Chapter 10

Cammy resembled that of a hungry lioness, pacing back and forth outside of the mens' cells. She knew. Slate had no doubt that Megaman had exposed them, with the intent on letting his problems eliminate themselves. It was a sick move, but Slate couldn't blame Cammy for it. He killed her father, he could never take that back. "Cammy, please listen to me." He began.

"Shut your fucking mouth, filth." She replied sharply. "It's taking everything I have to not walk over to that terminal and open your cell. I'm going through all the ways it could go, in my head. Talking will only make my decision easier." She eyed the other three, through the glass, "You three didn't pull the trigger, but I'm sure I will kill you all the same."

The men didn't react. Under normal circumstances, this threat would mean nothing. But Cammy Radcliffe had a reputation, taught since the age of six to fight and kill with her bare hands, her father and Tracy had trained her and her brother to be the best at what they do, and they were. "I can't imagine how you feel right now." Cole began, leaning on the glass to look her in the eye. "And I know it won't make it any easier, but we didn't know."

She walked over, quietly, and spit on the pane. Just as quickly, she stormed over to the terminal, opening Cole's cell, saying nothing. The men began to plead for her to calm down, but it was in vain. Walking back over to the big man, he was already set to defend himself. Cammy picked up the pace, ducking under his right hook and driving her shoulder into his chest. Smashing against the steel cell divider, he responded with a forward kick to make some space, but instead found his leg on her shoulder, as she raised herself, slamming him to his back.

Cammy grunted with rage, as she brought her elbow straight down to his forehead. She got two strikes in, before the other leg came up under her other arm, and his feet locked. A leg vice around her neck and ribs, "Amateur." She thought, flipping her own legs over and turning him onto his stomach to reverse the tension. Wrenching his legs as she sat on his back, Cammy let out a feral roar. "You locked my parents in that balcony like fish in a barrel! How about I break your fucking spine!" She screamed, as Cole yelled out in agony. Still holding a thigh with one arm, she leaned back, wrapping the other around his neck, pulling his head back.

"Stop! Cammy!" Slate shouted over the other men. "I killed him! I pulled the trigger! Open my cell, but let him go, please!"

She shot a look over like a woman possessed, dropping Cole's limbs as he moaned. She walked back to the terminal, opening Slate's cell, "Step on up, hero."

After almost a full day of watching his would-be killer stalk in front of him, the glass safety was now gone. He took a deep breath and stepped out, putting out his palms, "I won't fight you." He said, genuinely.

"Fine with me." Cammy said, walking toward him with hate in her eyes.

The first punch to his temple made Slate see stars, as he lost his balance, but his attacker didn't let him off that easy. Grabbing his white t-shirt, Cammy pulled him close to her, punching him three more times in his face. The blood covered her knuckles, as she slung him against the concrete pillar behind her, driving her knees into his ribcage several times. He didn't lie, he never fought back. But Cammy hadn't lied either, she didn't mind it. Grabbing a handful of Slate's long hair, she drove the top of her head into his nose, opening a faucet of blood, turning his shirt red.

She threw him to the floor, kicking him in the stomach, "You took my father from me, you son of a bitch!" She shouted while kicking him repeatedly.

At least it will be over soon. Slate thought, watching the girl pull a curved blade from her belt. I deserve this. Was the last thought he had, as the knife touched his jugular.

"Cameron, stop!" The chilling voice shouted.

Ice pumped through her veins, forcing her to look and see what she had hoped wasn't a sign of her sanity leaving her. "Dad?" She whispered, seeing the much younger version of her father. The way she remembered him as a child.

Marcus stood, clad in a dark purple nanosuit, trimmed with gold and white boots and gauntlets. He wore a matching helmet, similar to Megaman's, with two gold horns arching back over the sides. The android was flanked by two others. One Cammy recognized as her stepmother's old friend, Gerard, or "Helix" as he had been referred to; wearing a slick, black nanosuit with yellow boreders and what appeared to be wing-like flaps under the arms. He too wore headgear similar to her father's, matching his black and yellow attire, with the same horns. And the third android, Cammy's stepmother, Tracy herself. But not as she knew her, this Tracy was in her twenties, with her head shaved on both sides, making her bright pink hair look related to a wide mohawk. She donned a form-fitting, identical version of Protoman's attire, from years ago, holding the red helmet by her side.

"Put the knife down, Cam." Marcus instructed, gently. "You don't have to do this."

Her hand began to shake, almost opening Slate's throat from the nerves alone. "This asshole killed you." She said shakily.

Marcus nodded, "He was only a misguided instrument. The real enemy is the man who guided him there that day."

Her father always seemed to know how to reason to her without losing his nerve. She struggled with the decision ahead of her. "Frank." She said, in realization as her eyes widened. "Oh my God, we need to get to him! Alex told mom everything, she's gonna kill him and get herself killed!"

Young Tracy nodded, "She's right, I would."

Marcus put his hands to his face, slightly worried, "We are here." He stated. "Trevor activated us hours ago. Whatever she went to do, is already done."

Cammy dropped the knife, standing up. "We need to get there, now." She said, fighting back tears. "We can leave them to go their own way."

Gerard nodded, "I can get us to the Pentagon in an hour."

"Do you have a helicopter?" Cammy asked sarcastically, after embracing her father, wanting nothing more than to never let him go.

The red-haired android snickered, "Pft, no. We have a small-arms aircraft." He replied, grinning.

Seattle, Washington

When the large SUV pulled up to the rebuilt and now named "Bonne Needle", the crowd of people gave a wide birth. When the quartet of androids stepped out, they fled for their lives. Violen drew his flail from his belt, but was cut short with a motion of Megaman's hand. "This time of night, all there are is vandals." Megaman stated. "They're garbage, but we don't need to worry with them just yet."

"Are you feeling anything, Lord Megaman?" Serges asked, approaching the elevator.

He nodded, smiling. "It's here." He said closing his eyes. "What's left of Zero's existence, about to become fully mine."

The three watched Alex concentrate the entire ride up, like a man being called by a spirit.

The interior had now become a museum of the "Machine Wars". The large area was dark, but Megaman could make out all the models and replicas of his former victims and allies. And there was the source, dead in the center of the room, where a large lifelike statue of himself and Protoman, standing back to back. As instructed by Tracy, Alex pressed the small area on Scott's boot, ejecting a code pad. He smiled as he typed the long numeric keys, causing the arm cannon of his own statue to open.

The core chip glowed in a bright red hue, casting the light onto their faces. "The Atlas." He whispered, as he reached in to take it in his hands. But it came to be no solid matter, an illusion. His anger was immeasurable, as the steel shutters slammed shut around them. "Bitch!" He shouted, feeling the deepest of betrayal. "She set us up!"

A feeling of a slight breeze, swept from behind him, but they didn't dare turn around just yet. Two pods had opened. Two pods that were not replicas. The breeze carried one single, long strand of blonde hair across his line of sight. If he had a heart, it would have sank into his stomach. "Seems we weren't finished after all, old friend." The hauntingly familiar voice said from behind him.

"It pains me to see that it has come to this Alex." A separate, but equally familiar voice stated.

He shook in anger, as the others spun on their heels to face the two. "This isn't going to end well." He said through his teeth. "For any of us."