Retrieval Saga
A Can Full of Clones
Chapter 9: Ace
The day right after Draco and Chip captured the Viral Clones of Bonnie, Clyde, and Slick, the gang had a lucky break. Not all of the pods' canisters burned up in the atmosphere. One of them survived and was found and auctioned on eBay by someone. It was a simple matter of buying it and soon the gang had the canister in their hands.
Matt looked at the pod. "V-262? Number seems familiar," he said as he, Techo and some crew members were checking the pod in the North Star's lab. Techo shrugged. "I think Jumba mentioned him once," he said. Matt sighed and went over to the comm. "Yeah, there was something abnormal about him," said Chris. "An experiment that's considered abnormal? That can't be a good sign," said Matt. Matt waited till the comm connected to Jumba's ship. "Jumba? We caught a new clone...what was 2-6-2's function?" he asked. "Er, this is a bit embarrassing," said Jumba sheepishly, "2-6-2 has no function per say. I made error and accidentally made pure-good experiment." Matt looked over at the pod. "How much you wanna bet the empire got it right?" he asked before thinking. Why would the empire deploy a failure unless... his gaze transferred to the container the pod had been in and the answer hit like a missile strike. "EVERYONE OUT!" he yelled as the bomb concealed in the container blew.
V-262 was confused when he activated. This wasn't the empire laboratory. This place was in ruins, emergency sprinklers going and a voice stating to evacuate constantly. Then he noticed three unconscious men on the ground. He quickly picked them up and looked for the medical bay. Once there, he started treating them. The rest of the crew had finally unsealed the area and at once aimed at V-262 only to have Matt wave them off angrily. He was still arguing when Draco and co turned up. "Is that Ace?" asked Draco. "His Viral Clone actually," said Techo. "What is he doing?" asked Chip. "A foot massage obviously," said Matt, "do you have any idea how much tension you get from all the running for your life?" Matt explained about the bomb trap. "It looks like the empire couldn't fix the programming fault from the original...this begs the question...what do we do with him? We can't hand him over to the NSC...it'd be cruel...it's not like he's attacked anyone," he said "Well we can't give him over to NegaMorph either. I don't think anyone of us wants to do that," said Contrinus. However, there was a pair of eyes that were watching from the vent. "That's what you think," it muttered and scuttled away. Matt, once he was able, got on the comm to CPS HQ for the possibility of stationing V-Ace on another ship. Chip and V-Ace were also there. "How about the NSS Toshiba? They're a pretty new crew but I've heard good things." he said, suggesting possible crews. "Well, he could probably make a good crew member," said Chip, "but you're forgetting one important thing. The Empire will never stop looking for him and until he's assimilated into NegaMorph." "Come on," said Matt, "NegaMorph doesn't even know he's been activated, right?" He noticed the stares. "What?" he said annoyed. Chip stated, "He's known about every other clone." Matt sighed, Chip was probably right, he usually was. "So what are your suggestions?" he said. "I think he needs to be put in a very secure place, where he won't be attacked," said Kala. "You mean like the rest of the clones?" said Matt accusingly. "I think that's the only way to protect him." "You mean the only thing to protect us, from whatever Hamsterviel's plan for the Viral Clones are." Matt got up and walked off angrily. Techo walked past him as Matt left the room. "Ok...who pissed him off?" he said with a sigh.
Meanwhile, NegaMorph was practicing in the local gym. It was after hours, but he managed to sneak in. He was currently delivering several blows to a large punching bag. Finally he made one final blow from his three left fists that knocked it completely over. A small experiment that resembled a yellow centipede apart from several marking on his body and the blood red eyes that signified a Virus Clone came in. "Very nice left hook," he commented as NegaMorph knocked the punching bag down. "Well, well, for once a Viral Clone comes to me," said NegaMorph as he flexed his tail. "Actually, I've come to see if you are truly as powerful as I've heard you were. I'm glad to see I was right." V-Checkers mentally grinned to himself as NegaMorph hesitated. 'This'll be easy. This guy's got an ego the size of a battlestation,' he thought. "Well, I have gotten a lot stronger with the assimilation of several Viral Clones," said NegaMorph. "I can see that, your power grows every day," said V-Checkers, "but it doesn't change the ending."
V-Checkers sighed theatrically. "You were made by accident...from what I've heard the empire's being creamed now the NSC are in motion...do you really think they'll let you go free?" he said before adding, "Unlike V-262 for example." "What about V-262? What makes him so different?" said NegaMorph. V-Checkers just laughed. "His programming's reversed...surely you've seen his original around here? Ace, I think he's called," he said, smoothly "Him? He's a bigger mistake than I was!" "That may be, but he's a lot better than you." "How is that?" demanded NegaMorph, "You said I was powerful." "True, but he has better looks, comrades, and a much better future." NegaMorph just fumed. "There is a chance however...you could assimilate him...you may even get a chance at some of your other enemies," said V-Checkers "Oh you can be sure I will, I'm not going to leave a trace of him after I'm done," growled NegaMorph as he morphed through the window and took flight. V-Checkers chuckled and said, "He may have a big ego, but he has a pretty poor self-image. I have got to watch this."
Back at the ship, Matt was on the comm to the NSS Nos Carina, to Akira. The previous week, Commander Leyton had suggested they work on another ship so there could be more search teams after clones. "...I'm sure there's no danger from V-262...the last I saw was his name on the USS Honolulu's security personnel roster," she said. Matt sighed. "You wanna take on another crewmember? V-Ace should fit right in." Akira said, "Sure...where is he?" Matt shrugged. "I left him with his original. Last I saw they were talking." Just then Draco, Chip, and Morph walked in with the two Aces following them. "And this is our cockpit," said Chip, "That's Matt over there, he's our captain." Suddenly a loud explosion was heard. "And that would be trouble, of a big nasty kind," said Draco. Matt jumped up, blaster appearing as if by magic. Nobody knew exactly where he kept all his guns and nobody wanted to try and look. The last official to try to do a weapon search was still in a rubber room.
The door literally dissolved in darkness and NegaMorph came in, practically fuming. "And this is an idiot," said Matt, preparing to plasma control NegaMorph into a pretzel shape when a blast knocked him down and out. NegaMorph was surrounded by an aura of dark flames, giving him a frighteningly demonic look. "Where is he?" "Uh, I don't really know who you're talking about," said Morph. NegaMorph sent a volley of fangs into Morph's side. "Don't play me coy with me, you little worm!" "Is it me or is NegaMorph in a worse mood than usual?" said Draco. NegaMorph managed to focus long enough to spot the Aces. "Which one of you trogs is he?" he said angrily, making a darkness barrier just as some security officers arrived. "I will never betray a comrade," said one of the Aces. "Me neither," said the other Ace. "Then I'll just have to stab you both and assimilate the right one," said NegaMorph as he sent another spray of fangs. A stream of blue plasma incinerated them. Matt was apparently awake again...and VERY unhappy, proven when he tackled NegaMorph and tried to stab him with his ion staff. "GET OFF MY SHIP!" he screamed. Only to be blasted back again with an 'omph' by NegaMorph. As he was about to get up, Matt thought he heard a snigger from the wall vent. Matt was getting ready to attack again, but NegaMorph was even madder than Matt. "OUT OF MY WAY!" he roared and blasted Matt through several walls. "Now to get rid Mr. Perfect." Matt groaned from where he'd landed and shook the stars out his vision to see two red eyes watching NegaMorph from a vent opening. "What the hell?" he muttered.
It didn't take long for NegaMorph to identify Viral Ace and was working very hard to trap him in a corner. "I'll show them who's better," he growled Matt however was busy tapping the bottom of the vent. Finally he blasted a bit of it off and V-Checkers fell out, shocked. "Hi there, smeghead," said Matt, holding a plasma orb before throwing it at NegaMorph as he was about to grab V-Ace. "You must be the most gullible blob in the world," he said, holding the struggling V-Checkers under his arm. Matt continued. "You realize these clones probably haven't even HEARD of teamwork...he's playing you like a violin...making you do the dirty work for him." "What did you say, human?" hissed NegaMorph, withdrawing his Lockblade. "I mean, who would be dumb enough to be manipulated by a little worm," said Matt. "NOBODY MANIPULATES ME!" screamed NegaMorph and he slashed at Matt's neck. Matt narrowly ducked and plunged a tranquilizer needle into NegaMorph's side. NegaMorph growled for a few seconds, then toppled over. "Annnd there he goes," said Matt as NegaMorph fell flat on his face, snoring. "As for YOU!" he said to V-Checkers who suddenly looked worried. "Straight to the brig with your wormy butt," he said, with barely concealed glee.
The five experiments were looking down at NegaMorph. "What made him attack like that?" asked Chip. "Pride," said Ace, "an injured pride. I could tell it from his eye." "You're right," said Draco, "usually when he's mad, his pupil turns red for anger. But his pupil was grey for pride." "I guess Viral Checkers was egging him on," said Morph. "So I'm not even safe from my fellow Viral Clones," said Viral Ace, "which means anywhere I am will be sought out and those standing near me will be harmed. Therefore, I can accept Akira's offer. I must be imprisoned with the other Viral Clones." "But you're not anything like them," said Draco. "Not in personality, yes. But the empire sees us as all the same. If other Viral Clones have to be imprisoned to prevent them from being used by the Hamstervielian Empire, then so must I." Chip sighed heavily and took out a pair of handcuffs. "I wish we didn't have to do this," he said as he snapped them onto V-Ace's wrists. "It is for the greater good." None of them noticed NegaMorph slithering away. "That is the last time anyone manipulates me," he hissed.
That chapter was a lot shorter than I expected it to be. But at least it didn't take as long. If you're a bit disappointed about the quickness of this chapter, don't worry. The best part of all is coming up. What could it be you ask? Nothing other than the revelation of the connection of the rogue Viral Clones. It's somewhat revealed already, if you go back and look for it. You will not want to miss the final chapter. Please review until then.
