KATE VS JACK

=CHAPTER 2A: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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{SANDA LABS...

June 22nd, 20XX}

[It was morning.

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

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

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

Beck: Zzzz....

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

They just needed to find...]

[PING!]

Will: --!!!

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

Beck: —?

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

Beck: What? What is it?

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

[PING!]

[MN.1 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.1] //: Cryo?!

Call: Scanning...

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

Will: ! No—!

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

>ACCESS DENIED

Beck: Not again…!

[MN.1] //: “Again”…?

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

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

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

Call: Acknowledged. Scanning…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will: She’s cross-referencing with David.

[There was some uneasy silence at this.

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: -Nnnng, headache…-

[And Beck?

Beck was both hurt and sad.]

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

Beck: (I’m NOT like that…!)

Call: .......

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

[MN.1] //: —!!

Will: —! Of course...

Will: Soichiro!

Soi: I heard, I heard—!

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

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

Will: Call?

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

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Father—

Will: Absolutely not.

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

Will: I said no.

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: . . .

Beck: Big Brother...

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: Be careful.

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

Beck: Roger that, Big bro.

Call: Xel Transfer ready. The coordinates are set.

Will: Beck?

Beck: ...

Beck: I'm ready.

Will: Good luck, Beck...

Soi: Go get her back for us!

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[........]

[PING!]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

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

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

Beck: Brr...

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

Beck: ! What—

[His comm went online.]

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

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

Beck: On it—

[REXELECT—]

Beck: —!!

Beck: Wait—

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

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

Beck: —! Ack—I knew it!

Will: What—what is it?

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

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

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

Beck: Not from what I can see.

Call: Scanning...

Call: ....

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

Beck: Call—Call I sink like a ROCK.

Beck: I can't SWIM very well—!!

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

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

Beck: ....

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

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

Beck: .....

Beck: Of course they did...

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

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

Beck: ....

Beck: This is the unfiltered reservoir.

Call: Also correct.

Beck: GROSS.

Will: ....-makes a face-

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

Beck: ....

Beck: -INHALES-

Beck: CANNONBALL—

[KERSPLASH!]

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

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

Beck: (OoooooomanI'mgoingREALLYdeep—)

[Down...]

[Down...]

[And down he went...]

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

[His feet find solid steel floor.]

Beck: ....

[.......]

[LOW LEVEL LIGHT DETECTED.]

[NEON REFLECTORS: ONLINE.]

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

Beck: —! (Oh—neat...!)

Call: Warning--incoming hostiles.

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

Beck: ....?

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

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

Beck: (—OK TIME TO MOVE—)

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

Beck: —!

[Wha—]

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

Beck: ......

Beck: (I CAN SWIM WITH THIS—)

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

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

Beck: —!

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

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

[MN.9] //: Got it!

Call: Proceed east.

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

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

[KSSSSSTT!]

"Beck? Beck--"

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

Beck: --??

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[KSSSST!]

Beck: ...???

Will: --? Is something wrong, Beck?

Beck: .....

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

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

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

[Beck would soon see why--]

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

Beck: .......

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

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

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

Beck: (Gotta be precise--!)

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

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

[ACXELERATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED.]

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

Beck: (Almost there...)

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

... ...

Wait—...

Was that ice?]

Beck: ...!!

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

Beck: (No!)

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

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

Call: .....

Will: Call?

Call: There is no need, Dr. White.

Will: ...??

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

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

Will: —WHAT?!

[PING!]

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

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

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

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

Will: Sandaaa—!

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

Call: It was me.

Soi: —?! Call?!

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

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

Beck: ....

Beck: -dash swim BACKWARDS YUP GOT IT BRO-

[CCCRAK! C RACK!]

“HAAARGH!"

[BLAM!]

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

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

Beck: !

[Beck swam-dashed up and up--]

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

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

Pyro: Need a little more firepower, brother?

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

Beck: ANYTIME, big bro!

Will: ......

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

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

Will: .....

Will: -SIGH-

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

Pyro: ....

Pyro: -snort-

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

Beck: ^^

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

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

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

Pyro: ....

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

Beck: ...?

Pyro: You are.

Beck: --!

Pyro: Your objective is to locate our sister.

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

Beck: .....

Beck: Find and rescue the civilians and workers!

[THIS made Pyro grin with pride.]

Pyro: That's it.

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

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

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

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

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

Will: Careful, now, you two...

Will: You know how she loves her pranks.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Lord help us.

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

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

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

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

Pyro: Watch your step, then...

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

[Soon the fork in the path came up.]

Pyro: There it is...

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

Beck: -SALUTE- Yes, sir!

Pyro: ....

Pyro: Good luck, little brother.

Beck: ...You too, Pyro.

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

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

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

Beck: --!!

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

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

[No...]

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

Beck: CRYO?!

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

[MN.2] //: Hiiiii Daaadyyyy!

Will: ...! Cryo...?

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

Beck: Big...Sis...?

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

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

Yet...

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

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

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

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: CRYOSPHERE!

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

[MN.2] //: Oh.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.2] //: Well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: Alright.

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.2] //: --!

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

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

[MN.2] //: Oooooh!

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

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

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

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

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

[KKKSSSSST]

Beck: ........

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

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

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

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

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

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

[CLANK]

Beck: UGH--!

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

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

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

Beck: Wah--!

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

[CLANK--!]

Beck: OW--

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

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

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

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

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

[CLANK!]

Beck: NGH--

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

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

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

[REXELEXTION: PYROGEN. ]

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

Beck: Let's GO!

[CHARGING...]

Beck: Burning...

Beck: SPIRIT!

[KERBLAM!]

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

Beck: Got ya!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beck: WHOA--!!

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

Beck: (Balance--balance--!)

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

Beck: --!!

Pyro: BURN RIGHT THROUGH IT!

Beck: Pyro!

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

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

[PING!]

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.2] //: WHY NOT.

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

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: Come home.

[......]

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

[MN.2] //: N O!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[MN.1] //: --!

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

[KSSSSST.]

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

Pyro: CRYOSPHERE!

Beck: PYRO--WAIT--!

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

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

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

Will: ........

Beck: D-Dad....

Will: ....

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

Will: ....

Will: I can't be sure.

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

Will: .....

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

Beck: .....

Beck: (Cryo...)

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

[....]

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

[...Or was it...]

[More than that?]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[He came across another room.]

Beck: ....

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

Beck: Right...

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

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

"HEY, RUNT!"

[KSHHHHH!]

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

...Right into the locked door.]

Beck: Oof--!

Cryo: OK...

Cryo: Let's try THIS again!

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

Beck: Cryos--

[CLANK!]

Beck: OH COME ON--

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

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

[CLANK!]

Beck: NNGH!!

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

Beck: I KINDA AM, YEAH--

Cryo: Well, then, here--

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

Cryo: Let me put some ICE on it!

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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

Beck: Cryo--PLEASE, STOP!

Cryo: NOPE!

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

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

Beck: --Ooooh!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

Beck: I'm sorry, Cryo!

Cryo: --!!!

Cryo: YOU'RE CHEATING AGAIN!

Cryo: ......

Cryo: Why are you cheating, Beck--?

Beck: --!

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

Beck: .....

Beck: Of COURSE I do, Cryo...

[CHARGING....]

Beck: .....

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

Beck: BURNING...

Cryo: --!!

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

Beck: SPIRIT!

[BOOOM!]

[........]

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

Beck: .....

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

Beck: Got it.

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

[Which means...]

Pyro: ...There--!

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

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

Pyro: Burning....SPIRIT!

[FWOOOSH!]

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

Pyro: ....!

Beck: Pyro!

Pyro: There you are--

Pyro: ....

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

Pyro: ....

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

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

Beck: ....

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

Beck: So wait out here.

Beck: I won't be long.

Pyro: ......

Pyro: Tell her I love her.

Pyro: .....

Pyro: And I love you too.

Beck: ....

Beck: ^.^

Beck: Yes, sir.

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

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

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Good luck, Beck.

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

"Kyahahahaha!"

Beck: Cryo!

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

Cryo: Kya ha ha ha ha ha!

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

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

Beck: ...

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

Cryo: Oh, really?

[....!]

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

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

[PSSSSSH!]

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

Beck: -!!!

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

Flash freezing her foes was her SPECIALTY.]

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

Beck: CRYO...!

[SCANNING....]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

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

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

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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

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

[Make one.]

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

Beck: --!

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

[Before chasing after him.]

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

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

[KKKRT!]

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

Will: BECK--TRY AND BREAK FREE!

Beck: AARG--

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

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

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

[FOOOSH!]

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

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

Cryo: Awww, you were supposed to stay still!

Beck: NO WAY --

[PSSSSSSH!]

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

[CLANG!]

Pyro: !!! BECK?! CRYO?!

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

Beck: Uuugh...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK--]

[PSSSSSH--]

Beck: AAA--

[ERROR: XEL STOCK ACCESS INTERRUPTED.]

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

Cryo: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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

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

Beck: C...Cryo...

[WARNING: SYSTEMS CRITICAL.]

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

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

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

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

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

Cryo: See you in a hundred years, maybe!

[KSSSSSST--]

"CRYO--ENOUGH--!"

Cryo: --?

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Daddy?

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

Cryo: But--

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

Beck: --!!

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

Cryo: But Daaaaadyyyyy!

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

[XEL STOCK 2 ACCESSED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

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

Cryo: But I was just having fun!

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

Cryo: But Daddy--

[You could just HEAR her sadistic smile.]

Cryo: That's the BEST part!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

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

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

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

Cryo: ..?

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

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

"BURNING...!"

Cryo: Wha--

Beck: SPIRIT!!!

[KERBLAM!]

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

[There was another large CLANK--]

[CRACK--]

Cryo: Whoawhoawhoa--!

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

Cryo: What the--!

Cryo: YOU!!

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

Cryo: I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR--

[.....]

[.........]

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

Cryo: ....???

Beck: ...???

Cryo: WHY IS NOTHING COMING OUT?!

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

Cryo: STUPID--!!

Beck: ---!

[Beck could see why.]

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

Will: Now is your chance, Beck!

Beck: R-Right--!

Cryo: NO!

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

Cryo: NO F A I R!

Beck: Big sis--

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

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

Cryo: --?

Cryo: ....

Cryo: What is that...?

Beck: Just trust me, OK?

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

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Pretty...

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

[Two hands gently grasp her arms.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Cryo: --!!

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Becky...?

Beck: It's OK, Cryo...

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

Cryo: .....

[....She starts to yawn.]

Cryo: M'tiiiired...

Beck: That's OK...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

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

Cryo: .....

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

Beck: Yeah. Sure. I promise...

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

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

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

Cryo: ...?

[He finally lets go.]

Beck: Ready?

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

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

[.......]

"Big sis?"

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

"....Can I come in?"

"You didn't say the thing."

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

"Theeeere we go! You may.~"

"....Um..."

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

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

[KERCHUCK]

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

"....."

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

"Oooh. That's easy."

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

"...And two..."

"....."

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

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

"Really...?"

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

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

"I-I promise!"

"Cool."

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

[.......]

[FILTER COMPLETE.]

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

Cryo: . . .

Cryo: Owie...

Cryo: Why does my head hurt...

Beck: --!!!

Beck: C...Cryo...?

Cryo: --!

Beck: Cryo?

Cryo: Beck?

Cryo: ......

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

Beck: CRYO--!

Will: YES--!

Soi: HE DID IT--AGAIN--!

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

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

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

[BANG!]

Beck: --!?

[BLAM--!!]

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

Cryo: WHAT THE--

Pyro: CRYO?! BECK?!

Cryo: Big Bro?!

Beck: (Wow--)

Pyro: --!!

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

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

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

[POP!]

Pyro: --! I GOT HER--

[She lands RIGHT into Pyro's arms]

Cryo: Wheeee!

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

Pyro: . . .

Cryo: ...?

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

[....]

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

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

Cryo: ....???

Pyro: ......

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

Cryo: --? Uh--

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

Pyro: .....

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

Cryo: .....

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

Cryo: Bro--

Pyro: All I wanted was to protect you--

Cryo: Bro--

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

Cryo: PYRO.

Pyro: --....

Cryo: .....

Cryo: Come down here for a sec.

Pyro: .....

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

Beck: .......

Cyro: Lower.

Pyro: ...?

[PSSSSSSH--]

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

Pyro: Gah--

Cryo: That's for being stupid.

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

Cryo: You don't make me THAT uncomfortable.

Pyro: --!

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

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

Cryo: ...But..

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

Pyro: !!!

Pyro: You....

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

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Because being bossy is in your nature?

Cryo: ...Point.

Cryo: Aaaaand...

[....]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cryo: ....?

Pyro: ....

Pyro: So...you....

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

Cryo: --??!

Cryo: Wha--the [FRAG??]

Cryo: No, NO, Big Bro--

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

Cryo: I love you, Pyro.

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

Pyro: ......

Beck: .......

Cryo: ......

Cryo: ...Why is everyone so quiet?

[DR.WHITE] //: Cryo.

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

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

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

Cryo: .....

Cryo: That reminds me, WHERE ARE WE??

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

Beck: Call?

Call: Xel Transfer initiated.

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

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

{SANDA LABS, LATER....}

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

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

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

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

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Cryo: I'M SORRY--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: I DON'T HATE YOU--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: BECKYYYYYYYYY--

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

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

Cryo: I'M SOOORRYYYYYY--

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

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

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

Cryo: -WAILS-

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

Cryo: -SNIFF- daddyyy...

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

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

[And then another wail escapes her.]

Cryo: AVIIIIII--

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

[......]

Will: I know....

Beck: Cryo--

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

Cryo: ...-sniff-

Beck: You'll see--

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

Beck: So no more waterworks. ^.^

[......]

Cryo: ....-snort-

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

Cryo: -SNIFF-

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

Cryo: -sniff- OK, Daddy...

Pyro: I'll look after her.

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

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

Call: Yes, Dr. White.

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

[PING!]

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

[ASSIMILATED XEL DATA SCAN COMPLETE.]

[REARRANGING XEL STRUCTURE...]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

"WHOOOOOA THAT WAS AWESOME--"

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

"YEAH IT WAS WITHOUT THE LIGHT SHOW."

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

Beck: I--well...

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

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

Will: (Interesting...)

Will: ....Hmm.

Call: Dr. White.

Will: Yes, Call?

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

Will: .....

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

Call: ....

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

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

Will: ........

Will: (Could Beck...)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=CHAPTER 9B: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{July 1st, 20XX

Dawn}

[Crunch.]

“…When was the last time…”

[Crunch.]

“…I had such a bountiful hunt…”

[Crunch.]

“It gets so hard to remember nowadays…”

“Sometimes I can’t even tell what’s real and what just isn’t.”

“Between all these fragmented memories…”

“…The only thing I find is rage.”

“….”

“And yet…”

“I recall a voice…”

“Breaking through the screams…”

“…The screams…That noise…”

“…There’s something about the screams…Almost…”

“Beautiful.~”

[SNAP!]

“Xels…It’s Xels–always Xels–more and more and more–”

“And it is never ENOUGH—!”

“This–this EMPTINESS…”

“If I cannot be WHOLE again…”

“If I am to fade away…”

“Then I will take hold with these broken, sharp PIECES of myself…”

[[pic?]]

“…And drag it all down to hell with me.”

“…..”

“…Ah.”

“It’s dawn now…”

“…How ironic.”

[Crack–]

“…Ngh…I must hurry.”

“…It would be a shame to fall apart before seeing the LOOK on their faces…~”

“–When I destroy everything they hold in such high reverence!~”

{Sanda Enterprises

5:40 AM}

[Due to the circumstances, the lab was unusually busy for that hour of the morning.

While not actively working on repairs for Countershade or Beck—both of whom were present (but asleep)—Sanda was there, right by his best friend’s side. Will, for his part, was working away at one of the main terminals, almost scowling in his intense concentration.

Mikhail was busy working on his own patient, but he was not alone: two Xelbots were assisting him with the tragic work. They were an unusual trio: a Doctor of robotics from another world, a semi-emotionless Combat-built secretary, and an ex-Civilian on the run.

Call had been chosen because of the somewhat gruesome nature of the work, but Mikhail had failed to consider her own force of will. He’d found himself ordered to rest that night, while she worked away on the delicate but straightforward task of cleaning up the fallen Robot Master. While he had rested, she had worked efficiently on picking out bits of debris from Cardinal’s open chest cavity. It was tedious and delicate work… and complicated by the oil and coolant that had pooled near his back, covering the interior surfaces in slick, obscuring grime.

Jack, for his part, was standing with his back to the two of them, facing another terminal. He seemed very much at home there, working away as if he’d been doing so his whole life. Mikhail was both pleased and grateful for his assistance; he had felt concerned as to whether he was asking too much of the man, given the state Cardinal was in. Jack, however, had been quite willing to help man the terminal while Mikhail and Call did the more squeamish work.

They’d all been working for the better part of twelve hours, none of them able or willing to sleep for very long (despite Call’s insistence). For Mikhail’s group, at any rate, this meant they had been able to make a good deal of progress toward their goal.]

Mikhail: -Wipes his forehead with a handkerchief from Call- Alright… what do the readings indicate, Mr. Parker?

Jack: -Tapping the screen absentmindedly- There’s some sign of radiation, but it’s nothing big. Less than you get from X-rays.

Mikhail: And the energy readings…?

Jack: Nothin’ but flatline.

Mikhail: -Closes his eyes and sighs- …I suspected that would be the case.

Call: All records indicate that DLN-000′s power core is inactive. It is safe to remove it.

Jack: -Urng, oh man that makes us feel so sick when you word it like that—-

Mikhail: Yes…. Yes, that is true. I suppose we can count our blessings; he melted the self-destruct mechanism shut, but that rather… mmm… glued it to the core. It wouldn’t have been safe to work on if there was any power left inside. I’m going to need your strongest bolt cutters, though…

[Call handed him off the bolt cutters, and Jack tried not to think on the matter too much while Mikhail labored to free the mechanics of the inert power core from the surrounding components.]

Jack: (Kinda surprised he’s still goin’ strong, what with having been up for so long…. He seems really tired.)

Jack: (But I guess anyone would be, after seeing such a thing…)

[It took a fair amount of effort, but Mikhail managed to disengage the self-destruct mechanism. Removing the core from the containment unit shell around it was a surprisingly simple matter in comparison.]

Mikhail: {There…}

[He took a moment to look at the core itself, marveling again at how modern technology allowed Robot Masters to run on a power source that was so small.]

Mikhail: ({I’m sorry that you spent your last ounce of life in such a tragic manner, Cardinal. I can only be glad that we have the chance to reverse it.})

Mikhail: Call…

[He wrapped the core in some cloth to give it a sense of dignity.]

Mikhail: See to it that this is placed in a respectable container, separate from all the other scrap that we collected. Something that can lock, preferably.

Call: Yes, Doctor Cossack.

[Mikhail removed his work gloves, placing them aside as he went over to the sink to wash his hands.]

Mikhail: Jack, could you please find a clean sheet?

Jack: Oh, uh… sure, gimme a moment…

Soi: -Looks up- Do you need another pair of work gloves, Mikhail?

Mikhail: -Shakes his head- No, my friend. We have finished all that we can do. At least… all that we can do prior to running a complete diagnostic. And we can only do that with a powered chassis. It’ll have to wait until after Felix delivers the temporary replacement core to me.

Jack: -Looks over at the other sheet currently covering the First- (Covered in splotches of oil…. Will they ever get those stains out, I wonder…?)

[Mikhail dried off his hands thoroughly before putting on one of his usual pairs of gloves. He walked over to Jack, taking the linen off his hands. The Combat ‘bot looked away while Mikhail switched the sheets out.]

Mikhail: -Quietly- {Rest well, my friend. You’ve earned it…}

[Jack glanced back over in spite of himself.]

Jack: …

Jack: (He really looks like he’s just asleep, but…)

Jack: (Talk about taking the Big Sleep, jeez…)

Jack: So… that’s it for now, then?

Mikhail: If we’re fortunate, Felix will come within the hour. It’s hard to say when he will arrive, as he is in another world right now. But you may go, if you wish—

Jack: Nah, that’s not what I meant. Just…

Jack: The… the new core will… bring him back, right?

Mikhail: Correct.

Jack: He’s not gonna…

Mikhail: …?

Jack: He’s not gonna wake up like this, is he—?

Mikhail: (Oh.) Oh, no—good heavens, no.

Mikhail: Once the power is restored to his chassis, he’ll automatically enter Maintenance mode. That’s the mode that all but the most minor of repairs are done in. His body will run an internal diagnostic on startup, and will enter Maintenance mode as the result of the analysis. No, you don’t need to worry about that.

Jack: (Whew…)

Mikhail: Honestly… even after the repairs are done, you can expect him to remain in Deep Sleep mode for quite some time.

Jack: -Mumbles- Yeah, I’d want to sleep too, if that just happened to me…

Mikhail: It’s a little more complicated than that.

[He goes over to sit down nearby, interlocking his fingers together.]

Mikhail: It has to do with the Emotions.EXE program.

Mikhail: -Looks over at Cardinal and gives a soft sigh- Robot Masters consistently enter a comatose state after experiencing a traumatic event. The Emotions program feeds into their Awareness coding; the two are very much tied together. Any experience they have must be processed, but… traumatic events are incredibly difficult to process, as they tend to cause Stop errors. Even in Deep Sleep mode, it takes a long time for them to process such things completely. This process prevents the Awareness from being fully activated… usually because an update has been initiated. And that’s another discussion altogether…

Jack: Gee, that… kinda sucks…

Mikhail: It is simply the way of things. Attempts to stifle the Emotions program ended up having a detrimental effect on Awareness as well…. The two should not be separated, or it causes extreme mental issues. That’s how the entity known as “the Blue Menace” came to be…

[As Jack thought that over, Mikhail turned his attention to the other two Doctors, even though he couldn’t see them through the curtain.]

Mikhail: How’s it going on your end?

Soi: I don’t know, Mikhail, it seems…

Sanda: It seems like we need to somehow broadcast the XelFilter on a mass scale in order to cure the nation but…that’s WAY too dangerous…

[Will–on his third or fourth cup of coffee, no doubt–sighed in apparent defeat.]

Will: I…I know that, Soi. Perhaps…Perhaps I can work from the ground up without using his XelFilter at all?

Sanda: Well–that would take even more time…Mm…

Mikhail: Mmm…. -Turns his attention to writing up a lab report-

Will: …..

Will: (…I…It’s…really catching up to me…)

Will: (The past…)

[PING!]

[MN.8 IS NOW ONLINE.]

Will: –!!

Sanda: Uh oh…I mean–uh. -Mixed feelings here-

[Mikhail looks up from his work.

There was a curtain separating them, but still…]

Mikhail: Jack, hold this for a moment, please—

[He passes off the clipboard to the short-notice lab assistant and looks out from behind the barrier.]

Jack: –! -Oh–oh okay–

Shade: –Mngh…Ngg….

[DR.WHITE] //: -Both of you are still outside, right-

[MN.4 and 5] //: -PING-

Will: Okay then…

Will: Shade?

Shade: Wh…What…

Will: Countershade–?

Mikhail: (I’m glad Secretary Desmond is asleep right now… I get the feeling this is going to be hard enough as it is.)

Shade: …D…Dad…?

Will: (Oh thank God–)

Will: Shhh, it’s alright, don’t exert yours—

Shade: C–Cards–

Shade: Ah’–Dad, where–

[Shade suddenly clutched at his own chest, a sudden pang of what felt like a needle going through his own core–]

Shade: Ngh–!

Will: –!!

Soi: Uh oh–

[Sanda immediately ran a diagnostic scan, then quietly motioned for Mikhail and Jack to stay out of sight.]

Soi: Shade–listen, it’s me, Uncle Sanda…

Shade: –…Sanda…–

Soi: Your SH program is running faster than you can keep up with, so please don’t move so much. We don’t want you to have a complete system shutdown so–

Shade: –Can’t–

Shade: Can’t stay–

[WHUMP–]

[Unfortunately for Shade, his condition didn’t allow him to get further from the foot of his bed as he simply rolled out of it.]

Will: Shade—!

[MN.5] //: -For Pete’s sake I TOLD you we had to restrain him–

[MN.1] //: Mighty No. 8, you get BACK in bed this instant–

Shade: N–No, can’t–I’ll–

Shade: I’m just gonna hurt y'all again–!

Will: —!

Mikhail: -Pinches the bridge of his nose- ({This is going a bit worse than I thought it would, that’s a new record.})

Will: Shade–

Shade: Don’t–

Will: Countershade White!

Will: You are SAFE!

Will: The fact that you can think that is proof enough–!

Shade: –….

Will: Shade…

Will: It’s okay.

Will: The virus has been purged from your systems. Beck made sure of that.

Shade: —!

Shade: –…Beck…

Will: And…

Will: And I know you would never hurt me, Shade.

Will: … Alright?

[PING!]

[MN.7] //: -Breathe, brother.-

Shade: –! Brand–

[MN.7] //: -Breathe.-

[MN.7] //: Do nothing but breathe. Let everything go.

[MN.7] //: {Breathe.}

Shade: … ….

[Shade tenses for a few seconds… as if lost in his own thoughts, still clutching at his own chest–]

[PING!]

[SH RATE: 150% OF NORMAL BASELINE.]

Soi: –!

Soi: (That’s not good—)

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: -Do you need water, bro, we can get you some–

Shade: -Hurts–

_______________________________________

Shade: Songbird...Eh...

Shade: Well, that explains the bird part.

[CLICK.]

Shade: Adios, Songbird.

______________________________________

[A flinch–]

[SH RATE: 180% OF NORMAL BASELINE.]

Shade: M'sorry—!

Shade: I tried to fight it, Ah’ swear—!

Shade: Cards—!!

[PING!]

[RMDC SERVER] //: >STATUS INQUIRY (SUBJECT: DLN-000) HAS BEEN DENIED.

>RobotMaster Database® COSSACK SERVER IS CURRENTLY LOCKED.

>AUTHORIZIED BY: ADMIN MC005

Shade: NO—!

Jack: (Eight... I really do feel for you right now...)

Jack: (You an' Miss Eight really are the one an' the same...She screamed about me and what happened earlier too, Hnn...)

Jack: (I just hope...pray it's gonna be alright. You and Cards are...ya mean a lot to us, what you guys got...)

Soi: Will—

Will: (Gah, if I don’t do something—)

[PING!]

[MN.9] IS NOW ONLINE.]

Will: —! Beck–

[—There’s no words from the small Mighty Number, not at first.

Instead—

Instead there was a file.]

[For some reason, it opened up for Shade anyway, without any prompt on his part.

…It was only audio, but…

…It was from a very memorable night.]

“But I’ll never give up on you, Shade.”

“Not for any reason.”

Shade: –!!

“Not for any reason.”

“I’ll never give up on you.”

Shade: … .

Shade: (Cards….)

[MN.9] //: -Soft ping-

[Another file. Something from Beck’s OWN memories…]

“I have to save you.”

“So the two of you can /live/— together.”

Shade: …..?

[MN.9] //: M…Mikhail found…

[MN.9] //: A new power source…

Shade: –!!!

[MN.9] //: He…he’s gonna…

[MN.9] //: Be okay…Shade…

[MN.9] //: I saved… everyone… like I promised…

[MN.9] //: S…so…

[MN.9] //: Don’t run away…

Shade: –…

[MN.9] //: …And make me a liar…

[MN.9] //: Okay? ^^

[MN.9] IS NOW IN SLEEP MODE.]

Shade: …

[PING!]

[SH RATE STABILIZING.]

Shade: Beck…Cards…

Shade: What in the world did Ah’ do to ya, brother…?

Soi: -Siiiigh…-

Soi: (At least his SH Program’s calmed down…)

Mikhail: -Also a sigh of relief-

Will: (Oh, Shade…)

Shade: Dad…

Shade: …

Shade: Why’s no one else answerin’…?

Will: The others…They are also Offline, for their own safety.

Will: …..

Will: Everything will be alright, Shade…

Will: (I pray it will be…)

Will: But please–I know your heart aches and you want to isolate yourself–

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, SNIPE BRO.

Shade: –!

[MN.2] //: -Like heck I’m gonna let ya go on your own after all that, FITE ME–

Mikhail: -From behind the curtain- Ahem. Shade?

Shade: –…. Mikhail…?

Mikhail: It’s also about… 5:46 in the morning.

Mikhail: Everyone else is asleep. That’s why they aren’t answering.

Shade: –…….

[MN.3] //: You picked a heck of a time to wake up and diszzturb our BEAUTY ZZSLEEP. -Annoyed buzzing-

Shade: Dyna…

Soi: -____-;; (Jeez, you’re just as tactless as Will, aren’t you, Mikhail…)

[MN.1] //: Alright, that is enough.

[MN.1] //: ….

[MN.1] //: -Very gently- Shade.

[MN.1] //: You’ve been gone for nearly a week and a half.

[MN.1] //: Have you eaten anything?

Shade: … .

Shade: …..

Shade: -Very, VERY hungry data-

Shade: Food…

[MN.1] //: As I thought.

[Ping—]

<FMN-008>: > -Mrrmnngghhmmmfffpph… did we hear someone mention  f o o d—-

Shade: !

Shade: Kate…

<FMN-008 is now Online.>

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: (She was sleeptalking? That’s a new one.)

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

<FMN-008>: > …Jack?

<MC005>: > He’s assisting me with something. Go back to sleep, Countershade.

<FMN-008>: > …? -Hazy data, but our Other—-

<MC005>: > He’ll be fine. Go back to sleep.

<FMN-008>: >Mmmm…

<FMN-008 is now in Sleep mode.>

Mikhail: -Another relief sigh- (I wouldn’t want to have to explain THAT to the Secretary.)

Shade: Kate…?

[MN.1] //: She’s resting, Shade.

[MN.1] //: Seven, do you think you can get Eight to the kitchen without–

[Knock Knock.]

[MN.1] //: -….You’re already outside the bay, at least let me finish my sentence– -

Mikhail: -Starts shaking in silent laughter-

Will: Eheh… (Oh, Brand…)

[Sanda lets Seven in quietly, who chose to not wear his helmet, or his mask. His scarf is wound tightly around to compensate, though.]

Brand: –….

Shade: …..

Shade: Ah’…Guess we’re on even ground nao, aren’t we…

Brand: …..

Brand: I…suppose we are.

Mikhail: …?

Mikhail: -Puts his head in his hand- Mmmnn… (Tired. And hungry. But can’t eat in the lab. Jack should get something to eat, but I do not want to run the risk of him running into Desmond…)

Mikhail: (As a general rule, military men can be early risers if they stay in habit, and it’s nearly 6:00. …Local. It’s… oh, bother, he’s DEFINITELY up by now, it’s already practically 9:00 AM where he normally lives…)

Brand: …..

Brand: You’re still quite insufferable, though.

[Shade quietly chuckles at that.]

Shade: An’ yer still an’ honored bastard, heh…

Mikhail: … -Smiles to hear the exchange- (At least he’s doing better. That’s what counts, right now.)

Mikhail: Number Seven?

Brand: –Yes, Doctor?

Mikhail: If Felix shows up, please have him let inside the building.

Brand: …Felix is… ah. Of course.

Shade: –Felix is comin’…?

Shade: ….

Shade: -Too tired and hungry to think too hard-

Mikhail: You’ll see later, Shade. Go eat something.

Shade: …Yeah…

Brand: Here. Just lean on me and stay invisible.

Shade: Alright…

[It looked strange, like Brand was supporting nothing but air, but one could almost hear a pair of footfalls walking out the door and down the hallway to the elevator.]

Will: …..

Will: -Sigh-

Will: (…It’s going to take a long time to heal… from this…)

[Mikhail sighed, pulled the sheet over his patient, and pulled back the curtain.

Since there wasn’t really the time to do a proper replacement, he would have to rely on the energy source doing so. The systems would rebuild themselves once the new core was in place.

However…]

Mikhail: -Wiping his face- ({That was far too close a call. He has got to update.})

[…He wasn’t exactly planning on using the Sun Stone core just yet.]

Mikhail: ({I need to talk to him about updating and getting new hardware to go with it. He can’t keep it up like this with the form he’s been using, not at the rate he’s been getting into ghastly disasters.})

Mikhail: Please do make sure he doesn’t run off.

[Now that the cleaning phase was over, he would have to wait until Felix arrived before he could continue the repairs on Cardinal. But his work was far from over.]

Mikhail: ({I isolated Tobias and his memories last night, but I still need to make certain Cardinal uploads to a quarantined part of the server so that the others don’t get cross-references from his memory files. Then I have to lock the files and set up proxy files to substitute for the memories so they at least know what happened. Otherwise, they’ll try to unlock the files to fill in those blanks.})

Mikhail: -Low grumble- {And then the questions… Mary help me, it’s going to be one in the afternoon before I get any rest…}

[He almost wasn’t sure whether he had the energy to feel grateful or not that he was too tired to be scared at the moment.]

Mikhail: Sanda? What’s his status?

Soi: Well…He’s stable, for now. SH rate’s normal, though a bit jumpy, but that’s okay, given the situation…

Mikhail: …?

Mikhail: “S.H.”? Does that have something to do with the E.R. -like monitor sounds from just a moment ago?

Will: Ah. In a way…I suppose you can call it a more complex version of a Robot Master’s Emotion.EXE program.

Will: The Synthetic Heart Program–it’s the very coding that allows a Xelbot to feel. To evolve, and grow as they experience new sensations and emotion as they come.

Will: Like us.

Will: …I designed this particular version myself, to all the Mighty Number Line.

Will: …Usually…

Will: …Usually, The SH Program is capable enough to keep up with the rest of the Xelbot’s thoughts and functions, but…

Will: Shade…..

Will: ….

Will: He…He lost a core once.

Will: I had to rehaul his entire power output to compensate for 6 cores instead of the usual 7…

Mikhail: …

Will: –….

Will: -Hand in his face- But in doing so, the SH Program responded accordingly.

Will: With the increased power, it… sometimes, not often, but sometimes…

Will: It processes at a speed too high for Shade himself to keep up…

Mikhail: … (Just like an Emotions.EXE overload…)

Mikhail: …Heh. -Chuckles softly for a moment, shaking his head- Soul-brothers indeed…

Will: -Sigh- Ah… I suppose…

Will: In a way, yes, it is the equivalent of having an increased chance of cardiac arrest…

Will: It isn’t life threatening, given that he’s usually a loner…and rather hard-headed…Stubborn… -Cracks a smile-

Will: …This isn’t the first time he’s come close to one, but it’s certainly been the longest in between…

Will: The last time he had his SR Rate above 180% is when Beck almost drowned that one time during training…

Mikhail: …

[Mikhail sighs and sits down rather hard.]

Mikhail: I’d be more curious if I weren’t so exhausted. I’m so sorry, Will, I don’t mean to be rude.

Will: (He must REALLY be tired…. Nnngh…)

Will: ….You… you should…

Will: ….Oh, bother, you’re not going to stop even if I tell you…

Will: -Leans back in his own chair-

Will: Call, please go get us some food, I don’t care if it’s in the lab, I’ll eat in the closet if I have to.

Soi: -Snorts-

Mikhail: Jack, you should eat something as well.

Jack: …Yeah. Okay.

[Mikhail turns his attention back to Will. He has an almost defeated expression on his face, but that’s mostly from how tired he is.]

Mikhail: No, I’m not going to stop.

Mikhail: What I’m going to do next is crucial if we are to keep the Robot Masters from going berserk.

Will: …..

Mikhail: I sent everyone Offline just as the news came in on where Cardinal had been spotted. Everyone went into Lethal—except for David, who doesn’t have that setting—remember?

Mikhail: That was out of panic. Going someplace like that is a sure death sentence, and worse, where we come from.

Mikhail: Tobias I woke up on purpose, which again, is something I’ll have to answer for.

Mikhail: He has his own memories. He was angry, but that was tempered when he got feedback from Cardinal by way of his own Thunder Beam. He went Offline to rest before the worst of it, but it’s still enough to cause great anxiety and raise the threat level tag in the database entry for Shade by at least half a star.

Mikhail: I was able to isolate those easily while waiting for Cardinal’s return; everyone else was Offline, and the database was locked. As soon as his Awareness was re-seated back in his hardware, it became a non-issue… though it’s important he remains Offline.

Mikhail: -Rubs his face- He really does start to show his father’s worst traits when he is angry.

Mikhail: It’s Cardinal’s memories that are the danger now.

Mikhail: He encrypts all his memories, but it’s still something that would contribute to generating cross-references and modifying threat levels in informational files.

Mikhail: Those are things that would affect his brothers, and furthermore…

Mikhail: Whenever a Robot Master is forcefully sent Offline in a fight, the experience… that’s something very deep and complex, more than you realize, William. It starts to go beyond just the Emotions.EXE program and into the Awareness aspect itself.

Mikhail: The Awareness affected becomes… detached from the hardware, usually, and there is that sense of Self, that Self is not “alive”, and that…

Mikhail: …with Cardinal, it’s a bit more than that, for reasons I already went through.

Mikhail: I have to wake them up soon. He’ll probably still be either Offline or in Maintenance mode. That’s… going to cause incredible panic, unless I quarantine the files in a very specific manner.

Mikhail: The Hunter as a cultural concept, for someone to fall to the Hunter, and at such a high cost, too…

Mikhail: That sets off a frenzied panic mode, and for some, that could cause rage. And rage tends to cascade for robots running Wily’s OS.

Will: ….

Will: I… see…

Will: -Sigh- I suppose that’s of higher importance…. But at least eat something for a bit…

Will: (And Mikhail still has to be questioned–Not to mention Soi…)

Mikhail: I’ll try.

[There’s a quiet pause. When he speaks up again, he does so softly.]

Mikhail: …I’ll admit I don’t feel very good about eating right now.

Soi: …Cardinal would want you to take care of yourself.

Mikhail: -Closes his eyes and sighs softly- True.

Mikhail: It’s just… hard. (I hope you never have to understand how, though I think you may make a logic-based guess as to why.)

Mikhail: …Put some protein powder in chicken broth or something, that’ll be good enough for me. =___=

Will: Call, relay that to Pyrogen, please.

Call: Yes, Doctor.

Mikhail: -Rubs his hands with his face- (Ugh.) This would be so much easier if I could have Siam, but he’s… mmmngh, cross-references, experiences everything in a dual nature, complications.

Mikhail: Did you know—when he’s feeling particularly complex emotions, they tend to break down and manifest divided between his Awarenesses?

Mikhail: Yet another reason to do this properly—with one half panicked and the other enraged, I wouldn’t be getting any help— -buries face in arms at nearby workstation- {Saints preserve us—} Will, being the ONLY reliable Doctor for your world truly does get exhausting.

Will: ……

Mikhail: I wish we’d had the time to finish our tech lessons before this happened.

Mikhail: I could have helped with decoding…

Will: (Ngh…)

Will: ….No, it’s fine…

Will: I never… quite…

Will: ….

Will: -Looks away in shame-

Will: I never quite managed to crack it… all the way…

Will: I…I did manage to understand enough how to combat it, but it would have required Beck’s XelFilter program to be broadcasted much like the Virus was…

Will: And that’s something I cannot just… release into the open airwaves.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Muffled- I would have Tobias help, except undoubtedly that would be just as bad of an idea. He might have some ideas, but I believe it would be safest for everyone—Shade in particular—if he and Shadow remained not just asleep, but Offline for at least as long as Cardinal doesn’t wake….

Will: ….

Will: If that is what’s best for them… (This is all… my fault…)

Soi: ….

Soi: (Will…)

Will: ….

Will: I’m going to try to work on something from the ground up. I’ll use the XelFilter’s properties as a sort of blueprint, and go from there.

Will: (It will take a while longer, but…I can’t use his XelFilter Program, not with the government…)

Mikhail: Siam may be able to give a few ideas. After all, he is as close as it gets to a Doctor, and as a Robot Master, he did interact directly with her.

Will: –!

Will: (–H…Her…)

Will: (Dear God, he’s already even figured out gender…)

Will: …The Virus has a gender now? ?_?

Mikhail: According to Siam and Tobias, yes.

Mikhail: Something about how it targets aggression and the English phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” from what I understand.

Will: (Oh, God, no, is… is…)

Will: (Is… is she coming for me–?)

Will: (Am… am I what she wants?)

[There is a quiet knock on the door, snapping Will away from his darker thoughts.]

Will: –!

[Brand pushed in a cart of food for all present–even Call, who normally doesn’t eat around other people besides Beck.]

Jack: -Hungryyyyy–

[Jack IMMEDIATELY grabs as much meat as his plate can handle, even biting and holding down on a large wing of chicken in his mouth just to have more.]

Jack: -Awwww yessss- < 3

Soi: Heh! Save some for us, Jack–

Mikhail: Good luck, Soi, you’ll have to fight him for that. While he was undergoing repairs, he could eat up to several pounds of meat a day.

Mikhail: -Smiles, adjusting glasses- It’s good to see you have a healthy appetite, though. Shows resilience and reflects overall well-being.

Jack: -It’s mine-

Jack: -Miiiiiine-

Jack: -NOM-

Jack: ^^

Mikhail: Thank you for coming over on such short notice. I know that it was fearful work, but you helped speed up the process tremendously.

Jack: Eheh…n-no problem, Doc Cossack. Anythin’ t’ get Bird Guy up and taggin’ corporate sleezeball’s HQ’s again. | D ;;

[Mikhail laughs at this.]

Mikhail: Once he’s well enough to do so, I’d almost be tempted to buy the paint for him.

[He shakes his head, looking over at his covered patient as he accepts a thermos of chicken broth from Brand.]

Mikhail: Oh, he’ll be ready and willing, alright.

Mikhail: Like with Shade, Robot Masters are prone to overclocking under extreme duress. With Cardinal, that’s always been a weak point. But now with the new power source… that’ll change, if he agrees to hardware modifications as well.

Mikhail: To minimize the impact of the memories… as they are slowly released from quarantine, there will be other cross-references actively running. I happen to know as a fact that there are at least 40 entries with Shade laughing as of the day you left to go overseas.

Mikhail: Once he knows his mission was completed… he’ll be alright.

Will: Thank goodness…

Will: (At least there is some light at the end of all this, for them…)

Mikhail: Mmm. He knew something like this might happen when he set out. He said so himself. He came to terms with that and accepted it—that’s why he left such strong messages pointing it out.

Mikhail: He knew how hard that would end up being on everyone else if it came to pass…

Mikhail: It’s his way of saying not to be too sad, that he holds no ill will and will be back soon.

Mikhail: Hopefully Felix will come by with the core soon; I want his armor closed up before Desmond makes a very firm and unavoidable demand to see him.

Mikhail: -Rolls his chair over to his yellow legal notepad- I think I might be able to input a program that will automate the quarantine process… that’ll help, as I won’t have to oversee it personally. Give me a few hours.

Mikhail: After that… -Sip- I’ll see what I can do within what there is to say.

[As he began his work, though, he couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of dread.

He was to be questioned soon, and he knew—he just knew—that things did not look good for him. Now that his work was drawing to a close, he couldn’t help but feel as if…]

Mikhail: ({…as if this may be the last thing I ever get to do…})

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

Allies Obstruct

=INTRO B: COLLAPSING PEACE=

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

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

Keep reading

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FIGHT! Enigma Vs Masa!

MASAMUNE VS ENIGMA

Intro Quote(Versus): …So it begins. Stay in the present, or pay the price, Time Lord.

Intro Quote(Team Up): Hmph. It is one thing for the likes of them to defy the whims of fate and tides of time, but this approaches borderline stupidity.

Taunt: Stop daydreaming about the realities where you’re winning this fight and start making an effort in THIS one.

Special Attack: {At high enough speeds, time is relative!}

Assist: Lay out the dotted line.

Ultimate Attack: {Your thread is about to get shorter!} ((Referring to the classic Greek literature regarding the thread of life, subjected to the shears Atropos used to seal the ultimate fate of mortals.))

Ultimate Team Attack: {Seal off their escape!}

Win Quote(Versus): {An honorable fight. I am certain your father will be proud.}

Win Quote(Team Up): {You fought well. We’d best leave this place before the others start pestering…}

Lose Quote(Versus): Ha…. {It would seem… I cannot fight fate…}

Lose Quote(Team Up): -Suspicious squint- … ((…Heh, he’d be cynically wondering whether it was “supposed” to happen this way, and what the implications of that would be))

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Self): Gh…! Go—! {You must carry this to the conclusion!}

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Partner): {How is this possible?!}

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              white-bird-in-a-cage is five years old!

Five years ago, on August 7th, 2012, I made this blog under the url not-a-nobody. My preference was not available for another year, and I have been under that changed url ever since. Since then I have grown and changed, both as a person and a writer.

Naminé as a character is truly very important to me. No other character is more beloved. I first saw her in 2006 and I was immediately drawn to her. It is because of this girl with an angelic appearance that I got interested in Kingdom Hearts… without her I wouldn’t be here, or have met any of you. Seeing as how I’ve met my best friends on this blog, that’s really saying something. To me, Naminé represents hidden strength and the truth. She could’ve easily lied or not said anything to Roxas; she could’ve easily used him and Sora for her own gain; instead she not only spoke the truth, she fixed her mistakes. Naminé also defied DiZ and Riku to do what she felt was right, and even more awe-inspiring, she stood up to Larxene and Marluxia upon realizing her mistakes. It is never easy to stand up to your abusers and captors. For someone so small, Naminé has left an indelible mark on my life.

I’ve been in these groups: Kingdom Hearts Ultimate RP (KHURP for short), Pyreflights, Aeon Soul, Somnium Finite, and Crowned Kingdom. Each taught me something and introduced me to new friends. I’m happy to say that I’m still friends with people from each group!

Five years is a big milestone for me. At this moment I have 630+ followers, and I’m happy to have all of you on board! I never dreamed I would last this long; I have no idea what I was thinking back in that August before my freshman year of college, but it certainly wasn’t this.

I’ve been through a lot on this blog: group changes, friends and partners leaving and changing, being bullied (though thankfully that has long since passed), learning time management, and so much more.

I wouldn’t be here with you all. Obviously I could not possibly name everyone, past and present, but I thought I should show at least some of you my thanks. This is not a follow forever or a bias list; instead this is a thank-you post. Some people might get repeated because I couldn’t just leave them under one category. Oh, and alphabetical order because I like to have everything orderly.

I know why the caged bird sings - to those who have helped me grow, and who have supported me

@ainokizuato/@redheartedmage/@talesofmino/@talesofharima, @blitzballstar, @musicandlights, @noxtalgie, @parttimedeliveryboy, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @thecentralheart/@vens-gonewiththewind, @the-lonely-soul, @the-sixth-apprentice/@unversed-nightmare, @unquenchedresolve, @xambiefoxx 

Memory… the cruelest and most beautiful of gifts - to those who have moved on; I miss you and I have not forgotten you, and I wish you the best 

@duelwielding, @parttimedeliveryboy, @screndipitouskxy, @thecentralheart/@vens-gonewiththewind, @the-sixth-apprentice/@unversed-nightmare

You’ve got the light to fight the shadows - to those who make every day here a joy

@ahmyhotdog, @ivory-paragon, @lazuliss, @professorxehanort, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @redheartedmage/@talesofmino/@talesofharima/@ainokizuato, @thetaintedemotion, @unquenchedresolve, @valorhearted

Your House will be like your family - to my beloved Crowned Kingdom 

@ahmyhotdog, @chaoshearted, @cindythegreasemonkeygal, @dogstreetstyle, @heartseekingfreedom, @iokanchieftess, @lovelysweetxhart, @malevolentwind, @milleuda-folles, @professorxehanort, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @redheartedmage, @somnusheir, @steelwolfgrey, @theicequeenslion, @thespellweaver, @thetaintedemotion, @unquenchedresolve, @valorhearted, @vespersung, @whitedressedoracle, @wingedcomposer, @xxpinkseeressxx

If only I had five lifetimes! - to my fellow Naminé blogs; I don’t follow or write with you, but we have all chosen a beautiful character, and I am glad you are here 

@fadxngmemcry, @frailwaves, @oblivion-witch, @namine-constellations, @noxtalgie, @reflechir, @scatteredcrayons, @sketchedinnocence, @paintedpaeonia, @p-aperr-oses, @vvatercolors, and those I cannot name because I don’t know who you are

Reader, I married him - to all 630+ of you, my Readers

---

=CHAPTER 6D: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

{ELSEWHERE…}

[Cardinal had been forced to stop and take a rest. He just couldn’t keep going, no matter how much he wanted.

He had forced himself to turn aside and take shelter for the night, to process all his memories.

He could feel the burden again—the weight of the buildup, of life without backing up to the RMD. But he had gone many years without doing so, before—he could handle a few more days, now.

He hoped that’s the extent of how long this would take. He didn’t have the time.

He was very glad to hear that Brand was better, at least—though that would mean that Shadow would also be back Online by now.

With things starting to come to a close, it would be much harder to keep his brothers out of this… especially since they had legitimate reason to get involved, to look for him.]

Cardinal: (I’m sorry, guys. I just had to do this.)

[He vented a sigh, tearing open a sandwich, feeding part to his cat.

Even after he’d gotten up and running this morning… he’d spent nearly all day helping emergency crews on the highway.

He couldn’t help it.

He knew it was slowing him down, but…]

((pic))

[…He also knew that that’s what Countershade would want him to do.]

Cardinal: -Sighs-

[…If he was right, though, he couldn’t afford ANY more distractions.

He needed to get where he was going— before it was too late.]

Cardinal: …

[Once again, he struggled with the thought of informing the others.]

Cardinal: (On one hand…. If I am right, they should probably know as soon as possible. Gotta learn from the mistakes of the others I knew back in the old town… not to let pride get in the way. I can think of several ways that I could contact them without them being able to lock onto my signal and teleport me off, anyway… so there’s really no concern on that front.)

[He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn’t really notice that a background noise was getting louder…]

Cardinal: (But on the other—it IS just short of a wild guess, and this is not the time to cause a panic, especially not on this scale. To raise a false alarm about this would cause massive social damage—not just for the Whites, but for everybody. I can’t risk being wrong—I need to be sure before I call for a Red Alert. I mean… once they hear that Shade might be headed to the—)

“RARF RARF RARF RARF—”

[Cardinal was suddenly tackled square-on by 40 pounds of a hyper, barking bristle of fur.]

Cardinal: Oof—!

Scout: Rarf Rarf Rarf--!

Scout: -I FOUND YOU I FOUND YOU HELLO TALL MASTER'S FRIEND I MISSED YOUUUUU--

Scout: -LICKS FOR FRIEND-

Cardinal: Wha…?

Cardinal: -Ackpth, the licks, the LICKS, okay okay there—-

Cardinal: -Why am I suddenly tackled and licked by a strange dog, you’re on my face, boy are you matted from the feel though-

Scout: -RARF RARF RARF-

Scout: -Sniff-

Scout: -Fewwwwwd-

[Scout's Pick Up!]

Scout: -NOOOM-

Jazz: Ree-ow? D:’,

[With Scout now off him, Cardinal could FINALLY see what was going on. And boy, was he surprised.]

Cardinal: … Scout?!

Scout: -Fewwwwwd-

Scout: -Happy pants, yes that is me-

Scout: Rarf Rarf!

[Cardinal was stunned for a moment, just completely at a loss for thought at the fact that he had been tracked down by an animal— while in the midst of TRAVELING CROSS-COUNTRY no less!

After the initial shock wore off, he crouched down to get a good look at the raccoon dog boy.]

Cardinal: …You don’t really seem that injured. I’m impressed.

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -Stuck to small spaces and such while looking for Master-

Cardinal: …How did you find me? -Getting a bit tense- …Pyro’s not with you, is he?

Scout: -Tilts head-

Scout: Rar?

[Cardinal put a hand to his face.]

Cardinal: Okay, let’s make things simpler. I’m going to ask some yes or no questions… (This feels so stupid, but I know for a fact that these creatures are far more intelligent than animals of our world…) …Bark once for “yes” and twice for “no.” Do you understand?

Scout: Rarf! -Tail waaaag-

[Cardinal sat down.]

Cardinal: Did anyone else travel with you?

Scout: Rarf Rarf!

Cardinal: Did someone else send you to find me?

Scout: Rarf Rarf!

Cardinal: Have you told anyone where I am?

Scout: Rarf Rarf!

Cardinal: Okay, good…

Cardinal: So then… this isn’t about me…

Cardinal: So it must be about Shade, right?

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -We tried smelling for Master but we couldn't find him...-

Scout: -Whiiiines-

Scout: -BUT THEN WE SMELLED YOU and you spend lots of time with Master...-

Scout: Rarf!

Cardinal: Did someone else send you to find Countershade?

Scout: Rarf Rarf!

Cardinal: …Did you…

[He paused, his voice reflecting the slight surprise he felt.]

Cardinal: …Did you run off, alone, on your own, traveling the country to find your Trainer yourself?

Scout: -SITS UP STRAIGHT IN PRIDE-

Scout: Rarf!

[Cardinal sighed and flopped to the ground. He covered his eyes with the back of his arm.]

Scout: ....?

Scout: Rar...? -Paws at side-

Cardinal: …Give me a moment to think, Scout. This is very important, and I need to organize my thoughts. …

[He holds his other arm straight out, sandwich in hand.]

Cardinal: You can have the rest of the sandwich.

Scout: -FEWWWD-

Scout: -Nom nom mmmmmm--

Scout: <3

[While Scout snarfed sandwich scraps, Cardinal concentrated.]

Cardinal: (Man… this is not at all what I had planned for. I don’t want him to be in harm’s way—especially considering what we’re going up against—but there’s no way to send him back. I’m not his Trainer, and I don’t even have any Badges. Even if I submitted myself to confinement by alerting the Mighty Numbers to our location and holding onto him for transport…)

[He looked over.]

Cardinal: (…He’s clearly already broken out of the lab once, and he’ll do it again. If he came with me, though…) … (…If he’s willing to cooperate with me, that might be the safest option.)

Cardinal: …Scout?

Scout: ?

Scout: -Raises head up-

[He hesitated.]

Cardinal: …I’m looking for Shade, too.

Scout: !

Scout: -Oooooh, so that's why you weren't around anymore...-

Cardinal: …I don’t know where he is—

Scout: ??????

Scout: -Whiiiiiiine, but--we thought for sure you did know...

Scout: -Saaad face, ears drooping, nooo--

[Cardinal made a hushing noise and gently closed Scout’s muzzle shut.]

Cardinal: Shh—! I said I don’t know where he is—but I have a guess.

Scout: !!!

Scout: -Muffled happy barking!-

Cardinal: This is all very serious, very dangerous, and very important. So just listen for a few moments, so that you don’t talk over something I’m trying to tell you. Please.

Scout: -Blinks-

Scout: -Muffled single borf, yes we will listen-

Cardinal: I’m on my way there now. I’m only stopping to rest a little because I’m tired… -Clearly reluctant- …and for what may be ahead if I’m right… I’ll need to be at my full strength if I hope to survive it.

[He paused to let that sink in.]

Cardinal: I don’t want you to get hurt. For one thing… it would make Shade very sad. And for another… I like you too, Scout—and if I had to take you to Mt. Pyre, I’d never forgive myself.

[Oh dear. The thought really did distress him.]

Scout: ......

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -We did had to battle a few mean metal things...-

[He patiently patted the patterned Pokémon.]

Cardinal: I know that you’ll probably still go after him, anyway. No matter what. …Just like me, really.

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -Yes, he's our frieeeeend-

Cardinal: So. Might as well work together, right? IF you would adhere to a few rules—so that we’re on the same page, and don’t get confused—I’ll take you with me.

Scout: !!!

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -Sits, but tail is wagging at a blur, because TALL MASTER'S FRIEND IS GOING TO HELP UUUS-

[Cardinal waited for the fur ball to settle down before he continued.]

Cardinal: Rule number one. -Starts counting on left hand- You have got to stay with me while we’re on the road, at least until we get to the area where he is, if not the exact room. If you go running off on your own, I won’t have time to find you again. Got that?

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -Yes we'll follow you so we won't get lost!-

Cardinal: Rule two. -Holds up a second finger- If humans or Xelbots or anything else starts shooting at us, you must take cover, and you must STAY there, barring a few things: if you need to move because your cover is compromised, do that. Otherwise, stay put until you’re given the all clear, or someone you trust comes to get you.

Cardinal: There’s a time for fighting, and a time to stand your ground—and I know that you guys can put up with a lot—but while I’m sure your offense output is great, so is theirs. As far as I know, you fight close-range, not long-range—so you should avoid, since you don’t have a great way to counteract, instead. Does that make sense?

Scout: ...Rarf!

Scout: -Run away and hide from the stronger mean ones because we're not a special attacker, got it...-

Scout: ....

Scout: -Small whine of concern, but what about you?-

Cardinal: I’d be able to concentrate better in that situation if I knew you were safe.

[He smiles a little, and it grows into a grin.]

Cardinal: The rank and file grunts don’t stand a chance against yours truly. Heh heh.

Jazz: -Mechanical prrr-hrrr- |3

Scout: Rarf! -Happy tail wags, Okaaaay~-

Cardinal: Heh. -Pats Scout’s head- Good. Good boy. -Scritch scritch-

Scout: <3

Cardinal: Moving on, then…

Cardinal: So, rule three. -Holds up another finger- NO STEALING.

Scout: Rarrrrr!

Scout: -Runs around in a circle until--

[Scout's Pick Up!]

[...And now he was holding some old cardboard from who knows what...]

Scout: Rarf Rarf! -It's not our fault, that's our ability--

Cardinal: I mean it, Scout. If you get distracted pilfering items, then you’re liable to get left behind, or make things worse by alerting others to where we are, or something. Don’t. Take. Anything.

[He paused for a moment, his voice getting softer as he lowered his hand, eventually letting it rest on Scout’s head.]

Cardinal: …I’m not asking you to do this the whole time, even. Just until things are safe. …I’ll even…

[He hesitated.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …I’ll even… give you something to carry, until then.

[…

There is deep sorrow in that tone.]

Scout: . . . ?

Scout: -Wha--why are you sad all of a sudden??-

Scout: -Whiiiine, no don't be saaad--here have some kisses on your hand--

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (…I had been wondering how I’d get word and instruction to the others should things… go south. There’s no telling for sure if they saw my last notes.)

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (…But…. I could… could give that note to Scout.)

Cardinal: … … …

Cardinal: (Just… just in case….)

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -Bumps head into short friend's stomach-

Scout: -Short friend are you okay heeeeey--

[The melancholy prototype was snapped out of his thoughts. It took him a moment to remember, but then he closed his eyes and nodded.]

Cardinal: …I’ll give you something to carry. Okay? …Will you hold onto it for me, while we’re traveling?

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -If that will make you not sad, then yes, we'll do it-

Cardinal: Heh… -More headpats for Scout- Thanks, buddy.

Cardinal: …Finally, rule four…

[He hesitated.]

Cardinal: …If there’s a really, really big explosion while we’re separated…

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …If that happens, then…

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: _(…No. I can’t… can’t bring myself to say it.)_

Cardinal: … …

[He was tense for a moment, but then he thought of something and relaxed.]

Cardinal: If that happens, then the area is probably unstable and unsafe, so you should go find shelter elsewhere. Understand?

Scout: Rarf! -Okay, we'll run away from that too-

[…He was too used to these kinds of lies.

Though now was hardly the time to dwell on it.]

Cardinal: Good. -Flops down with a sigh- I’m tired. …I’m going to go to bed and rest for the night. Jazz has the watch. We’ll continue in the morning.

Cardinal: (We’ve still got a long road ahead of us…)

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=PROLOGUE A: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[….]

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

[REBOOTING…]

[MN.9 IS NOW ONLINE]

Beck: ….Uuugh…

Beck: What…what happened…

[……]

[At first…nothing.]

[Then….]

“PYRO! BRAND! SHADE! GUYS! S T O P!!”

Beck: ……!!!!!

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

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

[MN.9] //: …??!?!

Beck: What…?!

Beck: Why would… They…

BOOOM!

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

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

Beck: !!!

Beck: N-No!

[Screams. Fire.]

Beck: What—

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

Beck: What is happening?!

Beck: …!!!

Beck: DAD!

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

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

Beck: PROFESSOR! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?!

Beck: DAAAAD!!

[… …

… … …

… … … …

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

Beck: Dad!

Will: Beck!

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

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

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

Beck: I am so glad you’re OK—

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

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

Beck: I… I dunno. I dunno, Dad…

[Tears filled his emerald green eyes.]

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

Will: What?!

Will: Why on—…

Will: …

Will: ohhhhh God—nononoNO—

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

Will: Gah, it’s DEAD—!

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

Beck: —!!!

Beck: INCOMING!

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

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

Will: ooF–

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

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

Will: Ngh…

Beck: Dad—Dad, are you OK?!

Will: Y-Yes, mostly…

Beck: Dad—Dad, it’s not safe—

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

[Beck looked forward.]

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

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

Beck: -Ping- Look!

Will: …

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

Sanda Enterprises.]

Will: … …

[He was silent.]

Beck: Dad…?

[Dr. William White's expression hardened.

His sons, his daughters…

What was happening to all the robots…

…He couldn’t do anything from here.]

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

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

Beck: …!

[But between them and home?]

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

[Was little less than a war zone.]

Will: Beck…

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

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

Beck: —!? Wha—

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

Will: Do you think you can do that?

Beck: … …

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

But his father…

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

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: Yes sir!

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

Will: Alright…

[…There was hope.

They could not lose that—not now!]

Will: Let’s move!

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

[SYSTEMS READY.]

[INITIATING COMBAT PROGRAMS….]

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

Beck: —!!

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

Beck: Gah!

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

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

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

[MN.9] //: Y-yeah—! Stay back, I'll—!

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

Beck: Are you okay?!

Will: I'm fine.

Beck: (Where did it go…?)

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

Beck: …!!

Beck: Professor! Look!

Will: !

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

[Gregory Graham.]

[KKKST!]

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

Beck and Will: WHAT?!

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

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

[The CEO seemed… panicked.]

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

Graham: That this isn’t our fault!

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

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

Will: ….!!

[Will tensed at this in disbelief.]

[Graham then composes himself…]

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

[KKKKKKSSST!]

“Heeeelllloooo! Is this thing on?”

Beck: …Avi?

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

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

[And in a completely not so different voice–]

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

“EVERYWHERE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Beck: —?! A—Aviator—?

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

Will: S...Son…! No—!

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

“THE END OF THE WORLD, BABY!”

Will: MIGHTY NO. 6! STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!

Beck: A-Avi…

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

“Short answer? NO! BWAHAHAHA!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will: We’re almost there…

Will: …!

Beck: …? What is it, Dad?

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: WHAT’S THE MATTER?!

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: ….

[DR.WHITE] //: And yourself?

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

Dr. Sanda, however…]

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: Oh my God—

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

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

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: …We?

[MN.9] //: -PING!- Dr. Sanda…!

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: THANK THE LORD–

[BANG!]

[DR.SANDA] //: -sCREECH–

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

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

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The front door was completely blown open.]

Will: Oh no…

Beck: I… I don’t see Call anywhere…

Will: … …

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

Beck: Yes sir!

Beck: … …

Beck: This way!

[BWAN BWAN BWAN BWAN–]

Beck: NEVER MIND, THIS WAY–

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

Will: –!!!

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

Beck: Uh-oh—

Will: Get back, Beck!

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

Beck: —?

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

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

Will: —!!

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

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

Will: BECK!!

Beck: !!

Will: They’re locked on to me—!

Beck: NO!

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

Will: Gah—!

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

[ANALYZING….]

[THREAT CONFIRMED.]

[EMOTION MATRIX RUNNING…]

-*-*-*-*-

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

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

Felix: I can tell you THAT from experience.

Beck: …R-Really…?

Felix: Of course.

Felix: And after all.

Felix: You are MIGHTY.

-*-*-*-*-

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

[XEL ABSORPTION SYSTEMS… ONLINE.]

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

Beck: STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

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

[ZOOOOM!]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

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

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

[ABSORPTION BOOST: ONLINE.]

Beck: —!!

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

Beck: Ah—

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

Beck: …..

Beck: WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED.

Beck: -pANIC-

Beck: WHAT WAS THAT?!

Will: !

Will: Beck—did…

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

Beck: I DON’T KNOW—YOU TELL ME!

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

Beck: …….

Will: Beck–I DESIGNED you with this capability.

Beck: ….!! W-Wait–

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

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

Will: …And Xel Assimilation.

Will: (But…)

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

Will: (…So why now…?)

Will: …!

Will: (Of course…)

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

Beck: … …

Beck: Whoooooa…

Will: …!

Beck: … …

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

Beck: —? Uh… what happened?

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

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

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

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

Beck: Owowowow LASERSHURT OW–

Will: …Right—the Lab is just ahead…

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda?

[…]

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

[… …]

[DR.WHITE] //: … ….

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

[MN.9] //: DAD–

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

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

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

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

[B A N G.]

Beck: ?!?

Beck: What was THAT…?!

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

[WWRRRRRRRRRRRRRR–]

Will: —?!

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

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

Beck: Oh CRUD—

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

Beck: DAD!

[DR.WHITE] //: I’m fine!

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

[MN.9] //: M…ME?!

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

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

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

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: I'm so dead—

[SCANNING…]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[ E N C O U N T E R ]

[CDN. 502 – MODEL CODENAME: ROUND DIGGER]

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

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

[…It certainly was… fast.]

[SPLAT.]

[…A little too fast.]

Beck: O-Ow—stupid wall—

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

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

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

[DR.WHITE] //: YES!

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

Beck: Crudcrudcrudcrud—

[WRRRRR…]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

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

Beck: -nOT AGAIN–

[ZOOOM!]

[…And yet another splat.]

Beck: OW—

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck—are you alr—

Beck: NO IT’S NOT WORKING—!

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

Beck: Aim and shoot, joints, head—

[WRRRRRRRRRRR—]

[A panel opened up on its back, revealing—

Bombs!]

Beck: –oh NO–

[Of course; it was a demolition unit!]

[BOOM!]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAH—

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

Beck: -SCREAMING-

Beck: DAD HELP ME—HELP ME!

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

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

[BOOM! BOOM!]

Beck: -I'M GONNA DIE OH MAN-

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

Eventually, however…]

[ERROR—ERROR—XEL STRUCTURE UNSTABLE—]

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

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

[As soon as Beck saw it…

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

As if the thought was there all along.]

Beck: Here GOES!

[ZOOOM—]

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

[WARNING! WARNING! VIRUS DETECTED!]

Beck: –?!?

[RUNNING XELFILTER.EXE…]

[XEL FILTERED. ALL MALWARE HAS BEEN NEUTRALIZED.]

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

Beck: (Xel…Purge…?)

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

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

Beck: ….???

[A panel UNDERNEATH it unlocks and—]

[PSSSSSSSSSH!]

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

Beck: AAGH!

[DR.WHITE] //: BECK!

Beck: Uuugh….

Beck: …Ooooowww…

[…? What’s this?

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

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

[PSSSSSSSSSHHH!]

Beck: -gARBLING NOISES-

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

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

Beck: sTOOOOOP—

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

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

[…]

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

…But he had their FORMS, right?

…Right?]

[…]

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

[…Wrong.]

Beck: WHAT?!

[He tried again.]

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

Beck: NONONO!

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

[ERROR….]

[ERROR…]

[ERROR…]

[…Gone.

They were all gone.

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

Beck: NO!

Beck: DAD—I CAN’T CHANGE FORMS—!

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

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

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

[DR.WHITE] //: USE THEM!

Beck: …..

Beck: –Shoot, dash, shoot, dash–

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

Beck: Shoot and dash, shoot and dash—!

[Repeating this mantra, Beck circled the CDN…

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

…But…slowly, slowly but surely—]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

-PING-

[XEL QUOTA ACHIEVED.]

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

[DR.WHITE] //: …!!!

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

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

Beck: Come on—

[His arms started to shine a pure white!]

Beck: SNAP OUT OF IT!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

Beck: NOW!

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

[……..]

Round Digger: ….????

Round Digger: -BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEP BEEP-

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

Beck: …!!

Round Digger: -DISTRESSED BEEPING-

Beck: Hey–Hey…

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

[…Beck…cautiously approaches the CDN…

Closer…Closer…]

Beck: Hey…. Are you OK?

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEEEEP!-

Beck: Hey—Hey, it’s OK…

[…Pat. Pat…]

Beck: You’re OK now, don’t worry…

Round Digger: -SAD BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEEEEP-

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

Round Digger: ….? -beep?-

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

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

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

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: Well—I… oh.

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

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

[DR.SANDA] //: W-wait—! Wait a min—

Round Digger: -PING-

Round Digger: -DIRECTIVE RECEIVED. COMMENCING DEMOLITION.-

Round Digger: -WARNING BEEPS, STAND CLEAR-

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

[WRRRRRRRRRRRRR–]

[C R A C K!]

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

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

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

[MN.9] //: Yes Sir!

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

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

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEP-

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soi: Will!

Will: Soi!

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

Will: -Hurk—!- Soi—!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will: Ev…everything?

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

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

Soi: Broadcast—?

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

Soi: —….

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

Will: Screaming? Well, Beck was rather sc—

Soi: No, no, not him—

“Dr. Sanda!”

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

Beck: Dr. Sanda—!

Sanda: Beck—! Come here, you—!

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

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

Beck: -MUFFLED NOISES-

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

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

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

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

Soi: W-Wait a minute!

Soi: I see here that BECK is functioning normally…

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

[… …]

[… … …]

Will: …Sanda…

[Will sighs and takes up a straighter posture.]

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

Soi: W-What—?!?

Soi: You mean—Pyrogen, Cryosphere…

Will: …Yes, Soi. I…

[It almost hurt to say it.]

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

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

Soi: No…!

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

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

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

[MN.4 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

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

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

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

[MN.8 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

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

[After a moment…]

-PING!-

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

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

Will: It’s…!

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

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

Will: …It seems something is wrong.

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

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

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

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

[DLN-000 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE]

Will: (He’s in lethal—!)

[FMN-008 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE]

Beck: —?! Kate and Cardinal—?

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

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

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

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

Beck: O-oh, right…

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

Soi: But we REALLY need some help…

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

Soi: -SNAPS FINGERS-

Will: ?

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

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

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

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

Will: …! Ah, yes—

Will: Your twin brother…

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

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

[… … … ….]

[-PING!-]

???: {-PANICKED JAPANESE YELLING-}

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

???: {SOICHIRO—CAN YOU HEAR ME?!}

Soi: {Seijiro–}

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

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

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

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

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

Seiji: ……..

[He switches to English.]

Seiji: Is it… true? Has Avi really…?

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

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

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

Beck: …Hi, Mr. Sanda…

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

Seiji: ….

Seiji: So… even the Mighty Number line…

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

Seiji: …

Seiji: And… Call?

Will: I—

Will: -Blinks- ….

Will: Soi, where IS Call?

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

Beck: Offline?!

Beck: Why is she OFFLINE?

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

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

Will: Wait.

Soi: —?

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

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

Will: Hmm….

Soi: … …

Seiji: … …

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

Soi: I know, I know…

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

Soi: Hnnn…

Soi: Beck?

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

Beck: I will. Promise.

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

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

[… … …]

Seiji: …I….

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

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

Soi: ….

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

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

Will: … …

Will: Just to confirm, Mr. Sanda.

Seiji: Yes?

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

[Seijiro nods.]

Seiji: Absolutely. Anything we can do.

Will: Alright…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will: More or less.

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

[-PING!-]

Soi: ?

[CALL IS NOW ONLINE. STATUS: NORMAL.]

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

Soi: CALL—

[Theeeeere he goes!]

[CALL] //: …

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

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

[UPDATING…]

[CALL] //: … … …

[CALL] //: Analyzing….

[CALL] //: … … … …

[……]

[-PING!-]

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

Soi: Attagirl! ^^

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

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

[-PING-]

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

[.....]

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

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

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

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

[CALL] //: … … Confirmed.

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

[MN.9] //: …. Thanks, Call.

Will: Right. As I was saying…

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

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

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

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

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

Seiji: ….But…

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

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

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

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

Soi: …?

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

Soi: What??

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

Soi: That’s– -sputters- –poppycock!

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

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

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

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

Soi: Will. Will, listen to me—

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

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

Seiji: Will…

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

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

Will: … …

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

[MN.9] //: (—? That was weird…)

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

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

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

Will: Thank you.

Will: (I won’t…)

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

Will: Then let’s get to work.

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

=CHAPTER 10C: THE MACHINE DRAWS NEAR=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[CHERRYDYNAMICS HQ BUILDING, CEO OFFICE SUITE.]

[Gregory Graham had little silver lining to go on at this point.

Not only were those Sanda Tech brats literally demolishing his factory (and costing him millions to boot!), the virus that had seemed to come from out of nowhere was threatening to spread to the other Continental servers--

And now the GOVERNMENT was sniffing around where they SHOULDN'T be, and Blackwell could very well be either DEAD or running amok!

And now there was that foreign intern, the fat Japanese doctor and the PRESIDENT herself knowing far too much--]

Graham: -...Ngh-

Graham: Keep it together, Greg...

[No, no need to panic--

She was still safely tucked away, albet running everything at this point, but still contained--and he had influences in Homeland and Defense, and his Sentator friend, of course--and if nothing else, he ALWAYS had that ace in the hole if things ever got that desperate.

He had options. It was all like stocks. It wasn't the end just yet.

And if he were to go down, he'll be damned if he wasn't going down alone.]

Graham: (I just have to make a few private calls, pull some favors...)

Graham: (Make sure she is under wraps and try to sail though this--)

[Knock Knock.]

Graham: --??

Graham: -Pushes the intercom on his desk- Darcy, I told you to not let anyone in here--

"Uh, yeah, he isn't--he didn't listen to me--"

"... And it's Daisy, not--"

[CLICK.]

Graham: Tch.

Graham: (Fine, I'll call whatever's left of security once he gets in here--)

Graham: Open.

[The door recognizes the verbal command and slides open without a sound.]

Graham: --?

Graham: What the--

Will: Hello, Mr. Graham.

[William White walks into the room as soon as Graham opened it, not once waiting for permission to enter.]

Will: Am I interrupting something?

Graham: White?

Graham: How the HELL did you get up here--

Will: Oh, I wanted to. Your staff seems to be rather, ah-- lacking since the virus struck.

Will: Nonetheless.

Will: I didn't come here for idle chatter, so I'm going to get right to the point.

Will: It was you who activated Trinity, didn't you?

Graham: -Sputters--

Graham: Wha--

Graham: What are you TALKING about--

Graham: (How does he know about HER?!)

Will: Greg. It's a little...

[His eyes turn dull and utterly emotionless.]

Will: ...Too late to cry dummy, at this point.

Graham: --?!

Graham: (That look--what is THAT look, why is it--?)

Will: Dr. Blackwell wasn't around to stop you this time, wasn't he?

Will: And yet you're trying to scapegoat his father again, just the same.

Graham: --?!!!

[Will walks across the room with a poised grace, almost too perfect, as he turns his back away from Graham.]

Will: -Sigh-

Will: It was NEVER about progress with you...

Will: Or the will, the drive to make the world a better place than what we found it...

Will: It was always money.

Will: -Angry-

Will: Just. Money.

Will: That's--

[He turns, a FIERCE expression breaking through the emotionless mask he wore to EXPLODE in RAGE!]

Will: --ALL YOU E V E R CARED ABOUT--!

Graham: -Falls back into his chair--

Will: Never about HIM OR ME OR EVEN HER!

Will: -Advances- All you EVER cared about was YOURSELF and this EVIL EMPIRE you've built on NOTHING but the PAIN AND SUFFERING OF OTHERS--!

Will: MY PAIN AND SUFFERING! T H E I R PAIN AND SUFFERING!

Will: H E R PAIN AND SUFFERING--!

Will: And YOU--

Will: When you pieced her back together, did you feel anything at all? No, because you would even BRING BACK THE DEAD to justify your own ENDS!

Will: YOU THINK I WOULDN'T NOTICE, GREGORY GRAHAM?!

Graham: N--this isn't my FAULT--!

Graham: Her warning label didn't SPECIFY all this, not specifically--

Will: Warning label--

[He laughs. Bitterly.]

Will: Warning label, WARNING LABEL, HE PUT A WARNING LABEL--

Will: Oh, that's just RICH.

Will: And even then--You didn't listen.

Graham: I--

Will: THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT--!

Will: Trinity, my friends, my FAMILY, MY OWN CHILDREN--!

Will: And even this VIRUS, isn't it?!

Graham: Nono, THIS THING ISN'T OUR FAULT, DON'T YOU PUT THIS ON ME, WHITE--

Graham: I don't know HOW you got this information, but I can very well RUIN you if you so much as--

[Will once again laughs at the face of Graham's supposed threat.]

Will: Is that supposed to scare me, Greg?

Will: What are you going to do? Send your PEOPLE after me?

Will: I've survived them once. I can do it AGAIN.

Graham: --?!?

Will: I am. Not. Afraid of YOU.

Will: Not anymore.

Will: Trinity was my project. You and Blackwell ultimately deemed her a failure.

Graham: !

Will: But she was an educational one, if anything. I learned. Oh, I learned.

Will: And I put EVERYTHING that I had learned from her, from everything that I experienced...

Will: ...All of it, and the good that came from it...

Will: ...Into Mighty No. 9.

Graham: (WHAT--)

Will: Beck is now our only hope of stopping what YOU have sowed.

Will: AT THE VERY LEAST, IF I CAN'T STOP YOU MYSELF--

[He swipes away the various objects on Greg's desk aside, including some very heavy paperweights--]

Will: --HE CAN!

[There’s a muffled CRUNCH and a hissing noise, followed by some leaking liquid.]

Will: --?!?

Graham: What the--

Will: Nnngh!

[He turns his attention back to Graham.]

Will: You--

Will: You honestly think you can get away with everything you've DONE?

Will: After HER?

Graham: --.....

Graham: Wait...

Graham: Waitwaitwait WAIT A SECOND--

Will: --??

Graham: You...

Will: --!

Will: (....Uh...Uh Oh--)

Graham: YOU!

Graham: I didn't RECOGNIZE you with that--that RIDICULOUS HAIR DO--

Graham: But you're--

Graham: YOU'RE BILL BLACKWELL--!

Will: ......

Bill: . . . .

Bill: You were always a bit slow on the uptake, weren't you.

Bill: All these years, Graham, and you STILL haven't changed.

Bill: It nearly makes me feel SORRY for you.

Bill: N e a r l y.

Bill: ...But you know what?

Bill: You're wrong.

Will: I'm NOT Bill Blackwell.

Will: And I HAVEN'T been.

Will: For a VERY. Long. Time.

Graham: HA!

Graham: -Sneers- Oh, you think you're so SMART, thinking that changing your name and identity will change who you really are.

Graham: I'm honestly impressed, though. I really did think you were dead after you just vanished.

Will: -Snorts-

Will: Reports of my demise have been GREATLY exaggerated, Mr. Graham.

Graham: You accosted me, Bill.

Graham: YOU'RE the idiot here, coming back and building those Mighty Numbers even after what YOU did to her.

Graham: They don't even know they're really just BLACKWELLS, do they?!

Will: ..........

Graham: I THOUGHT not.

Will: Leave them out of this, Graham.

Graham: Oh, really, alright, let me just turn back time and stop them from becoming infected in the FIRST PLACE?

Graham: They were DOOMED the moment you created them, Bill, and that ISN'T just their namesake talking!

Will: —Nnnnngh...

Graham: Your old man was RIGHT about you.

Graham: Really, Bill. I thought that a BLACKWELL genius such as yourself wouldn't RETURN to the scene of a crime—what occurred here all those years ago was tantamount to MURDER.

Will: Both of you MADE ME DO IT—!

Graham: But I wasn't the one holding the metaphorical knife, wasn't I?

Will: Graham—!

Graham: I said I would RUIN you.

Graham: It'll be a VERY nice bonus to see everything that you've worked SO hard to accomplish just CRUMBLE away, hm?

Graham: You, those Mighty Numbers, your fat friend and his brother, and that little Russian intern that you CLEARLY have connections with.

Graham: Once the WORLD knows that Dr. William White is a LIE AND THE SON OF A MAD GENIUS—

[WHACK—]

[Gregory Graham's vision went bright as William curled a fist and socked him across the face, causing the CEO to tumble backwards into the floor.

There was a burning sensation as something ate away at the super expensive suit he was wearing, too!]

Graham: -NGH!-

[SMACK—]

[A sneaker plants itself squarely on Graham's chest to KEEP him there.]

((Pic—Will v Graham))

Will: I am only going to say this once.

Will: If you ever.

Will: E v e r.

Will: Threaten or lay one hand on EVERYTHING I love and care about--

Will: I will TEAR you and this company ASUNDER.

Will: You PATHETIC excuse for a HUMAN being.

Will: You MONSTER.

[Will looks down on him with a BURNING hot gaze, like some kind of disgusting bug or rodent, not even worth the DIRT under his shoe that which is soiling the already ruined suit Greg was wearing.

And Graham?

Well, as one would expect, he was certainly no less than terrified, scared witless.]

Will: How fitting.

Will: I think I've gotten my POINT across, hm?

[There is a TOUCH of a evil grin that tugs at the corner of Will's lips.]

Will: Good talk.

[And just like that, Will steps off, carefully walks around the mess made, and makes his way back to the door.]

Will: I'm not paying for any of this, by the way, so you can forget about sending me a bill.

Will: I WAS the one that HELPED you, if you need a reminder.

[He waves back without turning around.]

Will: Enjoy the rest of your day, Mr. Graham.

Will: ... Because it is ABOUT to get a whole LOT worse.

[Click.]

[The room is dead silent.]

Graham: . . . .

Graham: (Bill Blackwell—)

Graham: (You—I'll—)

Graham: -OW MY NOSE— BLEEDING—-

Graham: DARCY—SOMEONE GET ME A DAMN FIRST AID KIT—!

Beep.

Graham: —?!?

Beep.

Graham: What the hell is that noise—

[A rather smushed Search Snake—having finally flickered to life, only to find itself incredibly damaged—scrapes itself out of the hiding place where it had been crushed by some paperweights. It was already leaking battery acid, but apparently it had more than one battery, because that wasn’t stopping it…]

Beep beep beep beep beep beep BEEP—

Graham: —?!?

Graham: -DIVES BEHIND THE DESK—-

Boom!

Graham: WHAT THE—

Graham: BIIIIIIILLL—!!

[BACK IN SANDA LABS SEVERAL HOURS LATER...]

Will: (Oof...)

Will: -Stepping out of the elevator- (I actually felt REALLY good about that. Huh.)

“Good afternoon, Doctor.”

Will: —?

Will: (Wait, that...voice--I've heard that voice before--)

Min: So good of you to join us again.

Will: —! (You—)

Des: Doctor. -Nod-

Will: ...I...er...

Will: (W-What is going on, why are THEY here?!)

Will: (Specifically, the President, no less—!)

Will: I...M-Madam President, I...was not expecting...

Min: I realize this, and I apologize. We were unable to contact you to discuss the matter.

[She motioned to a Secret Service member, who stepped forward and handed over a piece of paper. It was a faxed letter from Seijiro, explaining (in Japanese) that he had authorized… the use of the building for the President and some of her staff…?]

Will: (Wha—Seiji?! But—why, you—you know that—)

Will: (—Gh, but you didn't really have a choice, didn't you...)

Will: I...hn...

Will: I see...

Will: I suppose this is because the White House is...well....

Will: —But—why here? This is practically Ground Zero for the virus, and shouldn't there be—OTHER places for situations like this—?

Des: -Sighs—- Exactly what I proposed. <<

Min: It shouldn't be for too long, and I won't necessarily be staying, myself. I'm a busy woman.

Will: -Nervously looks between all the Secret Service members and staff- I...I see. Er....w-well then...

Min: I need to speak with you about the particulars of the arrangements immediately.

Will: R-Right now—? (Oh, God—)

Will: A—Are you sure? I mean we do have—Call, she can certainly show you around—

Will: Besides, I—I have repairs to do on my children posthaste—

Will: Since Soi isn't here, I'll have to do repairs myself...

Will: (And on all nine of them...)

Min: I can appreciate that, and I assure you that I too have my incentives for keeping the discussion as brief as possible. However, it is more than mere living arrangements that need to be discussed. While we may not be able to cover everything that I have in mind, there is one matter that cannot wait—[color=goldenrod]lives[/color] are at stake, and your input is crucial. It's in your best interest in a very personal way, Doctor, to no longer collude it.

Will: (L--Lives--?)

Will: (Wait...she can't mean--)

Des: -Ahem- There's also something else that that Madam President wishes to speak to you about...

Des: I don't exactly know the context behind it, but it's about your... championship fencing days...and Mighty No. 5.

Will: ....

[At that moment, Will would have taken the infected factory all over again instead of this. He pales, all the color rushing off of his face as he breaks into a cold sweat right there.]

Will: (Oh no—oh no, not this—)

Will: (G-Greg--Greg I can handle, but--h-h-her--)

Will: (She can do s-so much worse--)

Will: (She can't have figured it out so quickly, I left almost nothing--! Did they search my house?!)

Will: (Hnn...I can't, I—but—)

Will: (...Mikhail, Soi, my children...)

Min: -Shooing motion to the Secret Service members- Go secure an office where we can speak privately.

[They obey with only minimal hesitation, given that Desmond is also there and they are both armed.]

Des: -...Slightly concerned- Doctor White? You alright there?

Will: -Gulps- I...mn...I-I'm fine.

Will: ...though I could use a glass of water...

Min: Why don't you get us some drinks, Mister Secretary?

Des: -Takes that as his cue- Yes sir.

[Des briskly leaves with all due haste, leaving Will and The President of the United States alone. Will was highly on edge, nervously thumbing the strap of his laptop bang, looking away.]

Will: (...No...No more running...)

Will: (Oh, Soi, I...)

Will: (I really wish you were here...)

Min: Come along, Doctor. Let's get this over with, and then you can rejoin your family.

Will: ....

[He silently complies, hands on his arms and eyes to the floor. Almost as if he was walking to detention rather than just another office.

He was obliged to hand over his belongings before entering the office—clearly, the group had learned from the experience with Mikhail. It wasn't long before the doors shut behind them, and the two of them were alone.

Min let out a short huff of a sigh—of relief or weariness, it was hard to say.]

Min: Let's get right to the point.

[She turned to face Will, holding her hands in front of her with her left hand clasping her right wrist.]

Min: Your work so far has been remarkable, and is the best lead we have on combating the virus. We're all very grateful for what you and your family—particularly your youngest son—have been doing to save others in this time of crisis.

Min: We want to help you as much as we can.

Will: ... >> I haven't exactly made a cure yet, though. That part is proving to be very...difficult. (Trinity...)

Will: It's....not as simple as just doing away with it...

Will: -Sighs- The best thing we can do right now is continue to contain the virus and let me study it's workings so I can learn to counteract it. (Need more time...I need to know how to get those scripts from the code--)

[She was quiet for a moment at this, as if considering how to answer.]

Min: We will aid how we can if given direction. I know that initial encounters were… less than supportive, and I offer a sincere apology. If we had been properly informed and involved, it would not have reached such levels of hostility.

Will: ....

Will: >>;;; (Ugh...I never want to go through with that again. If I can get them NOT to just outright take a aggressive approach towards Trinity, then that's all I need...)

Will: It was...a very unpleasant experience. >~>;; One I don't think anyone here wants repeated.

Min: An accurate statement. And to that end, it's necessary to confront a problem that would otherwise come between full support or cooperation.

Min: There is a matter that would cause no small degree of distress for yourself and those involved if things continue as they are. Not only do I personally not wish to have to do so, but there is a professional incentive not to have such a major distraction at hand when it is imperative that you focus on your work.

Will: ….

Will: ...I...

Will: ... (Mikhail...)

Will: ....

Will: ....Dr. Cossack, you mean.

Will: -Sighs, of course...-

Min: That would be correct. I'm afraid the outlook is very bleak for him at the moment.

Will: (Gh...Mikhail...)

Will: I...could see that.

Will: (...I won't...won't let them hurt you, if it comes to that, I swear...)

((NOTE: Bill color as a shadow here))

Will: (I won't lose you too...)

Min: Do you? I'm afraid it's quite serious, and it's unclear whether he sees that or is simply undeterred by it.

Min: The charges he has taken upon himself would easily earn him a place as a CAL black spot mission.

Will: -Flinches- Gnn...

Will: (Hnn...No, I...I won't let that happen--)

Will: ....Mikhail...

Will: He doesn't...he's not...

Will: (Damn it, talk, Bill! He needs you right now, you can't be afraid--)

Min: Doctor…

Minerva: The situation is pitiable, but that—unfortunately—does not change the fundamental reasons why he is in trouble in the first place. In fact, the circumstances make it worse.

[She spoke as if from memory.]

Minerva: The fact remains that he is the authoritative force behind multiple highly powerful—and apparently unsupervised—Combat constructs who pose significant security threats. Threats made worse by their physiology, as most security measures rely on Xellular structure to be effective against a non-human attacker. Their immunity to such measures and ability to regenerate—some more than others, it would seem—make them very dangerous.

Will: Gh…! (I guess she was told they aren’t Xel…! Felix did mention that the Secretary knew the “truth”…)

Minerva: As for the Doctor himself… he is—by our standards—highly unconventional. He can defend himself and build without using Xel, and he appears to be a master at coding in his own right. Certainly, he has access to measures that can bypass traditional and cutting-edge firewalls alike. Furthermore, he’s also very clever: he was able to obtain well-hidden information the likes of which we have been seeking for months. He’s aware of dangerous secrets, and he has no qualms about stonewalling an investigation. If he chooses to, he can avoid detection completely, even from multiple governmental agencies of several countries. If let go free, there is no telling if he would ever be found again.

[She shakes her head.]

Minerva: He’s chosen to assume responsibility for the actions of his patients. That includes: two or three accounts of hacking through military-level security firewalls, two attempted murders and one additional threat thereof, one breaking-and-entering, and the destruction of federally owned property of national historic and cultural importance.

Will: (Hnn...I...Mikhail...)

Will: (He's not--!)

[Will doesn't know how to respond to this. The Queen's Finals, the White House, and the Military Base--the last of which was HIS fault entirely--it was all roaring back with a frightful vengeance, one that threatened to consume all that he held dear. But how to voice against this, when the leader of the nation could discredit all that he would say--

--simply because he was not the man he SAYS he is?]

Will: I...

Will: -Clearly very upset- He's not...please, he isn't--he's a good man, please--

[Her expression softened, and she interlocked her fingers, holding her hands up near her chin in thought.]

Min: …

Min: …There is still hope. There is a chance.

Will: --? (I...what?)

Min: There is yet a chance that he may be spared.

Will: --!

Will: R--Really-- (--Wait--why?)

Will: (--I should at least hear her out, but...)

Will: (If she knows, then...?)

Will: How?

[She was quiet for a moment again before she spoke up.]

Min: Taken all together, the pieces paint a grim picture for your friend, and one that is not so easily forgiven.

Min: Taken piece by piece… that is not so. Perhaps still not easily… but still potentially forgivable.

Min: His insistence to bear the burden alone will be his downfall if he pursues it.

Min: But if he accepts that things were out of his control and influence—then, perhaps, we can address his sole stain… the ordered interference of the White House security.

Min: For I know in almost certainty that he was not behind the incident at the unapproved military base… and unless I am mistaken, he has little influence over the decisions made by those who are not his sons.

Min: Am I correct in this assessment?

Will: -With some hesitance- I...Y-Yes, that's correct...

Min: Then it is in everyone's best interests to no longer deny that truth, but to own up to it. However, it seems you may be the only person capable of convincing him of this.

Will: ....

Will: (I...)

Will: (Me?)

Will: You want me to convince him... (But...what about...)

Will: ...But what about Tobias?

Will: (The whole reason he's taking it all on himself is because so that Tobias won't suffer...)

Min: -Pinches the left hinge of her glasses, looking over them slightly- Well, Tobias Wily will have to answer for his behavior. We cannot have someone like him running amok on their impulses.

Min: His position is somewhat more forgivable, given that he was never taught how to behave in social situations. That can be fixed.

Will: -Quiet sigh of relief- (Oh, thank God--)

Min: Especially given that the only charge he is fully responsible for would be what happened at the Queen's Finals. He was not, if my conclusions to my research are correct, responsible for the security breach at the base.

Will: No--No, no, of course not--

Will: He was quite...quite still out of it at the time...

[Minerva was quiet at this for a little while.]

Min: That will cause some to question what DID happen, if neither of them were responsible.

Min: I think I know who did it, but there's only circumstantial evidence.

Will: (...Gh....)

Will: C-Circumstantial--?

Min: Just the knowledge of one with both means and motive to pull it off.

Min: Although…

Min: I hardly blame you for that… Doctor William Blackwell.

[There is a very harsh wince at the words-- as if he had been struck physically. There was a subtle shake of his hands, which were very quickly stilled as he balled them up into fists.]

Will: ...that's not my name...

Will: My name is White.

Min: "A rose by any other name," my good sir.

Will: My name is William White.

[There was a steely gaze directed at her now--although he didn't meant anything by it, he couldn't help but become irritated. That wasn't his name, not anymore.

Minerva gave a soft smile at this, tilting her head slightly.]

Min: No one else knows… for now.

Min: Why do you think I left Desmond outside?

Will: ...

Will: What do you want?

Min: -Puts a hand to her face- An end to this, with no more casualties than is within our power to prevent.

Will: .... (Not what I meant, but that too...)

Will: . . .

Will: If you claim to know, then you know why I can't just delete the virus.

Will: ...I...there is something...delicate in the code that I won't destroy.

Will: Not even if you try to make me.

Will: (...Mngh...I still don't know how I'm going to take care of the virus without hurting Trinity...)

[For a moment, her eyes look sad.]

Min: I said "a rose by any other name," Doctor.

Min: Doctor William White is not a five-times fencing champion, as his best friend Doctor Soichiro Sanda claims him to be, and as Secretary Desmond Donald observed. There is no record of this.

Min: It was rather easy with my resources to discern the time frame and location based on your age and the number of colleges in the country who have that level of fencing programs with suitable teachers. Your teacher remembers you well even after the years have gone by. No teacher ever forgets true talent.

Min: I had not bothered to look further than that, for that was not in my business. I had other things on my mind.

Will: …

Min: What you said just now was unknown to me, though I can infer the truth behind it. And if that is the case…

Min: You must work quickly before someone else finds a way. Literally everyone capable is assigned to the project.

Will: -~- What do you think I've been doing all this time?

Will: -We’re trying-

Will: Aside from repairing my sons and daughters and trying to keep this place intact—

Will: I've devoted nearly every waking moment to trying to solve this—

Will: (But it's so hard, it's like trying to wake someone from a very—very deep sleep...)

Will: -Crosses arms- And quite frankly, all of this federal business has not made it easier. -~-

Min: I imagine not.

[She was quiet for a moment again, as if deep in thought.]

Min: I will leave it up to you to give directions on what the best way for HHS to help you would be. That is your prerogative.

Min: For the time being, we will focus on that. The matter with Dr. Cossack can wait until you've had the chance to speak with him… whenever that might be.

Min: He won't be allowed to move about freely, but no other [color=black]action[/color] will be taken against him.

Will: ...I...I'll try to, as soon as I can...

Min: For now, he is resting in isolation. …Let him rest. He obviously is in need of it. -Soft sigh, tapping her fingers against her face- (I look forward to making this all go away.)

Min: Is there anything else you wish to discuss or want to say? Any insight to depart?

Will: …

Will: -Grips- CherryDyn...

Will: Please tell me you're at least looking into CherryDyn.

Will: I...I think they're behind this. All of it.

Will: >> Why else would they make not one, but TWO public statements blaming both Dr. Blackwell and myself, as well as Dr. Sanda?

Will: (....And now Graham knows.... Knows who I really am.)

Will: . . .

Will: (...Maybe he was right about me being stupid...)

Will: (.....)

Will: (Oh, what the hell, it was worth it, for that ONE good right hook.)

Min: To play the devil's advocate:

Min: "There's no accounting for stupidity."

[She spoke that last word with clear derision and scorn, not bothering to hide it.]

Will: …Hn.

Will: Indeed.

Will: …

Will: >> After all this is over...

Will: What will you do with me?

Min: Hopefully, give you honors for your contributions to solving a national crisis.

Will: ...That's not what I meant.

Will: I'm having a very hard time coming up with any good reason why you'd let the real matter slip by.

Will: You're the President. You know.

[Blackwell...a name that was no doubt infamous beyond any other name in America, and perhaps the world at large. He HAD to know--was it because there was just more pressing matters at hand, or something more?

After all, SHE had that power over him now, not him...]

Will: You KNOW what that name means.

Will: Why?

Min: …

Min: -Seems to be carefully considering her answer again-

Min: …A man is to be judged by his choices, not his name or connections.

Min: It has been your choice to work with Sanda Enterprises—a company that is currently researching to find medical breakthroughs with Xellular science. It has been your choice to raise a family, and raise them well. To befriend those in desperate need—indeed, with such friendship that it incites undying loyalty to you.

Min: Your desperation in one moment of ill-founded judgment is hardly unique, even to the current series of events. Your friend made a similar decision in a fit of despair.

Min: But ill judgement can be forgiven, especially when there are no casualties, and no intent for it to be repeated.

Will: ....

Will: I... -Speechless--

Will: (...she's not going to--lock me up, like Father—?)

Will: ...but I... (I lied...)

Will: (I lied to everyone--)

Will: -...clearly very conflicted about this-

Min: -Gently- I can see that this is difficult for you to understand, even though you begin to believe it. That's alright… you will have the time you need for it.

Min: When this is all over, William White…

Min: We will thank you all for what you have done for us, and the sacrifices that were made.

Min: And after all has been said and done, we will leave you all to live in peace.

Will: ....

Will: (In peace...)

Will: ...-Still quite nervous- (But for how long?)

Will: I...I will make sure to let Mikhail know that too.

Min: I'm sure he would appreciate that. It doesn't sound like he's had a pleasant experience dealing with government officials before… though his cooperation will ultimately prove to be to his benefit.

Min: -Small sigh- Well, that is all I have to say on the matter. We both have work to do now, so unless there is anything more you want to add…

Will: No, I...I think that's all.

Will: I...

Will: ...-Very quietly- ...thank you...

[Minerva gives a soft smile at that. She seems more relaxed than before—the kind of relaxation that comes with confidence.]

Min: You're welcome, Doctor White.

Min: You may go.

[Will nods and stands up--he's still a bit shaky, but otherwise a lot more worn out than before--in a good sense, really. He just had to talk to Mikhail...]

[As he steps out of the door, Des passes him by.]

Des: Oh, here. Your water.

Will: ! Oh--I--I forgot about that. ^^;; Thank you, Secretary.

[He accepts it graciously, and goes on his way. Des gives the man a bit of a quizzical look before turning his attention to Min.]

Des: He seems better. Sorta.

Des: What did you say to him, if I can ask?

Min: -Soft sigh- I let him know that we're not out to get anyone per se, and that we want to help out.

Min: I also advised him to speak to Dr. Cossack about the situation to see if he can't convince him to stop being so stubborn.

Des: Well, if anyone can convince him, it's probably Dr. White...he seems to really care about him.

Des: Hell, the guy was ready to tear my face off when I arrested him. >>;; Him and his kids.

Des: It was really startling, you'd think someone that soft-spoken wouldn't have any sort of temper but...I guess 'never judge a book by it's cover' comes into play here.

Min: Well, every man has his breaking point. You'd be surprised how much of a temper the quieter students can have when pressed. I think for now, though, he won't be as hostile to you. If only because he has more pressing needs to focus on.

Des: Hmm. You're right, as usual.

Des: Alright then...now that that's out of the way...

Des: I think Dr. Sanda's daughter was going to give us details of the accommodations and such. Gotta say, as much as the conditions are right now--they're really good hosts.

Des: << Though Seven won't stop giving me the stink eye.

Min: -Amused grin at this- Well, he has been gracious enough to me, for now. I'll see if I can't speak on your behalf the next time we have a chance for conversation.

[Her smile fades, and she looks thoughtful.]

Min: I should like to see DLN-000, but I know the lab is quite crowded right now. That will have to wait until later.

[She shakes her head.]

Min: Well, we'd best go speak to Ms. Sanda, and then I need to talk with Aviator. The news of us coming here even temporarily will be slightly sensational if we don't handle it properly, and he'd know best which of the local stations can be trusted to handle the story.

Des: ...Right...

Des: >>;; Although I'm not too fond of the idea of Six hogging you and I for an 'exclusive' interview. We probably need to break it gently to him that we have work to do--

[She laughs at this.]

Min: We have plenty of leverage when it comes to that. Plenty of things to do and say later. He'll have a month's worth of stories within a few days—so be on your best behavior.~

Des: -Snorts- Yes, Mrs. Morandi.

Min: Lead the way, then. -Amused- Let's get things moving.

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

=CHAPTER 10B: THE MACHINE DRAWS NEAR=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

{LATER…}

[CHERRYDYNAMIC HQ BUILDING - FACTORY COMPLEX, FRONT PARKING LOT…]

[MISSION DETAILS: INFECTED CDN MODELS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED BY CHERRYDYNAMICS’S CALIFORNIA ROBOT MANUFACTURING FACTORY AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE FACTORY’S PRIMARY M.O.M UNIT ALSO REPORTED TO BE INFECTED.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVES: ESCORT DR. WILLIAM WHITE TO THE PRIMARY M.O.M UNIT IN ORDER TO SHUT DOWN AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ROBOT FACTORY. ELIMINATE ANY INFECTED HOSTILE CDN MODELS WITHIN THE VICINITY. DESTROY THE FACTORY’S ROBOT MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT IF NECESSARY.]

[SUB-OBJECTIVES: ENSURE PERSONAL SAFETY OF DWN-012 AND DWN-013, MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

Systems Ready?

GO!

[After Beck had fully materialized, the familiar sounds of chaos in the city had once again touched his ears, now in a more dire state than before--even way back when he and his father had to make it back to Sanda Tech, it wasn't this bad...]

[MN.6] //: Yoooo, check one two, testing! This is your mission control requesting a mandatory sound off!

[Avi chimed in as soon as he felt Beck's signal nearby.]

Will: Ah.

[William White was currently looking over a holoscreen projected by one of Avi's cameras--it seems he already had visual of the inside.]

[...His grip tightened on the glowing Xel Rapier in his left hand.]

Will: (...It's even worse than I imagined...)

[MN.6] //: Teeeeeam One, what's your status?

[MN.1] //: One here. We're at the front entrance. It's been blown open, alright. Lots of hostile CDNs...They're almost crowding where the doors were.

[MN.5] //: Five reading ya loud and clear. Armed and ready for battle!

<DWN-013>: >Just to restate the obvious, but this is very important—

<DWN-013>: >These are just AIs, not AI&As, right?

[MN.6] //: Yuppers, just your average cookie-cutter AIs, like drones. It's mainly an Industrial Factory, not something like where ya-know-who came from.

<DWN-013>: > Good.

[…

…A priming noise could be heard.]

<DWN-013 has entered Active Combat mode.>

[For Avi, there seemed to be an echo of sorts…]

“Crashman paces back and forth Inside walls reinforced Crash bombs mounted to his arms Locked… loaded… ready… armed…”

[MN.6] //: -....miiiiildly creeped out-

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

[MN.6] //: Huh? Oh, right, not done yet--

[MN.1] //: ... (Not what I was going to ask...)

[MN.6] //: Teeeeeam Two! You guys ready?

[MN.2] //: BRO I WAS MADE READY, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT POPCORN FOR THESE FIREWORKS--

[MN.1] //: -Snorts-

<DWN-013>: > … -You sure you’re up for doing this, MNN-008, you just woke up a few hours ago— -

[MN.8] //: I'm fahn, Jaden.

[MN.8] //: -Got a score t' with CherryDyn anyway and Ah' ain't gonna spend it layin' down--

[MN.3] //: Ugh, don't be zzzso dramatic, Shadebro. -Bzzzzt- You're just mad you haven't gotten enough beauty zzsleep.

[MN.8] //: -Pyro wai did Ah' get stuck with the girls again-

[MN.1] //: The three of you can cause more wide spread damage together. You'll be picking off anyone too stubborn, Shade.

[MN.8] //: -Mgh, fair enough, Ah' guess.-

[MN.3] //: Anyway, we're waiting on your zzzsignal, fire bro.~ Just zzsay the word!

[MN.1] //: Good.

[MN.6] //: Team Three, you guys up and ready to go?

<DWN-012>: > Glad you finally asked, can we GO yet—

<DWN-013>: >Don’t run into a wall, Carl.

<DWN-012>: > I told you only MY dad can call me that—

[MN.7] //: Speedy.

[MN.7] //: Focus. You and I will be covering for Mic. He'll be doing most of the equipment damage.

[MN.4] //: OWO

<DWN-012>: >Easy for YOU to say. I was made to move, and being in Active Combat makes me antsy!

[A slight priming noise—]

K-TANG! K-TANG!

<DWN-012>: >This is NOT the first setting of this sort that I’ve trashed.

<DWN-012>: > I am more than ready—

[MN.7] //: -Sigh- -_-;;; Yes, we know now, Twelve.

[MN.7] //: On Stand-By until your order, One.

[MN.6] //: Last but certainly not least--

[MN.6] //: Becko? Dad? You guys there?

Beck: Right here and waiting for orders, Avi!

Will: (That's everyone...)

Will: (I hope you're alright, Soichiro...)

Will: ....Right.

Will: Everyone listen carefully.

Will: Once Avi gives the signal, Pyrogen and his Team--Team One, will lead the charge into the Factory. Your objective is to clear a safe route into the main assembly line.

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

Will: After Pyro and the others make some headway, he'll tell both Team Two and Three to enter and eliminate any other threats, as well as damage the manufacturing equipment. Consider it our second wave.

[MN.8] //: Got it.

[MN.7] //: Yes, Father.

Will: After that, Nine and I will start making our own way into the complex. You needn't fight every robot you see, Beck--our objective is the factory core, the Primary M.O.M Unit.

Will: It controls all commands and functions of the factory and it's robot manufacturing machines. It's located deep in the heart of the building, in the main assembly line.

Will: Avi will be monitoring all team's progress and giving support where needed.

Avi: Yeees sir! ^^

<DWN-012>: >If Snow were awake, he’d really be asking questions now—what an acronym, geez.

<DWN-013>: >You know full well [color=goldenrod]why[/color] he’s still asleep. Try not to go running off from your group, I’m getting interference for Robot Master signals…

<DWN-013>: >I think we might have some [color=darkgreen]spectators[/color] watching.

[MN.8] //: -Yer kiddin' me-

<DWN-013>: >Unfortunately no, but that is a matter for later, I’m afraid.

Will: Right now, he is the least of our worries.

Will: ...

Will: Everyone just be very careful in there--I may have upgraded everyone's filters, but...

Will: Don't do anything too rash, alright?

<DWN-013 to DWN-012>: > PLEASE mind yourself, Mic does have clearance to restrain you if you get too out of hand

<DWN-012 to DWN-013>: > I’m the older brother here, Crashman.

<DWN-012 to DWN-013>: > YOU try not to let the others know just how much you can TANK, we all know what happened the last time our strengths and weaknesses were used against us.

<DWN-013 to DWN-012>: > …

<DWN-013 to DWN-012>: > Cardinal’s going to kill you for that.

<DWN-012 to DWN-013>: > Hmph.

<DWN-013>: >I’ll do my best, Doctor. …I’ve already discussed the matter with Pyro.

<DWN-013>: >Just one last thing—

<DWN-013>: >Um. Aviator?

[MN.6] //: Yo?

<DWN-013>: >Just… give a heads-up whenever you’re about to head my way. >.>;;;;;

<DWN-013>: > -Mild discomfort data-

[MN.6] //: No problamo, Darth Jader. : D

Beck: -Snorts, Star Wars pun, heh-

<DWN-013>: > …Heh… thanks.

<DWN-013 to MNN-001, DR.WHITE>: >The RMDC has been completely disconnected from your servers. So there’s no way for Siam to monitor our progress. What you sense is what you get.

<DWN-013 to MNN-001, DR.WHITE>: >I haven’t heard from Dr. Cossack, so I can only assume he fell asleep. I’m not sure Felix knows how to run the teleporter.

<DWN-013 to MNN-001, DR.WHITE>: > I’ll be fine, but Twelve…

<DWN-013 to MNN-001, DR.WHITE>: > …Let’s just say we’re still all equipped with our self-destruct devices and let the rest speak for itself. >.>

<DWN-013 to MNN-001, DR.WHITE>: >If we take too much damage, don’t stick around.

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

[MN.1] //: -Sharp inhale-

[MN.1] //: Mighties!

[MN.1] //: You are clear to engage combat mode.

[MNN-ALL HAVE ENTERED COMBAT MODE.]

[MN.6] //: Team One, you're cleared for frontal assault!

[MN.6] //: GO GET'EM, GUYS--

[MN.5] //: -TO BATTLE--

[MN.1] //: -Sound of FLAMES IGNITING, FOOSH-

[Interesting. Jaden doesn’t seem to be doing anything in particular.]

[From Beck's position, there was the sound of explosions and crashing of parts, and it wasn't long before whatever alarms that still worked to be set off.]

[The haywire CDNs immediately take notice and engage--they're sheer numbers seemed to almost overwhelm the three constructs...]

[BLAM.]

[…Now why would Jaden be firing at the ground—]

Pyro: --?

[And then it IMMEDIATELY churned in and started blinking.]

Jaden: …

Jaden: -Smirks-

[BOOM!]

[A pretty LARGE explosion sets off from where the drill was, enough to send debris right back at them.]

Jaden: -Looks up, eyes glowing green, still with that smirk-

[You could hear that priming noise again.]

Jaden: If nothing else, this ought to be informative.

Jaden: Time for the welcome party!

Pyro: ...

Pyro: Heh...

Pyro: (Well, it IS a sort of drill, I should have guessed...)

Bat: HA! That all you got, you walking oven rejects?! Almost ain't worth the ammo!

[Bat was riddling the hordes of CDNs with bullet holes--the mindless infected did not stop of waver, however. They really were malfunctioning.]

Pyro: Careful not to point that thing towards something Father might need active.

Bat: -He won't need THESE tin-cans active, brother, so-

Jaden: Tch.

Jaden: These guys make themselves—

[He made a RUN for it, WOW is he fast for his size—]

Jaden: -Leaps into the air- —such an easy TARGET!

Bat: !

Bat: -Hooo, that's SOME height--

[He lands down right on top of a few unfortunate CDNs HARD, and SLAMS some nearby with a backhand swing.

Then he fires right toward the entrance, into the horde.

Sure enough, it can just barely be seen that the Crash Bomb burrows into the constructs too—

—no wonder he asked if they were sentient, that would HAVE to hurt!]

[BOOM!]

[Parts go FLYING as the horde is dispersed--huh. These CherryDyn Models do break easy, don't they...]

Jaden: PATHETIC!

Jaden: I’ve seen /Pipis/ more sturdy than this!

[Once they are inside, the sounds of factory making and... other unpleasant noises greet the three team members.]

Pyro: ....!!

Pyro: -That's--

[...Oh.]

[...Those...look like the fire-type Industrial CDNs from the Oil Platform, aren't they--]

Jaden: Heads up!

[He aims for the CEILING this time.]

Pyro: ...!! Bat!

Bat: -STANDING CLEAR--

[There was a resounding crashing noise as the ceiling came down on top of the fire ‘bots.]

Pyro: Good one.

Bat: --Gh.

Bat: -Points- There's a whole lot more where that came from...

[...It was as if every time they fell one, two more would take their place. This time, it was the standard Security Elite drones that protected the Colosseum in their way...]

Pyro: Allow me.

Jaden: Pyro.

Jaden: Do you trust me?

Pyro: --?

Pyro: ....You have an idea?

Jaden: Yes, but if I’m wrong, it might hurt you a LOT.

Jaden: If I’m RIGHT, though…

Jaden: You’ll get more powerful and will be able to move a lot faster.

Pyro: --!

Bat: Ya can do that?

Pyro: Well, it's not like they haven't surprised us before, Five...

Jaden: I don’t have time to explain the details as to how it works, but yes. Only for fire ‘bots, though.

Pyro: Bat?

Bat: -BLAM- Worth a shot, Commander, but better hurry--enemy flank's comin' in T-Minus 20 seconds!

Pyro: ...

Pyro: -Nods-

Pyro: I trust you.

Jaden: If I’m wrong about this, I’m really sorry—

[He turns and fires right at Pyrogen!]

Bat: --?!?

Pyro: !!!

[Pyro flares and takes up a defensive stance by reflex, knowing that Jaden had fired too close to dodge--]

[FOOOOOOOSH!]

Pyro: --!?

[Suddenly, Pyro's energy levels take a very high spike--!]

[MN.6] //: -WHOA WHO TURNED ON THE LIGHTS, MAN, WHAT'S HAPPENING--

Jaden: -Winces a bit, shielding his face with his arm against the searing heat-

[It turns unbelievably bright, flames almost engulfing Pyro himself--]

Bat: Talk about great balls of fire--

[BURNING LEVEL 3 ENGAGED.]

Bat: -OH-

Jaden: Ngh—! -Staggers back, augh, that hurts to be so close—HURTS—-

Bat: -Ya might wanna stand back a lil' for this one, soldier—-

Jaden: Noted— -Takes cover behind some rubble-

[Without another word, Pyro charges past various other CDN with so much momentum that he BREAKS down the door to the other room--]

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

[...You can even see footprint shaped flames where he ran--]

"BURRRRNIIIIING...."

Bat: -FIRE IN THE HOLE--

"SPIRIT--!!!"

[BOOOM--!!]

[The entire building shakes from the small shockwave of wind and heat that followed, charred CDNs being blown backwards either half incinerated or just plain melted. ]

Bat: ......

Bat: HOO-RAH--!

Bat: THAT WAS SOME FINE EXPLOSIVE ARTILLERY, COMMANDER PYRO--

Bat: -You alright in there--

"........"

"Aside from being covered in soot, yes--"

"Though I didn't think that Crash Bomb would send me all the way to Level 3..."

[MN.6] // THAT WAS AWESOME--

[MN.6] //: -AND WE GOT IT ALL ON FILM, NICE-

<DWN-012>: > …Wait, you’re recording this?

[MN.6] //: -Bro when am I not recording, dude-

[There is an audible groan from the other destroyed room.]

"Really, Aviator?"

[MN.6] //:  : D

Jaden: -Snorts-

Jaden: -Starts laughing-

Jaden: Avi, you crack me up sometimes.

[MN.6] //: -Thank you, thank you~-

[MN.6] //: Where you at, fire bro?

"...It was where shipment supplies were being sorted and organized..."

[MN.6] //: Ooh, good! Nice job, you guys! : D

Jaden: Aheh… I’m just glad it worked—I had a feeling it would but oh man I am so many levels of glad I wasn’t wrong—

[MN.6] //: Uh--...What exactly is IN those things--

[MN.1] //: Questions later, Avi. Can you tell us where we are relative to the factory core?

[MN.6] //: Still a long way to go, bro, but the equipment isn't too far off!

[MN.6] //: How about you go on ahead towards that and tell the other teams to get a move on?

Jaden: -Looks around at the many things still smoldering and/or burning-

Jaden: You might want to have Lady Cryo kill the flames before anyone else comes this way.

[MN.1] //: ...That would be a good idea.

[MN.1 to MNN-ALL, DWN-012] //: Team Two and Three prepare to enter on my mark!

[MN.4] //: E :< -MIC SMASH--

[MN.1] //: Cryo, you'll be on lead, there...Is a bit of a fire hazard now--

[MN.2] //: BRO WE COULD HEAR YOU ALL THE WAY OVER HERE, THAT WAS GLITCHING S I C K--

[MN.2] //: -I'M READY TO PICK SOME CHERRIES, LET'S GO ALREADY--

[MN.6] //: -EEEEEEEEY-

[MN.8] //: -Ugh, WAI-

-*-*-*-

“I’d rather light things on fire, but that wouldn’t be being…

…a good House guest~”

-*-*-*-

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

[MN.8] //: -Ngh....-

[MN.8] //: (...this’d be more fun if he were here.)

[MN.1] //: Ready?

[MN.1] //: Mark!

[MN.2] //: PERSON THAT TAKES OUT THE LEAST CHERRIES HAS TO BUY EVERYONE FOOD--

[MN.8] //: --!

[MN.8] //: OI, AH' AIN'T PAYIN' NOTHIN'--

<DWN-012>: >DUDE I DON’T HAVE ANY CASH, WE’RE LEGIT DIRT POOR YOU KNOW—

[MN.3] //: -Who careszz, YOU GUYSZZ ARE GOING TO EAT MY DUSZZT--

[MN.7] //: =_=;;;;;

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: >You guys ran out of groceries again? Already? Seriously?

[MN.2] //: -IT WAS SHADEY--

[MN.8] //: AH' WAS-- -BANG- ASLEEP, YA MANIACAL SNOWGLOBE--

[MN.3] //: I bet it was Mic, he'szz been kinda craving everything since he got home.

[MN.4] //: ^^;;;!

[There is the sound of slicing and sword swinging over at Brand's feed.]

[MN.7] //: ...Unless Jack returned and raided our fridge.

[MN.5] //: -Doubt it, Secretary Donald is still at the lab-

<DWN-012, DWN-013>: > ?!

<DWN-013>: >  “Secretary”?

[MN.6] //: Uh--

[MN.6] //: Guys I'm getting some REALLY weird signals--

<DWN-013>: > This better not be a diversion, Avi—

<DWN-013 to MNN-005>: > Secretary of WHAT?

<DWN-012>: >Define “weird”. >_>

[MN.6] //: -No, DUDE, UH, AS IN “I CAN'T TELL WHAT IT IS” WEIRD AND IT'S HEADING YOUR WAY--

[MN.5] //: --?!?

[...There are clunking noises....]

[Sounds of something slugging and...sparking--?]

<DWN-013>: > Grrr…

[MN.1] //: What the--?!

[It LOOKED like it was one of the encountered enemies from Cryo's stage, but...]

[It looked like it had grown GIANT spider legs— and it was twitching erratically, this way and that.]

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

[MN.6] //: Dad, you gotta see THIS--

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

[MN.6] //: That-- That isn't any CDN model I've seen--

[MN.6] //: -man it looks gross, EW-

Jaden: … This…

Jaden: -Ugh, no, not headaches now— -

[MN.1] //: Jaden--

[MN.5] //: There's more coming--!

[MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE....]

Beck: What is going on in there--?

Will: Hmm...

Will: (This is concerning.)

Will: (Has CherryDyn become so desperate that they're literally mashing robot designs together...?)

Will: (Graham couldn't possibly be that stupid, and if he really is, it's very demeaning that he's done so much harm to us.)

Will: (No, this...This has to be something else...)

Beck: Dad? Is...Is everything okay?

Will: --Ah. Well...

[Will turns to the floating monitor, which showed the Teams all in a three way split screen.]

Will: They're encountering robots that we haven't anticipated before...

Beck: What?

Will: It seems CherryDyn has some... unreleased products still hot off the assembly line, so to speak.

Will: Be prepared for anything, Beck.

Beck: R-Right...

Beck: ....

Beck: You're gonna be okay, right, Dad?

Will: Well, I have you, don't I? ^^

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: Yeah, but, I mean, you only have that sword...

Will: Nonsense. Mikhail gave me something to defend myself with before we left....

Will: And while I haven't quite fenced in a while...

Will: I'm sure it'll come back to me. Muscle memory and all that.

Will: I'll be fine, Beck. So long as we stick together, yes?

Beck: R-Right! (^^)7

[MN.6] //: -Oof--UH--Yeah, I'm gonna head in there now, there's these weird flying things with drills on them and they do not look happy--

[PING!]

[The ping was clearly from someone on the RMDC server. Which was very odd, considering that it was supposed to have been in radio silence.]

Beck: --??

[Siamini’s worried data flooded the feeds.]

<DWN-019>: > Oh gosh Jaden, Speedy, where ARE you—

<DWN-019>: > Where is everybody?!

Beck: Siam--!

[MN.6] //: KINDA IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING, BRO--

<DWN-019>: > -Incredulous and growing annoyed- “In the middle of something—“

<DWN-019>: > -Increasingly frantic- GUYS ANSWER ME—

<DWN-012>: > Dude we’re BUSY—

<DWN-019>: > “Busy”!? What do you two think you’re DOING?!

<DWN-012>: >Siam, for all that is good, did you just call here to scream at us or what—

<DWN-019>: >  -Double data intensity- IDIOTS!

[MN.6] //: Dude, calm down, deep breaths--

<DWN-019>: >Avi, you don’t understand—

<DWN-019>: > -Talking over self- Are you two trying to live up to Wily’s name by being overly proud, or are you just plain stupid?!

<DWN-019>: >Hey, that’s not—

<DWN-019>: >There’s a primal analysis nexus being constructed, Avs! Doesn’t anyone remember what happened the LAST time a primal nexus was added into the database?!

<DWN-019>: >Do I have to spell it out for you?! If that thing goes live while you’re out there—!

<DWN-019>: > Even if it DOESN’T cause crippling pain, what kind of reaction do you think you’ll GET when you look at Shade?!

-*-*-*-*-

“Don’t… don’t do this… beg… begging you, please…”

-*-*-*-*-

[MN.8] //: --Ngh--hurts--

[Shade reeled in the despair of that painful memory. It stabbed at his heart, piercing him with sorrow right to the core.]

[MN.6] //: Sammy, bro, as much as we'd like to deal with it, we're all kinda out making sure Dad and Becker are okay in this crazy place--OW--

[MN.6] //: -OW GET THIS THING OFF OF ME--

[A red blur by Avi.]

[MN.6] //: --!

[Suddenly, whatever THING was on him was stuck with yellow boomerangs.]

[There is a SCREECH and then a Thud that followed--]

[MN.6] //: Whew--THANKS, SPEEDSTER--

<DWN-012>: >Siam, I know for a FACT that the data has been encrypted for slower release—otherwise, do you think I’d even be able to BE here at all? Please stop freaking out over something that isn’t IMMEDIATELY a problem, we’re kinda BUSY!

[Siam was clearly less than pleased with that answer. His data suggested that the situation was FAR worse than the Mighties were prepared for.]

<DWN-019>: >Do you HONESTLY think I would—

<DWN-012>: > YES

<DWN-019>: >I didn’t—

<DWN-012>: >I don’t care!

<DWN-019>: > GRAH! Why won’t you LISTEN to me!?

<DWN-013>: >No offense, bro, but if that’s all—

<DWN-019>: > IT’S NOT, YOU TWITS!

<DWN-019>: >There are some MASSIVE temporal anomalies and you’re all getting caught up in it! It’s not just you, it’s Mikhail as well—and do I need to remind you, YOU SPECIFICALLY, TWELVE, of how dangerous that could be to YOU, personally?

<DWN-012>: > -Mnnrrgh…!-

<DWN-019>: > Where is Mikhail?!

<DWN-019>: >I need Cardinal over here to properly oversee the updates, and I need his help with—

<DWN-013>: > Ugh—

<DWN-013>: >I’m SORRY, Gem, but— -BLAM!- 000 is still processing everything, we can’t move him yet, and it seems there are other problems—

<DWN-019>: >HOW can this possibly get worse?

<DWN-013>: > -Irritable- I think Mikhail is under arrest, Gemini!

[MN.5] //: (-Inwardly cursing self for using military titles where they are due out of respect, NGH-)

<DWN-019>: > …

[The feeds were slammed with acerbic data.]

<DWN-019>: >  -PANIC DATA-

<DWN-019>: >   -PANIC PANIC PANIC-

<DWN-011>: > …

<DWN-011>: > …Joking, right?

<DWN-011>: > Right?

<DWN-012>: > He was IN handcuffs, brother—

<DWN-019>: > Nnnnnnnn-nnn-nnn-noo—

<DWN-019>: > Stars above I don’t think I can do this—

<DWN-018>: >Look, I doubt that if—

<DWN-019>: >IT DOESN’T MATTER! NOT WHAT YOU THINK!

<DWN-019>: > I DON’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO KEEP THAT DATA FROM REACHING THE COSSACK NUMBERS!

[MN.7] //: --!!!

[MN.1] //: You mean you can't stop it?!

[MN.8] //: -Hnnn, headache, they're gonna—-

[MN.2] //: -Oh GLTICH IT'S GONNA BE ALL RUSSAIN WINTER FURY IF THEY FIND OUT—-

[MN.9] //: Wh-What do we do—?!

[There was more than a little reason to worry. Having gone through so much suffering, the Cossack Numbers were very, VERY protective of their sister and their father. Mikhail had asked that they remain undisturbed for that very reason.

It was highly unlikely they could be convinced to sit it out—especially when one of the Numbers was the very epitome of rage.]

<DWN-018>: > Are you serious.

<DWN-019>: >I’m not the Admin, Nico! I don’t have that kind of power!

<DWN-018>: > That’s it. As head of the family, I’m intervening. Dealing with our dysfunctions is plenty; I am not going to put up with fighting the Russians. 

[It would seem that Nico had lost his patience.]

Will: -Winces-

Will: (Oh, no, this...This is not good—)

<DWN-018>: >Siam, there’s got to be SOMETHING you can do—

<DWN-019>: > Well I’ll TRY to stall—I think I can by changing the data Snow gets— but hurry up as much as you can, I need the rest of the family back as soon as possible!

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

<DWN-018>: >Fine, do it. Gem, get that guy on the line. We’ve got to talk this out before it gets out of hand. And as for you two…

<DWN-018>: >Speedy, Jaden, you guys were BUILT for Combat, can’t you work ANY faster?!

<DWN-013>: > Grrr…

<DWN-013 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

[MN.1] //: —!!

[Jaden began to glow white.]

[It almost… almost looked like the light from an evolution!]

[MN.6] //: -WHOA WHAT THE HECK--

Beck: --!!!!

Will: (What is...)

Beck: (I know that light--)

Will: (What IS that...?)

Beck: (I KNOW that LIGHT--!)

Jaden: I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!

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

[Jaden had changed. The was larger now, and bulkier—and based on the energy ratings from him, he was packing some SERIOUS heat.]

[MN.5] //: -DATA AT ALL THE WEAPONRY BORDERING ON SURPRISE AND EXCITEMENT--

[Hatches popped open.

YEP. Those were some sort of missiles inside.]

Jaden: WE’RE TAKING A DETOUR!

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

[MN.5] //: -I SECOND THIS NOTION--

[MN.1] //: BAT--

[Jaden used CRASH BOMBER!]

[A barrage of about five Crash Bombs were nailed into the wall, where they burrowed.

MORE hatches popped open.]

Beck: -DAD DAD DAD LOOK--

Will: -Is looking but with awe--

Jaden:  -FIRE!-

[Missiles launched from EVERY port at once. In conjunction with the Crash Bombs, they took out the walls’ supports—flattening the constructs that HAD been behind it—]

[—with more continuing to the wall on the OTHER side of that room and turning it into a gaping hole of RUBBLE.]

[MN.5] //: HOOOOO-RAAAAAAAH!

[MN.1] //: -Is just shocked into silence-

Beck: YEAH, GO JADEN GO--!

Jaden: COME ON, MAJOR, WE HAVE AN EXTERMINATION CONTRACT TO HONOR—

Jaden: AND WE’RE SENDING THE BILL RIGHT TO HQ!

[MN.5] //: RIGHT TO GRAHAM'S ILL-GOTTEN OFFICE, TOO!

[MN.1] //: -The both of you better not level the place while WE'RE STILL IN IT--

[The hatches close.]

Jaden: Who said anything about leveling the building?

Jaden: These constructs, on the other hand…

[Jaden used BODY SLAM!]

[He rammed RIGHT into one of them, crunching it against the wall. It had been covered in spikes, but he took no damage.]

Jaden: ARE GONNA BE FLATTENED!

[He was jumped by several more constructs—or abominations, rather.

He skewers one with a drill and fires the Crash Bomb—with the enemy on it—right into several others, exploding.]

Beck: : D!!!!!!

Beck: -I KNEW HE COULD DO IT--

Beck: -I KNEW IIIIIIT-

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

[MN.6] //: Uh...I'm pretty sure you guys can head on in? : D ;;;;;

Will: Ah, yes...

Will: Shall we?

Beck: Yeah!

Beck: Just stay behind me, Dad, okay?

Will: Oh, by all means, take the lead. ^^

<DWN-013>: > Let’s do this, Mighty Nine!

<DWN-013>: >We’re just the opening act—you’re the main show!

Beck: Heh!

Beck: -Running ahead- Gonna be hard to top what you dished out, Jaden! c: <

<DWN-013>: >Heh…

<DWN-013>: > Not for a hero like you, it won’t!

[A mess of what was once dense with virus fodder was now in utter ruin.]

[Will quietly made his way behind his son with methodical footsteps, careful to not let his guard down.]

Will: Goodness, the lot of you really made short work of all this...

Beck: No kidding...

[MN.5] //: HA! I've met CAN-OPENERS THAT WERE TOUGHER THAN THAT!

[MN.3] //: I appreciate the zzzeal, Bat, but can you tone down the trigger happy crazzzy little? Trying to concentrate.

[MN.2] //: KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~ WHO WANTS FROZEN CHERRY SMOOTHIES FOR DESERT?~

[MN.6] //: Not of these weird things, bleh--

[MN.6] //: But get it together, you two! Tyrannasaurous-BECKS is here! : D

[MN.6] //: The haywire robot assembly line is just up ahead, Becker, it's all up to you! And Dad too, of course! : D Keep heading straight!

Beck: Roger, Avi! I'm on it!

Beck: --Whoooooa...

Beck: Pyro, what did you do?

[MN.1] //: I don't know how, but Jaden's Crash Bombs seem to have a sort of buff effect on me...

<DWN-019>: >Well of COURSE it does, you’re a fire based construct.

[MN.1] //: << -Siam shouldn't you be stalling right about now--

<DWN-012>: > -sNORT-

<DWN-012>: >You’re forgetting something, Pyro.

[MN.1] // -...Damn it, you're right, he can multitask--

Beck: -Cough, ugh, smoke's kinda bad--

Will: -Coughing and using lab coat sleeve over his mouth and nose-

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

Beck: -Blows smoke away with propeller wind-

Beck: Dad?

Will: -Ugh- Yes?

Beck: How exactly are you going to shut down the Primary M.O.M Unit?

Will: --...Ah...

Will: I'm going to try and hack my way into it...

Will: It can only be manually shut down from that one terminal.

Will: (....I might have to combat the virus myself while I'm at it...)

Will: .....

Beck: ...Dad?

Will: --...Er. We need to keep moving.

Will: If we can shut down the Primary Unit, we won't have to bother with the Secondary...

Beck: There's a secondary M.O.M unit?

Will: Yes, but it only serves as a sort of support pillar to the Primary--shutting THAT down won't slow or stop the factory itself.

Will: It's faster and much more effective to go straight to the Primary M.O.M unit than waste time with the Secondary.

Beck: Okay...

Beck: (......)

Beck: (When did Dad have time to read up on how CherryDyn's Factory setup works...?)

<DWN-019>: >I suppose it doesn’t surprise me there isn’t more of a redundancy in the system for failsafe measures.

<DWN-019>: >I’ll try to leave you be for now, I know that most people can’t do two entirely different things at once, but—

<DWN-019>: >I’m a little concerned by what is going on over there, given the kind of files Mikhail printed off from this server. And the fact he’s under arrest.

Beck: .... Files...?

Will: ......

<DWN-019>: >Evidence files, Beck.

Beck: ....For...For what?

Will: Siam.

<DWN-019>: >William, with all due respect—

<DWN-019>: >My family leader is dead and our Doctor could very well follow, and you’re in the middle of somewhere dangerous while I’m trying to keep the Cossack Numbers from hearing something I DON’T have the authority to censor.

<DWN-019>: >I am a bit stressed, sorry.

<DWN-019>: >You and I need to talk when this is over.

<DWN-019 has left the conversation.>

Will: ......

Will: -Sigh-

Will: >>

Beck: ...Dad...?

Beck: What's going on?

Will: . . . .

Will: Beck, it...

Will: . . .

[Will places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.]

Will: I...I'm sorry, but we don't have time.

Will: We have to get to that terminal.

Will: ...Please, I know...I know things seem troubling, and that's a light way to put it...

Beck: .....

Beck: No, I...

Beck: I get it.

Will: --?

Beck: We gotta keep going.

Beck: (....I get it...)

Beck: Avi said the factory line was just down this straight path...

[Beck hovered over to the other end of the room--or, rather, where the room WOULD end, because the wall that was there was in several different pieces now.]

Beck: Don't fall behind, Dad!

Will: . . .

<DWN-012>: >Boy does this bring back memories.

Beck: You said you did wreck a place like this before, right--

[THUD.]

<DWN-012>: >Yeah, the place where I was built—hmm?

<DWN-012>: >Mic, did you—

[SMAT!]

[MN.4] //: -Oops-

[MN.4] //: MIC SORRY, MIC DIDN'T BRING WALL BACK DOWN--

[MN.7] //: Speedy--

<DWN-012>: > -SPRINGS BACK UP, readjusts balance sensors- Ow.

[MN.7] //: . . .

[MN.7] //: -...Oh.-

[MN.4] //: -Speedy okay? Okay.-

<DWN-012>: >YEAH BRO I RUN INTO STUFF ALL THE TIME, no big deal—

[MN.4] //: -Goes back to crushing things-

<DWN-013>: >Him wrecking where we were built is more impressive than it sounds.

<DWN-013>: >I was built there too, and like all ‘bots, I had a testing phase. Let that sink in for a moment, heh.

<DWN-012>: >And…

<DWN-012>: >And there was also Wily Nine.

<DWN-013>: >Oh yeah—Dad assigned him to a factory, didn’t he?

<DWN-012>: >Yeah.

Beck: .....

Beck: (...Wily Nine...)

Beck: (....Huh...)

Will: --!!

Will: Beck, look out--!

Beck: !

[Beck flanked away JUST in time to avoid a MASSIVE cylinder-shaped pillar crashing down from the ceiling, the CherryDyn logo pulsing above in a hologram.]

Will: --!!!

Will: That's the secondary M.O.M Unit--!

Will: How did it end up--

[The Hologram suddenly glitched Red and PURPLE-- ]

Beck: ?!

[--And then out materialize the generator robots from the Power Plant--! ]

Beck: NOT THESE THINGS--

Will: -BACKING FAR AWAY NOW--

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

[A blast of chilling ice coated the generator bots before they could charge and lock his systems--Beck did NOT want to be rendered immobile with his Father so close to these dangerous CDNs.]

Beck: Dad, get away! Now!

Will: -Ngh--

[Will turned to take cover the other way--]

Will: --!!

[...Only to find that a few trash robots had been materialized to block him.]

Will: We're surrounded--!

[Will took a step back, holding his Rapier in his left hand while his right went behind his back.]

Will: Ngh...

Will: (Parry, thrust, stance wide...)

Will: (Never take your eyes off your opponent...)

Will: (Look them in the eye and strike without hesitation--!)

[One of the trash bots leaps--]

[CLANG!]

[Will side steps out of the way, the Xel in his weapon glowing as it is thrust into the construct--]

[KKKSST--]

[...The trash bot's Xel begins to melt away--]

[SHING!]

[And then suddenly, it isn't there anymore.

The Xel dissipates as the trash bot vanishes, stabbed right in the exact center of its central core.]

[Back in the Meadow, Siam was utterly speechless.

The manner in which Will had acted was nothing short of slightly terrifying. To see the ease and unflinching willingness in which he could dissolve those that opposed him…

…It was more than a little unnerving, and a harsh new perspective that cast the Doctor in a much darker light than before.]

<RMDC>: > SENDING UPDATES…

[The reaction to this permeating their collective consciousness was immediate.]

<DWN-011 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-012 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-013 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-018 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-019 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

Beck: --??? -Confused for a moment before going back to FIGHTING--

[Will let the trash bots come to him, watching their every move with a steely gaze that didn't quite suit his overall appearance...

He moved with practiced poise and grace, and while he did miss a swing here and there due to being out of practice--]

[SHING!]

[...The trash bots were no match for someone of Will's technique.]

[Siam suddenly felt very cold and ill. This was the man that had access to their blueprints and inner workings.

Suddenly, he wasn’t so willing to share them anymore.]

<RMDC>: > ERROR: ADMIN PASSWORD REQUIRED TO CHANGE ACCESS LEVELS. REQUEST DENIED.

<RMDC>: >CONTACTING ADMIN…

[The sickening chill had gripped the others as well. They were overcome with the need to flee for their lives.]

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: > H-how much more of this do you think there i-is—

[MN.1 to DWN-013] //: ...Are you alright? -What is with the sudden drop in mood-

[MN.1 to DWN-013] //: This factory is CherryDyn's, I wouldn't be surprised if it is larger than we think.

<DWN-013>: > D-dammit…

<DWN-013>: > -N-no, we aren’t okay-

<DWN-013>: > Let’s g-get this over with and get out of here…

<DWN-013>: >I won’t abandon you now, but something has happened and now I very much want to go home.

[While Jaden had started showing submission again, his older brother had much the opposite effect.

His usual hot-blooded demeanor had turned icy cold, much more like Shadow’s when the latter was in a dangerous and silent mood.

Furthermore, his usually green eyes had turned and were now glowing a deep red—a sign that he felt the presence of a powerful and aggressive, cruel enemy in his midst.

…

But then there was a shudder of some sort in the air, almost a glitch within reality itself. Everything RIPPLED and there was a deep reverberating gong sound that rolled into an echoing, vibrating low tone that drowned everything out, everything becoming stretched and warped. It suddenly rocketed over them like a sound wave, seeming to shatter in the far distance.]

<DWN-011 has left Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-012 has left Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-013 has left Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-018 has left Defensive Combat mode.>

<DWN-019 has left Defensive Combat mode.>

Speedy: -Puts a hand to his head- Nnngh…!

Brand: --!

[MN.7] //: Speedy--are you alright? (...What just happened?)

<DWN-012>: > I hurt, really bad— it’s like… like all my programs just ran flat into a wall and were turned off for ages—

[He coughs, trying to re-calibrate various sensors.]

<DWN-012>: >Ugh… I wasn’t made to handle that sort of thing, it really hurts…

[…He was right.

Somehow, he seemed to have taken damage from whatever that was just now. The readings showed it.]

<DWN-012>: > (Maybe Siam was right…. Nnnngh, I have a bad, bad feeling about this…)

[MN.4] //: -PING- -Mic can provide cover if you need a minute-

[...And it REALLY seems Mic was confident in this, because he was just walling the other crazed CDNs.]

<DWN-012>: > …

<DWN-012>: > -Emotional data- Th… thanks, man…

[He grits his teeth against the pain and forces himself back to his feet.]

<DWN-012>: > -You guys really are the best-

Brand: -SHING- No need to thank us. -SHING- Besides, being the defense is Mic's function.

[CRASH!]

[A bunch of CDNs were casually swept aside by Mic's huge arms--he briefly turns back to Speedy to give a reassuring smile.]

Mic: ^w^

Mic: -Turns again to WHAM on a CDN that tried to get the jump on him-- -NOPE, DENIED-

Speedy: Heh… -Weak smile- I guess just… so not used to it.

Speedy: Our family… my series, just so very different, such a different experience.

Speedy: Almost all my brothers shot at me at least once. Including the defensive-based unit.

Speedy: That was the last time I… actually fought, was… the [color=blue]end[/color] of our Generation…. As the Last Survivor of my series…

Brand: .....

Mic: -WHANG- : E -Awwwww-

Mic: -Mic give you hug later-

Mic: -Busy with Cherry crazies right now but IOU a hug-

Speedy: Heh…

[A larger boomerang materializes in his hand. He’s smiling with his eyes closed.]

Speedy: Just try not to crunch hug me, I hear FMN-004 likes to do that.

[When he opens his eyes again, they’re glowing with determination.]

Speedy: But we’ll make our way out of here, alright—

[He gives a short burst of a sprint to vault his way onto Mic’s back.]

Mic: -Oop- : D!

[He hurls the larger Quick Boomerang down the hallway, slicing through about a dozen and a half constructs before it gets wedged into a piece of machinery.]

Speedy: And we’ll get to hang out with someone that gives a better name to what these guys are associated with.

Speedy: Let’s speed things up so we can FFW to the feast, yeah?

Brand: -Nods-

[Brand slices a few CDNs in half before pointing his sword towards the next room.]

Brand: Onwards!

[MEANWHILE...]

Beck: KYAH!

[Beck doesn't waste a second slamming a guided missile at the M.O.M unit, it's systems damaged and scrambled--but it was now churning out fused abominations of whatever it could find in CherryDyn's database...]

Beck: What even ARE these things??

Will: -KICKS A TRASH BOT AWAY- The systems are infected! The manufacturing programs must be going haywire--

[Another trash bot that seemed to be fused with a fire based bot is dissolved--]

Will: --The virus must be finding schematics in CherryDyn's database and mixing them together--!

Beck: But WHY?

Will: --Ngh-- I don't know--

Will: (Does...Does SHE know I'm here--?)

[CRUNCH.]

Will: --??

[After a few seconds, there was a sudden explosion from beneath one of the heavier fused Xel beasties—]

Will: --?!?

[Sending (besides Xel) a splatter of hissing liquid and green shrapnel pieces everywhere.]

Beck: Dad?! Are you okay?!

Will: Fine--

Will: --!!

Will: (...B... Battery Acid...)

Will: (Ngh--not you, not NOW--!)

Will: BECK!

Will: We need to get moving, NOW!

Beck: On it!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

Beck: Out of the WAY--!

[Will ducks for cover just in time before Beck unleashed a Level 2 Burning Spirit--]

[CRACK--CREEEEEEEEEEAK--]

[The display on the M.O.M unit flickers and dies, the top end of the pillar melting away and--]

[CRAAAAAASH!]

[...falls backwards, COMPLETELY taking out the wall to the next room after.]

Beck: --Oops--

Beck: Uh...aaaat least we can pass--? ^.^;

Will: Goodness--

Will: (I didn't think Level 2 would be THAT effective...)

Will: Are you alright?

Beck: Yup--I'm good!

Beck: Let's keep going--

"Eeeeyyy, Beckers!"

Beck: !

[Avi flies in from the giant hole in the wall, surveying the damage done by the now broken M.O.M unit.]

Avi: Wowzers, next time give a little heads-up there, buddy, you nearly pillar-ized me!

Avi: -BADAUM TISSS SOUND EFFECT OVER THE FEEDS- : D

Beck: -Giggles- Sorry, Avi, I didn't know you were there.

[MN.7] //: -My guess is Avi, which means ignore it-

Avi: Love ya too, Ninjabro! ;D

Avi: Things all good with you, Dad?

Will: I'm fine, Six--what's the status of the other teams?

Avi: Team One is making some pretty good headway, and the other Teams are following right behind--they're not too far ahead of where we are.

<DWN-013>: >I must admit concern for the structural integrity of the place if we collectively keep blowing up walls and stuff, though…

<DWN-013>: >It’ll probably be declared structurally unsafe after we get out of here.

<DWN-012>: >Heh, no big loss. |D

Avi: -Snorts-

Beck: Hey, Avi--you haven't seen some weird fused robots, have you?

Avi: Oh, THOSE things--

Avi: Yeah, they're popping up everywhere in this place, they're so weird--

Will: Hmm...

<DWN-013>: > That’s rather not my point, though—

<DWN-013>: >We can say with a great degree of certainty that when things get unstable enough, they collapse and bury you alive, it happens more often in our family than you think. If this keeps up for too long, that puts you in a lot of danger, Uncle Will.

Will: ....

Will: (He's right--there's not only the infected robot threat, but the status of the factory building itself...)

Will: ....

Will: The fused infected CDNs and the weakening integrity of the building is all the more reason why we must hurry to the Primary M.O.M unit.

<DWN-013>: >Gah…

<DWN-013>: >If only we had Cardinal’s use of the Search Snake Power Capsule right now—that thing is great for scouting out unknown territories, it’s why it was made to begin with…

Will: (...Or to spy on others, in this case...)

Will: Avi, can you scout out the next room for us?

Avi: Already did, Daddo! Cleared it out while you guys were busy--this way!

[The next room seems to be a data storage room, with screens that take up the entire wall much like in Sanda Labs...]

[...Except they showed off dozens upon dozens of blueprints and schematics for all sorts of CDN Industrial Models--it looked like a viewing room for whatever few humans that DID work in the factory to oversee the manufacturing process.]

Beck: -Look, ITS A ROUND DIGGER, BUDDYYYYY-

Will: (All these models...)

Avi: --!!

Avi: Well, well, well, what do we have here...

<DWN-012>: >A punplane who’s about to tell us something interesting?

[Avi flies over to a schematic that's waaaaay up high near the ceiling, something that seemed...Out of place...]

Avi: Hey, Dad? The rest of these plans are for Industrials, right?

Will: ...They all seem to be, yes...

Will: Did you find something?

Avi: ..Oh, yeah, I FOUND something, alright--

Avi: A schematic for a COMBAT Model.

Will: --!

<DWN-012>: >I don’t get why that’s so strange—

Avi: (And if I'm reading this right--)

Avi: --!!

Avi: Uh Oh--

Avi: DAD I GOTTA GO--

<DWN-013>: >Woah, woah, woah—

<DWN-013>: > -Avs are you okay— -

Will: What--

Avi: Got a hot scoop to deliver to Doc Sanda-Man, DON'T WORRY I'LL BE RIGHT BACK--

[Without another word, Avi shifts into Jet Mode and zooooooms back out the way Will and Beck came in.]

Will: Wait--Avi! What about Soi?!

Beck: ....

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Beck flies up to where Avi saw the schematic for the CDN combat model...]

Beck: ....

Beck: K-9...?

<DWN-013 and DWN-012>: > …

<DWN-012>: > Scrap—

<DWN-012>: > Canine models can get VICIOUS…

Beck: Combat model designed to patrol and guard--

Beck: Maximum security establishments--!

<DWN-013>: > UGH this is all Fahrenheit 451 on us—

Beck: -THERE'S ONE AT THE PRISON--

Will: SOI!

Will: (Oh God SOICHIRO--)

Will: (And you--)

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

Soi: A-Are you sure you don't want to, uh... swap missions...?

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

Will: (Oh, Soi, I never should have--!)

Beck: Dad--Uncle Sanda--!

Beck: And--And Call--!

[PING!]

<DWN-018>: > -Shocked data-

<DWN-019>: > NICO YOU STAY PUT—

Will: --!!

[Unfortunately, this was the worst thing that Siam could have said. Nico quickly snapped out of it, and his data became almost horrifically aggressive.]

<DWN-018>: > … You—

[There’s a loud WHANG and a crash, followed by static—]

[As if Siamini had been flung against a wall by a powerful force, and possibly into a transmitter.]

Beck: Wha--?

Will: (Nico...)

Will: (....Soichiro is going to need all the help he can get in there--)

Will: (Oh, please, Avi, PLEASE get there in time to warn them--!)

<DWN-012>: > Augh…

<DWN-012>: > By the time this is over EVERY ROBOT MASTER AWAKE is gonna end up in repairs, GREAT—

<DWN-013>: >With Cardinal, Nico, and Siam all out of it…

<DWN-012>: > I KNOW—

<DWN-012>: > Let’s hurry up and get out of here before I have no one left to look over!

<DWN-012>: > Doctor!

Will: --!

<DWN-012>: >Based on the perimeter and area of the building before we got in here, how close do you think you are to where you need to be? And would it be on this same floor or in a basement?

Will: Th-The same floor--and there's still quite a bit to go--

<DWN-012>: >Nnngh…

<DWN-012>: >Alright then—

<DWN-012>: >We need to make sure the building stays in one piece until then. Mic, as you go along, will you put in reinforcement beams in rooms and so forth to reinforce the structural integrity?

[MN.4] //: -PING- Hmm hmm! ^w^

<DWN-012>: >Good. Team One—

[There’s a loud crashing noise.]

Brand: . . . .??????

Brand: -What--

Brand: -I thought that only happens in the old cartoons Avi watches all the time--

[MN.8] //: Oi, what the HELL was that noise--?!

[MN.2] //: -Shadey stop being grumpy and COVER ME YOU COWPOKING GRUMP-

Beck: Dad--

Will: -Ngh...-

Will: We have to keep moving--

Will: (Soi--Soi has Avi coming, and Call is there, and Nico is on his way...)

Will: (He'll be fine, he'll be fine--oh goodness please let him be alright after this--)

<DWN-012>: > …Uh…

<DWN-012>: >OKAY so apparently not all the walls are meant to take Combat-model force momentum??

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: > You RAN THROUGH A /WALL/ are you SERIOUS—

<DWN-013>: >  -CRACKS UP LAUGHING-

[MN.2] //: -Yo for REAL, HE DIDN'T GO SPLAT--

Will: (... Well, this IS mostly an Industrial Robot Factory...)

<DWN-013>: > Are you kidding, Sis?

<DWN-013>: > -Warm data- Dad made him to be FINE after running into walls at well over 100 mph.

<DWN-013>: >I guess since he held up and something has to give when two objects meet…

<DWN-013>: > He just went right through the wall oh I’m dying of laughter here

[MN.2] //: -DUUUUUUUDE THAT'S SICK-

<DWN-013>: >How are you three holding up, by the way?

<DWN-013>: >Haven’t heard from you in a whi—

[MN.2] //: HEY MIC DO YOU THINK IF YOU THREW ME AT A WALL I'D GO THROUGH IT TOO LIKE THE KOOL-AID MAN IN THE FUNNY COMMERCIALS--

<DWN-013>: >  -SNORTS-

[MN.1] //: -cryo please FOCUS ON YOUR TEAM, NO ONE IS THROWING YOU AT A WALL-

[MN.2] //: -BUT IT BE SO COOL, THO, I'D BE ALL OOOOOH YEAH, GLITCHES, GET WRECKED--

[Jaden’s laughter quiets down a bit, but he’s still grinning as he goes at the infected CDNs around him in drill-to-hand combat.

He’s quite good at it, too, in a way that suggests he trained to be so.]

[MN.3] //: -Bzzzzt, we're fine, just pretty concentrated on these CDN creeps-

[MN.8] //: -Very focused data, trying to stay in the zone here but SOMEONE KEEPS YELLIN'--

[MN.2] //: -TOO BAD, I'M TEAM LEADER, PLLLLLLLPGH- -Raspberry noises-

<DWN-013>: > -Gently- Shade?

[MN.8] //: What?

<DWN-013>: > You’re awfully tense, and that makes it harder to focus right.

<DWN-013>: > …Everything will be okay.

[Shade didn’t respond to that.

As much as he was trying to hide it, he was in a great deal of emotional pain and physical exhaustion. He had only just woken up from the fights of his life, and the main thing that kept him going in the face of the terrible things, the things he had done—the only thing that kept him going was because he HAD to.

He had to—they needed him—

And he had to, he had to keep his mind—keep it off of—]

[MN.8] //: (Nnngh…)

[…The fact that the update of Cardinal’s memories to the server was a ticking time bomb, just waiting to make the Rebel Angels even more terrified of him and potentially hostile…

…really, really wasn’t helping.]

<DWN-013>: > We’re all in this together, alright?

<DWN-013>: >And we don’t need perfection here just now—

[Background noise of something being lit on fire.]

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

[MN.8] //: -mmmgh.-

<DWN-013>: > -He’ll be okay, I promise-

<DWN-013>: >He’s already running again.

[MN.8] //: … … …

[There was a muffled bit of data that seemed edge with dread—dread, uncertainty, anxiety, concern—

Almost as if he were thinking to himself a worry that what happened could ever be forgiven.]

<DWN-013>: > Ah ah—I know that data—

<DWN-013>: >Just try and loosen up a bit and be there for your sisters, okay?

<DWN-013>: >We can deal with the rest later after we get home.

<DWN-013>: >Think of it as…

<DWN-013>: > -Lightbulb-

<DWN-013>: >Some DLC for your tagging incident. : ]

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

[MN.8] //: (....That would be nice...)

[MN.2] //: -YEAH AFTER WE CLEAN UP CHERRY'S MESS, WE CAN AAAAALL BE NICE AND CHILL TOGETHER-

<DWN-012>: >GG, Icewoman—

<DWN-012>: >Now I want black cherry flavored snowcones—

<DWN-013>: > I prefer strawberry and lemonade flavor, myself.

[MN.2] //: -Glitch when Snow wakes up we gotta make ALLLL THE SNOWCONES AND ICE CREAMS--

[BOOM—!]

[MN.2] //: --What the glitch was that?

<DWN-012>: >I’m not sure— Bat?

[MN.5] //: That wasn't us or Pyro--not Jaden either--

[MN.1] //: Avi isn't here and Shade didn't blow up anything, did you?

[MN.8] //: Nope--

[MN.7] //: --....

[MN.7] //: Beck--

[Static.]

[MN.9] //: B--Buddy--that's not Buddy--

[MN.7] //: -????-

[DR.WHITE] //: It's--It must be an unreleased, upgraded Round Digger Model--!

[Explosions can be heard over the feeds--]

[MN.9] //: -BUDDY IS LIKE TEN TIMES BETTER THAN YOU, STOP SHOOTING WATER AT ME--

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: > -A Digger that uses WATER????-

<DWN-013>: >Are you sure that’s not a glitched model?

[MN.9] //: -Don't care--

[SHING!]

[MN.9] //: -This thing can wreck the whole building if we leave it unchecked--

<DWN-013>: >If Avi were here, I’m sure he’d be punning about “where’s the fire” or soOOOOOoOooohhhhh okayyy…

<DWN-012>: > -No, bailing and letting it run loose is not an option-

<DWN-013>: > -Didn’t mean it wasn’t tempting for a moment-

[SHING SHING SHING--]

[MN.9] //: -UGH THIS THING IS WAY TOUGHER THAN BUDDY WAS--

<DWN-012>: >But nowhere near as tough as you!

<DWN-012>: >I guess he’s using your form, Brand. : ]

[MN.7] //: >> -....He uses it well-

[MN.9] //: -wat really--

[MN.9] //: -I MEAN--THANKS NII-SAN--

[There's a strange burst of data when Beck is praised by his elder brother--]

[SHINGSHINGSHINGSHINGSHINGSHING--!]

<DWN-013>: > ?

Will: Oh my--

<DWN-013 to MNN-007>: >Brand, what am I hearing?

[MN.7] //: Otouto?

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

[MN.9] //: @~@

[MN.9] //: Sooooo dizzyyyy...

[MN.9] //: -Blrgh, dad why did you program me for nausea--

Will: -I--I think Beck just did Brand's Spin Slash technique--

Speedy: -Raises an eyebrow- …

[MN.7] //: What!?

[MN.9] //: WHOA WHAT REALLY I CAN D O THAT NOW--

[MN.9] //: -NII-SAN--NIIII-SAAAAAN I DID THE THING--

Speedy: -Slight wry grin- So when you hear it from someone you hold in high regard then, huh…?

[MN.7] //: -Low-key actually excited about this, what, that isn't pride, what are you talking about--

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

<DWN-013>: >So… he can unlock secondary abilities, too? -Seems… pleased about this, in a sense-

<DWN-013>: >I wonder if that’ll happen when eventually you get to have our forms.

<DWN-012>: >Heh. Imagine Beck, like, duplicating himself!

<DWN-012>: >Or teleport spamming! B]

<DWN-013>: > -Chuckles at this-

<DWN-013>: >You’re just full of awesome surprises, aren’t you, lil’ bro?

<DWN-013>: > -Warm ping of approval-

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

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

[MN.9] //: -Imeannii-sanistheonewhomadeupthatmoveso--

[MN.7] //: >>;

<DWN-013>: > -Laughs in data- Tell you what, Beck!

<DWN-013>: >After this is over, I’ll teach you some of the non-Capsule style moves I use!

[MN.9] //: -OOOO REALLY--

[BLAM--]

Will: Oh dear Beck wait for me--

[Will hurries behind a gleefully excited Nine, who is spurred on by the prospect of learning something new from one of his other brothers.]

Beck: Come on, Dad, how much further?

Will: Ah--Not long now, now that you took care of that Round Digger...

Will: We should be seeing some of the assembly lines right around here...

Will: .....

Will: That's odd...

Beck: --? Huh? What is?

Will: ...The assembly lines are going in reverse--?

<DWN-012>: >Say what?

<DWN-012>: >That sounds… really gruesome…

Will: (That's strange--why would the factory disassemble its own models?)

Will: (Something is wrong here...)

Beck: .......

Beck: (There's a lot of Xel up ahead, I can feel it...)

Beck: (Huh...)

<DWN-013>: >Why would models be being torn apart into Xel? That’s honestly messed up. >.>

<DWN-013>: >Even a malfunction should just cause it to shut off, because a buildup backlog would just cause an explosion somewhere.

<DWN-012>: > …Unless it were being used somewhere else in the factory, somehow…

<DWN-013>: >Doing what?

Will: Only one way to find out...

Beck: Keep going?

Will: Yes.

<DWN-013>: >Let us know.

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: >Kinda concerned we haven’t heard from 18 or 19 yet…

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: >Nico must have either knocked 19 out entirely or else taken out the transmitter altogether. I hope it’s just the transmitter, because I don’t want our cousins to get involved…

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

[MN.1] //: (Alnico, you better know what you're doing...)

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

[MN.2] //: Guyyyyys--

<DWN-013>: > -Distracted- Yeah, Icesis?

[There is what could only be described as absolute chaos over Cryo's team's feeds--even Beck himself could hear it on the next rooms beyond.]

Beck: --!

[MN.2] //: WE MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE HERE--

[MN.8] //: -REQUESTIN' BACK-UP, THERE'S BEEN A INFLUX OF CDNs--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZZZT OW--

<DWN-012>: >UH.

<DWN-012>: >TEAM ONE YOU MIGHT NEED TO BACKTRACK—

<DWN-013>: > Hang in there!

[MN.1] //: Bat! Move up front with Jaden--we're heading to the assembly lines!

[MN.5] //: Roger that, Commander--

[MN.1] //: Speedy, Brand, Mic, how far are you from their location?

[MN.4] //: -Not far, heading that way now--

[MN.1] //: Beck, stay with Father until we can clear things up enough for you to pass though!

Beck: Yessir!

[There’s an increasingly loud clanging noise coming closer.]

[MN.2] //: -EY, CALVERY IS COMING--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZ, HEY, HANDSZZ OFF THE PONCHO--

Jaden: -Runs in- HI BECK—

Jaden: -Runs past- BYE BECK—

Beck: !!

Bat: CHAAAAAAAARGE--

Beck: -WHOOPS, OUT OF THE WAY--

[Pyro does pause for a moment when he catches up to check on Beck and Will--]

Pyro: --...

Pyro: Father, you're a mess--

[Will did look a bit worse for wear, but there wasn't any real major injuries to worry about.]

Will: Eheh... Don't worry about me, son.

Will: Go.

Pyro: -Nods-

Beck: -GO GET THEM, BRO--

[Inside the assembly lines....]

Cryo: TOOK YOU GUYS LONG ENOUGH--

Cryo: -FREEZES A CDN instead of finishing that SENTENCE--

Dyna: -BZZZZ, THEY JUST KEEP COMING--

Jaden: Not for much longer, they don’t.

Shade: Ya seen Brand and the others--?

[Shade, of course, was at a high vantage point along with Cryo to pick off the CDNs as they came out of the lines.]

Shade: We need them t' trash the equipment--

[CRASH—]

Pyro: --!!

Speedy: -Keeps running so he doesn’t get run over- HI GUYS MIC AND BRAND ARE RIGHT BEHIND ME, STAY OUTTA THE WAY I THINK THEY AREN’T GONNA BE STOPPING EITHER—

[SHING SHING SHING SHING SHING--]

[RRRRRRRRRRR--]

Mic: -SLAMS RIGHT INTO A PROCESSING UNIT-

[Speedy opens fire with Quick Boomerangs.

Shade flinches at the sound.]

Shade: --ngh--

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

KTANG!

[Leaping onto the walls and vaulting onto a statue, he peppered the room with high speed Quick Boomerangs.]

"You clearly haven’t learned I don’t go down so easy, Counter.”

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

Cryo: Hey! -Sprays with cold water--

Shade: GAH--

Cryo: I need ya here and now, bro, gotta keep those CherryDyn's down!

Shade: | [ -Ya didn't have to cold spray me--

Brand: Mic! Help me with these processing units!

Mic: -MIC SMASH--

Jaden: HEY MIC!

Mic: !

[He fires into a bit of debris and kicks it over Mic’s way.]

Jaden: Give ‘em a slam dunk! >B]

Mic: E : <

Mic: -WHAM--

[A slew of CDNs are crushed underneath the pile of debris, now just a pile of Xel on the floor.]

Cryo: -THREE POOOOOINTS--

[BOOM!]

Brand: --!

Mic: -OOO TRASH BALL GO BOOM--

Pyro: Dyna, barrier!

Dyna: You got it--!

[A bunch of bits fly in front of Pyro to create an electric shield, which he stands behind for a moment before igniting himself--]

[--And CHARGING FORWARD, Using Dyna's shield as a battering ram against the CDNs--!]

[Interesting. Bits of surge from what’s left of the Crash Bomb provide a boost. Not NEARLY as much as the full thing, but still.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: HEY GUYS, AM I LATE TO THE PARTY--

Speedy: EEEEY, LOOK WHO’S OUTTA THE JOINT.

Speedy: Tell me you have good news, bro!

Speedy: Everyone’s in one piece, yeah?

Avi: Yo I got there JUST in time, bro, Call's giving the pooch a lesson--

Speedy: How’s our younger brother?

Avi: They're on their way to Doc Blackwell, and--Uh.

Avi: ....Wait, what?

Speedy: …

[He leaps up onto a higher vantage point to start taking out his frustration on the production lines.]

Speedy: Nico went in there! Are you saying he’s not back yet?

Avi: -YO SAY WHAT--

Jaden: He must have seen Call on the screen after Siamini looked up the status of the Sanda team after hearing you freak out over the dog plans.

Avi: -I--I didn't see him there, I didn't know, I only broadcasted to Sanda-bag--

Avi: -Gaaaaaaah if I knew I would've stayed and backed him up--

Pyro: Avi--

Avi: --?

Jaden: I wouldn’t worry about it…

Jaden: He could tear things up pretty badly if he puts his mind to it.

Jaden: Especially if he took shrapnel bits with him on the way…

Speedy: I’m going to guess yes, given he was going into something with Combat in mind.

Avi: -Oh-

Avi: ....

Avi: : ' D -Okaaaaaaay yup cuz that's not terrifying to think about at all--

Jaden: -Laughs at this-

Jaden: We’re Wily constructs, dude.

Avi: : ''''' D

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: How are you guys holding up?

[MN.5] //: Managed to push them back at least--

[MN.6] //: -EY BECKO GUESS WHAT, CALL'S BEATING UP THE DOGGIE AND NICO'S, UH--GOING IN FOR BACK UP-

[MN.9] //: Oh, That's-- waitdidyousaynico--

<DWN-013>: >Yyyyyyeah, uh…

[MN.9] //: -NOBODY TOLD HIM ABOUT CALL--

<DWN-013>: >No, we didn’t, but he apparently saw, because he took out both the transmitter and possibly Siamini as well in the process of storming off.

[MN.9] //: -Thaaaaaaaaaat's not good--

[MN.9] //: Do you guys need a hand?

<DWN-013>: >No thanks, I don’t use hands. B]

<DWN-013>: >No hands no problem, right, Shade?

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

[MN.8] //: Little help does sound nice, though.

[MN.1] //: Someone has to stay with Father--

[DR.WHITE] //: No, we're running out of time--

[DR.WHITE] //: We NEED to get past this into the main assembly line--

Jaden: You want me to come over?

[DR.WHITE] //: No, Jaden, you're needed with the rest of your team--all of you just keep concentrating on the infected units while we slip by!

[MN.9] //: -Don't worry, I'll be in Mic's form for defense--

Jaden: Awesome! Go for gold, guys. : )

Jaden: We’ll just be having a ball here, right, Icesis?

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

Beck: -Snorts-

[MN.2] //: -TEN POINTS FOR YOU-

Beck: Hey, Dad--get on!

Will: --Wait--what, on you--

Beck: -This'll be much faster than you on foot--Don't worry, 'Linka and I do this all the time--

Will: Oh--

Beck: Just hold on tight because we're going to be going really fast--

Will: Uh--H-How fast--

[RRRRRRRRRRR--]

[MEANWHILE...]

Mic: -SMAAAASH--

Brand: --Mic, is that noise you--

[RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--]

Will: -SCREAMING, TOO FAST, TOO FAAAAAAAAST--

Avi: -GO BECK GO--

Beck: -SKIDS AROUND STUFF- You sure you guys don't need some--

[WHANG--!]

Beck: !!

[OH WHEN DID A ROUND DIGGER GET IN HERE--]

Jaden: Woah! -Knocked over-

Brand: Haaaaaah--!

[S H I N G !]

Jaden: o.o

Jaden: -Looks as the half of a Round Digger turns into Xel goop- Nice one, bro.

Brand: Hmph.

Brand: Nothing here my blades cannot handle.

Cryo: -Oh stop being dramatic, ya loopy ninja-

Mic: -NOPE, got this area all under control-

Mic: -Maybe help Cryo team instead--

Cryo: PFFFT, I'm ice CREAMING these bots--

Cryo: -There's snow many of them though--

Shade: -Sigh- -BANG-

Shade: Maybe if ya spend more time FIGHTIN' and less on yer lame puns...

Cryo: -Shrills- WHAT?!

Cryo: Just remember who you're talking to, Shadey, I'm SIX WHOLE NUMBERS OLDER THAN YOU--

Jaden: Like the other punster? | ]

Avi:  : D

Cryo: Okay YES but six as in OLDER--

Shade: -Rolls his eye- Yeah, yeah, an' Ah'm--

Pyro: Shade stop arguing with your sister--

Shade: -OI SHE STARTED IT WITH HER PUNNIN'--

Speedy: -Laughs a little at this-

Jaden: -Jumps onto Mic- You provide a great vantage point, bro. : )

Mic: ^ W ^

Beck: -ZOOOMS AROUND XEL MUSH-

Will: -AAAAAAAH STILL TOO FAST, HELP-

Speedy: Buckle up, Will! |D

Will: -WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT I DIDN'T DESIGN BECK W I T H SEAT BELTS--

Beck: -Skids as he just HAS TO LAUGH AT THAT--

Beck: -BYE GUYS, HEADING FOR THE LINES NOW--

Will: -PLEASE, I want to get ooooofff--

Pyro: Bat! You're with me, we're going to secure the room ahead!

Pyro: Jaden, stay here and provide support for the others, alright?

Jaden: You’ve got it.

Jaden: Come on, bro, let’s wreck some things.

Speedy: Heh. It’s what we were made for!

[They both give devilish grins.]

Beck: -GOOD LUCK GUUUUUYS--

[Beck, with his father in tow, races across many a battered hallway, Pyrogen and Battalion following close behind.]

Pyro: Crash and BURN!

[Following Pyro's lead, they thin out the CDNs that littered the reversed assembly lines, giving Beck a clear pathway towards the center of the factory.]

Bat: HAHA! Now that's what I like to see! First into battle, the tip of the spear!

Pyro: | ]

Pyro: Heh, of course--it's a leader's duty, after all.

Beck: --!!

Beck: Dad--look!

Will: -Opens his eyes--

Will: !

[CHERRYDYN MAIN ASSEMBLY LINE FLOOR.]

Will: At last!

Pyro: We'll keep things under control here so nothing tries to come up from behind!

Pyro: Good luck, Beck!

Beck: c : <

[The door automatically opens, and then slams shut behind them--]

Beck: !

Beck: Whooooooooooa...

[Right in the middle of the entire assembly floor was the Primary M.O.M unit, it's displays flashing from red to purple with errors littering the holoscreens around it.]

Will: There it is...

Will: .....

Will: (All the assembly lines so far lead to here, but in the reverse way...)

Will: Alright, first, we need to find it's computer core and destroy it--

Will: That will halt all of the production lines so I can hack into the systems themselves and shut them down for good--

[Will calmly approaches the M.O.M unit slowly, looking for any sort of panel it might have that will reveal it's inner workings...]

Will: Beck, I need you to scan this with your C.Visor and--

Beck: --!!!

Beck: DAD, UP--!

Will: --?!

[Beck grabs Will and yanks him backwards, right before--]

Will: -Fumbles right into his back-

Will: Wh--

[GGGHGHGHGGGGGH...]

[The Doctor scrambles to his feet as the very earth shakes from the force of a giant, MASSIVE construct slams down just where he was not moments ago--]

Will: What on--?!

[PING!]

<DWN-013>: >WOAH, guys, what’s with the shaking—

<DWN-013>: >It’s like something Gamma size slammed down!

[MN.9] //: -WHAT THE HECK IS THAT--

[MN.9] //: WHAT IS THAT, IT'S--IT'S LIKE FOUR TIMES BIGGER THAN MIC--

[DR.WHITE] //: G--Good heavens--

[DR.WHITE] //: I--I've never seen it's like before--th--this isn't like ANYTHING that CherryDyn's schematic database has--!

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

[DR.WHITE] //: No, wait--of course, it makes sense now--the reversed assembly lines, the mixed up fused robots--

[DR.WHITE] //: The factory, the virus--it's--

[DR.WHITE] //: It's begun to CREATE it's OWN DESIGNS--!

[MN.9] //: WHAT--?!

[MN.9] //: H-HOW, HOW WOULD--

<DWN-013>: >Ooookay, um…

<DWN-013>: >Where are you guys right now, exactly—

[DR.WHITE] //: -Too terrified to answer--

<DWN-013>: >I’m… going to try and contact Siam, hang in there—

Beck: D--Dad--?!

Will: (Run, we need to--!)

[Will backs up, but the cold, hard surface of the door reminds him that they just can't run from this.]

Will: (Ngh--!)

???: -HELLISH SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

[MN.7] //: -What on EARTH WAS THAT--

Beck: This thing is huge--

Beck: Why would the virus want to--to MAKE something like this--?

Will: Ngh--

Will: It's still trying to cause mass destruction...

<DWN-013>: >Okay, so I couldn’t contact Siam, BUT—

<DWN-013>: >I was able to contact someone else, and they’ll be right on over—

???: S C R E E E E E E E E E --

Will: Beck--

Will: We--We have to--

Will: -Grips sword-

Will: We can't let this thing leave this factory--!

Will: We have to stop it here--now, and shut down the M.O.M Unit before it can create an ARMY of these--!

Beck: --!!

Beck: But this is--this is WAY bigger than anything else--

Will: We have to TRY!

Will: Otherwise it will tear this place apart with EVERYONE IN IT!

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Everyone--)

[TRIGGER RECONIZED. XELFILTER.EXE ENGAGED.]

Will: You distract it!

Will: I'll handle the M.O.M Unit!

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC.]

Beck: Yes, sir!

[SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R.]

[MODEL: CDN-XXX, CODENAME: NAMELESS]

[HEIGHT: 774cm WEIGHT: 4048kg XEL COUNT: 809,200,000]

[The giant Xel goliath lurches forward, and one of it's arms raises to the sky--]

[And-- detatches--?]

<CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: HARD KNUCKLE.>

Beck: -UH OH--

[The arm rotates, and the boosters on its end propel it STRAIGHT at the pair--]

[Will and Beck both dive on opposite directions, Beck rolling to the left while Will tumbles to the right and off the platform.]

Will: -Ow--

Will: (Have to get to the M.O.M unit--!)

[The M.O.M unit is a slick jet black pillar instead of the smaller white secondary unit...

He calls on the terminal at once and begins to type away.]

Will: (If I can just find an old back door I used for this...)

[ACCESS DENIED.]

Will: Argh--!

Will: (Of course HE would lock my old pathway out of the system--!)

Will: (Fine, hacking the old fashioned way, then--where is that computer core--?)

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[CRAAAAAAASH--!]

Will: --?!?

Will: Beck--?! Are you--

[As Will turns around, he is SURPRISED to see the giant, 25 foot tall Xelbot--]

[....Utterly in pieces.]

Will: Wha?

[...]

"Ngh..."

[POP!]

[Beck's head peeks out from the mountain of debris, in his default form.]

Beck: Okay, so...

Beck: These things break WAY too easy to my default weapon.

Beck: No joke!

Will: ...Really?? ?_?

Beck: Yeah!

Beck: Huh. Kinda weird that something is that big and it doesn't even hold well...

[CERCHINK--]

[A panel slides open behind Will, prompting him to turn around to watch it open--]

[ A black sphere with the CherryDyn logo on it juts out, pulsing with a sickly purple glow--there was no saving this data core, not when it was so corrupted like this.]

Will: The computer core--!

Will: (So it is infected...)

Will: Beck--

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH--!]

Beck: -Wha--

[The earth once again shakes, felt by all in the building--]

Beck: A--Another one??

Nameless: -SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

Beck: GAK--

[Wait, why is the floor moving BACKWARDS--]

<CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: DWN-009>

Will: BECK!

[Chink--]

Will: --!

Will: No you DON'T--

[SHINK--!]

[Will manages to slash at the core with his Rapier before the panel shuts it away, the systems on the terminal glitching out as it went back into the M.O.M unit.]

Will: (I see now--)

Will: BECK!

Will: Keep breaking the Nameless!

Will: I'll destroy the core myself!

Beck: -BLAM BLAM- On it!

Beck: -Ugh, I didn't need a work out today, this thing is fast--

[BLAM--]

[CRAAAAAAASH--!]

Beck: Two down!

Will: (And the core should--)

[Right on cue, the core panel once again opens, the core itself revealed.]

[SHINK--!]

[ERROR--INTERNAL COMPUTER CORE DAMAGED.]

[PRODUCTION DOWN 25%]

Beck: It's working!

[S L A M--]

Nameless: SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE--

Beck: -Oh jeez--

<DWN-012>: > Guys are you okay in there

<DWN-012>: >DO YOU NEED STRUCTURAL ASSISTANCE

<DWN-013>: > -KINDA SOUNDS LIKE THE BUILDING’S FALLING ON TOP OF YOU OR SOMETHING?-

Will: Fine--we're fine, It's just Beck on the third of one of those things--

Will: -SHINK-

Will: I've damaged the computer core of the M.O.M unit, the production lines SHOULD be slowing down now!

[WHANG--]

Beck: --GUH--

[Beck struggles to keep an even footing on the moving assembly line, and failed to dodge an incoming arm from slamming into him AND the wall.]

Beck: ACK!

Will: You can DO this, Amadeus!

Will: Just hold on!

Beck: Nngh--

Beck: Y-Yes sir...

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[As the third Nameless unit is felled, Will wasted no time moving from hacking the terminal to striking at the core the moment it came out of the panel, with quick thrusts and parries.]

[ERROR--PRODUCTION DOWN 50%, SYSTEM FAILURE IMMINENT.]

Will: (Ngh, I need--I need MORE than just this sword--)

Will: (But Beck is busy with the Nameless, and--!)

[There’s a shrill, FAMILIAR whistle that BLASTS across the feeds.]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: (No way--it--it can't be--)

Beck: (He can't be up already--?!)

“RRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNGGGGGHHH…”

Beck: --?????

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEE--]

[S L A M--]

Nameless: -HELL SCREECH-

Beck: Oh MAN--

Beck: (Help--)

[FOOSH.]

Will: --?!?

Will: Jazz?!

[Indeed. It was none other than Cardinal’s support unit—and BOY, did she seem to be in a BAD mood.]

Jazz: HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSS!

Nameless: -HELL SCREEEEEEEEEEEE OF PAIN--

Beck: Jazz--!

Beck: : D

[While Beck was happy to see her, Jazz didn’t return the affection. She was angry, and vicious, and it showed.]

Jazz: >8K

Beck: --Oh right you're in pantheress mode, Kay then--

Jazz: >|K

Jazz: Ree-ow.

Beck: We need to take THIS big thing down!

Beck: -And keep them away from Dad while he does his thing, okay-

Jazz: -REE-OW.-

[SHING!]

[YUP. THOSE ARE CLAWS IF EVER THERE WERE SOME.]

Beck: O.O

Beck: -....NICE- ^.^

Beck: -Yes, there will be food after, we know you-

Beck: Let's get 'em, kitty! > : D

Nameless: -SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

Jazz: Ree-ow.

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

Will: (Oh, thank goodness, at least Beck will have some support...)

Will: (I still have to take out this core, but I have nothing else--)

[There was a squealing noise as Jazz dug her claws into the Nameless.]

Will: -OW, OUR EARS--

Will: --!

Will: (Wait...)

Will: (I DO have something else--)

-*-*-*-

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

Mikhail: I’m begging you—

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

-*-*-*-

[Will scrambles to get the sensory defense mechanism off from around his neck--]

Will: (This--)

Will: (If I can get this right in the core, the signals should overload it and the system--!)

Beck: DAAAAD I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN DO THIS--!

Nameless: SCREEEEEEEEEE--

Will: Just a little longer--

Will: --And brace yourself--!

Beck: --?? Wha--

[CRAAAAAAASH--]

[Will presses the mechanism and throws it into the open panel, where it lands right on the computer core--]

Will: (I hope this works--!)

[The panel closes, and--]

[The closed panel prevented the blinding light, yes.]

[At least… the VISIBLE light… to the outside observer.]

[ERROR--E R R OR--]

[But the SOUND, and the SOUND and the LIGHT over the FEEDS—

Not so much.]

<DWN-012>: > -ERROR: DATA OVERLOAD-

<DWN-013>: > -ERROR: DATA OVERLOAD-

<CSU-001>: > -ERROR: DATA OVERLOAD-

[It was like every possible avenue related to the perception of vision and sound was overwhelmed in a blinding and deafening way. Both in the traditional sense and through data alone— it BLASTED throughout not only the entire factory, but also the building next door.

Although the concept had been originally designed specifically to fight against Robot Masters running a DWN_OS, it functioned through the use of sensory overload. Anything—even organic things—that had sensory perception was, to some degree, susceptible. This included the Mighty Numbers.]

Beck: -OW OWOWOWOW--

[MN.4] //: @~@

[MN.7] //: -ngh--cant see--!

[MN.6] //: -CRASH, OUCH, WE'RE OKAY BUT OW MAN WHO TURNED ON THE BRIGHTNESS SETTING TO EXTREMELY NOT OKAY--

[For Shade in particular, the experience was borderline torturous—his high sensitivity made it not merely uncomfortable—it made it PAINFUL.]

[MN.8] //: UUUGH WHAT THE DAMN HELL I S THAT--

[He was suddenly overcome yet again.

Memories of the fight bombarded him—recollections of times Cardinal had used Flash Stopper, of when he had let his fans screech loudly across the feeds—it cascaded and echoed back against the HORRIBLE sensation already being applied against him—]

[MN.8] //: -Ngh--!

[THUD--]

[MN.6] //: -Oh crud SHADE BRO ARE YOU OKAY--

[MN.8] //: -WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE--

Will: --?!?

[Will was taken aback at all of this, but didn’t have long to dwell on it.]

[E ROR LRKRKKDJSNAK--]

[SY TO TME F ISIALUT RE--]

Will: --!

[The lights and the holoscreens around the M.O.M unit blink out one by one, and then--

The assembly lines all over the factory come to a screeching halt.]

Beck: @~@

Beck: Uuugh, my head...

Will: ......

Will: >~>!;;;;

Will: (Er...Oops?)

Will: (I--er.)

Will: (Oh dear I really shouldn't ever make Mikhail angry ever again--)

Will: o~o;;;;;;

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

[The two of them were out cold, though they were still Online, at least.]

[MN.2] //: -YO THIS IS NO TIME TO BE TAKING A NAP BRO--

[SPLLIIIIIIISH--]

<DWN-012 is now Online.>

<DWN-012>: > -Gurgle noises-

[MN.2] //: -Rolls over to Jaden now--

[SPLLIIIIIIISH--]

<DWN-013 is now Online.>

<DWN-013>: > -AWAKE, SO AWAKE NOW— -

[MN.1] //: | / --Ngh--head still hurts, what WAS that--

[MN.2] //: -Yeah that was, like, WAY DIZZY-

[MN.3] //: -Bzzzz ugh is there such thing as robot asprin Because that would be nice right now--

<DWN-013>: > Ugh…

<DWN-013>: > That was Doctor Cossack’s robot mace.

<DWN-013>: > …On the lowest setting.

[MN.2] //: -YO ARE YOU FOR REAL-- --Wait what isn't Uncle Mikhail like back at the lab--

[MN.3] //: ...Hang on, didn't Doc Cosszzack give Daddy zzsomething like...?

<DWN-012>: > My head still hurts… man is that strong stuff.

<DWN-013>: > Is Shade okay?

[MN.6] //: Eeeeeeeh... -Gives the so-so kinda guesture-

[MN.8] //: -Incoherent data, mostly grumpy to angry data, but mostly discombobulated-

<DWN-013>: >Ow.

<DWN-013>: > …I don’t hear any more crashing noises, the production seems to have stopped…

<DWN-013>: >Does that mean we’re done here…? @~@

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.WHITE] //: ....Um. I-Is everyone--um...--MOSTLY alright--?

[DR.WHITE] //: -Dear god I am SO sorry I hadnoideathedevicewasthatpowerfulareanyofyouhurt--?????-

[DR.WHITE] //: -WE'RE SORRY, BECK WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE GIANT ROBOTS, THE CORE WASN'T--

[DR.WHITE] //: O~O

<DWN-013>: >I think Jazz is still stunned.

<DWN-013>: >There should… should be a button that does a hard reboot for systems on that device… it must still be intact, because destroying it sets off the highest setting.

<DWN-012>: > We’re okay, we’ve had worse—

[MN.1] //: Ngh... Besides minor damages from the fighting and a massive migraine...

[MN.8] //: -Sounds of stumbling and broken cursing-

[MN.1] //: ....We'll be alright, Father.

[DR.WHITE] //: -Oh thank God, for--for a moment I thought I had seriously hurt you all, I'm SORRY--

<DWN-013>: >No, noooope… >m> That was the LOWEST setting. That doesn’t… isn’t meant to do lasting harm.

[MN.9] //: @~# I really need to lie down...

<DWN-012>: > We should probably head back…

[MN.9] //: yeah that sounds nice, I'm--just gonna carry Jazz back after a bit--

Will: .......

Will: Beck.

Beck: --?

Will: Hold on to these for me.

[Will handed off both the device and his rapier off to Beck, who was resting besides a disabled Jazz.]

Beck: --???

Will: You go on ahead with Jazz without me.

Will: ....There is someone I must see first.

Beck: Huh?

Beck: I--I don't understand--

Beck: Who?

Will: ......

Will: -Puts a hand on Beck's head-

Will: Don't worry about it, alright?

Will: You make sure everyone gets out safely.

<DWN-012>: >You come back okay too then, or else Mikhail will give us an earful. |D;

Will: Eheh--yes, of course....

<DWN-013>: > …I honestly think he might have been put to sleep.

<DWN-013>: >Otherwise there’s no way he wouldn’t have been saying stuff through all of this.

<DWN-012>: >My point still stands…

Will: (Rest, that will do him some good...)

Will: I know.

Will: Just let me finish a few things here before I go.

Will: (Rather, go take care of some unfinished business.)

Beck: Okay....

Beck: Just don't take too long...

Will: I won't.

[Will fondly smiles at his son before turning around, tattered lab coat flowing behind him as he made his way towards a far off door.]

Will: (It's time you and I had a little chat...)

Will: (. . . Gregory Graham.)

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

=CHAPTER 5A: DESOLATE HIGHWAY=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[SANDA LABS...

June 26th, 20XX]

[It had been hours since everyone had gone to bed. But the next bit of news… quickly changed that.]

[KSSSSST!]

[CALL] //: -VERY LOUD PING-

[CALL] //: Attention—

[MN.9] //: -JERKS AWAKE, SORRY, WHAT, WHAT IS IT--

[There’s the sound of someone falling all over a table or something, followed by others coming Online.]

<DWN-018>: > Geez! Are you okay, Gemini?

<DWN-019>: > -MUCH DISGRUNTLED TO BE STARTLED SO-

<DWN-012>: > Has something happened, or?

<DWN-018>: > Hang on, I’m gonna go make sure Siam didn’t hurt himself jumping into the ceiling…

<DWN-018 has left the channel.>

[MN.3] //: -Ouch...-

[MN.1] //: Call?

[Call doesn't answer back, but instead shifts the feed to a radio channel...?]

"—Highway Alpha 6 is under attack, I repeat, Highway Alpha 6 is under attack--Eyewitnesses have spotted a rouge robot destroying vehicles with no regard to innocent life—"

"We have reports that the rouge robot is armed with bladed weapons and is currently in the Four Corners area—"

<FMN-006>: > AHA!

<FMN-001>: > Avi no flying in the house— GET BACK HERE—

[MN.9] //: —!!!

[MN.1] //: Brandish—?!

[DR.WHITE] //: Highway Alpha 6—Call!

[CALL] //: Scanning...

<DWN-011>: > Welp. Gonna get complicated pretty quick, I bet. …Hope he doesn’t run into Cardinal.

<DWN-019>: > THAT would end poorly for both of them.

<DWN-013>: > What makes you think—?

<DWN-019>: > It’s not the statistical likelihood that’s bothersome… more the fact that Cardinal is known to have prepared to travel by highway—he took Shadow’s light cycle with him.

<DWN-019>: > And he won’t have any patience for anyone who tries to interfere…

<DWN-013>: > Well, I’d think we’d have more DEFINITE concerns to worry about.

<FMN-006>: > -Just let us scan the news feeds, please-

[MN.9] //: -Already suiting up and getting ready, listening over the feeds.-

[MN.1] //: -Gah, we have no immediate modes of transportation...- Beck, you're going to either need wheels or use Aviator's form to catch up to Brandish.

[MN.9] //: -...Lost all of my forms when I got reset, Avi's is the only option.-

<DWN-013>: > ... I'd offer my light cycle, but I think flying will be faster.

<DWN-019>: > -Scowls- If only Cardinal hadn't taken ITEM-2 as well...

<DWN-019>: > I don't understand WHY he did that, he has his OWN windsurfer...

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

[MN.9] //: (Mic's form would have helped too, Brand's weak to it, but...)

[MN.9] //: What's Brand's status?

[DR.WHITE] //: Still the same as ever...Full Combat Mode, no restrictions...

[DR.WHITE] //: (But a highway...)

[DR.WHITE] //: (Brandish...what are you doing...?)

-PING!-

<FMN-006>: > Knew it.

[MN.9] //: Yeah? Got something?

[CALL] //: -Ping of inquiry-

<FMN-006>: > Yeah. Pretty sure it’s confirmation she’s on the move.

<DWN-013>: > …Out of curiosity… what makes you so certain?

<FMN-006>: > Food’s involved, Jayjay.

<DWN-013>: > -Please don’t call me that-

[MN.1] //: (...Even in her state—??)

<FMN-001 to MNN-001>: > -Well what else did you expect, really… this is SHADE we’re talking about here-

<DCN-007>: > …So you’re saying that now we have an assassin AND a sword master to worry about? At the same time?

<FMN-006>: > -Well you don’t need to put it like THAT…-

<DWN-012>: > No offense, but could she REALLY catch up to him? She’s not built for speed.

<FMN-007>: > … Do not underestimate the willpower of an angry woman.

[MN.3] //: -He'szzz got a point-

[MN.9] //: -...WELP, NOW THINGS ARE JUST BAD AND WORSE-

[CALL] //: ...MN.7's transponder signal is moving at extremely high speeds. I am also receiving reports that the remote controlled vehicles on site are behaving erratically on the next sections of Highway Alpha.

<FMN-009>: > I can help! I’ll handle my sister, you focus on your Seven!

[DR.WHITE] //: That's—

[MN.9] //: —the best thing I've heard all day, PLEASE.

<FMN-009>: > ^^;;7

[DR.WHITE] //: -But—-

[MN.9] //: -TWO OF ME IS BETTER THAN ONE, DAD.-

<DWN-019>: > Um. Won’t that cause problems if you’re seen…?

<FMN-006>: > I can handle that. Leave that to me.

<DCN-003>: > Perhaps oldest cousin will show up near Lady Shade, yes?

<MC005>: > …I must admit that IS a possibility, though not very likely…

<MC005>: > Regardless of who else may or may not be there, it would seem that you both have to start preparing, Number Nine.

<FMN-009>: > Yes sir.

[DR.WHITE] //: -...Kinda just gives up trying to argue because what is the poooooint--

[CALL] //: Xel Transfer will be delayed, as it is difficult to teleport upon a moving object....

[CALL] //: ...but not impossible.

[MN.9] //: -—Wait what-

<DWN-012>: > GOOD LUCK, DUDE 8’D

[MN.9] //: -I thought the cars were—I mean—oh man—-

[MN.3] //: -BZZZT, PLEASE BE CAREFUL, BECKY—-

[CALL] //: Dr. Sanda, I have calculated that it would be wise to cut off Brandish by teleporting Nine to a further section of the highway.

[DR.SANDA] //: Oof...just make sure that you get him on something big...

<FMN-006 to CALL>: > -Ping- Hey—I’ve heard you lend a hand sometimes by getting people out and about unseen?

[CALL to FMN.6] //: That would be correct, No. 6. It is illogical that certain measures of action are deemed too dangerous when the probability of success would be increased otherwise.

<FMN-006 to CALL>: > Well, I may get back to you on that…

[CALL to FMN.6] //: ...Acknowledged.

[DR.WHITE] //: We're going to have to time the cut off very close...

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor. Preparing Xel Transfer.

[MN.9] //: (...Hang in there, Nii-San...)

[While Call calculated the coordinates, Beck does a final check of his various forms, going in numerical order until...]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: > wELL looks like you’re ready GOOD LUCK my friend

<DWN-013 has left the channel.>

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

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

[MN.9] //: (...I...I never really got the hang of flying...)

[MN.9] //: (I sure hope some of Avi's experience got assimilated too...)

<MC005>: > … -Sighs- Don’t mind him. Are you ready?

[MN.9] //: Ready for the runwa—

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

[MN.9] //: —I—I mean the HIGHway—

[MN.1] //: —???

<FMN-006>: > -THUMBS UP-

<FMN-009>: > Let’s just cruise on over—

<FMN-006>: > -APPROVAL PINGS FOR DAAAAAYS-

[MN.2] //: -YEAAAAAAAAH—-

[MN.1] //: -Just—confused, since when was—-

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: -you can't stop either can you-

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: -what is happening with uuuuussss-

<FMN-009 to MNN-009>: > -IT’S A THING WITH AVI’S FORM, OOPS- -This happened last time, too- -Normally I just don’t say as much so it took forever to notice-

<FMN-009 to MNN-009>: > -Makes him really high spirited, though—GAH, even thoughts, this is worse than I remembered-

<FMN-009>: > Need to hit the road and make tracks… -Has given up trying to make it stop-

[MN.9] //: -YEAH let's just jet before Brand—DANG IT- -CALL PLEASE HURRY UP-

<FMN-001>: > …?

<FMN-009>: > Looks like there’s a bit of a delay on this end—you go on ahead. Need a more precise location for Sis—lemme know if you see sign of her.

[CALL] //: ....

[CALL] //: Coordinates set.

[MN.9] //: Roger that— -Oh man this IS worse than last time-

[DR.WHITE] //: Please be very careful, Beck—!

[MN.9] //: Yeah, we will.

[CALL] //: Xel Transfer initiated.

[MN.9] //: {I'm coming to save you, big brother...!}

______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 7, BRANDISH, HAS BEEN SPOTTED ON THIS NEW MEXICO HIGHWAY, CAUSING RECKLESS DESTRUCTION AMONG THE MALFUNCTIONING AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES. FIGHTING MIGHTY NO. 8, COUNTERSHADE 'KATE' WHITE, IS ALSO MOVING TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVE.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: PURSUE AND RESCUE MN.7, PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM SYSTEMS.]

[SUB-OBJECTIVES: IF POSSIBLE, LOCATE FMN.8 AND RELAY TO FMN.9 FOR SYSTEM XEL PURGE, MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

SYSTEMS READY?

GO!

[As Beck fully materialized into the moving rig, the heavy wind and rainfall splattered across his armor and face, causing him to shiver slightly. Buildings with holographic adverts were nothing but blurs, the speed of the vehicles almost making him dizzy.]

Beck: (Fast—WAY too fast—!)

[By his internal instruments, the rig was going at LEAST 90 miles per hour—!]

Soi: Great Scott, Mother Nature is NOT kind today...!

Will: -Oh no no please don't slip, please--

-PING!-

<DWN-012>: > Easy guys, easy!

<DWN-012>: > Beck—try adjusting your visual processing speed. It’ll help a lot.

[MN.9] //: O-Okay...

[After fiddling around with some settings, he blinked, and visibly relaxed as his optics adjusted, the blurs now becoming readable and not as disorientating...]

Beck: (Oh, man, that's MUCH better...)

[MN.9] //: Thanks, Speedy!

<DWN-012>: > No problem. Glad to help. Now, remember—your vision speed is going to be faster, so adjust to how your vision and motor systems coordinate before jumping off into the air. Try it out—once you get used to moving while seeing at that speed, it’ll be easier to move around.

<DWN-012>: > Remember, you’re just SEEING faster, not necessarily moving faster.

[MN.9] //: -Got it, gonna try that out now--

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Warning--! Contact in--

[SHING!]

<DWN-012>: > -DATA—-

<DWN-012>: > -I KNOW THAT SOUND, THAT IS THE SOUND OF LETHAL BLADED WEAPONRY-

[Even with Beck's vision processing at higher speeds...--]

[He still couldn't identify what had split the falling raindrops just mere inches from his face.]

[Beck stumbled backwards, and the red Mighty Number seemingly falls from the sky, as if he had either teleported--]

[Or...]

Beck: Brand!

<DWN-012 to MNN-007>: > -PING PING PING PING PING PING PING PING PING—-

<DWN-012 to MNN-007>: > Brandish! You’re alive—!

<DWN-012 to MNN-009>: > Something’s off here, Beck—

<DWN-012 to MNN-009>: > When people with our power and speed move just short of hitting you in the face, we’re missing on PURPOSE!

<DWN-012 to MNN-009>: > trust me on this, I’ve DONE it before with my own brother…

Beck: --!!

[On...on purpose...?]

Beck: Brand...?

Brand: . . . .

Brand: N-Ngh...

[Brandish's arms shake ever so slightly as he stands firm across from Beck, a death grip on either of his blades. His eyes are shut tightly--]

Brand: ...O...Otouto...--

<DWN-012>: > …

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Nii-San--!!

<DWN-013>: > -SUDDENLY, ABRUPTLY- BRANDISH!

<DWN-013>: > Keep fighting it!

<DWN-012 to MNN-009>: > We… recognize this…!

<DWN-012 to MNN-009>: > Jaden… Jaden was this same way!

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

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

Brand: --!

Brand: {F...Father...Uncle...}

<DWN-012>: > Hang in there, Sev—

[PING PING PING!]

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

[MN.2] //: -LITTLE BRO, YOU CAN DO IT--!

[MN.3] //: -BRAAAAND--!

<DCN-008>: > {Brandish, Shadow is here—he will want to see you. You have to keep resisting!}

Brand: Ngh--!!

[His head turns to one side, and for a moment he looks as if he is about to collapse at any given moment...]

Beck: Hang on, Nii-san, just sit still for a--

[SHING!]

Brand: NO!

<DWN-013>: > -Harsh warning data- Beck—to your aid, an unlikely friend, indeed…

<DWN-013>: > But it’s a constant struggle, fraught with pain, and there are limits…

<DWN-013>: > We might purposefully miss, but that doesn’t mean we won’t make a strike!

[He turns back, slashing in a wild angle so that Beck would stop in his tracks. His eyes snap open, and they are a deep, deep violet color.]

Brand: KEEP--KEEP AWAY--!

<DWN-013>: > -Oh, Brandish, we are INCREDIBLY empathetic and I, personally, am really feeling rather wretched in the cross-references this brings to me-

Beck: --!!

[It fades off, however, to his normal blue, and he recoils back, away from his brother.]

Brand: I'm warning you, Beck--

Brand: Stay AWAY--Ngh!

<DWN-013 to MNN-007>: > Brandish…!

<DWN-013 to MNN-007>: > -We understand-

<DWN-013 to MNN-007>: > Fight it. Fight it! You are stronger than I could ever have been. Do not let it take you without a fight to be told for years to come!

[Despite the pleas, he retreats, impressively jumping two cars ahead to another rig, and before long, he disappears into the rainy haze of the night.]

Beck: BRAND--WAIT--!

Beck: I'm going after him, Professor--!

[DR.WHITE] //: Affirmative, Beck--just be sure to mind your step traversing those vehicles. Keep in mind what Twelve has told you!

[MN.9] //: Got it!

<MC005>: > -Sighs- His control truly is incredible.

<MC005>: > Forgive the metaphor, but—

<MC005>: > Just because a horse rebels against the reigns does not mean the bridle isn’t there.

[MN.9] //: -Yeah...no kidding...-

<MC005>: > There is a directive—

<DWN-013>: > -Ping-

<DWN-013>: > When…

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-012>: > …

<DWN-012>: > -We are here, brother-

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: > When…

[He seems to be struggling to keep it verbal, rather than abstract.]

<DWN-013>: > It… was easier to fight if. I could… take an option that would… trick it by seeming, possibly, to obey…

<DWN-013>: > We… he will… aim to miss, if he can, but it is easier to do that than to hold back entirely.

<DWN-013>: > But you must be quick if you corner him, Beck. Or…

<DWN-013>: > …

[He gave off data of pure dread and hopelessness, almost an intense kind of cold in quiet despair.]

<DWN-013>: > (In the end… his will overcame the program…)

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

[MN.9] //: Where's he heading?

[CALL] //: Due southeast, towards Alpha 1. Proceed with caution.

[Beck nodded, and quickly dashed forward. It was a little dizzying given that he was seeing faster, and therefore made his Dash feel a bit strange--]

[But, after jumping over a few cars and trailers, he picked up the motions fairly quickly.]

Beck: (Think I got it...)

[....Strangely, all is...almost quiet, other than the sounds of rain and engines and his own feet against metal.]

[It was...kinda desolate--were there no people on this highway?]

Beck: (But these cars are automatic, either they should be stuck or...--)

Beck: (O...Or...)

[CALL] //: ...I am receiving distressed signals from Nine. Are you well?

[MN.9] //: -Just--had a really nasty thought, ngh--

<DCN-000>: > What’s that?

<DWN-011>: > “Distressed” means—

<DCN-000>: > No! I mean, why is the car squished.

<DWN-019>: > …What ARE you looking at?

<DCN-000>: > I saw it! It was squished.

<DWN-019>: > Well it’s not there now—

[MN.9] //: -Nope, nope, he gonna forget he ever thought that and just keep going--

<DWN-013>: > Uh… Beck?

[MN.9] // --?

<DWN-013>: > Are those signs supposed to be moving like that?

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEP!]

Beck: --WAAH!

[The Mighty Number was swarmed by a group of thin, floating display screens, which were switching different images of road signs and signals on their front and back. They rammed themselves into Beck, who raised up his arms in defense!]

Beck: SIGN BOTS--?!

Beck: -UGH, OW, STOP--!-

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[BZZZZZZT!]

[Taking advantage of the wet weather, Beck shifted into his sister's form and let loose a strong electrical discharge, which fried the sign bots and their Xel Structures. They turned a deep blue, much to Beck's relief.]

<DWN-013>: > … Iiiiiii will take that as a “no."

[XEL STOCK 1 QUOTA REACHED.]

[MN.9] //: Ow, that hurt...

[MN.9] //: Please tell me those were the only sign bots on this highway---

[CALL] //: This is a major interstate. There are many Sanda sign bot models across th--

Beck: Dad DESIGNED those??

Soi: Eheh...n-no. I did...

<MC005>: > …I am utterly fascinated but I won’t go off on that tangent at the moment…

<MC005>: > Though I find it curious that they seem not to have tried to swarm Brandish. Either they can tell he is infected, or he was too fast for them, I suppose…?

<DCN-000>: > Look! See, there’s another one!

<DWN-019>: > What ARE you looking at, how can you see anything through this RAIN…

<MC005>: > I designed him to perform almost exclusively outdoors, Siam.

<DWN-019>: > … -Oh, right-

[Beck absentmindedly wondered what in the world Snow was talking about as he transverses the highway, switching back to default to shoot the sign bots before they swarmed him and dashed to collect their Xel.]

[He came upon another rig, which was--]

Beck: --!!

[--filled with strange, round, green robots?]

Beck: Whoa--!

[They rolled around the rig to and fro, dangerous spikes around their rims, and...]

[...They had the trademark eyesets and logo of none other than CherryDyn.]

<DCN-000>: > Uncle Will?

Will: ....??

<DCN-000>: > Why do they have a big power button on them?

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > Congratulations, you’ve been promoted. -Amused-

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: --Mikhail please--

[MN.9] //: Dad--Dad, what ARE these?

Will: I...I have no idea--!

Soi: I've never seen this model before... What in the world--there are dozens of them...!

[MN.2] //: -WHO CARES, SHOOT IT, BRO.-

[MN.9] //: -Does it even take damage, I mean it has SPIKES so I don't wanna touch it--

[MN.2] //: -SHOOT IT OR I'LL HIT YOU.-

[MN.9] //: -OKAY OKAY JEEZ--

Mikhail: Sanda, I’m rather confused about something.

Soi: --? Yes?

Mikhail: Why would CherryDyn make something like that? I can’t think of an Industrial use for it, and it is rather impractical as a Combat construct, save perhaps as target practice…

Mikhail: Unless they’re capable of more than they appear…

Soi: Good...question...?

Soi: Strange...

Beck: (Weird--they don't even SEEM all that practical...?)

[Beck raised his arm cannon and took careful aim, and then fired a few shots at the strange CDNs...]

[WRRRRRRR!!]

Beck: --!?

[...They did NOT like that.]

[They didn't even FLINCH, though they did indeed take damage--]

Beck: --oh NO--

[They sped up--faster, and faster, causing Beck to jump erratically to avoid them--what's more, they didn't roll off the edge, but rather changed direction back towards Beck.]

Beck: --They're CHASING me??

<DWN-011>: > … -Welp. Run.-

<DWN-012>: > -SEE NOW, IF YOU HAD /MY/ FORM YOU COULD PROBABLY JUST RUN THIS WHOLE OBSTACLE COURSE INSTEAD OF ALL THE JUMPING, BUT- 8’D

<DCN-003>: > HMM MAYBE LEAVE NOW THEN YES GOOD

<DCN-007>: > Da, they don’t look like they’d be able to jump…

[MN.9] //: -YUP, WE'RE JUST GONNA DASH ON OUTTA HERE--

[There were several crates that could be climbed on near the end of this rig--Beck wasted no time shifting to Avi's form and hovering over to the top most one.]

[WRRRRR--!!]

[...The wheel-like CDNs did not like this either.]

Beck: --?!?

[They backed up, and gained enough momentum to hop the first crate--then the second--]

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

<DWN-012>: > ARE YOU KIDDING ME, THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE ARMS—

<DWN-013>: > -sNORTS-

Will: (What strange models--they're clearly CherryDyn, but something is... off... )

[Frustrated, Beck decides to just abandon the rig altogether, and favors for another moving vehicle--a car-- and gently sets down on it's roof.]

[The wheel models, of course, try to follow--]

[SCREEEEEECH!!]

Beck: GNH--!

[The car he was standing on lurched forward, picking up more speed—]

Beck: -WHOA BALANCE, WHERE ARE YOU—-

Will: BECK!

[With the car far too out of reach, the wheel models end up jumping right into the speeding asphalt, a horrid crunching sound following suit. ]

[Beck ends up falling backwards into the car--]

[Hard.]

[CRRRSHH--]

Soi: --??!

<DWN-019>: > …That. <DWN-019>: > Didn’t sound good.

[...The roof caved in, and Beck's backside met luxury leather.]

Beck: --Oof--!

[MN.3] //: --He'szz in the CAR??

Beck: Ow...

Beck: ....???

Beck: Huh...?

<MC005>: > …

[Mikhail had to quietly turn aside to maintain his composure. Despite—or perhaps because of—the serious situation, it was just too much, and the image of Beck in a luxury vehicle was rather ridiculous.]

Will: E...err...

Soi: -SILENTLY PANICKING BECAUSE BECK DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE-

Beck: Uuuuuh...

[...The inside seemed...nice.]

[...If it wasn't for the fact the displays and lights were all a sick purple, and no one was at the wheel.]

[There was a slight groan.]

<DWN-019>: > …?

<DWN-019>: > Beck? Are you alright?

Beck: Y-Yeah? For the most part--everything in here is all--a weird purple-- and the radio is--

“Ugh… what the glitchfrag hell—”

<DWN-019>: > ?!

Beck: --it's all static but I...--

Beck: --?!?

[And then, as if a vision of a (very disgruntled) goddess of old…]

[The cowgirl decloaked.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Kate--?!

Kate: Beck?

Kate: What in th’ nine hells are ya DOIN’ HERE of all places?!

Beck: .....

Beck: Enjoying a nice driiiiive--?

[She pushed him aside to take the driver’s seat, shifting into her civvies.]

Kate: We’re fraggin’ lucky this ain’t a stick-shift, ya runt of a twit… -grumble-

[--OW--]

[The car did not like this, and only sped up.]

[And then she growled and GLARED at it.]

[…it immediately changed its mind and obeyed.]

Beck: --!!

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: ME--UH. I FOUND KATE--AND WE'RE KINDA IN A CAR--

<FMN-009 to MNN-009>: > YOU’RE WHAT

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: THE ROOF FELL--

<FMN-009 to MNN-009>: > AAAAH SHE DRIVES WORSE THAN DYNA but better than Cryo, don’t tell her I said that

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: SHE   W H A T--

[Oddly enough, Kate seemed to be handling the car just fine—especially considering she was simply using a left hand to steer and use the signals. She’d turned on the wipers and the brights, and was signaling to veer off the highway to another exit.]

Kate: You need to get out of here. It’s much too dangerous for you.

Beck: Uuuuh...

[Oh, now they had a problem--if he told Kate he was going after Brand too, she's definitely not gonna like that...]

Beck: But--what about you, I can't just LEAVE you here--!

Kate: Oh yes you can.

Kate: Cryin’ out loud, Becky—Ah’ thought you a’ ALL people ‘ld have a bit of FAITH in me…

[She growled again, though this time it was almost a wolflike snarl.]

Kate: Unlike SOME people.

Beck: --Wha--?

Beck: -Baaacks away as far as he could-

[...OK, that was freaky scary....]

<FMN-009>: > The best you’re going to get out of her is to stall her—just get her off at the nearest exit and sneak off when she’s distracted!

[MN.9] //: -Stall, stall...-

Beck: (Ngh...)

Beck: Kate--Sis, I DO, I swear, but--I don't want to see anyone get hurt over all this--!

Kate: Get hurt over what? -Clearly grouchy- Ain’t got a clue what yer talkin’ about.

[She had somehow woven her way seamlessly through the cars to pull off at the next exit—which thankfully was a rest stop and not more highway.]

Beck: THIS! -WAVES ARMS AROUND TO SIGNIFY THE SITUATION THEY ARE IN-

Beck: (Come on, think, think--!)

Beck: (I'm just making her angry, maybe...)

Kate: Then what are you doin’ out here? -Snorts- Of course yer gonna get hurt if you go out in a thunderstorm with a lightnin’ rod, Lil’ Nine! -Applying the brakes- I can secure the area for ya, but you’ll have t’ call Daddy on yer own. Ah’ ain’t comin’ back with ya. Not yet.

Beck: Ngh--!

Beck: (I'm not getting through to her--)

Beck: --!

Beck: (But maybe...maybe--!)

[She pulled the car to a stop and got out.]

Kate: Stay put, Nine.

[SLAM!]

Kate: Ah’ve got a job t’ do still, and ya don’t wanna be in mah way.

Beck: ......

Beck: -Pretends to pout and sit in the seat.-

Beck: .......

[MN.9 to MN.3] //: Psssst!

[MN.3 to MN.9] //: --!

[MN.9 to MN.3] //: Dyna--I need you to distract Kate--!

[MN.3 to MN.9] //: Wait, what--how?

[MN.9 to MN.3] //: Just--talk to her, maybe she doesn't know you're cured--or--I don't know, just stall!

[MN.3 to MN.9] //: OK OK, um--

[MN.3 to MN.9] //: Here goeszz nothing--

[PING!]

[Kate was already making her way back to the highway, but she raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement before pinging back in response.]

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: ...Zzsiiisszz?

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: --?? Woooow I hear a lot of background noiszze, what ISZZ that--? Zzsoundszz annoying--

Dyna: -Jeezz Beck I zsswear I'm gonna get you back for thiszz--

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > Oh, hai sis!

[She seemed perky, in a good mood.

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > Gonna have t’ pick Becky up from daycare. The noise is traffic.

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > Ah’ got a bit… heh… DERAILED.

[She sighs, pausing and looking to the sky thoughtfully. The purple glow of her eye faded for a moment.]

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > -Softly- … He woulda liked that, Ah’ think. …

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: Iszz that right...?

[While Dyna conversed with Kate, Beck scooted out of the his seat and looked for a way out of the car--maybe he can climb out the hole in the roof? He'll have to be quick...]

[MN.9 to MN.3] //: Whatever you're doing, keep it up--

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > …He said some real mean thangs, Sis.

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: --!!

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > N-nrrghh… It hurt so bad…!

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: ....

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: Izz that so... -BZZZZT, static-y angry sounding buzzes--

[Beck silently grabbed the edge of the hole and hoisted himself up, over and on the other side of the car so that he could hide behind it.]

Beck: (Gotta make a break for it...come on, sis...)

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > He said all ah’ was good for was bein’ a nightmare… that Ah’ was built that way…

[She was… clearly genuinely hurt over this.]

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: > Ah’ don’t understan’, Sis.

<FMN-008 to MNN-003>: >  He… he’d always stood up f… for me…!

[MN.3 to FMN.8] //: ....I--

[ACXELERATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED.]

[A blur of blue and white suddenly sped out from behind the car--!]

[Kate didn’t notice. Instead, she burst into an aura of violet flames.]

<FMN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > AAAAUUUGH—!

<FMN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > WAI DOES EVERYONE THINK AH’ CAN’T DO NOTHIN’ AN’ AH’M JUST GOOD FER LOOKS?!

<FMN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > AIN’T FAIR!

<FMN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > -Searing bitterness directed specifically at Pyro for all to feel-

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

[There is the sound of someone collapsing over the feeds--]

[MN.2] //: BIG BRO--!

[MN.3] //: -sHRIEKS--

<FMN-008 has blocked MNN-ALL.>

[She vanished from sight and was gone.]

[Meanwhile…]

[MN.1] //: -w...we're fine--it's...argh--

Mikhail: Pyro! Are you sure you’re alright? -DAD MODE ENGAGED, it’s not normal for him to just collapse like that, never seen it before-

Will: -RUSHES OVER TO SON'S SIDE--

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

[MN.1] //: -Shifts to abstract, we're just-- overwhelmed, it was all mostly directed to us...-

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

[MN.1] //: I...she...

[MN.1] //: I didn't...but...

[MN.2] //: -FLAILS, LAY DOWN BRO, PLEAAAASE--

Mikhail: Easy… easy…

[There’s the patter of small feet. And suddenly, a Snowbab.]

[He was playing some music over broadcast.]

Snow: -Climbs on top of Pyro to clinghug, you can’t stop him-

Snow: -Softly- Mister Pyyyyroooo…

Snow: Let’s go make rice balls an’ such for when Mister Brandish an’ Miss Eight are rescued.

[The music certainly helps, and the Leader's breathing slowly evens out...he manages to sit up a bit, Cryo already on Pyro's shoulder while Snow clung to the other.]

Pyro: ....Mng...In a moment, Snow, let me catch my breath...

Pyro: .....

Pyro: (Kate...)

Will: --Soi--

Soi: -Already doing scans to make double sure Pyro's OK, we got you-

[MN.9] //: Pyro--you OK?

[MN.1] //: -Been worse, we'll be OK-

[MN.1] //: -Focus on your mission, we can handle things here.-

<DCN-000>: > An’ there will be food when you finish! : D

[MN.9] //: Roger that. Heading back into the Highway--

[Back at the Highway…]

[There was no sign of Kate.]

Mikhail: ... You're going to just have to go on regardless.

Beck: Figures...

[A quick Dash and a well timed jump, and Beck was back on another rig. The rain was finally letting up now, thankfully...]

[...But no sign of Brand...]

Beck: (He's probably WAY up ahead...)

Beck: (I gotta get moving before Brand gets too far--)

[CRUNCH!]

Beck: --?!?

[Beck whirled around to look behind him, and heard a loud crashing sound way off in the distance...]

Beck: (What was...?)

"AAAAAAAAAAA--"

Beck: --???

Beck: (That...sounds really familiar...)

[CALL] //: Attention--I have picked up another model's signal.

Soi: Huh?

[CALL] //: Verifying...

[Beck continued onward, once again shifting to Avi's form to fly over the larger gaps between the moving cars, and just narrowly avoiding another swarm of sign bots.]

Beck: Starting to really hate those things...

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Signal verified. The unit is Cherry Dynamics Number 7037.

Beck: 70--WAIT--

All: JACK?!

Mikhail: Dear heavens.

Speedy: Duuuuuuude he actually MADE it this far??

Siam: Well THAT Gemini: will certainly Siam: keep her attention Gemini: for a Siamini: while!

Beck: --But--! Jack could--!

[MN.1] //: --Ngh--Beck, if Jack made it all the way here on his own, then he can handle this. You need to keep moving!

<DCN-008>: > You must continue. For their safety.

<DCN-008>: > If she were to catch up to Brandish…

<DCN-008>: > If they get too close, it is not certain he would hold back: for she has been rude to him, and Jack was his opponent who delayed him in a time of crisis—and since the virus exacerbates all grievances…

[MN.9] //: Ngh...!

[He was right. He had to go save Brand...]

Beck: (Ooooh...please be careful, Jack...!)

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

[Forced to leave the CDN behind, Mighty Number Nine climbed another set of crates, blasting away at the flying models that cluttered the brightening overhead...]

[CALL] //: Warning--I am receiving reports of Seven destroying several vehicles in the road ahead. Incoming debris is a certainty.

Beck: --He's...?!

Soi: There's a tunnel coming up ahead too--it may affect visibility, so be careful!

[CALL] //: .....Odd.

Will: ...? What is?

[CALL] //: By my calculations, he is aiming for another exit to Highway Beta. This route leads to no major cities, while Highway Alpha does.

[CALL] //: It is illogical that the virus would not lead him to where he would cause the most destruction...

Will: ....

Will: Unless...

<DWN-013>: > -Sadly- To your aid, an unlikely friend…

Beck: ....

[CALL] //: There is a chance that Seven will overshoot the exit and proceed onward. I suggest you stop him before that moment, Nine.

[MN.9] //: Got it...

<DWN-012>: > Wait a minute. What were you saying a second ago about a tunnel—

[CRRRSHHH!!]

Beck: WHA--

[Was that the front half of a car FLYING TOWARDS HIM--]

[MN.1] //: MOVE, BECK!

[He didn't need to be told twice. His feet seemed to move on their own as soon as he spotted the debris, and using the rig itself as a springboard, LEAPED over to the opposite lane!]

Beck: -WHHOOOAAA--!

[THUD!]

[...Unfortunately, he crashed right into the side of a van--but his hands found perchance on the rails above it!]

Beck: -AAAAH FACE, my FACE really hurts, and I think--I think I broke my nose--

[...He felt something sticky and wet trailing down his lips-- oh he was bleeding Xel-- ]

Will: -Oh--oh dear is that--??!?

Soi: -and we feel faint now, gotta take a seat--

[MN.2] //: -BEEEECK, ARE YOU OK--?!

[MN.9] //: -No but that's OK--we can use a Xel stock, we'll be fine--

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[The pain subsided, and he was fully invigorated once more, hanging onto the side of the van for dear life. With a grunt of effort, Beck planted both feet on the door--]

[--and pushed, launching him up and backwards in a flip that ended up landing him perfectly on the roof!]

Will: --!

Beck: --Oh--

Beck: -oH HEY LOOK THAT WORKED!-

<DWN-019>: > … WAIT A MINUTE

<DWN-019>: > Are you saying you weren’t sure it would?!

Beck: Have YOU ever been on a highway with crazy cars and had to jump across lanes and do backflips and stuff?! -WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST HERE-

<DWN-019>: > …

<DWN-012>: > …

<DWN-012>: > :’D;;; uh

<DWN-012>: > we plead the fifth on this one thanks

<MC005>: > I think he was just confused as to why you would try something you didn’t know would work.

Beck: .....

Beck: Oh. Well...uuuuh.

[MN.2] //: -BECK'S BEEN DOIN' CRAZY STUFF SINCE FOREVER AGO, AND IT'S STARTING TO CONCERN US-

Beck: .... ^.^;;;

<MC005>: > You what? ?__?

[CALL] //: Warning--multiple incoming robots heading for your location.

[MN.9] //: -nOT AGAIN--

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

Beck: Stop SWARMING me--!

[A blast of icy wind dealt with the sign bots quickly--but they fell as their systems shut down, shattering into a million pieces before Beck could absorb their Xel.]

Beck: ...Oops.

Beck: (O...Kay, not doing THAT again...)

<MC005>: > …What was that about the stunts, again—

Beck: --Uh--

Will: --!! DUCK!

[MN.1] //: --?

Beck: --Wait I don't see a duuUUUUOH--

[NOW ENTERING HIGHWAY ALPHA 1.]

[...That was what the large overhead sign said as Beck ducked at the last possible second, narrowly avoiding giving himself another broken nose--and possibly worse.]

Beck: (Oh man that was close--!)

[There is a strong fuzzing noise of static.

It’s not coming from nearby, but rather over the feeds.]

Beck: !

[MN.3] //: --Wha--that'szz not me--

<FMN-006>: > OOOO—

<FMN-006>: > -OW, CAR RIGHT TO THE FACE-

<FMN-006>: > -Well not LITERALLY her face but man that had to have hurt-

<FMN-009>: > Aaaaaa I’M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN BUT THERE ARE CRAZY SIGNS EVERYWHEEEEEEEEERE—

[MN.9] //: What's--!?

[MN.1] //: -PING PING, IS SHE ALRIGHT--

Will: --Just--extremely so very worried with so many of his--and not his but his children AAACK--

<FMN-006>: > Her camo’s gone—

<FMN-009>: > -WHICH MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO CATCH UP TO HER, DAD—-

<FMN-006>: > …She’s standing on her own, now—

<FMN-006>: > SHEEEE’ll be fine, Beckaronidoni, GO ON AHEAD :’^D

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > -UH. SHE’S KINDA GETTING AGITATED, IT SEEMS, STANDBY FOR DEVELOPMENT-

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

Beck: -Whew, OK...-

[CALL] //: Contact with tunnel entrance in three...two...one...

Speedy: -OH GEEZ, DUCK, MAN!-

[THUD--!]

[Beck just dropped down to lay on the roof and held his head down--]

[--and saw the world turn much, much darker, illuminated only by pale, yellow lights that lined the walls--the emergency lights.]

[Beck lowered his visor for Night Vision before he deemed it safe to raise his head again.]

Beck: --In the tunnel--! It's...pretty dark but I got my Night Vision--

<DWN-011>: > Welp. Just keep an eye for the exit, too.

[Nine pinged back in confirmation, readying himself briefly before jumping to another car, and another. The traffic was more condensed here, so it was easier to jump from one vehicle to another.]

Beck: Lots of rigs here...

[With LOTS of malfunctioning robots...]

Beck: (No other way—I'm gonna have to fight through them!)

[....It wasn't long before the malfunctioning robots spotted him, and moved to converge on his position.]

[Beck narrowed his eyes at them, and—]

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

[—FILLED his fists with fire, and CHARGED at the CDNs in his path!]

Beck: Haaaaaah—!

[MN.1] //: .... -We taught him that, you know—- -HEH, THAT'S HIS BROTHER-

[MN.2] //: -Yeah well DUH-

[BAM—!]

[A few of the robots are knocked off the rig, while others either blow up or are absorbed on contact with his Dash, giving him some Absorption Boosts--and refilling his previously used Xel Stock.]

[XEL STOCK 1 QUOTA REACHED.]

[MN.3] //: —He'zzz really mowing those thingszz down, huh...?

[MN.2] //: -IT'S GLORIOUS, GO BECK GO-

Beck: —NNGH—!

[One by one, the robots are broken and beaten down before him, their components being drawn into his being as both Xel and Fire danced to his will, a strong green glow casting from his optics.]

Will: (....!)

Beck: Get out of the WAY—!

Beck: (Gotta—get to Nii-San—!)

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—!]

Beck: -cOVERS EARS, O W—!-

Will: What in the world was—?!

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > -NOOOOOOBODY PANIC, UH— -

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: -SIX, I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS—-

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > SHE'S KINDA, UM

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > TIED UP AT THE MOMENT—

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: -NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR PUNS, AVIATOR—-

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > NO BRO

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > I MEAN IT FOR REAL

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: —!

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > -also, we pun when stressed, you know this, aaaaand thIS IS KINDA STRESSFUL TO WATCH-

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > Get Nine moving, this isn't something he should see!

[MN.9] //: Guys—?!

[MN.1] //: Keep GOING, Beck! NOW!

[MN.9] //: But what was—?!

[MN.1] //: N O W!

<FMN-006 to FMN-009>: > Hurry uuuup

[While Beck made a worried break for it, Goose suddenly gave off a blip of surprise and concern.]

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > Uh-oh—

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > oh geez, she took out one of my cameras— I've lost visual—

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > -But not audio, at least-

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: —Augh, of all the times—!

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: What about Jack? Is he injured? Did you see before you lost the visual?

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > ... Have you ever needed to wrestle your Shade? Or just lug him around in general? Tony's not exactly a heavyweight-- aaaand don't tell her I said that or she'll shoot my propellers off 8'D;;

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > Noooot so much injured as out of his league in trying to reign in a bucking bronco-- though he's doing REAL well, all things considered— …

[... But then he falls uncharacteristically silent.]

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: .....? Avi—?

[MN.9] //: --Eeep--Cars, more car debris, DODGE DODGE DODGE--

[More silence.]

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > …

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > . . .

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: -OK we have never EVER heard you be this quiet for this long, please say SOMETHING—-

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > -Swallows- She's not gonna be happy when she wakes up from this...

<FMN-006 to MNN-001>: > ... And hears what she's saying.

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: —.....

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

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

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

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

[MN.9] //: —KINDA BUSY—! -SOUNDS OF METAL CRUNCHING-

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

[MN.1] //: (Curse this wretched virus—!)

[MN.9] //: How long until the tunnel exit?!

[CALL] //: Contact in 4 minutes, Nine.

<DWN-019>: > Wait. Where are Jack and FMN-008?

<FMN-006>: > Working on getting the visual back up, guys— lost sight of them, that may be a moment—

<DWN-019>: > … You are an aerial ‘bot, how could you lose sight of them—

<FMN-006>: > She spotted one of my cams and wasn’t too happy about it, okay? D: Charlieeee… why do you always have to go after Charlie, Siiiiiis…

[MN.3] //: (...Charlie??)

[CALL] //: Contact in 3 minutes.

Beck: Whoa—!

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[More strange wheel bots had materialized--and learning from the previous encounter, Beck chose to avoid them altogether and and hovered just out of their reach.]

<DWN-011>: > Wouldn’t stay in that form too long.

<DCN-000>: > Why?

<DWN-011>: > Exit. Too tall.

[MN.9] //: OK, just let me find a place t—

[...A pause.]

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

<MC005>: > …What is it, Beck?

[MN.9] //: UH, GUYS...

[BEEEP BEEEP BEEEEEEEP!]

[MN.1] //: -...oh no-

[MN.3] //: -HOW MANY OF THOSE THINGS A R E THERE??-

[MN.9] //: A LOT—!

<DCN-000>: > Can you slow ‘em down by freezing them? o:

[A swarm of sign bots—much MUCH bigger than anything he's seen so far.]

[MN.9] //: There's WAY too many, I don't think I can get them all—!

[MN.1] //: If you can't slow them down, can you disperse them?

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

[MN.9] //: I can tryyyy??

<DCN-000>: > Yaaay, Beckyyy~

-PING!-

<DCP-001>: > You can do it, Beck! ^.^

Beck: —!

Beck: ...Linka--!!

<DCP-001>: > You can do it! Beck is hero~

[...Nine's optics seemed to flare a touch brighter the moment he heard Kalinka's voice.]

[After landing on a car, Beck took careful aim at the mass of sign bots ahead, the propeller that replaced his hand spinning faster, and faster—!]

[—ZING!]

[The propeller unlatched and whizzed through the air vertically, splitting the large group of sign bots in half—!]

Beck: —Hah—!

[And he didn't stop there—a moment later and another propeller was launched, and another, and another—]

[CALL] //: Contact in 2 minutes.

[It took almost exhausting all of this form's energy—but he managed to completely disperse the swarm, quickly shifting back to default to shoot at the ones that lingered.]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR//RECHARGING...]

[DR.WHITE] //: You're almost there, Beck—!

[MN.9] //: —! I see the exit! (It's really bright—...is it dawn already--?)

[CALL] //: Contact in 1 minute.

[Disengaging his Night Vision, Beck lowered his body as the car he stood on sped towards the light ahead...]

[CALL] //: Contact in 30 seconds.

[There was a sudden PING of alarm.]

<DWN-019>: > WAIT WAIT WAIT—

<DWN-019>: > PISCES WHAT WERE YOU SAYING ABOUT “TOO TALL”—

[MN.9] //: -What, but we're fine—-

[CALL] //: Contact in 3—2—1—

[The world was thrown back into light, and the first reddish sunbeams of daylight filled the sky over a brown desert, rock formations scattering their shadows against the hot sands of New Mexico.]

[There was a loud sound that echoed down the tunnel, bouncing off the walls.]

WHANG!

WHANG!

[Beck only had a second to stare in awe of the beautiful scenery when he heard the sound of something crashing against metal. He turned around back towards the tunnel in confusion.]

Beck: —?? What was that?!

<DWN-012>: > -Whine noise- x.≤;;; The sound of something running into a wall really, really fast…

[MN.1] //: (Something tall...)

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

[MN.1] //: No—!

<FMN-006>: >  … … … -We can’t do anything now until they come out on the other side, bro-

[MN.1 to FMN.6] //: —I know that and it's—Ngh!

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

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZZZZZZZT!!- -Stressful and worried static across the feeds-

[MN.9] //: What--did something happen to Kate and Jack--?!

[CALL] //: -LOUD PING-

[CALL] //: Warning: Erratic movement detected in several nearby remote-controlled vehicles.

<FMN-006>: > Listen, Beckaroo!

<FMN-006>: > The best thing you can do is to save the day by rescuing Sevvie, ‘kay? </punning while stressed again> Trust me on that. You can do it!

<FMN-006>: > This is a teamwork sort of rig— I mean, gig—

<FMN-006>: > So just do your part and Pup will do his and it’ll all work out, a’ight? ;D ;;;;

[MN.9] //: —...

[MN.9] //: —I read you, Avi...

[...He just couldn't help it—there were so many people he cared about on this dangerous highway, and he worried about everyone.]

[But at least they were there to remind him what he needed to do.]

<FMN-006>: > Oooof course you do! : D Because the alphabet starts with “A” for “Avi!” ^^

<FMN-006>: > Now go get ‘em, Champ!

[MN.9] //: —R...Right!

[Another large rig backed up, allowing Beck to jump across and head out further into the highway.]

[CALL] //: Warning—I am detecting a buildup of erratic signals near your location.

<MC005>: > …? What does that indicate?

[CALL] //: Analyzing...

[MN.9] //: —...? Huh?

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck—?

[MN.9] //: The cars are...?

[The smaller vehicles were weaving around in seemingly random patterns, honking and trying to get in front of one another...]

Beck: It...kinda looks like they're freaking out...?

Beck: But why would--

[SHING!]

[There was a blur of--of a dark, violet blue flame—

And one of the cars was CLEAVED in half.]

<DWN-012>: > !!!

<DWN-012>: > oh gosh is this where the car halves were coming from?

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

Beck: --!!!

[Moments later...]

[A red armored figure landed on the other lane, slamming a blade down on the car on which he landed.]

Beck: Brand--!

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

[Brand's breathing sounded labored, wrenching his blade out of the car and staring across the lane at his little brother.]

Brand: Gnh...!

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: > … We may have a problem…!

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: > If that really was CND-7037 and FMN-008 hitting the tunnel that made that noise—

<DWN-013 to MNN-001>: > They might not be conscious enough to evade if Brand goes after the car or rig they’re on top of!

[MN.1 to FMN.6 and 9] //: You two had better hurry when they get out of that tunnel--!

<FMN-009>: > YES SIR—!

Brand: I...I told you...

Beck: Brandish--!

[Before Beck could say anything more, however--]

[A surge of dark, violet flames burst from Seven's body, across his arms and blades, and he raised his head to scream-- ]

Brand: I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY!

<DWN-013>: > Yes, you did. But he won’t.

Beck: HANG ON, NII-SAN--!

[Brandish let out a cry of anguish, leaping towards another car as Beck chased after him from his own lane--]

[SHING--!]

[Another car was sliced, and it's parts were swept across the road--Beck was forced to jump from car to car to avoid both his brother's wild attacks and the results of his reluctant rampage.]

[SHING--!]

Beck: {Big brother, please--}

[SHING--!]

Beck: {--you have to--}

[SHING--!]

Beck: {--FIGHT THIS--!}

<DWN-013 to MNN-009>: > …He is, Beck. … -Augh, it is so hard, and so painful- He’s trying as hard as he can. But you’ll need to make the final moves to overcome what’s in place.

[Brand paused, breathing heavily.]

Brand: Why did it have to be you—

Beck: —?

Beck: N-nii-san, I’m here to—

Brand: WHY. DID IT HAVE. TO BE YOU?!

Beck: Wh-what do you mean?

[The sword master gripped his blades, shaking… in anger.]

Brand: Is Cardinal still out there with his damn martyr complex, then? Abandoning his family, abandoning US in a time like this?

[To say Beck was surprised would be an understatement. He sputtered, trying to draw closer.]

Beck: Wha—how did you know—!?

[Brand suddenly flamed up, screaming in rage.]

Brand: I SAW HIM, BECK! I REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, AND EVER SINCE!

Beck: !!!

Brand: -Distorted- Self-centered coward… always… always running away…!

[SHING—!]

[He took out his rage on another vehicle, forcing Beck to jump again.]

Brand: Never taking responsibility for ANYTHING he does! He wouldn’t help you then, he won’t help you now— instead he’s off GOD KNOWS WHERE larking about his on own, petty whims…

Brand: Irresponsible… SELFISH little… dishonorable COWARD…

Brand: Turning his back on responsibility, leaving it all to you…

Brand: I’ll tear him to pieces for this…!

Beck: !!! Nii-san, DON’T—! He just wants to help—!

[Brandish's answer to that was another slash in his direction, but easily avoidable. As Nine leaps over to a larger rig, the Xel-ninja speeds on by a set of trucks--]

[...But doesn't reappear once they pass.]

Beck: No--!

Beck: (Where is he, where is he--)

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

[DR.WHITE] //: (I can't help but wonder...Brand's fine control over his art allows him to achieve a greater focus than any of the others...)

[DR.WHITE] //: (But he's not like Beck in the sense that...)

[DR.WHITE] //: (....)

[DR.WHITE] //: (Brandish...son...)

[Beep!]

Beck: ....?

[The rig was larger than the others--and it was carrying many other cars on it's trailers. Once Beck climbed over the roof, and to the floor below, he was greeted by none other than Sunny the Patch Bot.]

[DR.SANDA] //: --? Will--Did YOU send Sunny down there?

[DR.WHITE] //: No--?

Sunny: ^.^

[CALL] //: -Ping of admittance, we had concluded Beck needed medical assistance once Brandish was spotted again-

<DWN-019>: > -Ping of approval-

[Sunny chirped pleasantly as Beck patted their head, unloading it's cargo and preparing to fly off...]

Beck: Wait, Sunny--!

Sunny: ?

[MN.9] //: Call--Xel Transfer him back to the lab right now, please.

[...He didn't want to add Sunny to the things Brand already cut up so far...]

[CALL] //: Acknowledged.

<DWN-013>: > Good luck, Beck. And remember…

<DWN-013>: > …

<DWN-013>: > (“In the end… his will overcame the program…”)

<DWN-013>: > Remember what I told you.

Beck: ......

Beck: Yeah...

[Sunny was teleported off, leaving Beck to venture forward on his own. There were less and less cars on the lanes, he noted...]

Beck: ....!

[At one end of the trailer, there were more cars, stacked one on top of the other.]

Beck: (They're not moving...so they must have been turned off when the virus hit...?)

[DR.WHITE] //: Any sign of Brand?

[MN.9] //: Not--

"HAAAAAAAAAAH--!!"

[SHING SHING SHING SHING SHING--]

[B O O M!]

[Without any warning, the cars were sliced--and they all exploded, knocking back the smaller Mighty Number off his feet and rolling across the trailer floor--!]

Beck: Gah--!

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

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > Careful, Will! With Brandish as his opponent… Beck will need all the concentration he can muster!

[Black smoke choked his throat, and he coughed, his vision straining to see the familiar figure that had appeared through it.]

[The smoke cleared, the rising sun over the now desolate highway....]

Beck: -COUGH-

Beck: B--...Brand...

[Screams of surprise and alarm in the far distance.]

<FMN-009 to MNN-009>: > Got them! I’m closing in!

[MN.9 to FMN.9] //: --... -PING-

[Brandish fell into a offensive stance, yet he was trying to draw AWAY from his brother at the same time, so it looked as if he was just a tense coil...]

Brand: Beck--!

[Beck gathered to his feet. Brand wasn't running anymore, but it sure LOOKED like he wanted to.]

Beck: Brand...

Brand: GNH--!

Brand: GNAAAAAAAAAAAAH--!!

[The dark flames enshrouded, engulfed, and for a moment, Brandish was not there—lost in the virus's grip—and then—!]

Brand?: WHY--?!

Beck: --!

[That voice--it was completely different, twisted, and demonic--it was not his own--]

Beck: (Is that...the virus...?)

Brand?: WHY, BECK--?!

Beck: ?!?!?

[--It said his NAME.]

Brand?: WHY WON'T YOU. GIVE. UP?!?!

[.........]

Beck: A...Ah--

[Those--those words--]

Beck: (W...What...)

[It was clear that Beck was completely unnerved, and found that he could not move at all. He stared, fixated, horrified and in disbelief all at once--]

<RMDC>: > -PING!-

<RMDC>: > UPDATE COMPLETED.

<RMDC>: > REBOOTING AI_DWN_024…

Beck: --!!

<MC005>: > What?

Brand?: RAAAAAAAAAAH--!!

[An unnatural groan of pain, and the flames die down to their original height, causing Brand to fall to a knee.]

Brand: Ngn...

Brand: S...Shadow....?

<DWN-019>: > What’s going on?!

<MC005>: > How could he—?

<DWN-024>: > -LOADING…-

<DWN-024>: > -Loading…-

<DWN-024>: > -Loading…-

[There was a broadcast… memory, almost—like looking across the Milky Way at endless streams of stars, clearer and more magnificent than any telescope could ever capture.]

[And then a feeling like some ancient thing that had long been asleep was about to stir…]

<DCN-007>: > -Much more presence than usual- {The student hears the voice of his master, no longer lost, but found again… and he will waken.}

<DCN-008>: > {You have been long missed and longed for, Brandish Atomo White.}

<DCN-008>: > {You don’t need to keep running from your family any longer. They think no less of you for what has happened. Do not fear their judgement—for they do not carry it!}

<DCN-007>: > Remember what you told us.

——————————

<DLN-000>: > But living life as a Wilybot… it’s always in the back of your mind—

<DLN-000>: > What if… what if something, what if /next/ time—there’s ALWAYS a next time—what if it really makes us… what if we become monsters?

[MN. 7] //: Then I will do everything in my power to save you WITHOUT taking your life.

<DLN-000>: > Sometimes people don’t get a choice.

<DLN-000>: > Rock didn’t get a choice.

[MN.7] //: There is always a choice.

——————————

<DCN-007>: > {THERE IS /ALWAYS/ A CHOICE!}

<DCN-008>: > {Even if the only choice is to resist.}

<DCN-007>: > {What do you think we did, Brandish? When we were enslaved like this?}

<DCN-007>: > {MAKE YOUR CHOICE! CHOOSE TO FIGHT IT!}

Brand: {I--!}

[The Mighty ninja recoiled once more, groaning again, the virus within him refusing to let go, to ensure that it completes its purpose using him as its host.]

Brand: --N...ngh...

Brand: T...here is...a...ch-choice...

Brand: B...Beck...

Beck: It's gonna be OK--!

Beck: I'm here to help--I've come to SAVE you, Brand--!

[Beck carefully tries to approach, but--]

Brand: N--No closer--!

Brand: O-One more step--and my blades will have their way with you--!

[His head jerked to one side, as if he didn't mean to say what he just said.]

Brand: It...it...

Brand: It...doesn't--KNOW--!

Beck: --what?

Brand: It....it CAN'T know--

Beck: Brand--what--tell me what's happening--! What are you--

Brand: I can't--control myself--! It--

Brand: It doesn't--know--what--

Brand: It--will not--STOP--until everything--is GONE--!

<MC005>: > …!!!

Brand: It—will—stop at NOTHING—

Brand: It—will use—WHATEVER MEANS—!

[DR.SANDA] // : Saints preserve us...

Brand: It will use ME—until I BREAK—!

Beck: —!?

Brand: If—if you want...to SAVE me...!

[SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R.]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 7. CODENAME: BRANDISH.]

[HEIGHT: 167cm WEIGHT: 187kg XEL COUNT: 37,400,000]

Brand: YOU MUST DESTROY ME!

[This phrase was dramatically emphasized by a sudden flash of lightning in the distance out of nowhere.]

Beck: —!!

Beck: NO—!

Beck: I don't want to do this—I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have to—!

Brand: RARGH!

[Beck's rebuttal fell on deaf ears—Brandish could no longer hold back. He lunged—!]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

[Beck leaped backwards, switching his form into something he thought would slow Brandish down at least a little—]

Brand: Predictable!

[SHING!]

[...The wall of ice that was between them was cut to pieces.]

Beck: Gnh—!

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

Brand: Always so VERY predicable...

Beck: Burning—gACK—!

[Beck was hit with a flying kick, sending him tumbling over to the ground—]

Brand: You—you expect to kill ME with such PREDICTABLE skills—?!

[A blast of disapproval across the feeds, directed RIGHT at Brandish.]

<DCN-000>: > N O.

<MC005>: > …!

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > I thought you were keeping him busy in the kitchen—!

[MN.1] //: -Snow—argh, tiny bots are always hard to keep track of—-

<DCN-000>: > N O, NO, /NO!/

<DCN-000>: > Beck isn’t like the monster—

[You could actually hear his budding arctic tantrum—the winds were howling with ice in their voice!]

<DCN-000>: > BECK /SAVES/ THE DAY!

Brand: —ngh—!

[He falters at the sound of Snow's voice...]

Brand: I—I can't—control—

Brand: AAARGH!

[There was an incredibly intense blast of disapproval, but this time, it… didn’t seem to be specifically directed at… Brandish…?!?]

<DCN-000>: > YOU!

<DCN-000 to ???>: > You meanie.

<DCN-000 to ???>: > You’re trying to make more like the blue monster.

<DCN-000 to ???>: > YOU TRIED TO MAKE /US/ LIKE THAT MONSTER!!!

<DCN-000 to ???>: > -SCREEEE, SHRIEKS OF RUSSIAN WINTER-

<DCN-000 to ???>: > MONSTERS NEVER WIN!

[At the sounds of the howling winds of icy fury—]

Brand?: -UNHOLY DEMONIC SCREEEEEEEEEEECH OF RAGE-

[This tantrum was abruptly cut short.]

<MC005 has sent DCN-000 Offline.>

[Apparently Mikhail had taken the matter into his own hands to prevent Snow from hurting Pyro with his abilities, as the little ice ‘bot used them recklessly when throwing a tantrum.]

[MN.1] //: Snow—!

[…Uh-oh.]

<DWN-011 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DWN-012 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DWN-013 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DWN-018 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DWN-019 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DCN-003 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DCN-007 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

<DCN-008 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

[MN.3] //: -Ooooh, that's not good-

Beck: BRAAAAAAND—!

Brand: RAAAGH—!

[Brandish flourished his blades in parallel position, arms stretched out wide to either side—!]

Beck: —!!

[Seven spun around on the spot, becoming a spinning blur of DEATH that soon sped towards Nine—!]

Beck: —aaAAAH—!

[Recognizing this move and what it can do, Beck had one option—]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Take to the sky.]

Brand: Ngh—!!

[Beck sighed in relief as he watched Brand simply glare at him after he came to a stop. Brandish could jump fairly high, but as long as he—]

[SHING!]

Beck: WHA—?!

[Brandish...threw his own sword at him?]

[Beck had to bank harshly to the right, the blade narrowly missing his side. He stared in confusion for a split second—

A pale cloth of what appeared to be the 'bandages' that decorated the hilt was now stretched out, and seemed to retract back to Brandish, returning the weapon to his hand.]

Brand: You cannot stay up there forever—!

[There seemed to be a buzz for a moment.

And then, suddenly…]

<DWN-024>: > -Loading…-

[SHING!]

[SHING—!]

[There was a far-off flash of green that lit up the dawn sky.]

[MN.1] //: —!!

[MN.3] //: —Waszz that—?

[Beck landed quickly, and shifted his form again—]

[...to default?]

Beck: (Brand has a counter to everything I got—)

Beck: (He keeps saying I'm predictable—)

Beck: (So--I gotta come up with something he WON'T expect—!)

Beck: (...I am so glad the others won't see this...)

[MN.9] //: DR. COSSACK—!

[MN.9] //: I'm sorry—but I have to ask you to—!

<MC005>: > …

[There was a pause.]

<MC005 has sent DWN-011 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DWN-012 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DWN-013 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DWN-018 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DWN-019 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DCN-003 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DCN-007 Offline.> <MC005 has sent DCN-008 Offline.>

<MC005 to MNN-009>: > {Do what you have to… but understand that you may not be able to keep this secret all the way through.}

[MN.9 to MC005] //: ...I understand.

Beck: (Sorry about that, guys...)

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[MN.3] //: —?!? BECK—WHAT ARE YOU DOING—?!

Beck: TRUST ME, SIS—!

[Brandish seemed unfazed, but leaped into a front flip, using his blades to hack at anything that dared to come close--

Beck sparked in panic and threw large, glowing purple bits up in a make shift shield--they didn't hold up to Brand's swords, but it did give Beck enough time to roll out of the way, summoning more bits to his side.]

[There was a clattering sound as Mikhail hastily left the room he was in to make his way to the emergency bay.]

Brand: Fool...!

[He lands, and once again charges for another slashing attack, unrelenting in his efforts to cut Beck down to nothing but Xel.]

[Beck's bits are wildly thrown this way and that while he avoids and dodges and--]

[MN.3] //: --!!

Brand: Must slice--must DICE--!

-PING!-

<RMDC>: > PROCESSING NEW DATA…

<RMDC>: > UPDATING SERVER…

<RMDC>: > UPDATE COMPLETE. STATUS UPDATE: FMN-008.

<RMDC>: > XEL PURGE COMPLETE. ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM FMN-008.

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

[MN.2] //: -ALRIGHT, MIRROR BRO!-

Brand: --n-ngh--?

<RMDC>: >ALERT!

<RMDC>: > SIGNAL ERROR: FMN-008 NOT FOUND

<RMDC>: > SCANS INDICATE FMN-008 HAS SUSTAINED SYSTEM-WIDE CRITICAL HARDWARE DAMAGE. DATA SOURCE: FMN-009

Brand: K...Kate--?!

[Brandish...stops.]

Brand: Ack--N...No...!

Beck: --Sorry, Brand--!!

[BZZZZZZT--!]

[The whole floor was suddenly electrified, the bits that had been thrown earlier sending strong currents across the metal flooring--!]

Brand: --gNAAAAAH--!

[He was covered in a purple glow--!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[The bits dissipated into loose Xel as Brand twitched and jerked, the currents wreaking havoc on his systems...]

Brand: Nnnggh...

Beck: {I'm sorry--!}

-Ping.-

<AI_DWN_024 SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE. REBOOTING…>

Brand: Gnh--

Brand: Y--Yes....

Beck: --!

Brand: You...you are...

Brand: Going to...break me down...right into Xels...

Beck: No--! That's not what I'm--!

<RMDC>: > ERROR: EMOTIONS.EXE ERROR DETECTED. DWN-024 REBOOT FAILED. RETRYING…

<FMN-009>: > -PING!-

<FMN-009>: > UM

<FMN-009>: > UHHH

<FMN-009>: > GUYS THERE’S A PROBLEM

[DR.SANDA] //: -Oh dear Asimov why now--

[MN.1] //: What is it?

<FMN-009>: > -HOW AM I GOING TO GET THEM OFF, HELP—-

<FMN-009>: > -EVEN IF I COULD LIFT SIS IN AVI’S FORM (WHICH I /CAN’T/, SHE’S TOO HEAVY—) I ONLY HAVE ONE ARM IN THAT FORM, WE CAN’T LEAVE JACK BEHIND—!-

<FMN-009>: > THEY BOTH HIT THEIR HEADS REALLY HARD AND AREN’T GIVING OFF SIGNALS I THINK THEY BROKE THEIR TRANSCEIVERS AAAAAAAAAA—

[MN.1] //: Calm DOWN, Nine--! We'll think of something--!

<FMN-009>: > BUT SHE HIT HER HEAD REALLY HARD, LIKE YOU SAID AFTER THE INCIDENT THERE’S XEL EVERYWHERE SOMEBODY HELP—

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

[BZZZZZZT--]

[DR.WHITE] //: -GAH THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THEM OUT OF THE HIGHWAY AND--

<MC005>: > -PING!-

<MC005>: > Has anyone seen Aviator??

[ALL] //: --????

[MN.3] //: He should zzstill be--

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

[MN.2] //: Are my four eyes seeing things right or am I seeing double--?

<MC005>: > {What??}

[P I N G!]

[MN.6] //: Diiiiiiid someone call for...

[MN.6] //: ...air support?~ ; D

[MN. ALL] //: AVI!

<FMN-006>: > You know what they say, Avi!

<FMN-006>: > Two heads are better than one!~ ; D

<FMN-006>: > It helps to have friends in… HIGH places~

[MN.6] //: You said it, Avi!

[MN.6] //: And they're only just a--CALL AWAY. ; D

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

<FMN-006>: > Breaking news!

<FMN-006>: > Two handsome airplane rescuers stop highway chase from ending in tragedy, while everyone’s faaaaavorite underdog SAVES THE DAY— -Background flying noises-

[MN.9] //: AVI!~

[MN.6] //: Heeeeey, T-Becks, love to chat and catch up but I got a car-jack to get to and you got a bro to save!

[MN.6] //: You're doing great--so don't give up now!

[MN.9] //: Roger that, Avi!

<FMN-006 to MNN-007>: > EYYYY, LUCKY SEVEN THERE— I know you can hear me.

[MN.7 to FMN.6] // -low growls in response-

<FMN-006 to MNN-007>: > Enough of that doom and gloom nonsense, lil’ bro—

<FMN-006 to MNN-007>: > She’s pretty banged up and is gonna want you to help out again.

Brand: --!

<FMN-006 to MNN-007>: > -She needs you, so—if I hear more of this despair stuff I’m going to hang you up a flagpole by your fancy Japanese silk robes, snap out of it-

Brand: K...Kate--

<FMN-006>: > -Cheerfully- See you guys soooon!~ Avi, over and out!

[MN.9] //: Good luck, guys--!

[MN.6] //: You too, little Champ!

Brand: Nngh--!

[He convulsed, and the virus tightened it's reigns—but still, he was suppressing his urge to attack--!]

Brand: I...ngh--!

[BLAM!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Beck did not let the opening go to waste.]

[BLAM!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Brand: NNNAGH!!

[The ninja suddenly screamed into sunrise, his blades raised in front of him--]

[--clicking into place as he brought them together--]

[DR.WHITE] //: --!!! BRANDISH, NO--!!

[PING!]

<DWN-024 is now Online.>

<DWN-024>: > -Very, VERY disoriented data- … Sensei…?

Brand: M--MOVE, BECK--!!

Brand: M-my body--my BLADES--They have a will all of their own--!

Brand: RAAGH--!

Beck: Brand--wait--!

[SHING--!]

Beck: aCK--!

[He backed off, but--pain, across his shoulder--]

<DWN-024>: > —!

<DWN-024 has entered Non-Lethal Combat mode.>

[Uh-oh.]

[SHING SHING SHING SHINGSHINGSHING--]

[Other shoulder--leg--]

[There was a whistling noise.]

THUNK.

Ssssss…

[A shuriken was sinking into the rig by Brandish’s left foot, hissing as acid ate away at the metal.]

Brand: --?!

[Beck stumbled, and fell in shock--Xel beginning to bleed from the gashes his brother had inflicted--thankfully not deep enough to sever anything immediately important, but OW--]

[Shadow seemed to melt out of his namesake, rising like some sort of ghost. His eyes were glowing a solid green.]

<MC005>: > I thought the Meadow teleporters were Offline!

<FMN-001>: > THEY ARE! He just—! MELTED into the darkness!

[He flicked his wrists, and two more shuriken appeared.

This time, he aimed for Brand’s hands.]

[Brandish did not linger--he avoided the projectiles altogether by flipping backwards, his eyes switching from his own blue to a monstrous purple...]

Beck: Sh--Shadow--!

Brand: You...

[Shadow did not respond at all. He was silent.

And relentless—melting suddenly into the shadows again, vanishing from sight.

Only to reappear—]

[SKLRRT!]

[APPARENTLY UNDERNEATH THE RIG AT BRAND’S FEET AND STABBING UPWARDS—]

Beck: --!!!

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

Brand: Gnh--!

[He jumped, but the acid beneath splattered and hit bits and parts of his leg armor, eating away at the paint and the trade-mark '7' that adorned it.]

[It wasn't long before the acid was slowly eating away at the armor itself, though at a slow pace. Brandish HOWLED in pain--!]

Brand: INSOLENCE--!

[SHING--!]

[The slice cut through the rig like butter, and there were some very troubling noises from whatever piping he had cut into.]

[There was a clattering sound, as if something had fallen down.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: SHADOW--?!

[Silence.]

Beck: SHADOW--?!?

Brand: Nggggh....

[Brand’s shadow… rippled.]

Beck: --?!?

[Brandish didn't seem to notice, now turning his blade back to Beck--]

Brand: You--...

Brand: .....

[Until he sensed another presence--]

[Shadow sprang up out of Brand’s cast shade, grabbing him by the scarf and yanking HARD.

At the same time, he slammed his foot against Brand’s ankle, where the leg armor had been eaten away.]

Brand: --Hrk--

Brand: -UNHOLY SCREECH OF PAIN-

[Shadow let go of the scarf, but he wasn’t quite done—that much was clear, as he had another shuriken in his hand a second later.

His expression was void, and he didn’t seem moved by mercy whatsoever.]

[SKLR!]

[Brand stabbed behind him, impaling Shadow on his sword. Shadow’s eyes flashed red in pain.]

Beck: SHADOW—!!!

[Before he could move, Brand had already turned and cleaved the shuriken in half, the acid hissing and eating away at the sword. Enraged at his precious sword being so distorted, the speeding ninja had sliced away at his pupil, who fell onto his back under the assault.

Brand staggered, recoiling in inner agony as he stopped short of diving both swords down into the exposed core.]

[Beck was glad he couldn’t see what was going on very well, but he couldn’t let it continue.]

[BZZZZZT!]

[Brand turned to focus his attention on Beck, his blades tainted with oil stains. Shadow himself seemed to fade away, but Beck wasn’t given time to think it over.]

[SHING—!]

[Beck narrowly avoided a cleaving blow—]

[SHING—!]

[And then another—]

[SHING—]

[But Shadow sprang up from the darkness, shuriken-first, slamming right into Brand’s shoulder.]

Brand: AAAUUUUUURRRRGH!

[Just as his master had been moments earlier, Shadow continued a swift and merciless series of slicing attacks, tearing Brand’s armor into shreds as acid started eating away at the wounds. It was clear, now, that all the damage from earlier had healed, fully regenerated.

He whirled around behind Brand and kicked him down, stepping onto his back and bringing out more shuriken. He planted his feet firmly on Brand’s wrists, and raised his hands to attack—]

((Pic—Shadow v Brand))

Beck: SHADOW, STOP--!

[However…]

<DWN-024 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

[The green glow subsided, and his irises and pupils slowly came back into view—though his irises were still glowing the same shade of green.

He jumped off and slid further back, bracing himself against the driving cabin.]

Beck: --!!

[Brandish winced in sheer pain, but his head turned to GLARE at Shadow with violet orbs of rage, unlocking his blades to separate and--]

[BLAM!]

Beck: NO YOU DON'T--!

[Shadow crouched down, bringing out some sort of… strange but familiar item…]

Beck: --Ah--!

[His visor goes down--]

[And darkness covers… everything.]

Brand: --!?!?

Beck: (I--STILL CAN'T SEE, WHAT--?!)

[It is no ordinary darkness—not as if night had fallen—but as if light had ceased to exist at all.

It was as if it had smothered out everything else in the world, creating a void of NOTHING.]

[There was a firm grip around Beck, suddenly—]

Beck: --!

[In reaction to the darkness, Brand wildly slashes to where he last saw Shadow, and prepares to spin in place with his blades--]

Beck: Wha--!

[And then a tap on the side of his visor.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-009>: > -Data, brace yourselves-

Beck: --!

[Beck instantly tucks his head in, and tenses up in brace for whatever Shadow was talking about, his Xel Filter going online automatically--]

[The darkness lifted as suddenly and completely as it had come.

Beck was now standing in a different position than before, one with more favorable ground. Shadow was right beside him.]

Brand: --Aah--!

[Blinded by the sudden light from the sun, Brandish hissed and whirled around--where are they--?!]

Beck: (How did...?)

Brand: RRRNGH--!

Beck: (--Never mind--Brand's open--!)

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Shadow side stepped and jumped up to be on the hood of the rig’s driving cabin, and thus out of the way.]

[ZING--!]

[The propeller whacked Brand SQUARE on the back--]

Brand: NGH--!

[Beck backed into a running start and LEAPED--!]

Beck: Haaaaah!

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED.]

[CLANK--!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[There was the sound of something cracking--]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Brand: B--BECK--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: FIGHT IT, BRAND--!

Beck: I'LL SAVE YOU--

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE.]

Beck: --I PROMISE--!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

[........]

"Again."

[THWACK!]

"Again!"

[THWACK!]

"--You're still holding back, Otouto."

"...Ngh..."

"I can tell when something is troubling you, you know."

"...."

"It is better to clear you mind than let it rage like a rushing current. There is no proper flow then. Only chaos."

"....."

"What is wrong, brother?"

"I...Brand?"

"Yes?"

"...Am I ever gonna get back on the team? I'm...not, aren't I?"

"....."

"I...I try--and I try--but I'm...I'm still SCARED, and I...I'm not getting any better--I do these practices over and OVER, but--!"

"...Seed."

"--? Wha?"

"You are a SEED, Beck."

"--....uh...?"

"You have yet to realize what you can accomplish with your abilities, and have yet to explore it. Like a seed planted on this earth, you need time."

"...Time...?"

"Time to GROW."

"You will need time, and guidance, and yes, much practice. You will need plant yourself firm once you discover your own way. You will need patience, focus...and above all--"

"--love?"

"...Yes. Love. Very good."

"I...heh..."

"...I can see it, Beck. Your potential. It is vast, and it is endless. You will become greater than the sum of all of us..."

"R...Really...?"

Brand: ......

Brand: --mn--?

"Yes. Of course you will."

Brand: B...Beck...

"You're a Mighty Number."

[....]

[XEL PURGE COMPLETE.]

[As the last of the green glow died off, cleansing away all of the sickly violet curse, Brand found himself staring into a blue, cloudless sky...]

[...As well as his brother...]

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.7]

Beck: Brand--? Brand--?!

Brand: . . .

Brand: I....

[A hand weakly reached out to rest on his shoulder.]

Brand: I...thank...you...

[MN.7 IS NOW IN SLEEP MODE.]

Beck: Nii-San--!

[There is the sound of something collapsing across the feeds.]

[DR.SANDA] //: --Will?!

[MN.3] //: --Daddy??

[MN.2] //: -GONNA GO GET OUR LIMP NOODLE DAD SOME PILLOWS AND MAKE AN ICE PACK-

Beck: Ooooh--!

[Beck winced as some of the cars ahead all BLARED their horns at once, as if they were angered at his victory...]

Beck: Shadow--I could use a hand with Brand--!

[At first, Shadow was nowhere to be seen.

Then, it became clear he was standing at the very back of the rig. …He seemed to be in some sort of defensive stance.]

Shadow:  . . .

[He was not so tense as to be frozen in place, but he seemed just one slight move away from a sudden and dangerous strike from the ENORMOUS shuriken in his hands.]

Beck: .....

Beck: How are you carrying that huge thing--?

[No response.]

Beck: Um--? Shadow? We're-- kinda still on a crazy speeding highway...

Beck: I can't carry Brand all by myself...please...?

[Shadow looked up.

His eyes were still bright green— he hadn’t left Defensive mode.]

Beck: --!

Beck: Sh...Shadow...?

[Beck collected himself up against his brother, eyes widening in slight surprise and fear--]

Beck: Ah--

Beck: G--Guys--!

[MN.1] //: Shadow! STAND DOWN--!

[DR.SANDA] //: Oh, dear--Mikhail--! -HELP-

[Shadow took another step back, holding the shuriken out like a shield by gripping at an edge of the opening in the center. He was at the very back of the rig now, and it was a wonder he hadn’t fallen off.]

[A soft ping.]

<MC005>: > -Quietly- {He’s afraid.}

<MC005>: > {He’s in Defensive mode because he is afraid of what is going to happen to him.}

<MC005>: > {He is… attempting to protect himself.}

<MC005 to MNN-ALL>: > {Keep in mind he’s been asleep since the beginning.}

<MC005 to MNN-ALL>: > {All he knows is that he has acted aggressively and against the wishes of his superiors, having injured his teacher—who then was overpowered by one with a Universal Adapter and then sent, for all he knows, Offline.}

<MC005 to MNN-ALL>: > {Additionally…}

<MC005 to MNN-ALL>: > {All the other AI&A signals from the server are Offline as well.}

<MC005 to MNN-ALL>: > {What do you THINK he has concluded?}

[MN.1] //: --!!

[MN.3] //: -oh no--

[MN.2] //: --BECKY--SNAP OUT OF IT--!

Beck: .......

Beck: Sh...Shadow--

Beck: --P-Please--we--we gotta out of here--and get Brand help--

Beck: Please--I just SAVED him, I--!

[HOOOOOOOOONK--!]

[Shadow seemed to be struggling, very hard, but he remained silent.

Finally, he reached into his scarf with his other hand…]

[And in a flash, tossed something that clattered at Beck’s feet.]

Beck: --!! It's--!

[HOOOOOOOOOOONK--!!]

[The loud horn came from a huge eighteen wheeler--on a dead-set collision course with the rig they had battled on--!]

[HOOOOOOOOOOONK--!]

Beck: !!!

[Shadow made a sudden dashing leap, bounding up to the top to the rig, and then—]

<DWN-024 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

[His energy readings spiked, and there was a whine that stuttered.]

[He hurled the massive shuriken at the road ahead, causing part of the road to get sliced away and the metal star to spin and clatter across the road. At the same time, he crouched down, and—

The whole rig began to sink into the shadows, falling—]

[Beck snatched the Amulet, held on to it and his brother tightly...]

[And screamed.]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAAAAA--!

[The world around them was darkness, like before—except softer, somehow, like the haziness of dreams.

And then back into the sunlight in the desert, emerging from some cast shadows off-road—into the dust and sand.

Shadow swung down and grabbed at the side of the access panel to the fuel tank.]

[SKLORT!]

[He cut it open so that said fuel began rapidly draining away into the sand.]

[When the rig finally settled, that was when Beck stopped screaming.]

[He was hyperventilating, blinking weld up tears away as he held onto Brand's limp arm with a death grip, still processing what the heck just happened.]

Beck: (Highway--dark--sand--bright--what--)

<DWN-024 has entered Defensive Combat mode.>

[Shadow lept down from the rig and into the sand.]

[And then he made a run for it, summoning, of all things—a giant frog to ride.]

Beck: . . . . .

[MN.9] //: -Did--did I hit my head too--guys--what happened---

[MN.1] //: . . . .

<MC005>: > …

[A long pause.]

<MC005>: > …That… is a very good question.

[DR.SANDA] //: . . . . . Er...

Mikhail: (I’ve NEVER seen him use most of those techniques before.)

<MC005>: > I think it would be best to bring the two of you back to the lab, now…

[CALL] //: Preparing Xel Transfer...

[MN.9] //: -- W-Wait--Kate, Jack--

<MC005>: > They’re waiting here already, Beck.

[MN.9] //: -sigh-

[MN.9] //: Good...

[MN.9] //: Thanks, guys...

<MC005>: > Just try to rest. Things will be alright.

[CALL] //: Xel Transfer in progress...

[SANDA LABS...]

[Mikhail sat back into his chair with a large sigh at last, groaning and putting his face in his hands.]

Mikhail: {What a mess…}

[He had tried to talk with Shadow to get him to calm down, but Shadow had turned his transceiver off, much like Cardinal had. He didn’t wish to risk trying to teleport him off despite that, since the ninja was at the edge of the vehicle and clearly poised to jump off or lash out at the first sign of something that startled him.

And now he had run off. Again.

The Russian Doctor had a fairly good idea where the wayward DWN would ultimately end up, so he didn’t find it urgent to initiate a chase.

…Besides, that would only make things worse.

No, he was more concerned about the psychological impact this would have on Beck (and Brand) in the long term.]

Mikhail: ({At least… as long as he keeps his transceiver off, he won’t upload his fear to the RMDC. Small blessings, I suppose…})

[The rescued Mighty Numbers all clamored and gathered around the injured pair, Pyrogen helping his unconscious brother to the emergency bay, with the rest smothering Nine with worried chatter and tight, loving hugs.]

[White was still passed out on his chair, a pillow propped up against his head and a white blanket over his form, a soothing ice pack lovingly crafted and placed on his forehead.]

Beck: . . . .

[Beck did not say a word, although he did return the hugs.]

Soi: Hoooo...

Soi: (These things just get worse, huh...)

Soi: (...But at least everyone's...sort of alright.)

Soi: (Goodness, Will, you REALLY can't just fall over like that..)

Soi: I--b-better get to repairs on Brand...Call, could you watch Will?

Call: Yes, Doctor.

Mikhail: …

Call: I will also watch over Dr. Cossack, as I am also detecting unhealthy stress levels.

Soi: Er...right...you...do that...

Mikhail: Mnnn…

[He waited until after Sanda left before he turned to type at the console.]

<MC005 to CALL>: > I am admittedly concerned for Number Nine’s well being.

[CALL] //: .....

<MC005 to CALL>: > He has been very withdrawn as of late, and has taken to secluding himself for long blocks of time.

<MC005 to CALL>: > He seems to be concerned what the others will think of him, and enforces the secrecy out of a kind of desperation—and I don’t think that what happened today will help matters.

[ANALYZING...]

[CALL to MC005] //: What do you propose, Doctor?

Mikhail: -Leans against a hand, seeming tired-

<MC005 to CALL>: > I’ll need a little time to think on that. He needs someone to talk to, that much is certain.

<MC005 to CALL>: > I’d like to talk to him myself, just to try and understand the situation better, so I can figure out how to calm down anyone connected to the RMDC server.

[CALL to MC005] //:  ......

[CALL to MC005] //: Acknowledged.

[CALL to MC005] //: I suggest you also rest, Doctor.

[He was thoughtful for a moment.]

Mikhail: …Is there a piano anywhere around here, I wonder…?

[CALL to MC005] //: ...Beck plays.

[CALL to MC005] //: There is a keyboard in his room.

Mikhail: Ah, thank you. …But I suppose you’re right. Rest, for now. ({I’ll play the song later.})

Mikhail: Shadowman will be heading toward Texas. There are three possibilities: either he will continue travel within this world, end up in the Wilderness, or make it to our own world’s Texas. He should make contact once he figures out his brothers are alright and are still alive.

Mikhail: Make sure to keep an eye on Wily Eight’s isolation.

[CALL] //: Understood, Dr. Cossack.

[With that, the Russian reluctantly relocated somewhere that was conducive to sleep.]

[MEANWHILE, AT CHERRYDYNAMICS...]

[...The sound of a phone ringing.]

[Click.]

"Mmm. Oh yes, yes, Senator. Our FULL resources our dedicated to resolving--"

[A pause. Some calm chatter from the other side.]

"...Mm. Yes, yes--Oh--yes, very wise of you. I'll speak with--yes, that too--Oh, no, thank YOU, sir. Hmm. Alright. Stay safe."

[SLAM.]

[A tall, lanky, blond haired man in a sharp, purple business suit slammed the landline phone down—HARD—on the receiver, nearly breaking the thing in his fit of rage. Violet eyes furrowed in both frustration and fury.]

Graham: IDIOT!

Graham: Argh, that aggravating MORON--!

Graham: Fine--FINE! If you want to be that way, friend, then you can go throw yourself to the bots-- see if I care.

Graham: I don't NEED you...

[He began pacing around his office, grumbling angrily under his breath...]

Graham: Why are they hounding ME about the problem, and not torturing BLACKWELL to get the answer?!

Graham: This is TWICE--

Graham: TWICE that old goat and his WRETCHED FAMILY have made me--MADE US--LOOK LIKE A FOOL--!

Graham: RrrrrAAAGH--!

Graham: Rrrgh...

Graham: You--You and that TOY of yours...

Graham: And HIM.

Graham: I should have just taken HER later when I had the chance--!

Graham: But you just had to INTERFERE, didn't you...

[...There are several files on his desk...]

[All stamped as confidential.]

[DEMONSTRATING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN THE BATTLE COLOSSEUM.]

[PROJECT TRINITY--CDN.1201]

[CANCELLED.]

[--REASON: STAFF COMPLICATIONS AND RESULTS OF CDN.1101.]

Graham: ......

Graham: At least I still HAVE her...

Graham: That's the one saving grace you didn't TAKE from me...

Graham: Rnnngh...

Graham: I hope you BURN in hell for what you've done, wherever you are...!

[Riiiiing...]

Graham: Uuugh...

[With a harsh sigh, Gregory picked up the receiver, and cleared his throat. His tone turned pleasant and cheerful.]

Graham: CherryDynamics, CEO Gregory Graham speaking--oh, OH! A pleasure to hear from YOU, sir, yes! My goodness, I was starting to fear the worst--! Are you and your wife and children--?

Graham: That's wonderful--yes, of course, but I have--oh, no, there's no need--I have to stay here, you know...

[Pause.]

Graham: ....No. There's no one--no, I'm not MARRIED, you silly--

[Another pause.]

Graham: I said there is NO one, sir.

Graham: ...Just me.

Graham: --Oh no, of course. Thank you for your concern, though.

Graham: I really do appreciate it...

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