointed and bewildered guilt into a slowly growing into anger.]

Cardinal: (How dare he try to glorify himself at everyone’s expense….)

Cardinal: -Growls-

Cardinal: (He’s OBVIOUSLY hiding something…)

[His mind was taken back to that day, that day when he had warned them about this.]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

{March 15th, Earlier That Year…}

Cardinal: He’s more slippery than I thought.

Cardinal: …I don’t trust him one bit.

Cardinal: He’s too… eager to make a big deal out of it. That’s not very good damage control, not good crowd control.

Cardinal: It’s a publicity stunt.  And I don’t like it.

Beck: Publicity stunt...

White: It is concerning, to be sure...

Cardinal: Why exactly is he so eager to deflect the attention[…]? What is it that he doesn’t want us to see about his company? Because you can bet your gears that investigations like this always get a little too deep for comfort for those who like to deal under the table.

Cardinal: I highly doubt he was /involved/… in -this-. But he may be trying to deflect attention as fast and as far as possible so that something ELSE isn’t found. The bigger the company, the higher the chances of the darker side of business being involved.

White: Graham, dealing in shady business...if word got out about that, he'd be ruined.

Cardinal: Right. Even the question is pretty damaging.

Cardinal: But to deflect the whole thing right back to you, the way he said it—that was on purpose. He should have caught that serve, not sent the ping-pong back.

Cardinal: We’re being played. -Grumpy data flow-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cardinal: -Growls louder, his eyes turning a violent red- (First you go to the trouble of setting up a Combat team just to unseat the Mighty Numbers, humiliate them and cast doubt and disquiet…)

Cardinal: (And then your team goes WILD, nearly killing people…)

Cardinal: (I swear, if I find that YOU were behind all of this, I will find a way to DESTROY you…!)

[He gave a huff, making his way down to the streets below. He needed time to think.

He ended up making his way over to a bar, where he ordered coffee.]

Cardinal: -Leans back against the wall, scratching Jazz behind the ears with his free hand- (Well… if THIS isn’t fine and dandy….) -Siiiiiip-

Cardinal: (I have no more leads. What should I do?)

Jazz: -Purrs, flicking her tail-

Cardinal: (I told him that if anything ever happened to me, that he should go to the Mad Hatters. They’ve known me for decades, and that’s where I used to live. I still sort of have a job there, for that matter…)

Cardinal: (They would know where to find me. Some might even be able to help him, too…)

[He idly started broadcasting his signature tune very, very quietly as he stared off into the distance, “watching” the TV with a very bored expression.]

Cardinal: (And I knew that I wanted to get something similar from him, in case he ever got in trouble. Not like I expected this, though…) -Eyes flicker brighter for a moment- (When he talked about his coworkers, I knew that they would be the ones to go to if I needed information…. But I respected and trusted him too much to press the matter….) -Narrows his eyes in a scowl- (Paying the price for that weakness…)

[He sighed, putting the empty mug down rather heavily and putting a hand to his face.]

Cardinal: (Shade, what am I supposed to do? There are only two possible sources of information at this point: your family, and your coworkers.)

Cardinal: (I don’t KNOW where that “office” is, nor who the other assassins are! You mentioned a “Diamond” at one point when you were talking to Bladeblaster—and man, my first idea would have been to beat the information out of the guy, but he’s already dead.)

Cardinal: (Will I really be reduced to—)

Jazz: Reeerr!

Cardinal: —?

[He looked up to see something very… interesting on the screen.]

[As the headline report went on, he couldn’t help but smile.]

Cardinal: Wow. (I’m impressed.)

[He felt a sense of pride for the CDN. He hadn’t had the chance to get to know the guy very well yet, but he always felt that he was a good man. He was glad to see that Jack was still very much alive and well—though he was rather puzzled for want of context.]

Cardinal: (I thought you were still holed up in England? How and why did you turn up in America? Must have been an awfully good reason, given that you know more than others are willing to let pass…. Not to mention, you know. The whole “apocalypse” thing.) You’re a brave man…

Cardinal: (Well, wherever you are, I hope you’re sa—)

Cardinal: —!!!

[He just stared in utter surprise when the news story ended and moved on to the next headline.]

Cardinal: (What the—)

“…similar such heroics can be found in various places throughout the country. One of the most surprising stories comes right from the heart of Kansas City, where a mysterious Xelbot is reported to have almost single-handedly help coordinate and carry out a massive evacuation effort.”

[The screen jumped to a sketch of Cardinal in his Combat form, with Jazz at his side. An audio clip from an interview played.]

“ ‘He came out of nowhere, so unexpectedly—at first we thought that he was infected, and retaliated. But he never seemed to hold that against us… he was always just so focused on helping everyone get out…’ ”

Cardinal: -So many mixed feelings right now- (AAAAAAAAVS—! Is this— is this YOUR doing?)

“Witnesses across the metro gave countless reports of his heroic efforts at all of the city’s major tourist attractions, including Arrowhead Stadium. City officials are now on the lookout for this caretaker, who is reported to have vanished from the hospital where he was recovering after a major fight.”

Cardinal: -Oh, great— -

[He tried very hard to play it off casually, quickly tightening the amount of data he gave off so that it no longer reflected his emotion.

He had hoped that staying in his Civilian form would allow him to blend in with the crowd, prevent him from being spotted by the Mighty Numbers. Nobody else knew who he was, and they didn’t have reason to care.

He had not considered the idea that he would make the local news, let alone the national news.]

Cardinal: ([Gliiiiiiiiiitch]… this…)

[Under any normal circumstance, he would feel very touched by someone giving him such recognition. Even now, he felt extremely moved with gratitude, feeling both validated and honored.]

Cardinal: -Casually gets up from the table, rifling through his coat for cash to leave as a tip-

[…But in this instance, he also felt dismayed and concerned. It wouldn’t be long before some eagle-eyed observer noticed how similar Jazz’s Civ form was to her Combat form, and how he wore the same glasses and scarf regardless of form… not to mention his somewhat distinctive earcaps, which held the standard Robot Master (and NOT the standard Xelbot) design.]

Cardinal: (Was this a ploy to get some tips to a hotline? Really, Avi? Oh geez….)

[He made something less than a hasty exit, even though he wanted to bolt. He had to resist the urge to run, to take to the rooftops for safety. In the end, he took hasty refuge inside of a chapel, hiding in a dimly lit nook well out of sight.]

Cardinal: (Maybe if I’m lucky, this will be over by morning…)

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

=CHAPTER 8B: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

{Early that morning…}

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, 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.]

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 from his journey with Cardinal.]

[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 more deadly.

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-- -WEEEEEEEEE-

[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. It must have been horribly early in the morning when Shade took over—only the skeleton crew.)

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 hear, 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.]

???: Crap--

[The only other male in the room pulls out a firearm and pulls the trigger--]

[BLAM!]

[A moment of silence.]

Secretary: -Oh thank GOODNESS—-

Cardinal: -Looks up with a slight smile-

Cardinal: Nice headshot, sir.

[The secretary shrieks.]

Secretary: OH MY GOD IT’S IMMORTAL—

???: .....

???: 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.

???: .......

???: What?

???: I'm not the president--

???: I'm Secretary of Defense.

SoD: -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 other woman rolls her eyes.]

SoD: And...?

SoD: -It's 20XX, doesn't everyone know who POTUS is--

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-

SoD: Nice shot.

[She looks down at Cardinal with disapproval. Humorously, her heels made her slightly taller than him.]

Cardinal: >_>;

Cardinal: …Madame President, I presume.

POTUS: 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: Because I’m not shooting right now?

POTUS: You didn’t think this through at all, did you.

Cardinal: No sir, I did not.

[The secretary 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.

The SoD, on the other hand, seemed to be unsure of whether to be impressed or just incredulous.]

SoD: Wow.

SoD: 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.]

Secretary: -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.

SoD: -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.]

POTUS: 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.]

POTUS: ???

SoD: ....-Whispers- Um I don't think this guy is all mentally sound--

Cardinal: Shade, Shade, Shade…

Cardinal: You know what?

Cardinal: You’re right.

Secretary: ?!

[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!]

POTUS: ???

[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.

POTUS: -Just. Stares- o_o

POTUS: What… did you do? -Okay his methods are VERY strange but that was rather impressive-

SoD: -...What DIVISION is he in is the better question--

POTUS: -Starts advancing- Who built you?

Cardinal: —

[She grabs at his scarf and yanks up a metal bit that glitters in the light.]

POTUS: -Dog tags, SoD.- Is there something ELSE you need to tell me about, Desmond?

[Cardinal 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—

SoD: .....Is...Is that a raccoon--

Cardinal: Close enough. Group hug, everybody!

Scout: -BOUNCES INTO POTUS ARMS-

Scout: -HALLO NICE LADY-

POTUS: ! Oh goodness— Now wait just a—

[Nope, he’s already scooped her up and grabbed the others by their jacket fringes.]

Byewbyewbyew…

{Outside}

SoD: --?????

SoD: -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.

POTUS: (…Hide? Cost?)

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.

POTUS: 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-

POTUS: -Ackpth—-

Scout: ~ < 3

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

Avi: [sub] please don't hurt him too bad. [/sub]

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.

POTUS: —…

POTUS: …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 it's 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?"

"Gotta hand it t' ya, Birdy, as ya are annoyin', yer good. Heh."

"And Ah' do so love a good challenge."

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.

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

[The countdown stopped, briefly.]

>WARNING: FINAL_DAYS.EXE IS AN UNAUTHORIZED PROGRAM. USING THIS PROGRAM WILL PREVENT COMBAT.EXE INITIATIVES OR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FROM RUNNING NORMALLY. CONTINUE?

>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.]

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 hidden below his scarf, 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… 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 por la misericordia hasta que mueras.)

Cardinal: …it’s only… only… g…going to…

Shade: --?

Cardinal: …going to hurt y o u…

Shade: --.........

[For a moment, that makes Shade pause.

The sick, purple aura left him, the malice, the evil that had dug it's way deep into his core was lifted for just a brief moment-- ]

Shade: -N--No--

Shade: (No, no, no…!)

Shade: -Straining- M-must… fight… the power…

[He, too, seemed like he was in just as much pain as Cardinal was.]

[…]

[CLICK.]

[...But the moment... Passed.]

Shade: Enough!

[He spoke with a firm, authoritative command of finality.]

Shade: I don’t have time t’ waste on you. Obviously ya ain’t gonna stay out of my way while ya still runnin’.

Shade: An’ as we’ve already established, ya have this fraggin’ annoyin’ tendency to keep hangin’ on. Fahn, then—I’ll give ya the honor a’ takin’ ya out myself!

Cardinal: (No…)

[Cardinal gripped his hand tighter, as if bracing himself.]

Shade: An’ just tah make SURE you don’t get out of sight at the last second…

[He lowered his gaze, and his aim, right down to Cardinal's exposed core.]

Shade: This'll be the last bullet Ah' waste on ya.

[Cardinal forced himself to maintain eye contact, even as Shade lowered his rifle to point directly at the exposed core.

He didn’t… feel scared anymore. Just… defeated.

Hopeless.

…Accepting of his time, resigned to his fate… even as he dwelt with lingering, final regret, on his failure and shame.]

Shade…

[Darkness overtook his eyes.

His power was nearly entirely depleted. He would only last a few minutes longer, at most—one way or another, he had reached, at last… his final day.]

[Vrrrrrrr...]

Oh, Shade…!

[He could faintly hear the sound of Shade’s deadly aim setting up. It seemed… so far away…]

I…

[He heard a faint fizzling and hissing noise as the energy converter fell silent.

There could only be one reason for that—

No more energy left to convert from.

He could feel his heart becoming as cold as i c e …]

I’m… so sorry…!

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=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #3=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

((Prewriting: Min and Des talk on 07/03/2016T about celebrations for following day; Felix converses with them))

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

[Dinner that night was a pleasant affair. It was the happiest they had had in a long time—they were all together again, their family and friends were safe, they had allies to help them through the dangers that still lurked ahead, and they could finally have a bit of peace.]

((Dinner scene optional, but could be nice as it would give more meat to the chapter and—as always—is a great chance to show character interactions))

[Minerva Morandi and Desmond Donald continued working after dinner, just as they had done the day before—though they seemed to be in a fairly relaxed mood.]

Min: Is everything ready for tomorrow?

Des: Surprisingly, yes. The venue’s been chosen: we got RSVPs from everyone. Most are at the hotel that was reserved, though a few will be driving in tomorrow morning.

Min: Good. What about the catering?

Des: Your secretary said that was taken care of.

Min: All the paperwork has been completed?

Des: Yes, Madame President. It’s all ready… again, surprising for such short notice…

Min: I think everyone was happy to contribute to the occasion. Seeing the evidence submitted must have been like watching a series of “restoring faith in humanity” videos.

Des: You’ve got a point there…

[There was a soft knock at the door.]

Min: -Closes a folder- Enter.

[Somewhat to their surprise, it wasn’t one of the residents who walked in. Instead…]

Felix: I hope I’m not interrupting something?

Des: ((Expresses his surprise and asks what they can do for him))

Felix: Not much. I just wanted to talk.

Min: … -Looks over at Des, and back at Felix- What about?

Felix: I wanted to hear it from you. The Mighty Numbers and those close to them… they are really all free and safe?

Min: Safety is a relative term, Lord Felix. They all have their enemies: and very dangerous enemies they are, too.

Felix: Safe from you, then.

Min: -Looks over the rims of her glasses, giving him a look- …

Des: ((Internal commentary))

[Felix did not waver under her slightly disapproving gaze. Eventually she pushed her glasses back up.]

Min: Fortunately for everybody… yes, they are safe.

Felix: -Looks immediately relieved-

Min: What would you have done if I said no?

Felix: -Glancing down and to the side now- I would have been troubled, and asked if there was something I could do to speak on their behalf. -Looks up and over again- I do not wish for us to be enemies.

Min: Neither do I. -More gently now- You were a great service to us the other day. Thank you for that.

Min: Though I’m afraid that your bravery shall go unsung here, except between those that keep the secret.

[Felix gave a somewhat sheepish smile, looking down again at that.]

Felix: Ah—no, that is fine. I am used to it.

[There was a slight pause.]

Felix: What will you do now?

Des: What do you mean?

Felix: Much has been lost or destroyed…. Your world relies heavily on machines, but even your machines are made with other machines. Without the means to produce them, what will you do?

Min: Why do you ask?

Felix: Because I care for the plight of others?

Min: A fair answer.

[She interlaced her fingers.]

Min: If you must know… the means to build quickly is granted in part by the aid of our allies across the seas. We have good friends—and others, like you, are moved by suffering. These allies… unlike us, they have known wars that ravaged their entire nation. They have experienced the need to truly rise from naught but ashes. They sympathize with us, and will help us in our time of need.

Felix: Oh… good.

Min: Very.

Felix: …

Des: Something else on your mind?

Felix: I was wondering if I may be of assistance to you.

Des: What do you mean?

Felix: I can help rebuild places, as much or more as the likes of Mic can. And there is more than that alone in the damage and what I can do to heal it—I would very much like to heal the land of the desolation. Like I did here in the city, with the gardens.

Des: ! ((Internal commentary))

Felix: I know that your home has been badly damaged, and you all have mentioned the great cost of repairs, and the delay it will cause to approve of these costs. If I could reduce those costs, then it could be repaired sooner…

Min: Only if you were very subtle about it. I hardly need hysterics about aliens (re)building the White House.

Des: -sNORT-

Des: Well… it might distract from everything else, heh.

Min: -Laughs at that-

Des: -Grins, putting his hands behind his head- Wait, here's an idea—maybe someone could film it, and people would think it was special effects. No one pays attention to what really happened because they think it’s a movie.

Min: That actually might be crazy enough to work, if handled correctly. It would have to be done under secrecy and with the help of some sort of construction company—you'll have talk with the rest of the staff to find out if there’s a Department that has a particular company under contract.

Min: Given that secrecy, the only person who could be trusted to film it would be Avi.

Felix: I’m sure he’d love to make an upbeat documentary about repairs and rebuilding life after crisis.

[She seems pleased with this.]

Min: Yes… yes, that just might work. And it would be the perfect message, too…

[She held a hand off to the side, her smile fading.]

Min: Even with deception and diversion, repairing the White House would take at least five months… though it would be nice to have one less thing to worry about given other problems that must be dealt with in November. The sooner we all move back in, the better.

Felix: Just direct me, and I will help as I may. After that, I will wander through the countryside, purging the land of poisons and encouraging new life to replace what was lost. There will not be a famine, not if I can help it.

Des: I hadn’t even thought about averting the aftermath crises…

Min: Yet, you mean. We were all so focused on getting over the initial disaster, first. But yes… yes, averting famine will be critical in ensuring stability as we recover. I’m inclined to see that as a greater priority, to be honest…

Felix: Well, I can clear away rubble and Move things wherever you see fit, as a start.

Min: That alone could save dozens of thousands of dollars…

Min: We’ll have to speak more on this later.

Felix: Ah—I understand. Sorry for disturbing you, but thank you for your time.

Min: Not at all. Though… Felix?

Felix: Yes?

Min: There’s going to be a ceremony tomorrow in the late morning and early afternoon. You’re invited to come, though you should wear different clothes.

Felix: A ceremony? Why?

[At that, the other two only smiled.]

Min: Oh… you’ll find out…~

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

My third default option seems to be ‘sass’.

Cardinal when he’s in yet another life or death situation. (via limitbreakers)

---

=CHAPTER 2C: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Meanwhile, in Kansas City…}

[Cardinal and Drake had worked through the rest of the afternoon and evening, and into the morning hours.

It had been hard on them both, and they were both very tired. The blazing heat of the summer sun beat down with a merciless 102ºF.

Drake had valiantly pulled an overnighter as they went around from landmark to landmark; after their help at the zoo, word had started to spread about their actions. Not all communications were down for the count, though they were pretty limited to specific radio frequencies.

Cardinal was grateful that security officers, policemen, and employees were no longer hostile to him. He really preferred working WITH people, rather than having to deal with (un)friendly fire and explain after the fact.]

Cardinal: You holding up there okay, Drake…?

[He was starting to get concerned for his human travel companion. The only rest he’d been able to get was here and there while Cardinal was out in the field, fighting infected Xelbots. For the most part, he had refused to rest, instead helping out with evacuations. Cardinal had more or less forced him to rest at their last stop, as he knew he’d be in the museum a while. He was pretty sure that the man hadn’t eaten, either.]

Drake: You're asking me if I'm okay? You're the one doing all the fighting. I can handle this, don't worry.

Cardinal: (Uh-huh. And I’m… … I’m too tired to think of an analogy, ugh…)

[As much as Drake’s presence helped things go smoothly, though, he was relieved that their time evacuating the landmarks was just about at a close. While things were far from safe in the city, all the forces he had helped free up were spread out and assisting in curbing the damage. Things were almost stable… for an apocalypse, that is.

And not an hour too soon.

While Cardinal didn’t need to eat or sleep the way a human would, and could handle the heat a lot better… he still required energy, and was really prone to wearing himself out the longer he engaged in combat. Especially in the sweltering summer rays.

He was getting uncomfortably hot, and perilously close to overheating.]

Drake: ...You don't look so good either, friend. Don't you think you should take it a little easy? You're gonna burn yourself out at this rate.

Cardinal: Ha… I’ll be fine, I’ve been through much worse than this…

Jazz: Ree-owwwr…

[Cardinal looked down at his cat. She was staring up at the arena they had teleported to, tail twitching in anticipation of battle.

Cardinal put his hands to his hips and vented a deep sigh and as much heat as he could rid from his system.]

Cardinal: …I keep forgetting how big these buildings are. I’m used to an aerial view…

[Technically true.

But it was more that in his world…

…Arrowhead Stadium wasn’t a battle arena.]

Cardinal: Well, no time like the present. Do the people inside know we’re coming?

Drake: They know YOU’RE coming. There’s apparently a recruiter trapped in the basement who’s very curious about where you came from.

Cardinal: They wouldn’t be the first. I got that the last time I visited the arena in Titus, too, heh… though I left before the recruiters showed up.

Drake: I still can’t believe you’re friends with the Mighty Numbers. -Shakes his head- Crazy world…

Cardinal: -Looking up at the sky- About to get crazier….

Drake: …Heading on in?

Cardinal: Yeah. This time, though, Jazz stays with you.

Drake: …? Are you… sure about that?

[Cardinal turned and looked over his shoulder with a frown.]

Cardinal: There are a number of Combat ‘bots around here that have gone crazy. You’ll need the protection.

Drake: …Truuuuuue…

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: “But…”?

Drake: …But you’re…

Drake: Kinda going into the middle of a lot of high- and mid-ranking battle ‘bots…

[Cardinal put on a cheeky grin.]

Cardinal: Nothing I can’t handle.

Drake: By yourself?

Cardinal: Just long enough to get backup from the security people once the building is evacuated. So, what… fifteen minutes?

Drake: If you’re sure.

Cardinal: I’m very sure. However…

Drake: Yes?

Cardinal: -Points- After this, you should go home. I’m afraid I can’t teleport you there without exact coordinates, but…

Drake: -Handwaves it- I’ll get a ride or crash at somebody’s place or a church or something. What about you? Will you head back to Titus?

Cardinal: -Shakes his head- I wish. If I go home, or to Sanda Enterprises, they’ll make me stop. I can’t go home until my mission is over. (One way or another.)

[Cardinal used ITEM-2!]

Cardinal: See you as soon as things get under control.

[With that, he took off into the sky. It wasn’t long before he was looking down at a familiar scene of chaos—]

KKKKKWWWWWWHHHHHHHH!

Cardinal: !!

[He was suddenly hit by a blast of turbulence. He had to overcompensate for it—]

WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!

Cardinal: Gyah—!

[Another blast!]

Cardinal: (These aren’t random! They’re—)

[There was a deafening noise as he was caught up in a blast that had also sent dust and debris flying. Blinded by the grit that slammed into his vents, he couldn’t see well enough to combat the next blast.]

Cardinal: AAAAAAHHH—!

[He was knocked from his windsurfer and sent crashing to the sands below.]

Cardinal: (Not this time!)

[He immediately teleported to the ground. The momentum he had gained in that brief moment still traveled with him, and he hit the ground hard enough to really feel it.]

Cardinal: (Ugh!)

[Just as the dust was clearing up, there was a loud whipping noise and something snagged his left ankle.]

Cardinal: !

“Got the little blaster!”

Cardinal: -More than a little aggravated- Oh do you really?

[YANK!]

[He was dragged a good yard upon the sands.]

Cardinal: Hey! -Reverting to heat vision- Cut that out!

[Cardinal used QUICK BOOMERANG!]

“AUGH!”

[His aim held true, which wasn’t hard—he just had to follow the trajectory of the rope tied around him, and the sharp projectiles found a score deep in the Xel of the ‘bot trying to wrangle him. Five shots, all fired in extremely quick succession. The rope went slack.]

“Get your act together, Cassidy!”

[Cardinal could now make out what appeared to be a rancher-themed Xelbot, seething as he tried to minimize the Xel loss from the wounds. One of his hands had been badly gashed, and a couple of the boomerangs had nicked his abdomen.]

Cassidy: Easy for YOU to say, Laura!

[Cardinal took the chance to cut himself loose and spring to his feet.]

Cassidy: [Glitch—]

[BANG!]

Cardinal: -Glares- Are you seriously—

[K-ZAP!]

[Cardinal’s words were stolen by a bolt that jolted through him like white fire.

While he wasn’t really particularly vulnerable to electricity, he was running hot. It didn’t help, and he felt seared by the heat.]

Cassidy: HA! Good one, Jones!

[The female voice called out again.]

Laura: Get ‘im, Dell!

[Cardinal had to roll to the side to avoid an incoming throwing axe. He scrambled to his feet, but…]

Dell: Yer gonna be nothin’ but Xel stains, city slicker!

[Cardinal leaped into the air, jumping to avoid shots from Cassidy as another axe came bearing down on where he was. It was only then that he noticed it.

The sands were covered in piles and puddles of sickly looking Xel, with some cores scattered here and there.

Whatever had been going on before he turned up… it hadn’t gone well for a loooooot of people.]

Cassidy: Regular jackrabbit, aincha!

Dell: Oi, Laura! This one’s puttin’ up a fight! You want in on the fun?

[When the lady turned around, Cardinal got a sinking feeling.

She must look fair enough on a normal day. Dirty blond hair done up in pigtails, with freckles and a big smile. Sturdily built—strong and stocky enough to wield her weapon of choice effortlessly.

But with the infected glow in her eyes and the Xel that covered the wicked scythe she was holding—not to mentioned splattered all across her overalls—she looked axe-crazy.]

Laura: He’s not going anywhere! Strike him!

[Cardinal teleported across the sands to be closer to her, and not a moment too soon. Another bolt of electricity zapped the spot where he had been.

Getting closer also proved to be a bad idea. He was immediately forced to shield against a threshing blow.]

Laura: Bah! Think you’re all that with that trick of yours? You must be—

[Cardinal dropped to the ground and gave a low kick, knocking her off balance. He teleported rather than scrambling to his feet, opting to stand against a wall with his shield out in front of him.

As the team gathered out together, he could finally make out who they all were.]

((Pic—Cardinal v Prairie Kings))

[There were five of them, mostly the size of an average human person. They all seemed to carry a farming and ranching theme, though the enormous wind ‘bot in the back stood out.]

[KRAK—]

[This time, he shielded against the bolt that came hammering into him.]

Cardinal: (Augh! I’ll have to keep moving around as long as they keep throwing lightning at me! Who is even doing that? I don’t see an electric ‘bot out there!)

[He didn’t bother thinking on it much.]

[Cardinal used MAGNET MISSLE!]

[The three homing shots zoomed off to their different targets. Cassidy tried to dodge, only to find that they were HOMING shots. Dell tried to axe his, causing it to explode on impact. As for the third…]

The path was disrupted and the ground shook as a fierce wind ripped up the sands. It was a stronger wind than the Magnet Missile was meant to handle, and it exploded harmlessly in the air. The same could not be said for Cardinal, however.

It was all he could do to keep ahold of his shield. He WAS, however, tossed a good few yards before the wind subsided.]

Cardinal: (Gaaahhhh…! I can’t fly in this, and I can’t use homing shots either! If those don’t work, there’s no way any of the other projectiles would, either! And I can’t use fire here… there are people’s cores in the sand!)

Laura: Got you on the run, do we, ya big wannabe? What’s the matter, at a loss for words?

Cardinal: Who are you people?

Laura: Boy, you must really have your self-important big-city head up your chass, or live under a rock so primitive it’d make the Flinstones ashamed. -Holding her hand out in a “stop” gesture at the one with a pitchfork- You really ARE a special kind of stupid to come challenge us without even knowing what you’re dealing with! But then again…

[She flared up with aura, bearing down in his direction with surprising speed.]

Laura: Nobody out there CARES as they should about them “flyover” states!

[Cardinal turned to shield it, using the small port at the top of the shield to open fire.]

[BLAM!]

[The short range plasma blast only seemed to serve to make her angry. Cardinal moved quickly on his feet, turning to teleport out into the open where could fire out of her range.

Doing so earned him another blast from the wind, kicking up Xel and sand in his face. Momentarily blinded by the Xel interfering with heat signals, he was easy prey for a merciless lightning strike. This time, it left behind persistent static in his audio receptors.]

Cardinal: (NO—!)

[The farm girl fighter laughed to see his predicament.]

Laura: Sturdy for something your size, aren’t you? Well! You sure still can’t keep up with the Prairie Kings, that’s for sure!

Cardinal: Grrr…!

[He refused to be taunted like this. It set off something deeper within him—a resentment, a malice—a wounded sense of pride.]

Cardinal: If I can handle the Mighty Numbers…

[He abruptly teleported atop the wind bot.]

Laura: ?!

Cardinal: I can certainly send you lot PACKING!

[Cardinal used CRASH BOMB!]

[The wind bot whipped up a violent gust as drills bore into it, the bombs flashing.]

Laura: JONES! COVER FOR ALLEY!

[Cardinal used LEAF SHIELD!]

[The sudden swirling cloud of ceratanium leaves served as a shield against the lightning strike that followed.]

Cardinal: -Broadcasts his whistle, LOUDLY-

[The piercing tones seemed to cause as much pain and discomfort as they did for Shade. It was the few second distraction Cardinal needed.

He vaulted off of Alley’s back and cast the sharp cloud of leaves behind him.

There was a satisfying grinding and scraping noise, followed by broken squeals. Just then, the bombs went off as well, causing the massive fighter to sway in pain.]

Cardinal: Sorry to ruin your slaughter show, Miss Laura!

[BWIP!]

[Cardinal used SUPER ARM!]

[WHOOMP!]

[The wind generator was knocked over onto his face by a powerful punch from behind. When Cardinal emerged again, he was using another windsurfer. He shot up into the air.]

Cardinal: But your fun and games are OVER!

Laura: GET HIM!

[Cardinal shielded to avoid a lightning bolt from frying his systems. He took comfort in the rush of movement, which served to help cool his systems.

It was now a matter of time that would determine if he could last, more than anything else. If he didn’t wrap this up before his core got too hot, then…]

Cardinal: -Shakes the thoughts off- Time for a lesson in versatility, Prairie Kings!

[Cardinal used MAGNET MISSILE!]

[Without Alley to sweep aside projectiles with gusts of wind, the missiles could not be prevented from reaching their targets. Cardinal didn’t wait in the same spot, instead increasing his speed to head right for Cassidy.

The ranch hand cursed and fired at him, but Cardinal shielded that easily.]

Cardinal: Sorry, kid, but it’s time you moseyed on home!

[Cardinal used QUICK BOOMERANG!]

[Abruptly making a sharp bank, the veteran turned and fired at the team member with the pitchfork.

Dell tried to take advantage of the opening to hurl an axe at him, but Cardinal had teleported out of the way in plenty of time.

He chose to land right by his target, lashing out in a new cast.]

[Cardinal used TOP SPIN!]

[The sharp wires ensnared the pitchfork and recoiled, whirring mercilessly as they cut their way right through it with a satisfying SNAP!]

Dell: By George, he’s stolen Jones’s thunder!

[Ah. So THAT’S where the lightning had been coming from.]

[BLAM! BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

[His quarry was not very defensive based, despite his stocky build. Jones swung to box at Cardinal, but the latter just dropped to the ground and rolled aside. He grinned as he looked up on his back, and—]

Jones: -PAIN!-

Cassidy: Damn bastard! That there’s fightin’ DIRTY!

[Cardinal laughed mercilessly as he sprung to his feet and vaulted over Jones, pushing him face-first into the sands.]

Cardinal: All’s fair in love and war, kid!

[He teleported during his flying leap, bearing down on the ranch hand with the full force of the tackle. The two of them hit the sands.]

Cardinal: Game over!

[Cardinal used QUICK BOOMERANG!]

[He riddled his opponent with boomerangs, causing him to cry out in pain. Cardinal gave a ping of sympathy as he teleported off of him, leaving him to bleed out into the sands.]

Cardinal: (I’m sorry, Shade!)

[Cardinal used MAGNET MISSILE!]

Cardinal: (But…! There’s still a chance for these people to be detained, if they’re hurt badly enough! If I have to, I’ll put them out of their misery, but…)

Cardinal: (If it comes to that, grant me your strength of nerve!)

[He turned his attention to Dell, who did not seem to be pleased to deal with a flying opponent. Cardinal couldn’t help but smirk a little—it was obvious to him that as a close-combat type of fighter, he relied on Alley to knock opponents out of the sky and keep them grounded.]

Dell: Ugh, condescending punk! Get off your high horse, ya big coward!

[He tossed a throwing axe at the windsurfer, but Cardinal swerved aside to avoid it.]

Cardinal: Time’s up, Dell.

[Cardinal used QUICK BOOMERANG!]

[A stream of the projectiles littered the sands in a straight line before finding score on the infected fighter. He gave a glitched screech of pain, becoming frenzied.]

>WARNING! WEAPON ENERGY LOW: QUICK BOOMERANG

Cardinal: (Ugh, great—)

[He quickly set the hardware that held additional capsules to switch out that particular Power Capsule for the one containing the Ring Boomerang.]

[WHUNK!]

[This time, the windsurfer was hit. Cardinal gave off an annoyed buzzing sound, impatient for the capsule to load into place.]

Cardinal: Send my regards to dreamland!

[Cardinal used RING BOOMERANG!]

[A direct hit, right to the collarbone! Cardinal grimaced at the damage, infected Xel beginning to seep out of the wounds.

He didn’t get long to dwell on the carnage, though.]

WWWHHHKT!

[He abruptly fell over backwards off of the windsurfer as a rope of sorts suddenly ensnared him by the neck. As he hit the sands, he was dismayed to see Cassidy back on his feet, hellbent on destruction despite his heavy injuries. He was flared up with the infected aura, and gave a hard yank on the noose.]

Cardinal: HNNN—!

[The crushing bind caused fraying in his audio cables, deafening him entirely. It was also crushing parts of his coolant system and mobility rig, causing oil and other fluids to build up at his jaw hinges and leak out the sides of his mouth.

Heat was also starting to build up in his skull, and he felt disoriented by the system-wide warnings that he was approaching dangerous temperatures. If he teleported while running this hot, he would definitely overheat and start taking damage to his mobility rig and processors.]

[YANK!]

[Cardinal dropped his shield, grabbing at the rope as he used some surge to repair the audio cables.

It was lucky he did, or he might not have heard the two other fighters bearing down on him.]

Cardinal: !!!

[Cardinal used SKULL BARRIER! Cardinal used SUPER ARM!]

[He flared up with ghostly flames and pulled on the rope with all his might, pulling it right out of the rancher’s hands. The knot of the noose was sliced clean through as Laura’s scythe came down right on his throat. There was a shrieking noise as the blade clashed against the barrier protecting him from getting beheaded.

It also served to bounce off the broken pitchfork that had been slammed into his left foot in an attempt to pin him in place.]

Cardinal: This ends NOW!

[Cardinal used THUNDER BEAM!]

[Shrieks of pain as an extremely powerful bolt of lightning shot out in three directions. Laura was caught directly in the crossfire of the tri-directional beam.]

Cardinal: Shoulda brought candles, Laura!

[Cardinal used SPARK SHOCK!]

[He immediately followed up with another electrical attack, broadcasting his quips over the blast of electricity.]

Cardinal: It’s LIGHTS OUT for you!

[Cardinal used SUPER ARM!]

[He grabbed the fallen leader and slammed her into Jones, who was still trying to skewer him with what was left of his pitchfork. The two were sent flying into a wall.]

[Cardinal used NEEDLE CANNON!]

[He quickly turned and fired at Cassidy, impaling him dead-on with an enormous needle. The rancher staggered back and fell to the ground.]

Cardinal: So STAY DOWN!

[Cardinal used HYPER BOMB!]

[He hurled the massive explosive right at the two of them, as well as one at the fallen wind ‘bot.]

<DLN-000>: >EVERYONE TAKE COVER!

[He grabbed his shield and braced himself.]

[The explosion was a deafening roar of fire, and there was a great crashing noise as parts of the stadium seating were sent flying. Even with his shield taking the brunt of the blasts, he was still slammed into the wall.]

>WARNING! INTERNAL TEMPERATURE HAS EXCEEDED SAFE LEVELS!

[It was only when the debris finally stopped falling that he finally dared to look out from behind his shield, gasping for air.

There was no sign of his opponents, nor of their weapons. Sand had been kicked up everywhere, covering up the cores that had been scattered throughout the field. Not surprising, considering he’d used explosives that were designed for flattening buildings. Rather excessive.

No kill like overkill.]

Cardinal: (No… where IS everybody…)

>WARNING! INTERNAL TEMPERATURE HAS EXCEEDED SAFE LEVELS!

[Cardinal fumbled for an E-tank. It was a precious resource to use, but he had to do his best to heal all the damage done before anyone tried to give him medical attention.

The high dose of concentrated surge was like a refreshing plunge into warm water—he felt revitalized, and no longer as thirsty. All the beating he’d taken melted away, leaving him whole…]

>WARNING! INTERNAL TEMPERATURE HAS EXCEEDED SAFE LEVELS!

[…if on the edge of blacking out.]

Cardinal: -Staggers to his feet, venting heavily- (Need to at least make it into the shade…)

[He only made it to the entrance before the heat became too much.]

>INITIATING PROTOCOLS…

>POWERING DOWN…

[He didn’t even have time to respond to the incoming radio messages before dropping down to the sand.]

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

=CHAPTER 3C: VOLTAIC DYNATRON=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

[SANDA LABS....]

[Both sister and brother safely made the trip back to California--worn and worse for wear, but alive.]

White: --!!!

[MN.3 AND MN.9 HAVE ENTERED DEEP SLEEP MODE.]

[There were two, simultaneous thuds against metal flooring. Both Dynatron and Beck has collapsed in sheer exhaustion, unable to find the energy to keep themselves online.]

Cryo: AAAAAH--

White: It's fine! It's fine, they've just fainted--Sanda, prepare the med bay--Pyro, help your sister, Cryo, Call, you grab Beck--

Call: Right away, Dr. White.

[The external branch of the RMDC kept going nuts, trying over and over—and failing, over and over—to update the main server.]

White: Sanda, you go to work on Beck, I'll handle Dyna--

Sanda: Got it--

White: We need two full canisters in case we need Xel Transfusions--Cryo, go into Dyna's room and bring back all the power containers you can find--

Cryo: I'M ON IT--

Pyro: What can I do?

White: Calm Dyna down once she awakens--she'll need it.

Call: I am detecting activity in the RMDC database, Doctors--the server is attempting to update.

White: (That...that would probably be the cross references attempting to connect--and him...)

White: We can't do anything about it now--transfer all of Beck's assimilation data to my terminal while we repair, alright?

Call: Yes, Dr. White.

White: (Three samples--plus the one from Mikhail and his server...)

White: (I just hope that will be enough...!)

_____________________________

[MEANWHILE...]

"........"

"................"

"....Three in SUCH a short amount of time..."

"...You were always full of surprises, weren't you..."

"But, then again, you...you're special."

"....I had anticipated that."

"Just...didn't think it would be....or I had HOPED...."

"......."

"....ha."

"You....Will...ha..."

"I didn't think you would, but you did."

"........."

"You've....changed."

"......."

".................."

"We're all just a bunch of MONSTERS, aren't we...?~"

"Aha...ha...."

"............"

".................."

"........................."

"help me."

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

=CHAPTER 9C: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{Several Hours Later…}

[Mikhail sat back with a sigh.]

Mikhail: {Finally, I’m done…}

[Coding the summary condenser had taken longer than he would have liked. However, it seemed to be working—he couldn’t say for sure until Felix came in with the temporary power core.]

Mikhail: -Stands, taking off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose- Ugh… {I hope he comes soon, or at least calls—}

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Doctor, there is a call on our emergency line–

Mikhail: ({Perfect timing!}) -Interrupts- Patch him through, Call.

[He stood, gathering up his supplies with his back to the monitor.

Jack, meanwhile, was helping around with minor chores, like sweeping up after the good Doctor—he briefly flicked his gaze to the monitor when he heard Mikhail accepting the call, and…]

Jack: …..

Jack: Doc?

Jack: Why is the CherryDyn logo on the big screen…?

Mikhail: What?

[He turns around just in time for the call to come through.

He was immediately disappointed. Rather than a message from Felix in the Meadow, it appeared to be from none other than CherryDyn’s chief executive officer.

His expression quickly changed to being cross.]

Mikhail: {Computer, end call!}

[The call shut off before the man on the other line could even say a word.]

Jack: –Dude–I mean, Doc–

Jack: That was Gregory Graham–

Mikhail: -Crossly- I don’t have time to deal with CherryDyn and their dragons. Things are bad enough as it is without him making them worse.

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Attention–we are once again receiving an urgent call from CherryDynamics.

Mikhail: =___=“ -Frustrated- -Motions for Jack to move out of sight- Put him through.

Jack: (…This cannot be good.)

[As Jack quietly makes himself scarce, the CherryDyn logo once again fills the main monitor for a few seconds, before cutting to a man in a sharply dresses purple business suit, bright violet eyes, and neatly combed blond hair–save for one strand that seemed to stick out rather largely.

Needless to say, Gregory Graham looked less than pleased.]

Graham: You don’t just hang up on an emergency line, you know.

Graham: And who are YOU supposed to be–I would think that Sanda would be more aware of who was handling his feeds!

Graham: Where is he?

Mikhail: Doctor Sanda is currently otherwise engaged.

Graham: Tch.

Graham: (The nerve of this…)

Graham: I demand to speak with him. This is an urgent matter that I MUST discuss with someone that, at the very least, can provide some actual assistance.

[Mikhail listened quietly as Gregory Graham began to rant. The lights of the lab gave his glasses a sinister glare.]

Mikhail: …

Graham: Did you not hear me?

Graham: Stop muddling around and go GET him!

Mikhail: …Hmm.

Mikhail: No.

[The screen blipped back to a screensaver as he hung up a second time.]

Jack: (Oh my God–)

Jack: -Whispers, even though the call is not active- Doc, I don’t think this is a good idea—

Mikhail: -Still honestly doesn’t care- I have worse things than him to worry about. -Sits down, pulling over a notepad- He honestly doesn’t scare me, not in the slightest.

Jack: But—

[The door to the lab suddenly lurches open, revealing Soichiro walking inside with a breakfast bagel in his hand. Either he was still in the process of waking up or he didn’t exactly care for the lab rules at this point either.]

Soi: -Yawn- But what…?

Soi: I heard talking… was someone calling us? Who was it?

[Mikhail was at a counter, writing out a note by now.]

Mikhail: -Without looking up- No one important.

Soi: Oh–

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Doctor, we are receiving another urgent call from CherryDynamics.

Soi: ….

Soi: …

Soi: -Whirls around- No one important?!

Mikhail: -Grumbles- {The man is a liar and worse, so no, not worth our time.}

[He seemed more engaged in his note writing than anything else.]

Soi: For Tyson’s sake, Mikhail, I KNOW, but he’s still–d'oh, never mind–!

Soi: Patch it through, Call– -Tosses bagel at Jack- And make sure the others don’t hear this–

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor.

[The line fizzes once again.]

Graham: Sanda–Sanda?!

Graham: Ah, Sanda–thank goodness. Greg Graham here.

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: Mr. Graham. What a…  pleasant… surprise… to hear from you…

Graham: Drop the act, Sanda.

Soi: –….

Graham: You don’t like me and I do not like you–we can at least agree on that much.

Soi: (No kidding.)

Graham: You need to get a better handle on your interns. The nerve of that one…

Soi: (Cripes, Mikhail…)

[Mikhail tuned them out. While Sanda attempted to calm Gregory down, the Russian Doctor stepped aside out of sight and walked over to Jack. He had the note in his hand—and an amulet.]

Mikhail: Jack Parker?

Jack: –?

Jack: Y–Yeah, Doc? What is it?

Mikhail: You mean, why are we being called? I’m not entirely sure myself. But I am fairly certain about one thing.

[He glanced back at the door to the lab with a faint grimace.]

Mikhail: …

[He returned his attention to Jack.]

Mikhail: You won’t want to remain around here for much longer. The Secretary of Defense is in the building.

Jack: … ….

Jack: Fraggin’ hell…

[Mikhail holds up a hand as if to stop him from letting panic build any further.]

Mikhail: He doesn’t know you’re here. There are no records of you entering, since you came by the teleporters.

[He handed over the amulet.]

Mikhail: This is a teleportation amulet. It will take you directly to the Meadow.

Jack: !

Jack: (…He wants me to leave before…)

Mikhail: Once you get there, there are a few things I need for you to do.

[He handed over the note.]

Mikhail: I’ve written them all down in here. Just follow the instructions, and tell Felix to leave the swords behind, if you see him.

Jack: ….

[Jack glances down at the note, giving it a quick read–and confusion fills his face.

There were instructions to see to Kalinka, and to start up the database—to send over one singular set of files for printing, and then to cut the communication off again.]

Jack: But, Doc—

Mikhail: It will make more sense once you get there. Just… please do this for me, alright? It’s very important. For Tobias, for Cardinal, for you—

[By now, the conversation was once again getting louder.]

Mikhail: …You should go.

Jack: ….. (I shouldn’t leave the Doc like this, but…)

Jack: (I can’t help from behind a cell, or worse.)

Jack: Okay.

Jack: …Good luck, Doc.

[Jack looks reluctant as he dons the amulet.]

Jack: Tell the Xel kid I said bye for now or something.

Mikhail: I will. I’m sure you’ll get the chance to speak soon enough. -Frowns, looking in the direction of the yelling- Stay safe.

[Pressing the center of the amulet transported Jack away to safety in the characteristic swirl of 0s and 1s associated with the Ambassador’s magic. Mikhail stepped back into view of the screen, his expression becoming sullen again.]

[To his annoyance, Gregory Graham clearly still hadn’t reached a point, and was still complaining, not even letting Sanda get much of a word in.

Seeing his friend and colleague treated such a way after all they had been through was starting to make the Russian feel exceedingly nasty—it wore right past his submissive baggage of the past and to his protective, fatherly nature.

There’s a saying that applies to people when they’re frustrated, and it was oh so apt for him—

Don’t poke the bear.]

[Mikhail sighed and walked over to the console again. He looked very annoyed.]

Mikhail: If all you’re going to do is insult people, then you can do it on your own time. We have more important things to attend to.

Graham: Grr–

Graham: This doesn’t concern you! What is this upstart even doing in this room, Sanda, I don’t even see any staff identification on him!

Graham: I doubt you even know the gravity of the situation–

[Mikhail slammed a newspaper right into the screen.]

[His glasses slid slightly, causing the glare to leave to reveal an even fiercer glare beneath them.]

Mikhail: On the contrary, Graham—I know a great deal more than you think. You want gravity? You want to play serious? Fine—try THIS on for size. I know you are ultimately behind all of this, and someday I will prove it. Do you understand me?

Graham: Excuse me?!

Soi: (Baaaah, I can’t handle this anymore–)

Soi: (I’ve got to get Will–!)

[Mikhail slapped the newspaper down, paying no attention as Sanda hurried out of view to find Will.]

Mikhail: Do everyone a favor and go away. We have more important things to deal with than your mind-boggling incompetence.

[He ends the call abruptly.]

[MEANWHILE, WILL’S OFFICE.]

Soi: WILL–!

[Soi knocked on Will’s office door as hard as he could, until the Doctor abruptly opened it with a panicked whisper–]

Will: Shhht–!

Will: Do you WANT to let Mr. Donald know I’m here–Hey–!

[Sanda didn’t waste time pushing Will inside, locking the door behind him.]

Will: Soi–?

Soi: Will–

Soi: Graham is on our emergency line.

Will: –!?!?

Will: Wh–What…?

Soi: Will–

Soi: Mikhail is dealing with him right now, but I don’t think they’re–

Will: YOU LEFT MIKHAIL ALONE WITH GRAHAM?!

Soi: He just–sort of–uh.

Soi: (…Oh dear–)

Will: Nononono–

[Will paces around the room in a clear panic, biting his nails and holding onto his hair with a grip that threatened to tear a good chuck of it off.]

Will: (Why why why, why is HE calling, why did Mikhail have to answer, why is this HAPPENING AGAIN–)

Will: Soi–

Will: Wh–What if he–?!

Soi: No, Will–

Soi: G-Graham hasn’t mentioned you yet–and all Mikhail is doing is scolding and hanging up on him, at best…

Soi: I…It’s kind of getting worse, though, and–I…I don’t think I can handle it, Will, I’m sorry–

Soi: He–he listens to you, Will, so–m-maybe–

Will: NO!

[Soi is taken aback at Will’s sudden outburst, full of fear and guilt–]

Will: I can’t–

Will: I can’t ever face Graham again, Soi, you know that–!

Will: I don’t…

Will: I…

[……]

Will: I don’t trust myself.

Will: I don’t…I don’t have the strength t-to…

[Will shakes–his entire body is shivering as he sits on the ground, one hand covering his face.]

Will: A-All this time…

Will: I…I thought…

Will: I thought that part of my life was over and DONE with, Soi…

Will: Why–Why is it happening again–?

Soi: Will…

Will: What if he…

Will: What if he recognizes me?

Will: Right there, in the open, where Mikhail is?

Will: What if my façade is not GOOD enough?

Will: …What if I’m not good enough?

Soi: Will–

Soi: Come on, Will.

Soi: You even fooled me, at first.

Soi: And I’m sure I’m at least twice as smart as Graham ever will be.

Will: —….

Soi: ….

Soi: Listen, Will…

Soi: I…I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. I mean, I can, but…

Soi: …I haven’t been through what you have. Not then…

Soi: But…

Soi: I’m your friend, remember?

Soi: No matter what happens.

Soi: And no matter what the world thinks.

Soi: I’ll always be in your corner.

Soi: And that’s a fact.

Will: ….

Soi: Whatever we have to face…

Soi: We’re doing it together.

Soi: I know you…

Soi: The REAL you.

Soi: Better than anyone else.

Soi: So believe me when I say that you are good enough, Will!

Soi: If you can fool me, and the entire world…

Soi: Then you can fool someone like Graham.

Soi: And…

Will: ….

Will: But what about Mikhail?

Will: And my own children?

Soi: …..

Soi: Mikhail’s been working non-stop trying to fix Cardinal, and the Mighties are all asleep.

Soi: We… we can worry about them later. (Assuming Mikhail survives this, even…. Oof…)

Soi: Right now…

Soi: Right now, I…

Soi: We need you, Will.

Will: …

Soi: I promise–

Soi: The second things go south, I’ll cover for you.

Soi: And we have the Meadow, if we need to run.

Soi: I promised I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, remember?

Will: …..

Will: Yes…

Will: I…remember…

Will: All those years ago…

Soi: Hmm-Hmm.

Soi: I know things seem bad, but…

Soi: Nothing is ever going to hurt you like that again, Will, I’m going to make sure of that–!

Soi: So don’t you worry about a thing, okay? ^^ Mikhail and I got your back.

———————

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

Mikhail: I intend to keep to that.

———————

Will: ……

Will: …

-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: I’m sorry, Will…

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

[…]

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.

[…]

Mikhail: Such… such an action is…

Mikhail: …not something easily forgiven.

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

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: 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…

-*-*-*-*-

Soi: Where would you be without me, eh?

Soi: Up the creek with no paddle, that’s what! ^^

-*-*-*-*-

Will: ……

Soi: –…Um. W-Will?

Soi: (He’s not moving…Oh, God, did he pass out from fright–?!)

Will: No.

Soi: –?

Will: No…

Will: N-No more running…

Will: I…

Will: I can’t stand this anymore.

Soi: Will–?

Will: Watching you and Mikhail take so much for my sake when…

Will: Standing up FOR me…

Will: I…

Will: I can’t watch you do that for me, Soi.

Will: I can’t–it…hurts.

Will: Because YOU don’t deserve that, and neither does Mikhail–!

[There’s a strange, sharp edge to Will’s voice, one that doesn’t quite belong in his tone, yet it oddly fits…rather unnervingly.

And it’s all too familiar to Soi.]

Soi: –!

Will: You…you and Mikhail…

Will: You’ve given up so much for my sake…

Will: It’s…

Will: Unfair.

Will: I can’t do this anymore.

Will: I can’t watch both of you take blows just because I cannot.

Will: I…

[He stands.]

[There is a familiar fire in Will’s eyes, one that Soi hadn’t seen in…]

Will: I can’t let that…that wretched excuse of a human being hurt anyone like HE hurt ME–!

Soi: !

Soi: (You…?)

Will: I can’t run from this anymore…

Will: I might as well start now rather than never.

[Will’s voice drops to a growl.]

Will: Starting with Greg.

Soi: ……

[Soi seems kind of…bewildered, for a moment.]

Soi: ….

Soi: Eheh…

[But then he begins to laugh a little.]

Soi: Ooof…

Soi: I forgot how scary you can be when you get like that…

Soi: Jeez…

Will: –…..

Will: I…

[Once Soi said that, all traces of darkness left Will’s gaze, replaced with a sheepish uncertainty.]

Will: I–I’m sorry–

Will: I…didn’t mean to lose it like–

Soi: -Laughs-

Soi: Aw, it’s okay. At this rate, I almost feel sorry for Graham!

Soi: ….

Soi: Almost. ^^

Soi: Heh.

Soi: I’m proud of ya, Will.

Will: –…

Soi: Now, uh…

Soi: We should probably get back before Mikhail sends one of his kids after him or…something…

Soi: Unless you need a–

Will: No.

[Will straightens out his hair and his lab coat, taking a few deep breathes.]

[This would be the first he’s faced Graham in…not enough time.]

Will: ….

Will: I’m ready.

Soi: Good!

Soi: I’m right behind you. ^^

Will: Heh…

{Soon…}

[As Soi and Will bustled into the lab, they could hear what was clearly the tail end of a conversation.]

“Learn to take responsibility for your actions.”

[Mikhail wasn’t even looking at the screen, instead checking stuff off a clipboard.]

Mikhail: Listen to a word of advice from a SCIENTIST, Graham—do NOT experiment with things you cannot personally control. This is your fault.

Graham: My fault?!

Graham: You think I would put this great country of ours at risk like this?! You listen here, you idiotic–

Mikhail: Not interested.

BLIP!

Soi: (….Whoa. How many times has he done that now?)

Will: …..

Will: (You haven’t changed at all, have you.)

Will: What is going on?

Mikhail: -Dryly- I’m still waiting for Felix to call back, but the line appears to be busy.

Will: …But…Soi told me that CherryDyn is calling–?

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Correct, Doctor. CherryDyn’s CEO Gregory Graham is calling our emergency once again as we speak.

Mikhail: Tcheh.

[He walks over to wait by a printer.]

Will: Mr. Graham?

Will: What could he possibly want from us?

Mikhail: Good question. He keeps being very vague. I fear his screeching may break the delicate instruments here if he keeps jumping pitch.

Will: …..

[That gets Will to lighten up a little, hiding his smile behind his fingers.]

Will: Was he really screeching?

Soi: You have no idea.

Will: Heh.

Will: I see.

Mikhail: Do you mind if I use the printer?

Will: Oh, not at all, Mikhail.

Will: -Ahem-

[Will smile fades off after a moment, though, and he squares his shoulders back, his body facing away from the screen.]

Will: Unfortunately, I doubt Mr. Graham will give up so easily.

Soi: Oof…Yeah…

Soi: Um, I–

Will: Don’t bother, Soichiro.

Will: Allow me to handle him.

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

[Call once again patches the line though, but Will doesn’t even turn around.]

Graham: Bah, finally–

Graham: Sanda, If this call cuts off one more time, I’ll–

Will: No need.

Graham: –?

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

[Will’s voice is….]

[…Unusually pleasant, yet with a hard undertone to it. As if he was restraining something.]

Will: Good day, Mr. Graham.

Will: I’m ever so terribly sorry for all that. Right, Dr. Sanda?

Soi: –! Oh, yes! Sorry, it’s just been… so stressful as of late, some of our staff’s been, uh… moody.

[Mikhail has to smile a little at that from his position near the printer. He uses sign language to speak in Russian.]

Mikhail: “{‘Moody’ is certainly one way to put it. A TRUE bear could hardly be more ready to bite the man’s head off.}”

[It nearly takes all of the Doctors’ willpower to keep from snorting at that.]

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Graham: Tch.

Graham: At least SOMEONE has some decent manners.

Will: (Ha. That is funny coming from you, you monster.)

Will: Again, I do ever so apologize.

Will: What seems to be the problem, Mr. Graham?

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Graham: More like crisis.

Graham: It’s our factory.

Graham: It’s out of control!

Graham: It’s cranking out hostile, infected robots and we can’t STOP IT!

Will: …..

Soi: W-What?

Will: (And you didn’t mention that the very first thing.)

Will: (How strange.)

Will: Hmm.

Will: That doesn’t sound good.

Graham: You THINK?!

Mikhail: -Narrows his eyes- …

Will: If I recall, CherryDyn’s factory’s are all mostly automated, yes?

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Will: If that’s the case, I’m afraid your own servers might be affected with the virus as well.

Graham: I KNOW that!

Graham: Our security measures have all failed! Every Xel-Robot in the building has gone insane, and to top it all off, they’ve blocked all the exits in the building!

Mikhail: -Snorts at this- “{Those measures were never very good to begin with, if what happened in April is anything to go by.}”

Will: ….

Soi: So… you’re trapped?

Graham: All of my staff and YES, myself as well!

Graham: Our HQ’s been locked down, but if you and the Mighty Numbers do not hurry–

Graham: Those infected robots will FLOOD the city, and the rest of the United States!

Will: …..

Mikhail: ({A bit late to cry wolf.})

Mikhail: -Russian- {Is there ANY other option? The children are asleep, they NEED rest.}

Soi: {Well…I…I don’t think so. CherryDyn’s robots are mostly flimsy compared to ours–No offense to you know who, of course–but a whole army—}

Will: Call.

Will: Confirm this.

Graham: Wha–!

Mikhail: -Pinches the bridge of his nose- {Gah… if only I weren’t in—…} …

Mikhail: (I can wake up the Rebel Angels, but not my own sons…)

Mikhail: (Once they hear about what I’m going through, they’ll go RIGHT into Defense mode…)

Graham: Are you even LISTENING–

[CALL] //: Confirming…

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Confirmed. Defective CherryDyn robots are rampaging throughout the city, coming from one local source based on local reports.

Will: (So you aren’t lying.)

Mikhail: —! {Wait—flimsy, right?}

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Soi: {Yes–don’t get me wrong, some of them are a pain to deal with, but Beck got through them no problem!}

Soi: {In sheer numbers, however, they’ll cause enormous amounts of destruction…}

Mikhail: -Turns to face him- {More or less destruction than those using explosives to stop them?}

Soi: {I honestly do not know.}

Soi: {CherryDyn is the world’s–the WORLD’S, Mikhail, top robot manufacturer. If this is already in their servers, who knows how long before it spreads off the country?}

Mikhail: {Dammit.}

Mikhail: {Ugh… very well then…}

Mikhail: {You might consider calling the Second Generation.}

Soi: !

Graham: -Annoyed- What are you two nattering on about—

Mikhail: -Dryly- Business.

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Will: …Mm.

Will: Well, this is a predicament…

Mikhail: Will—

Mikhail: {Jaden and Carlos together can truly handle themselves.}

Mikhail: {They’ll be awake by now. The only reason it hasn’t shown up is because I disconnected the servers.}

Mikhail: {This… this is the sort of thing they were made for, you know. To cause destruction. To channel that in a positive way…}

Mikhail: {It would really help the stress they’re going through right now.}

Mikhail: {Please at least consider? Your sons and daughters are so… tired…}

[The poor man looked exhausted himself.]

Will: …..

[Will doesn’t quite answer back, but he nods, as if to acknowledge it.]

Will: Mr. Graham.

Will: Do you not have any countermeasures yourself?

Graham: Did I NOT just say–

Will: It’s just a little odd to me.

Will: Surely, you know how tiring this has been on everyone.

Will: Did you not say yourself that you and your company would be doing EVERYTHING they can to help with the situation at large?

Graham: I–

Will: Yet…

Will: We seem to be doing all of the legwork, so to speak.

Will: Is there a reason for that?

Mikhail: {Excuse, you mean?}

[Prinz… prinz… prinz…]

Graham: How dare you—

Graham: We’ve been doing all we can to help CONTAIN the virus from spreading to our other servers!

Graham: We’re not just twiddling our thumbs here!

Will: I see.

Will: I suppose I should thank you, then.

Will: In any case…

Will: I suppose there is no choice. Lives are in danger.

Graham: Finally, you get it—

Will: However…

Will: I ask that you do not disturb us after this.

Will: My children are quite tired.

[Will’s hands ball up into fists.]

Will: And I will not have anyone asking for any more favors like this. For a long time.

Mikhail: {Good for you, Will!} -Clearly quite pleased-

Soi: Eheh…Er. Yes. We all need a…a break, eheh!

Graham: …..

[The CEO narrows his eyes at Will’s form for a moment.]

Graham: So you’re William Apollo White.

Will: Correct.

Will: And you’d do well to remember that name.

[Graham looks over at Mikhail again with derision.]

Graham: And him?

Will: He’s going to chew off your DAMN head off if you don’t MIND yourself!

Soi: –! Will…

Graham: (What the…)

Mikhail: -Grabs a file folder to put his notes in- A question, Graham, if you would.

Mikhail: The virus broke out over a week ago.

Mikhail: Why is this only now becoming a problem? Did something happen that changed things?

[He sounded genuinely curious.]

Will: That’s a rather good question.

Graham: (I can’t believe this–)

Graham: We’ve been TRYING to contain the virus all this time, like I have said.

Graham: At first, we stopped it from spreading to our factory branch–until now, that is.

Graham: We only had so many left in our Tech department after the virus struck.

Mikhail: (So it CAN be manually combated on Xel-based coded servers… that’s important information.)

Will: (Nggg….You don’t care, you don’t care–)

Soi: Ah– (Oh, man–)

Soi: E-Er, we’ll send help right away, Mr. Graham! Yes, we’ll do that, don’t you worry–

Soi: Right, Will–?

Will: …Yes, of course.

Will: …

Will: One more question, if you would.

Graham: -Exasperated- I do not have time to play 20 questions, White–

Will: What makes you so sure Dr. Blackwell is behind all this?

Mikhail: -Freezes- …

[He clutched the printed notes in his hand. His hands were shaking as he simmered in anger. He seemed… hurt.]

((Pic—Doctors & Greg))

Mikhail: (Will…)

[His expression became cold as he forced this anger inward, leaving his face as untelling as stone.]

Mikhail: (William…)

Mikhail: (Why!?)

Mikhail: (I told you, I…)

Mikhail: (I thought I TOLD you, twice—we talked about this, PLEASE, you—)

[His mind was drawn back into a deep memory…]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“You can end this, Doctor! Just surrender!”

[Mikhail looked down at the blue robot from his position in the Mecha. He spoke hotly, his voice thick with despair.]

Mikhail: That has never been an option, MegaMan! You are wasting your time!

[The combat robot fired.

The blast was powerful—the force from the blow was enough to unsteady him, and he lurched—]

((Pic—Mikhail captive (flashback) ))

[There was a harsh rattle noise from a chain that was shackled to his ankle and bolted to the floor of the construct.]

Mikhail: -Hisses- {Dammit!}

“I’m being serious! It doesn’t have to end in violence!”

Mikhail: {You… Rock, how dare you, you miserably sheltered boy…}

[He spoke in a private monologue, growling as he clawed his way back to the controls.]

Mikhail: {If there is even a slight chance for her to survive, I must END all that is you…!}

[He lashed out verbally and physically, crying out in emotional suffering.]

Mikhail: You, of ALL people, would say such a thing?! You killed your own brothers, Rock, when they only wanted your help! You could have avoided all of this if you just hadn’t killed his sons!

“What… what are you talking about?! What does that have to do—”

Mikhail: {ENOUGH!}

[The fight continued, more intensely.]

“You made your point, sir! The whole world now knows of your genius! Now just stop before you get yourself hurt!”

Mikhail: You cannot end this, boy! You don’t even have the slightest idea of what I fight for—you are not going to be able to turn me aside, for you have chosen to see it through this way to an end!

[Suddenly, PAIN.]

[His head hurt SO bad, he could feel glass shards embedded in his arms, the sick smell of burning electronics made him want to get ill—]

Mikhail: ({Get up… move, you forsaken bastard, Mikhail— get UP and FIGHT until your bioreadings are gone, you have to save her…})

[He staggered back to the console, ignoring the stinging pain all over his upper body.

The American combat construct seemed happy, confident that the fight was over.]

Mikhail: ({Idiot. You let your guard down.})

WHANG!

[His opponent was knocked back against the wall by the force of the attack, stunned ever so briefly.]

“Wha…”

[Mikhail brought the mecha down hard in an attempt to crush him, but it failed. And even worse—moving the damaged parts of the mecha was causing the electrical fire to spread. It was growing UNBEARABLY hot in the cockpit.]

“Doctor! What are you doing?!”

[No response but another attack—but his prey rolled aside and fired again, trying to immobilize him.]

“Are you insane?! A few more hits and your cockpit will be on fire! Surrender, already!”

Mikhail: YOU CANNOT TURN ME ASIDE! (I will get her back or DIE trying!)

“Doctor, /please/! What you’re doing is causing more trouble than you realize—”

[He interrupted via another attack. Mega was getting fed up and losing patience, however, and began to go at the motors.]

“There are too many lives at stake, Mikhail! Don’t make yours one of them!”

[The floor suddenly gave way, while at the same time, a massive force slammed him into the back of the cabin. The NOISE as the mecha crashed to the ground was deafening, and everything hurt so bad…!]

[Anything that wasn’t screaming in alarms at the damage readings was on fire, or broken.]

Mikhail: (N… nngh…!) -Coughing through haggard breaths- (I can’t…)

[…]

Mikhail: (…The weapons… they’re still… Online…)

Mikhail: …

[He screamed in pain as he thrust his hands through the fire, grabbing at the weapon controls and fired—!]

“Are you kidding me?!”

Mikhail: -Coughing more than breathing now- ({Damn it… the smoke is…!})

[A yelp of alarm.]

“Your cockpit is on fire! Get out of there!”

Mikhail: ({Not… not much time!})

[The cannon turned again, blasting and taking out a chunk of Mega’s shoulder.]

“P…please…”

[Fire… everything was fire…

He uses the last of the strength he has to hit the weapon controls again, but—

Overcome by the smoke, the heat, the dozens of open wounds, jagged from glass shards—

Everything went dark.]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Will didn’t seem to be faring so well either, and if he did notice, he certainly didn’t let it stop him. His emerald eyes flared with what could only be described as burning hatred.]

Will: You first claimed that he was the cause of all of this.

Will: And then you wasted no time claiming that Dr. Sanda and myself were his cohorts.

Will: Why.

Will: I want to know why you did that.

Will: Why you’re so keen on shifting the blame to everyone but y o u r s e l f.

Graham: You–! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!

Graham: It’s OBVIOUS! That–that smelly old FART is out for REVENGE! Not only is the Blackwell name PROOF ENOUGH–

Graham: He’s outright INSANE, and nothing SHORT of a complete MONSTER! Now stop asking STUPID questions and SEND HELP!

[That was the last straw.]

Mikhail: (You…)

Mikhail: -Visibly grits his teeth-

Mikhail: (How DARE you.)

Mikhail: (You would MOCK that kind of SUFFERING!?)

Mikhail: (Will I can overlook, but YOU…)

Mikhail: (You MISERABLE bastard…)

Mikhail: (I wish I had let Tobias FRY your damn servers after slashing my way into them myself!)

[Mikhail abruptly put the call on mute from his location.]

Will: –!

Soi: (Oh no–)

Mikhail: Let me tell you something, Mr. Graham.

[He turned to face the terminal. The way he held his glasses against his face made him look incredibly sinister—a presence which was only amplified by his frightfully calm tone.]

Mikhail: When a genius suddenly loses it and makes the world burn, there is always something…

[He looked up.]

Mikhail: Or someONE…

Mikhail: … that pushed them there.

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

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.]

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

Will: …….

Mikhail: You are very fortunate that William is a man of incredible integrity with a hero for a son, or else you might have more than Doctor Blackwell to worry about.

Mikhail: (I only kept back from the temptation of RIPPING the dark veil he’s kept that hides the TOXIC corruption that the Angels and I know to be there…)

Mikhail: (…out of respect and protection of YOU, WILL!)

Mikhail: Assuming you aren’t lying— again.

Soi: O~O;;;;;

Soi: (Jeez, I…It’s like looking into a mirror…)

[Mikhail leaned forward, looking over his glasses in waaaaaaay too calm a manner.]

Mikhail: You will address the Doctor— ALL the Doctors, but ESPECIALLY William—

Mikhail: —in a POLITE manner from here on out…

Mikhail:  …or you will discover how unpleasant a Russian can be to a rude American.

Mikhail: Good day.

[BLIP!]

Will: … .

Soi: ……

[Mikhail turned to face Will.]

Mikhail: It’s up to you whether you want to get middled in with his mess, and whatever trouble he wants us to drag him out of.

Will: …..

Will: Right.

Will: (Ngh...that was my fault, I...I needed to ask, but I didn't mean to push him over the edge like that...)

Will: (Mikhail, I...)

Will: (I just needed...to know...)

Will: ….

Will: Mikhail?

Mikhail: -Walking over to the door- I’m listening.

Will: …..

Will: I’m sorry.

Will: >>

Will: Please remind me to never get on your bad side again.

Soi: -… Quiet snort-

Mikhail: -Snorts-

Mikhail: I just can’t stand the topic Will, I’m not going to lie about that.

Mikhail: Blackwell is only a darker variation of me, the man I could have been.

Mikhail: -Places the file folder into a plastic tub near the door- I have never forgotten that. And I never will.

Mikhail: So. I’m leaving before I risk the temptation of doing something that will only make my situation even worse.  =_______=

[He shuts the door loudly on his way out.]

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