The Loud Awakening
Chapter 9: Survive(Part 2)
Every fanfic writer has two annoying little parrots on their shoulders. One is called procrastination. The other is writer's block. The goal is to not let these two birds talk too much.
TheFreezerStreets: I suggest you go grab some snacks, then. You're gonna be here for awhile.
Keeper of Worlds: Without spoiling too much, let's just say, with the exception of Lisa, that the sisters are more in touch with their….primal side. Their actions will lean more animalistic and they will have stronger emotions, particularly when it comes to each other, the ones they care about and their only brother. Purrs, growls, roars, coos, snarls, whimpers, affectionate nuzzles and snuggles are inbound. Oh, and head pats! Can't forget about head pats.
Anyway, it's Louds vs. Giant Robot time!
Also, if you want, you can immerse yourself with some appropriate fight music for the fight scenes, if you like. For this one, I recommend Science Will Never Die from Devil May Cry 4, but use whatever music you like to listen to. Hell, it might be even better than my recommendations.
Loud I House own not do.
"LUCY, MOVE!", yelled Lincoln as he pulled his younger sister to him and dived out of the way, just as the giant steam golem's fist came crashing down onto the area floor. The shockwave from the fist's impact was enough to send the two Louds sailing a few feet before coming to a tumbling stop. Turning toward it's targets, the giant robot lifted it's hand off the floor and strode to the children in pursuit.
"Lucy, art thou alright!?", asked the white-haired boy as he helped the little goth onto her feet.
"I-I'm fine! B-But what are we going to do abo-LINCOLN!", screamed a terrified Lucy as pointed at the robot. Lincoln turned around just in time to see the steam golem's bladed arm be raised into the air. Without thinking, he quickly grabbed Lucy by the wrist and made a mad dash toward the right. A second later, the blade was thrusted into the ground where the two once stood.
"Just keep running!", the eleven year old yelled as he dragged his sister along, looking back to see the golem retract it's blade and turned toward them as it resumed its pursuit.
He needed a plan. And he needed one real fast.
Arena Observation Room
From near the top of the arena through a one-way window, Dr. Singed and a few other scientists watched as the two Loud children tried to put distance between the deadly steam automaton and themselves.
"Stay vigilant.", spoke the bald man to his colleagues. "Any sign of their powers and abilities, no matter how small or insignificant, I want it recorded, catalogued and archived for later research and study. Understood?"
"Yes, Doctor!", the other scientists acknowledged as sat near their scanners and sensors, ready and waiting to receive any incoming data from the ensuing battle.
'Alright, you two.', Singed thought to himself, his cold eyes narrowing as he turned his attention back to the fight. 'Nowhere to hide and you can only run for so long. Show me what you can do.'
Coming to a skidding halt, Lincoln and Lucy took a moment to catch their breath.
"Lin..coln…", the eight year old panted. "We….we can't possibly...keep this up for...forever."
"I know...that, Lucy.", Lincoln responded, similarly winded as he turned his gaze back to the mech. The two siblings had been running from the giant steam golem for the past several minutes, which obviously proved to be a fruitless endeavor seeing as how they were, essentially, trapped in a large room where they can never truly get away from it. The only thing they have going for them, currently, was that they were small and quick, managing to scurry to the other side of the arena while the golem continued to pursue them, albeit in a sluggish and lumbersome pace. The white-haired boy had hoped, with the robot's slow speed, he would have a plan that help them out of this dire predicament, but so far…..he had nothing. "I…. I, honestly, have naught the slightest clue as to how we can escape from this, dear sister. But, right now, so long as we can our distance, we should...be…..safe…."
Lincoln's statement trailed off as he witnessed the the giant mech stop its chase. It stood still for a moment or two, causing the two siblings to look at each other with ever-mounting worry. Then, it leaned forward slightly, taking a stance and looking almost as if it was bracing itself. As this was happening, several hatches had opened on the automaton's legs and back, revealing….
"Are...are those…", stammered Lucy before being shocked into silence as she saw the robot's legs and back erupt in a display of jetfire and smoke. The robot then bent down...before launching itself into the air and descending upon them at an alarming speed!
Lucy, in a moment of frantic panic, separated herself from her brother and sprinted to her left.
"Sister!", Lincoln called out to her, but he had no time to follow her as he went toward his right and dove out of the away in the nick of time. The steam golem landed with a thunderous crash, the impact of which being strong enough to sent the two Louds tumbling head over heels.
"Incredible…", one of the scientists commented as they recorded the data. "The golem's landing had enough force to level and blow away a three story house. Any normal human being caught near the impact would've been killed by the shockwave alone, nevermind a direct hit. Yet, these two are getting up and shaking it off like it was nothing. These children aren't human, that's for sure."
"Hmmm.", Singed acknowledged as he watched the fight continue. 'An increase in strength and durability beyond that which is mortal. If that's the case, then this could very well mean that this applies to all of the other Loud children as well. Still, I'm going to assume the position that that particular trait is a universal given. There's more than meets the eye. So show me…..Show me the power that lies within.'
"Uuugh….My head…", groaned Lincoln, stumbling as he recovered. Just when he cleared the stars from his vision, Lucy's scream reached his ears. Now on high alert, the boy whipped his head toward where the scream came from and saw that his little sister was in process of being cornered by a now more agile steam golem, courtesy of the thrusters on it's legs and back. The automaton slammed it's hand onto the ground in front of the eight year old, cutting off her escape path. She was trapped.
"NO!", Lincoln yelled as he made a mad dash towards Lucy, but knowing he will not make it in time! Just as cold realization and despair began to grip at his heart, a familiar voice made himself known again.
"What be it dost thou protect?", Krieg once again asked.
'I….'
Golden light began emanate from his body, particularly from his hands and arms.
"Doctor! We're getting increasing energy readings from the boy!", a female scientist exclaimed.
"Lincoln is finally showing himself.", responded Singed, a small smirk hidden underneath his bandaged mask.
'I….'
"LINCOLN!", Lucy tearfully cried in horror as the steam golem raised it's blade arm into the air, poised and ready to end the little girl's life.
And just when it was about to strike….
"I PROTECT MY LOVED ONES!", Lincoln roared...before throwing a brightly glowing ball of light energy toward the robot's back!
The energy ball collided with it's back, sending metal parts and pipes to go flying in various directions and causing it to stumble in its attack. The automaton's blade veered off course and missed Lucy by only a few feet as it pierced the arena wall. Quickly recovering from her brush with death, the little goth rushed through the robot's legs and made a beeline toward her brother. Upon reaching him, she stopped and took a moment to look in awe at him.
More specifically, what he was now holding.
In his right hand, Lincoln held a regal-looking bastard sword, it's pommel and cross-guard colored whitish gold while the blade itself a shimmering silver. While on his left arm, he held a large silver crest-shaped kite shield, gold trimming outlining the shield's edges. In the center of the shield was a picture of a white hare, eyes wide and vigilant as it stood in front of nine stars, seemingly protecting them. All the while, the eleven year old's body emitted a golden glow and his eyes glowed to the point where that's all you could see: a golden light.
"L..L-Lincoln?", whispered Lucy, shocked by the weapons and demeanor her older brother now carried.
"Lucy.", Lincoln spoke, his voice carrying an underlying tone of steely resolve as he stared the recovering steam golem. "Get behind me. I'll take care of this."
For a moment, Lucy couldn't believe what Lincoln just told her. Was he insane? For as much time as they've spent in this arena, they've been trying to survive and not die to a giant robot at the hands of a cold-hearted scientist. Now, her older brother was telling her that he was going to fight this thing? It was madness! She was about to tell him as much, but then stop herself. Something deep within herself….deep within her soul told her to believe in him. To believe that he can fight.
To believe that he will win.
So, with a nervous nod, Lucy got behind Lincoln.
As this was happening, the steam golem, with steam bellowing out of its damaged back, had recovered and turned around to face its targets once again.
"DAMAGE STATUS: MINIMAL.", said the giant robot. "THREAT LEVEL OF WHITE-HAIRED TARGET: ELEVATED. PRIORITIZING…"
"Stay here.", Lincoln said to his little sister before walking toward the robot, whose red headlights focused on the white-haired boy.
'Lincoln...Oh god, please be careful.', thought Lucy, very much scared for Lincoln yet supportive of him as she watched him march into his seemingly impending doom.
"Alright, thy wretched mass of metal and hot air!", shouted Lincoln as he pointed his sword at the giant golem. "Have at you!"
The steam automaton obliged the boy by using its thrusters to close the distance between them.
"Oh shi-", was all the eleven year old managed to utter before being swatted to the other side of the arena by the robot's right hand. Luckily, the boy had gotten his shield up in time to protect himself from any real damage. Still, Lincoln was sent flying before rolling onto the floor, where he managed to get back on his feet and skidded until his back hit a wall. Shaking the stars out of his vision, Lincoln looked up just in time to see the robot had once again took a flying leap and was now falling towards him. Thinking quickly, Lincoln ran and dove forward, the golem narrowly missing him as it thunderously landed. Rolling onto to his feet, the Man with the Plan noticed he was right underneath the golem and near one of its legs. Going for it, the boy slashed at its ankle. The sword sliced through the robot's armor plating and cut through its circuits and rods, casing the robot to stumble. Lincoln was about to go for the other ankle, but the steam golem wasn't having any of it and managed to grab the boy. Struggling as much as he could, the eleven year old could do nothing as the robot, once again, threw him to another part of the arena.
"LINCOLN!", Lucy cried out as she saw her older brother hit the wall and fell down to the ground, dropping his sword and shield in the process. She was about to run to him when he shot a hand out, stopping her in her tracks.
"No!", yelled Lincoln before coughing, a splatter of blood hitting the arena floor. "Just stay there, please! I have this in hand, I assure you!"
The goth highly doubted that, but heeded his words nonetheless and stayed put, but even more nervous and worried.
As Lincoln rose to his feet, he noticeably winced and gingerly grabbed his left side as he felt a sharp spike of pain made itself known from his lower torso.
'Yup, that's a broken rib. Damn it, I have to finish this quickly!', the boy thought to himself, fighting through the pain as he hastily picked up his weapons and turned his focus back to the robot. From what he can tell, his attack on its ankle has seemed to have hamper its movement significantly, to the point where it had to use its blade arm as a sort of crutch to even move. Turning towards the boy, the automaton stood there for a second before raising its right hand toward Lincoln's direction. The center of its palm opened, revealing three long metal tubes that were welded together. The strange looking device then started to spin rapidly. If the boy didn't know any better, it kinda looked like a…..
"SHIT!", cursed Lincoln as he quickly started running as the giant robot began shooting at him with its gatling gun.
So far, Singed has been very pleased from what this experiment has revealed. In the case where two siblings were forced into a fight or flight scenario and flight was not an option, one sibling had to make the only choice and fight back. In this case, Lincoln had no choice but to show his powers in order to protect Lucy. A cruel yet simple and effective method of getting the results the bald scientist needed. Results that, ironically enough, led to more questions.
'Lincoln, prior to all of this, had no experience in this kind of combat.', Singed thought to himself. 'Yet, here he is, able to handle himself against an opponent many times his size, even damaging and crippling it. Almost as if the boy, instinctively, knows how to fight an enemy like this. Could it be that the Light Orb had provided the experience needed for Lincoln to be able to perform like this? If so, how? Also, does this apply to the other Orbs as well? Could Lucy and the other girls also have this natural instinct of combat prowess?'
The head doctor narrowed his eyes as he watched on. Yes, this test seems have to brought out more questions than answers. Fortunately, Singed was a patient man. He'll get his answers, no matter how long it to-...
Singed's eyes, as well as the eyes of his fellow colleagues, widened from they just saw.
More specifically, what Lincoln just did. One female scientist thought it appropriate to comment.
"Did….did that kid just…"
Lincoln, honestly, had no idea what just happened. One minute he's running and dodging a stream of bullets, making sure said don't get anywhere near Lucy while trying to figure out how to close the distance without getting perforated. The next minute, his peripheral vision brighten for moment as looked toward the shooting robot and then….bam!
In a blink of an eye, the eleven year old now stood a couple of feet away from the steam golem!
'What the hell did I just do!?', thought Lincoln. Unfortunately, he couldn't delve deeper into that train of thought because the golem, upon seeing him so close, attempted to use its blade arm turned crutch to skewer him. The boy hopped to the left, dodging it before gaining an insane idea. Willfully causing his shield to disappear, he ran toward the automaton's damaged foot and began climbing up its leg. Turning the gatling gun back into a hand, the golem reached for the boy, only to grab air when Lincoln jumped onto its arm, stabbing his sword into it. The giant robot then tried to shake him, but the boy valiantly hung on. Seeing this, the golem then tried to use its blade arm again, but its damaged foot caused it to stumble again and, with threat of falling over, had to plant its blade down into the floor to stabilize itself. Now seizing his chance, Lincoln quickly got onto his feet on the arm and, once it turned its attention back toward him, jumped for its water-filled core/head.
With a cry, Lincoln drove his sword into the steam golem's core with all the strength he could muster. For moment, all was still and everyone, both victim and villain, held their breath. And then…
CRACK!
A large crack appeared right down the center of the golem's core, along hundreds of smaller cracks appearing along the rest of its surface like spider webs. Water began to erupt out of the cracks, some of them soaking Lincoln before, ultimately…
SPLOOOOM!
The core exploded as as a river of water surged outward, washing away Lincoln as the automaton staggered onto its knees.
"CORE...DAMAGED…..LOSING….POWER….SHUTTING DOOOOOOOOOooooooooo….", the steam golem gave out its final call before its body finally came down with a crashing boom, unmoving and lifeless.
Coughing and spitting out water, Lincoln shakingly got back onto his feet, his sword vanishing off to side. He looked toward the golem and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing its defeated state.
"Luc-Oof!", Lincoln was about to call his younger sister when said sister slammed into his side, not caring how soaked to the bone he was as she tightly hugged him and sent them both to the floor.
"Lincoln, that was the most reckless and dangerous thing I have ever seen you pull! I honestly thought you were going to die! Don't you ever do that again!", Lucy scolded at him as she cried her worry and fear into his shoulder.
Silently wincing from the stinging pain of his broken rib, Lincoln bared through the pain as he wrapped his arms around the little goth to comfort her.
"Aye. T'was an insane course of action on my part. For that, I apologize. I didn't mean to cause thy such distress.", he replied, his voice warm and soothing as he calmed her down.
As the two siblings comforted each other, Singed looked down upon them professional approval, quite impressed with what had seen so far. Well, from Lincoln, anyway. Lucy had yet to impress him.
'Let's hope the next test changes that.', thought the head scientist as he turned to his group.
"Give them five minutes. Then….we release Baron."
Author's Notes: TWO MONTHS! Little over two damn months it took me to update this shit! I can only apologize and say thank you so much for stay with me this far!
The reason for the long-ass wait? Good news, everyone! I finally have a job at Home Depot! Best part about that? It's mostly four-hour nights, with Sundays being 6pm-10pm and my day-offs being Wednesdays and Thursdays . Which means I still have time to work on this fic. Everyone wins!
Anyway, Lincoln took up arms and has defeated the steam golem! Along with showing what he can do. Sword and shield and has a blink. FYI, those aren't the only weapons he can will into existence. And we haven't even seen what Lucy can do yet! Also, who's Baron? Stay tuned for more.
As always, leave a review! I always read them! Even the ones that say, "Please update".
Catch ya later!