Smiles and Tears: Tragic Reconstruction
"Attacks are breaking out all over; it looks like Robotnik is going for a full-on assault."
"We'll need to split up. Even if the more valuable robots are immune to normal weaponry, we can minimize the damage caused."
"Head for the dense populations first and know your limits everyone."
The four hunters split to the four most populated areas where attacks were occurring. Damage here was also the worst, hinting at high-level robots being in the area. Cries of pain could be heard everywhere and the smell of blood penetrated even the deepest cellars. Arceus then ran into something, or rather someone more disturbing than all of the previous uprisings combined. She thought she saw an injured fox and wanted to help it, but looks are very deceiving.
"Can you move little fox?"
The burnette was greeted with blood-red, glowing eyes in an almost-fully metallic face. Most of the body was also mechanical, and only the fox's two tails were left fully organic.
"Tails! What… What did he do to you?"
"Kill… me…" The young fox's voice was now horribly garbled and mechanized.
"H… How…? WHY?"
Hesitantly, the kama-wielding warrior began to attack. Cyborg Tails fired missiles and shot lasers, dealing heavy damage to the area. Arceus was nimble enough to avoid, but normal civilians trying to hide from robotic fury were not. Some were crushed by falling rubble while others got direct fire.
"I know you got butchered in my time… But I still can't finish you off..."
"Firing at target. Target must not escape. Target has Chaos Emeralds."
"Goodbye, little buddy… Chaos… Maelstrom!"
Cyborg Tails got caught up in a whirlpool, robotic components still not fully waterproof. The one eye still original to the hero fox looked sad as he knew he had to die.
"Robotnik… I always knew you were tortured… But to go this far… It cannot go on!"
Arceus raced to the next site to assist Axl. She saw the small hunter engaged in combat with another cyborg, this one being a pink hedgehog.
"Agh! That hammer is devastating!"
"It's okay Axl, I can stop her… Never really liked Amy so this will be easier…"
"New target acquired."
"Thundadga!" Lightning struck Cyborg Amy and short-circuited her immediately.
"Thanks, one more hit and I'd be toast!"
"Get to safety… These monsters are out of your league."
Not far away, Zero was fighting off a black hedgehog cyborg. The crimson warrior had managed to cut off one of the monster's arms, but the two still seemed evenly matched.
"Shadow… So misunderstood, so ruined… Why couldn't you be the same character as you were in Adventure Two?"
"Pitiful human, you have no clue what you're dealing with."
"Even so, you shouldn't have been put though this… P.K. Flash!"
A bright flash blinded the cyborg, allowing enough time for some good slices. Cyborg Shadow didn't give up, and managed to land a good kick on Arceus' leg. Despite the pain, she managed to defeat the cyborg nightmare.
"Get to safety, there's only one left."
"I'm fine, really. Nothing but a scratch."
"You call getting your arm torn off a scratch? Even the Black Knight would be proud! Just get out of fighting please!"
One strong robot left. Cyborg Knuckles. Already trained to be a powerful fighter, it was no surprise for blue topaz eyes to see X knocked out and Cyborg Knuckles beating up anything that moves.
"To think Mobius' great heroes could fall and become this…"
"Grrh!"
"End the torture now… Chaos… Blitz!"
Supersonic slices gave a quick end to the nightmare Knuckles must be going through. Arceus carried the azure Reploid back to base where low-ranked hunters cheered her on. She wasn't happy though, she had just killed some of her favorite heroes. Controlled by Robotnik or not, the fact still stood that the foes she faced were once carefree animals of Mobius and outer space. Only after taking a few strides into base, she collapsed, utterly exhausted from the battles. When she awoke, Signas was sitting next to her in a meeting room.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, just used a bit too much energy."
"That's good. You deserve a lot for what you've done for us."
"Oh really, it's still nothing. My idol is among your ranks after all."
"You still go beyond even advanced Reploid skill."
"Just a gift I have, nothing more."
X stepped into the room, and looked directly at Arceus.
"I wanted to thank you personally for saving me."
"If there's one good thing about my Asperger's, it's devotion to friends. I wouldn't leave a friend behind, no matter what."
"You almost sound like Zero."
"Heheh thanks! I try to!"
