AN: This is going to be a story taking place about 18 years after the B6 series end. I wasn't going to post it until I was done with "Hikari" and the sequel I planed for it (most probably to be called "A village in the mountains"), but I couldn't resist publishing this teaser chapter. I am going to stick to the base created by Lilith and Nofretete (their characters and the idea of Scarabina joining Scarab's gang with minions of her own), keeping my own OCs and such (the storyline presented in "Hikari" and "A village in the mountains"). I hope you'll enjoy.
"What hurts the most" by GreatMarta
Episode 1: Inheritance
Scarab was feeling awfully bad today. He found it almost impossible to lift his huge body up from bed. Every muscle seemed to burn, every bone to crack. And this horrible headache.
At first, he ignored the symptoms. Anybody can have a bad day from time to time. But the pain wouldn't leave him. He couldn't force himself to work. He couldn't find voice to yell at his minions. His brain hurt from thinking. He couldn't even cope with solving a simple crossover from a newspaper. All he wished to do was to lie down and rest.
He knew what was wrong. He knew, but didn't want to admit it. He wasn't ready for it. He couldn't allow it. Not now. Not ever.
But he knew he couldn't avoid facing it forever. He had to deal with the undeniable fact.
He was getting old.
Frankly, he stopped celebrating his birthdays long before he became Dr Scarab. One year more or less, it made no difference. Not for a man who struggled to gain immortality.
Sadly, his struggles have so far proved to be fruitless. And so seemed his entire life.
He had an army of cyphrons. He had a secret laboratory. He had a gang of mutants at his service. He had Scarabina.
She has just turned 18.
It's already been 18 years since he had created her. By mistake, but still. Despite being the ugliest witch on Earth, she proved to be much help over those 18 years. Ambitious, energetic and sly, she had made it much easier to fight the Bionic Bastards. Backup is always appreciated, regardless of its esthetic values. If only it could be a little more effective.
The Bionic Clan was more effective than ever. Scarab swallowed his madness, remembering the eight children, those freaking little bionic spermatozoids, breaking his war robots like some ordinary toys. The goddamned Bionic-1 had children. His children had children. Scarab was childless. His entire gang was childless. As far as he knew, anyway.
"Things are not going good" the evil genius said to himself, analyzing videos of the most recent battles between his minions and the Bionic Clan "There are too many of them. Every generation seems to be stronger than the generation before. We are getting weaker each year. Oh, this has to stop!" he has decided. But what could he do, what?
"Happy birthday to me!" Scarabina kicked the door open and approached her partner, carrying a richly decorated chocolate cake "Oh, how time goes by! It seems like yesterday that I entered this world!" she placed the plate in front of Scarab, blocking the view of the screen in front of him with the cake "Here, have some! Celebrate with me!" she sat next to him. He gave her a disturbed look.
"How could I celebrate when I'm so depressed?!" he exclaimed "Everything hurts me! I'm worn out and empty inside! The Bionic Buzzers are raising a new generation and I am out of ideas how to fight them! When I imagine, that I die before I defeat them, and that nobody worthy will succeed me, I'm about to explode!" he roared, uncontrollably, exhaling all his frustration and anger. Letting go of fears and doubts. Allowing all the dizziness leave his body.
For the first time in many days, he didn't feel old.
For a minute or so after he finished, Scarabina stared at him, unable to come up with a proper reply. She didn't understand, he knew it. Not that he cared. He was a genius, a genius was meant to deal with his pain alone. That was the price for greatness. He was used to it.
Suddenly, he found himself in the strong embrace of his companion.
"Oh, sweaty, I know exactly what you mean!" she exclaimed, tightening the grip "We don't have any children to look after us! Of course, Glove, Madame O, and the others are like a family to us, but it's not the same! I have never thought of it, but seeing those little bionic brats made me feel that I am missing something! Oh, even if I was made incapable of having children of my own, I sometimes wonder if we could adopt one or two…!"
On the edge of losing consciousness, Scarab managed to free himself form Scarabina's grasp. Gasping for air, he fell to the floor.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sweaty!" the woman knelt next to him "I got carried away! Oh, I am so sensitive…!"
Scarab didn't listen. He was considering what she has said a moment ago. Adopt a child. What an idea. Heh. He had never wanted children. Surely not with her. And surely not when he was old enough to be a great-grandfather. But if he could find somebody of proper age… maybe a promising, young scientist… yes. A one who'd sell his soul to the devil for a bit of power. Oh boy. Yes. That was it. That was it.
A wide smile entered the evil genius' face. He felt as good as new. And excited to start searching for his potential adoptive son. Or daughter. But preferably a son. Yes, he would rather it was a son. Scarab Junior. No, bad idea. There could only be one Scarab. He'll choose a nickname for his successor once he finds him.
"Scarabina…" he turned to his partner "I think I have just found a solution to all our problems" he told her. She brightened up.
"Oh, you did?"
"Yes! Most positively yes!" he got up and explained his plan to her. As she listened, a true happiness sparkled in her eye. She was thrilled and most willing to start right away.
"Oh, I just can't wait!" she almost sung "I want two children! A boy and a girl! Or a couple! They will be the next king and queen of crime!"
"And they will help us get rid of those Bionic Fools once and for all Buahahahahahh!!!"
And so, the secret hideout once again carried the echo of the demonic laughter. A laughter, that could only mean one thing: something serious was about to happen.