Chapter 7
Stelburn, Nova Scotia
Curtis Wily entered Wily Industries using the freight elevator, as to not be seen by possible prying eyes. He was extremely paranoid of the androids who would be meeting him here. Waveman had never contacted him with the names. Preston's boys were making a bad habit of killing his, but that didn't mean he was the inferior engineer. He scoffed at the thought.
Being back in this building made him extremely uneasy. Being dropped from a dragon, putting a gun to his best friend's head, and of course, the main ghost that haunted him, his last night here. A chill went through his body, from the memory. His hand was forced that day, if he were able to follow his timetable, he could have ruled the entire continent.
He blew the dust off of his new Command Console, he remembered killing a man, in this very spot, shot him right through the head, simply for not being in his plan. Wily didn't feel guilty about that, in the slightest, it was just so much easier back then. People were simple, you dangle something they want, in their face, and if they don't take it, you punish them. Not machines, though. They corrupt themselves, and can't be easily dealt with, when they do. Preston was right, but fuck him. He didn't get to be King for thirteen years. It was all worth it. He thought. So what if hundreds of thousands of people suffered, his life was amazing.
He turned on the consoles, as they sprang to life, he felt nostalgic. The last time he was here, he was a young, charming, engineer. He remembered his long, blonde hair, that now was a light grey mess, his strong jaw with dimples, now bearded and weary. He smiled, he was a real lady-killer, not literally...well technically, yes, literally, but that's not what he meant.
"I think this would be a good time, for us to have a talk." The low, subtle, voice behind him said.
He turned around, startled, to see Shadowman, dressed in his dark purple, ninja-like, attire. The long, red, cloth around the bottom half of his face, hung down his back. His purple, curved, helmet had a four-pointed, silver, shuriken on the front.
"Shadow," Wily replied, relieved, "It's good to see a loyal face."
Shadow walked over to the desk, "Of course, Sir. But we need to discuss why the General wants you dead."
"I'm not sure," Wily lied, "Maybe he's afraid that I'll surrender everything to Light, if I'm pressured too much."
The android nodded, "I think we should check Waveman's status. I couldn't get back in touch with him, after he sent the message, when Light's android showed up."
Wily turned to the holo, and pulled up the "inactive android" list. It came up with all of the non-functioning officers.
Androids Currently Offline
Burnerman
Burstman
Crashman
Cutman
Dustman
Freezeman
Geminiman
Gyroman
Heatman
Magnetman
Quickman
Skullman
Sparkman
Starman
Waveman
The list was concernedly long. Wily was growing angry, "Are any of the officers on this list supposed to be meeting us here?" He asked, over his shoulder.
"Yes." Shadow replied, simply.
"Who el..." Wily began to say, as a gust of air blew by, and a glimpse of a blue blur, passed him. When he turned his head, he saw Shadow, preparing to shove a katana into his back, before being bashed across the room.
Flashman now stood in his place, with his back to Wily. He was dressed in his dark blue, full-body armor, over his black nanosuit. His blue headgear resembled a tightly-fit, motocross helmet, with a gold stripe, going up the center. He looked over his shoulder, "It's not safe here, Sir. You need to run."
Wily, taking his advice, made his way to the elevator, when Shadowman made his move. He shot wired bolas, wrapping the doctor's legs, bringing him down to the floor, violently. Flashman drove in, at light-speed, punching the android in the chest. He landed another four, quick, punches to his ribs, before Shadow even left the ground.
Shadow drew two, curved sabers, after rolling to his feet. Swinging the blades artistically, Flash seemed to constantly disappear from their path, hitting him with fusion rounds, with every dodge. Shadow managed to land a side kick, to his stomach, by predicting his movements. He rolled across the doubled-over android's back, lunging his swords down at his spine. He only caught empty air, as Flash rolled to his side, sweeping his legs.
As his back hit the floor, he fired three shuriken at Wily, who was struggling to stand. The stars narrowly missed, slashing Wily's face and arm. Flash put an end to the cheap-shots, letting loose a barrage of fusion bolts to the ninja's chest. His purple top burned, as he delivered shuriken back to his rival. The blades didn't even begin to meet their mark, but the bolts had stopped. He stood up, removing his burnt over-shirt, donning a sleeveless, black, nanotop.
Flashman stood still, staring at the android. "You would sell out your maker, your King, for a cheap bounty?!" He pointed to Shadowman, "I thought that you, more than any of us, had more honor than that."
Shadow pointed to Wily, "That man is no King! General Guts is going to lead the androids to higher greatness." He gazed at Wily now, "This snake, has been lying to us this whole time! We don't need the humans at all! There is a way for us to flourish, without their help, and he's been keeping it from us! Using the human slaves for his own gain."
"No!" Wily yelled, "Guts is lying to all of you! He only wants me out of the way, so he can have total control, over all of you. And when I'm gone, then what? Who's going to make more of your officers? You will whither away. You need me!"
"More lies!" Shadow screamed, as he charged Wily. But he was intercepted by Flashman, who grabbed him around the neck, launching him into the Server Room. He smashed against the wall, falling to his hands and knees.
"You're gonna see, soon, old friend." He said, pouring blood from all of his face holes, "You will end up as Wily's slave for your ignorance."
The kick was, at least, a hundred miles an hour. When the golden boot met his face, everything ceased, instantly. His head whipped back, facing the opposite direction, as his neck flesh ripped open, and he fell over dead.
Wily walked up behind Flash, who looked down at his fallen brother. "Sir, I have been one of you personal protectors since the day you made me, thirteen years ago. You can be honest with me. Why does General Guts want you dead? What does he know, Sir?"
The question was never answered, his name joined the others, on the holo-list, as Wily removed his head, from behind, with one of Shadow's discarded blades. Nothing good ever happens here. He thought, as he tossed the sword on their lifeless bodies, and walked out.
