Now for Chapter 10. I really don't have much to say this time except for this: major events to come.
Chapter 10
The Plot
"You sure this is going to work?"
REX peered out the seven-story window of an abandoned building that overlooked the meeting point. The afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky. It looked so pleasant. It could've been a perfect day to be with his family.
But because of the circumstances, he couldn't. He was setting up a sniper position to take out the Prophet.
Talon's voice sounded off from his communicator. "REX, you there?"
"Yeah."
"You sure this'll work?"
"It will. Lure the Prophet into the open, then I'll take him out."
"What if he has backup?"
"That's why I set up explosives earlier. Insurance."
REX wasn't holding back. He came to the meeting point early in the morning to prepare a Plan B in case things went south. He went to the Blackwing Armory and grabbed piles of explosives and set them up at the meeting point. Ion mines were littered about the ground, covered by the dust that had settled in the following hours, and the old buildings surrounding the meeting point had fracture charges on their support structures. They were all wired to REX's wireless hacking interface; in case the Prophet did bring backup, REX could blow them all to pieces with a simple thought.
REX started getting his sniper rifle ready. Unlike his other weaponry, the sniper rifle wasn't an attachment to his arm. Instead, several parts that made up the rifle ejected from a slot in his mechanical arm, which he put together into the weapon.
The sniper rifle was something to be feared. Thanks to advanced technology, REX's sniper came with several different vision filters, had full on suppression, and no recoil. The rifle also had a small tube on the back end which connected to REX's mechanical arm to feed it R-15 for ammo.
McCrea's voice cut in the communicator REX wired into his head. "REX, everyone here at the Axiom is getting edgy. Your family especially."
"It'll be over soon." REX responded. "Talon, you in position."
"Just about there."
REX rested his rifle on the window and peered out through the scope. He saw Talon moving through the streets towards the meeting point. The man looked strangely calm for someone who was putting his life at risk. REX had to give him credit.
"Got you in my scope, Captain." REX said.
"We got five minutes," Talon replied. "Better hope this works."
"It will."
REX was absolutely sure that he could pull it off. He had done this kind of thing several times back during the Control Wars. Assassinations was one thing that General Warren had drilled hard into REX, and because of that, REX had the skills of a highly trained assassin. So long as he didn't think too much about finally ending the Prophet, the plan would go by smoothly.
REX often wondered what would've happened to him if he ended the war in his past life. He wasn't technically a living being, he was a Buy n' Large product. Like any other robot, he was expendable.
He had once asked General Warren that question. Warren's response was a sigh and some kind words:
They made you my responsibility, so technically, I decide what happens to you. I'll find you a life, son.
REX owed all the respect he had to General Warren. REX had no one when he was first created, no one cared for him. But General Warren developed an attachment to him. REX trusted that man with his life, because Warren made a survivor out of him.
"Hey REX," McCrea cut in. "WALL-E wants to say something."
"Put him on."
REX heard a scuffling sound on his communicator, then his little brother's electronic voice sounded off.
"REX?"
"Hey WALL-E. You doing okay?"
"Uh-huh."
"Okay, that's good."
"REX . . . danger."
"I've been in worse situations before. I'll come back, bro. I'm not leaving you."
"Protect?"
"I promised EVE that I would keep you alive. I'm not doing this just because I promised her, but also because you're my brother."
"Family."
REX paused for a moment, then pulled a holographic photo image out his pocket. On it was a picture of him, WALL-E, EVE, and Neon; the first family picture that they had together. Everyone was smiling, having a good time.
"A family sticks together," REX then said. "That's my directive: you, EVE, and Neon. You're my family."
"Okay." WALL-E said. Another scuffling sound was heard, which must've meant WALL-E was handing McCrea back the communicator.
Talon suddenly broke in. "They're here."
REX went back to his sniper rifle and peered through the scope. He saw a large mass of silver converging on Talon. Several slashers were making their way to the meeting point. Guess the Prophet really was smart enough to bring backup after all.
REX adjusted the zoom and scanned the group, looking for any gold coloration that would indicate the Prophet. REX was getting a ping of fear because he wasn't finding any. If this assassination was botched, the only next move would be an all out battle for survival.
He then stumbled upon something. A figure in red armor with a helmet that had an X-shaped visor moving in the middle of the slasher horde. REX analyzed the figure using his built-in scanner to find the figure a human male with a leg injury, then his nerves spiked.
"Abort, abort." REX said into his comlink, trying to stay calm. "Prophet is a no-show. Keller's going in his place."
McCrea responded to the call. "Got it. Jasper, get out of there. REX can handle this."
REX cursed under his breath. He was depending heavily on this to work. Now that it was known that the Prophet wouldn't appear, all hell would break loose.
Well, that's war. REX thought to himself. Sometimes things go unplanned, that's the reason for a Plan B.
REX then primed his sniper rifle and readied the explosives that littered the meeting point. He needed Talon to get out of the killzone so he could decimate Keller and the slasher horde. If they were taken out, that would be one less problem to deal with when war broke out.
But he noticed that Talon wasn't moving from his spot, still facing the approaching group. What is he doing? He's gonna get killed if he stays.
"Talon," REX said into his communicator. "Get out now. Abort."
"No," Talon replied. "This can still work."
"Don't be a hero, Talon. Heroics get you killed."
"I got a plan. Maybe I can bring the Prophet out."
". . . what do you mean?"
"Negotiate."
REX paused for a moment. He didn't want to risk lives, but Talon sounded legit. If he could get the Prophet out, then this would be over soon enough.
"Allright," REX then said. "But if it doesn't go well, get out. I'll cover you."
"Got it."
The mass of slashers then came about fifty feet away from Talon and stood there. REX knew where every booby-trap was placed. From their position, he could take down two of the buildings and take them all out. Poorly positioned, exposed to sniper fire, primed for ambush. The Prophet had lost all of his strategic planning with his mind if he was this clumsy with readying his army. This might be a cakewalk if REX took things carefully.
Keller then moved to the front towards Talon. REX kept his sniper rifle trained on Keller's head and changed his camouflage pattern to a light brown to match the building's exterior. He was about five miles away in a ten-story building and would be nearly impossible to see, but he wasn't taking any chances right now.
As Keller approached Talon, REX did an analysis of Keller's armor. He was wearing elite combat gear, armor that highly-trained human soldiers of the Syndicate wore. Reinforced steel, arm-mounted laser cannons, movement enhancers, and several other combat applications. The enhancers were supporting his frame, which explained why Keller was walking perfectly despite his broken leg.
Keller came up to Talon. The two men exchanged glances (or at least Talon was) and kept the stare going for a while. REX amplified the volume on his communicator so he could overhear the conversation.
"Hello, Captain." Keller said with a mocking tone.
"Keller," Talon grumbled. "Where is the Prophet?"
"He sent me to discuss your allegiance. I'm waiting."
"I will only discuss terms with the Prophet."
Keller then aimed his wrist-mounted lasers at Talon. REX had the trigger halfway squeezed almost immediately after. He was fighting his instincts not to pull the trigger right now because of the chance that the Prophet could be drawn out. The chance was slim, but it was there.
"You are not in a position for demands." Keller growled. His wrist-mounted lasers made a bright red glow, indicating they were charging.
"Its standard diplomacy," Talon replied, apparently not at all affected by the weapons pointed at him. "Discuss terms with the leaders. You're not the leader."
"You better watch your mouth."
Keller then went up to Talon and smacked him. REX immediately held back an urge to fire a shot right into Keller's skull. His adrenaline was pumping hard now and it was getting increasingly harder to hold his combat instincts back.
Talon fell to the ground with one hand on his face, clutching it in pain. Despite being struck, he was still calm. REX was impressed.
"Keller, you're better than this. The Prophet's been lying to you. He's been lying to all of us. If you do his bidding, you only reward will be your own demise."
"No! I owe the Prophet everything. My ancestors suffered at the hands of a ruthless third-world dictator who punished them unfairly despite the suffering they already received. Then the Prophet came, killed the dictator, and liberated the people; all he wanted in return was our allegiance."
"That's exactly the reason. He's using you for cannon fodder to achieve his own goals. He doesn't care one bit about you or anyone else, only himself."
"Lies! All of them lies!"
Keller's lasers glowed brighter. Now REX was at the breaking point. He steadied his aim on Keller's head, took a deep simulated breath, and slowly squeezed the trigger to fire the bullet that would start a war for survival.
But then Keller's lasers turned off, making REX quickly release his finger on the sniper's trigger. He detected a faint electromagnetic signature emanating from Keller. The Prophet must be contacting him.
"Sorry," Keller then said. "But the Prophet has taken your defiance as a no. Now, you must die."
Keller then ordered the slashers to attack. Two of them shrieked and made a run for Talon.
REX's combat instincts kicked in almost immediately. He immediately refocused his aim on the running slashers and fired his sniper rifle at them. The high-penetration rounds went straight through their heads, striking their core processing units and taking them down for the count.
"Talon!" REX yelled. "Get out, now!"
Talon wasted no time. He got up and started running. Several slashers gave chase, snarling and swinging their claws wildly through the air. REX opened fire on them, but it only took him a few seconds before he realized there was too many for the sniper rifle.
REX then used his hacking interface to detonate the ion mines. Bright blue fireballs erupted from the ground as the mines exploded, tearing any slashers to pieces. Using a special remote detonation system in his hacking interface, REX could choose which mines to detonate, thereby avoiding the ones Talon was running over.
But as Talon cleared the minefield, Keller and several more slashers were still giving chase. REX couldn't risk destroying the buildings and taking out Talon. He only had one other option:
REX quickly disassembled his sniper rifle and put away the parts. He stood up and, with a running start and a jump boost from the repulsors in his legs, leapt out of the building at an amazing height and speed.
As he was airborne, REX activated his wingsuit. Black-colored membranes came out of his arms and legs to catch the rising air, allowing REX not the ability to fly like EVE, but to glide slowly towards the ground while traveling at a fast horizontal speed. The speed and altitude drop depended highly on whether REX had the wingsuit open to travel long distances, or closed if he wanted to freefall so he could reach the ground quicker. Back in his military career, REX had used the wingsuit for high-altitude insertions into enemy territory.
REX glided through the air towards Talon. As he came close, he closed his wingsuit and freefell to the ground. REX supercharged his mechanical arm as he fell, and dropped into a group of slashers to unleash a shockwave as he slammed into the ground, taking out several of them.
Keller and the slashers behind him stopped at REX's unexpected arrival. REX saw in his rear perimeter camera Talon still going. He just needed to hold them off until Talon was clear.
"You again?" Keller growled at him. "Good, now I can break your leg!"
"When I broke your leg, I should've gone for your spine." REX altered his camouflage to his standard woodland pattern and altered his mechanical arm. It transformed into a cylinder shape with several muzzles lining the edges. His gatling gun.
The gatling gun was REX's most powerful asset. It could fire energy bullets at a devastating rate of one thousand bullets per second, decimating any on the receiving end. Although REX couldn't use it for long, as the ridiculous fire rate drained his power, despite R-15 being able to replenish itself quickly.
The gun made a deafening roar as REX opened up with it. Slashers were torn to pieces as the bullets ripped through them like a nasty hailstorm, not even small pieces of metallic components were left behind from destroyed drones. They didn't stand a chance as they made the mistake of trying to close the distance, making it easier for REX to hit them.
But after a few seconds, REX's power alert indicator sounded off in his HUD, indicating he was getting low on power. He stopped the barrage but immediately pulled out his pistol to continue the assault. REX wasn't willing to hold back. These monsters threatened his family, and his family's safety was where the lines crossed.
Then, the slashers backed off. It confused REX. Slashers were never programmed to retreat; they kept fighting until they were destroyed. That's why they were feared: they were relentless.
Keller came out of the small remnants of drones. Like the Prophet, Keller's emotions were hidden behind that helmet. REX didn't care about what Keller was feeling though, he had to end this.
"You and me, machine." Keller hissed.
"I'll take you down, then the Prophet's next."
Keller dashed at REX and attempted to strike with a hidden blade in his wrist. REX deflected the blade with a quick draw of his combat knife and used his enhanced strength to tear out the blade with an open-palmed strike toward Keller's hand. He then delivered a series of punches in Keller's chest, followed by a powerful kick to his face, knocking him back.
Keller recovered and then what looked like a holographic version of a sledgehammer appeared in his hands. He ran towards REX and swung it hard. REX ducked underneath the swing with ease and quickly stepped back for some breathing room. Keller's fighting technique was sloppy, but that armor allowed him to take a beating.
REX then caught a slasher attempting to dash at him from behind in his perimeter camera. He turned at the last second and grabbed the drone's arms, then turned its own claws against it by impaling them in its chest. The drone fell to the ground with its claws jammed into its chest, clearly down for the count.
REX knew this was only the start. Once Keller was out, REX still had to take out the Prophet and the rest of the slasher army, without help this time.
But he will pull through. Because REX had a family. His directive was to protect them, and that's exactly what he would do.
They were the only reason he was still alive.
EVE was nervous. The mission failed. REX didn't have a chance to take out the Prophet, which meant things would escalate.
She, Neon, WALL-E, and the remaining sisters were with McCrea in the captain's room of the Axiom, listening to the events that were occurring on a communicator that McCrea was holding. McCrea had the communicator set to speaker so they could all hear, mainly due to the pleas of WALL-E and Neon because they wanted to hear everything REX was going through.
"REX," McCrea said. "What's going on?"
REX's voice came through on the communicator. "Holding off Keller so Talon can escape. Having a tough time here."
"No!" Neon cried. "REX!"
"REX," McCrea yelled. "The EVE probes want to help. Let them help you."
"No, I can't risk anymore liv-"
There was a sudden break in REX's speech. It was suddenly quiet, and it scared EVE.
"REX? REX, are you there?"
There was only static on the other end. Neon shrieked, then started crying. EVE immediately went to comfort her sister. WALL-E did the same.
This couldn't be happening. REX was their only hope, the only one who could stop the Syndicate. Without him, they were done for. Everyone would be slaughtered.
Another voice came in on the communicator. "Ben, this is Jasper. I can still hear fighting in the distance, but I can't reach REX. Something must've happened to his communicator. I think he's still alive."
"REX has to be alive!" McCrea yelled. "No way is he going to let the Prophet win!"
EVE gave Neon a tight hug. Her sister had come close to losing her love. Now she had felt what EVE once felt long ago. It wasn't right at all. EVE didn't want Neon to suffer like she had, she didn't want her sister to go through that pain.
"Neon," EVE said softly. "REX . . . strong."
Neon's crying lightened after a few seconds, then she made a weak smile, signifying that she believed EVE.
"REX," Neon said. "Strong."
EVE then released Neon and turned to WALL-E. Her nerves spiked because he was heading to the elevator.
She quickly dashed in his way. What was WALL-E thinking? He couldn't go out there. It was too dangerous.
"WALL-E?" She asked.
"Help . . . REX."
Her nerves spiked even harder. "No."
"REX . . . brother."
"WALL-E . . . please . . . no."
WALL-E then opened his compartment and pulled out the telepathic communicators that they used to talk perfectly. He handed EVE one communicator and held the other one in his hand. They activated their communicators and EVE spoke first.
"WALL-E," she begged. "Please don't go. I don't want to lose you."
"Eva, REX is in trouble out there. My brother is running the risk of getting killed. I can't lose the only blood family I have. I've already lost too many."
"But WALL-E, if you go out there, you'll be in danger. I can't lose you—not again."
"Eva, what if it was one of your sisters out there fighting? What if your family was out there risking their lives for your safety?"
EVE was stuck, WALL-E had her there. "I . . ."
"Eva, REX fought for family his entire life, and I'm sick of him risking his neck out there for me. Learning about that war he fought gave me the thought of him being a casualty of war. What would happen if he was dead before then? He wouldn't have become my brother, he wouldn't have a real family, and most importantly, he wouldn't have discovered what we treasure most because he met Neon."
"You don't want to lose your blood family."
"Exactly, Eva. I need to go out there and get REX to safety. I need to be out there with him because that's what brothers do. We look out for each other."
EVE couldn't respond. WALL-E had a point. It was the bonds of family that held REX and WALL-E together. They both enjoyed the feelings of love with EVE and Neon, but it was really brotherhood that they lived by. EVE had the same kind of happiness with her sisters, and because of that, she would be fighting alongside them if it came to it, much like WALL-E wanted to fight with REX.
"You're right." EVE then said. "REX is your family. You're brothers and you always stick together."
"Thank you for understanding, Eva."
"But if you're going, then I'm coming too. We're all family."
"I won't argue with you there."
They turned off their communicators and went for the elevator, now ready for what they had to do. They had to help REX because he was family. EVE would never forgive herself if WALL-E lost his brother. It was too painful to imagine what he would go through if he lost the only blood family he had left.
But EVE suddenly felt something grab her arm. She turned around to see her sisters watching them questionably. Neon was at the front.
"EVE?" Neon asked.
"Help . . . REX." EVE replied in a now confident tone.
Neon's eyes grew in surprise, but quickly changed to show courage. EVE could already predict her next response.
"Coming." She said, pointing to herself."
Angel, Izzy, and Vi moved forward. They took Neon's flanks and brandished the same confident expression that Neon had.
"Coming." They chorused.
EVE nodded to them in gratitude. They were willing to fight with REX because they greatly honored him for his dedication to protect WALL-E. That was why they diligently obeyed him, because he protected the ones he cared about.
They went for the elevator. McCrea turned in their direction, but he didn't have time to say anything because the doors already closed. EVE only saw his eyes widen in surprise before the doors blocked her view of him.
EVE was shaking in anxiety and nervousness as the elevator went down. Doing something like this was putting them all in danger. REX gave them orders to stay in the Axiom, but he needed their help right now. To them, his life mattered more than his orders.
And EVE was now the acting leader. REX had told her that when he wasn't around, she was in charge. And right now, she knew that they needed to help him.
The elevator opened at the Lido Deck. EVE picked up WALL-E and flew to the nearest exit with the sisters following behind. When they got to an exit hatch, EVE opened it and they got outside.
They could hear faint sounds of gunfire and metal clanking as they came outside. That had to mean REX was still alive—and still fighting.
EVE flew high in the sky with WALL-E still in her arms. The sisters stayed close behind, Neon was actually matching EVE's pace and had a worried expression on her face. Being the acting leader, EVE had to make sure she would bring REX back alive, and that Neon wouldn't do something stupid.
They flew towards the sounds of battle while still remaining high in the sky. EVE learned from REX that their flying capabilities gave them a superior advantage in combat. An aerial bombardment from their ion cannons would best serve in their favor when they reached the combat zone.
But first, they needed to survey the area. When they arrived, EVE settled on a nearby building rooftop and used the zooming feature on her HUD to examine the area. She saw REX fighting against a red-armored figure (who must've been Keller) and several of those slasher robots at once with a combination of hand-to-hand combat and multiple weapon features. REX was doing a good job of holding his own, but it looked like he was getting tired; he couldn't go on forever.
Then, EVE's combat instincts kicked in. She ordered Angel and Izzy to take positions in the sky and rain down fire while she would go down with Neon and Vi to assist REX. WALL-E would go to REX and lead him out of the fight while they provided cover.
The sisters acknowledged her orders and took their positions. EVE flew down with her escort and set WALL-E down a good distance away from the fight. Once it was safe enough, WALL-E would get REX out.
Then it began. Angel and Izzy bombarded from the air while EVE, Neon, and Vi provided their own fire from ground level. The mixture of ion cannon fire from two different angles tore up the unsuspecting slashers since they were too preoccupied with fighting REX. Their already low numbers dwindled at an alarming rate.
"What are you doing here!" REX yelled at them. "Get out of here! Now!"
Suddenly, a large blue-colored wave pulse erupted from Keller. REX was incapacitated because of his close proximity to the eruption and EVE's ion cannon suddenly stopped working. It must've been some kind of EMP.
"Bringing your friends won't help you now." Keller said. He went to REX, who was lying on the ground, and lifted his hammer to bring it down on him.
"No!" WALL-E yelled. EVE saw WALL-E dash at Keller in an attempt to stop him, but Keller suddenly redirected his hammer at the last second into a golf-like swing at WALL-E, sending him several feet into the air and straight into a building.
"WALL-E!" EVE screamed. She flew towards where WALL-E landed and found him, severely damaged and unmoving. Fear ran through EVE's mind as she screamed for him. WALL-E couldn't be dead. He escaped it once before, he could do it again.
EVE saw a shadow come over her. She turned to see Keller standing over her, the hammer bouncing slightly in his hands.
"Now it is time to finish you off." Keller said before bursting into maniacal laughter.
Then, the sisters attacked Keller, body-slamming into him at great speeds. They took turns barraging him so he didn't have time to retaliate, quickly flying away after an impact to gain enough momentum to hit him again. Neon even used her close-combat skills and took swings at Keller for a brief period before dashing away for another body-slam.
EVE turned back to WALL-E, who was still motionless. She screamed and screamed for him in an impulsive response to the fear she was suffering. It was just like when he was crushed under the Holo-detector. The pain she felt back then was coming back.
Ion cannon active.
The message flashed in her HUD. EVE's ion cannon was back online.
Then, EVE felt nothing but rage. Keller hurt WALL-E, he had to die.
EVE picked up WALL-E in one arm and drew her cannon. The sisters cleared away from their assault on Keller and EVE let out a banshee-like scream of rage as she fired repeatedly at Keller. That ferocious instinct that made REX such a vicious killer—EVE now had it. She now knows how REX feels when he's angry.
The shots made direct contact with Keller's chest. He staggered back, but didn't go down. That armor of his could take a serious beating. It only made EVE more enraged as she continued her fire in an attempt to break his defenses and end him for good.
Suddenly, there were several explosions. Some of the nearby buildings' lower supports exploded and they started crumbling. As they were coming down, EVE heard REX shouting as loud as he could.
"Retreat, back to the Axiom!"
EVE didn't move. She was still shocked from WALL-E being lost again. She couldn't relive that pain.
Then REX appeared at her side. His eyes were blood-red, signifying that he was enraged, but there was also the slight upper crease in his eyebrows that indicated fear. REX was scared about WALL-E too.
"Get WALL-E back to the ship!" He yelled. It was the first time REX had ever yelled at her. He was taking this matter personally, very personally. "I'll get the parts! GO!"
EVE acknowledged his orders, then took off for the Axiom with her sisters regrouping and following behind. The buildings began crashing down to the ground; EVE had to hit supersonic speed to escape the gauntlet of falling rubble.
She was burning with fear the whole way back. This can't happen again! EVE needed WALL-E. She couldn't live without him.
They flew back inside the Axiom to a large horde of humans and robots gathered together. All of them chorused a gasp of shock as they saw WALL-E hanging lifeless in EVE's arms.
"Get a gurney NOW!" Someone shouted. "WALL-E's hurt!"
A hovering gurney then appeared flanked by two Stewards. EVE set WALL-E down on it and followed it to the Repair Ward. The sisters stayed close.
EVE started crying. She was feeling the pain again, but now, it was getting worse. WALL-E's unmoving body scared her more than ever. It wasn't just him almost killed the last time that scared EVE, but also because she had to go through WALL-E not remembering her when she fixed him. It was only a few seconds in that time that she thought she had truly lost him forever.
"EVE," Neon said softly. "WALL-E . . . will . . . survive."
EVE couldn't respond. She was still crying as loud as she could as the fear of losing WALL-E again ran through her mind. She couldn't lose WALL-E, never.
"EVE!" Neon snapped. She grabbed EVE by the arms and forced her to look her in the eyes. "REX . . . save . . . WALL-E."
EVE slightly lessened her crying. Neon was right: REX will save WALL-E because he was dedicated to protecting his brother. He may not have said it, but EVE always thought it: REX could do anything.
But still, the pain wouldn't go away until WALL-E was back. EVE still cried and screamed for WALL-E the entire way to the Repair Ward.
Talon and McCrea were waiting there with a handful of Atlas humans in white labcoats. They moved WALL-E from the gurney to a metal table in a hurry and began running over his body with sensors. All of them began barking stats and orders to each other, they were trying their best to do what they could for WALL-E.
"CPU chip is intact, but his power level is sapped and he needs several replacement parts."
"I don't care how you do it, just bring him back."
"You think I'm not trying? I want him back just as much as the next person."
"Just as much isn't good enough. We need him back now."
The humans began arguing with each other as they tried to discuss how to save WALL-E, the tension was clearly mounting because of how fast everything was happening. EVE wasn't paying much attention to the heated verbal battle because she was still screaming for WALL-E to come back.
"OUT OF MY WAY!"
EVE turned her head in response to the loud shout to see REX charging towards them, knocking anyone who was in his way to the side. He had a large amount of WALL-E's spare parts in his arms and his eyes were still blood-red. He was really mad if his eyes were still that color.
REX came up to the table and immediately set the parts down and shoved the humans away, barking that no one but him was going to repair his brother. He immediately went to replacing any damaged parts on WALL-E with EVE joining in. She saved WALL-E once before; with REX's help, she could do it again.
They fully repaired WALL-E in ten fast seconds. Teamwork was something to be proud of, but EVE didn't bother to think about it because WALL-E still needed power. They hadn't succeeded yet.
REX flexed his mechanical arm, then sparks started coming out of it. "No time for a solar recharge. I'm gonna jumpstart him."
He placed his hand on WALL-E's chest. A large surge of electricity flowed from his hand into WALL-E's chest. WALL-E bounced slightly from the shock, but didn't move. It didn't work.
But REX clearly wasn't giving up. He kept trying, sending more and more electricity into WALL-E. EVE could understand REX's determination; he had to save his brother.
Several more tries, and still none of them worked. WALL-E only bounced from the shocks, but he wasn't coming back to life.
"REX," Talon said. "It's not working."
"I can't—I can't lose him."
"REX, stop."
"NO!" REX punched the table with his human hand in uncontrolled anger. "I've lost too many brothers! I am not losing another!"
EVE only felt nothing but trust in REX. He was the devoted brother of WALL-E, and that anger he had was what protected him. EVE no longer feared REX's anger, she respected it. His anger was the motivation that would bring WALL-E back.
And once WALL-E was back, she knew that REX would hunt down those responsible for nearly killing his brother.
"C'mon, c'mon."
REX continued to shock WALL-E using a direct energy transfer in an attempt to revive him. WALL-E had R-15 coursing through him because of that power boost REX gave him the day after they first met. All that REX needed to do was transfer his own R-15—his blood—into his brother so he could bring him back.
He checked WALL-E's energy pulse with each shock. He just needed to hit the proper energy level in order to bring WALL-E back. It was just monitoring the level that reassured REX, because it said that it was confirmed he could save his brother.
REX burned with rage and fear. Keller was going to pay for this, the Prophet too. They had officially crossed the line by nearly taking away his brother. Now there was no holding back, no break in hunting them down, and especially no mercy.
How is he doing?
REX heard General Warren's voice, compassionate and reassuring. Warren was talking in his mind, trying to help him.
"He will survive." REX didn't care who heard him. He needed Warren to help him. He needed motivation, and Warren could give it to him.
Do what I taught you. Warren said. Save him, you can do it.
"I will, sir."
How much do you love him?
"More than anything. He's my brother."
Good.
Then, Warren started yelling at him. It was how REX was motivated to go on, by making him angry. Warren always shouted at him during the training to make him angry so he could go beyond his normal limits. It wasn't personal, it never was.
Then what are you slacking for? Save your brother! Save him now!
REX continued to give WALL-E jumpstart shocks. He was narrowing down on the proper energy level. Soon, WALL-E would be back.
Did my training go to waste? Are you a worthless product like Jastle said?
"No sir."
Are you going to let your brother die? Are you going to do nothing and let him die?
REX's anger was flaring up, more than it usually did. "No sir!"
Has the Syndicate won already? Won because they killed your brother already? Have they?
"SIR NO SIR!"
Then save him, dammit!
REX was at his breaking point—was. He let out a roar of anger as he continued to revive WALL-E. Anger gave him more determination, and it made him the killing machine that fought for completely different reasons than what his creators wanted.
Then, he hit the right level. WALL-E's power charge shot up to full power like a rocket and he got back up almost immediately. WALL-E's CPU chip was fully intact so his memory wasn't lost again, he immediately woke up and started shaking in fear, showing that he was still his original self.
"WALL-E!" EVE cried joyfully. She immediately hugged WALL-E tight and pressed her head into his. This was her time now, she needed to be with her partner so they could both calm down.
REX stared at the table, taking simulated breaths to calm himself down. He had succeeded; he never doubted his abilities and what he could do. WALL-E was back again.
Neon came up to REX and hugged him tight. The feel of her was helping him relax even more. The rage and stress that had built up was slowly withering away.
You did good, son. I'm proud of you.
It was always hearing Warren praise him that REX enjoyed the most. All that he ever wanted in his past life was Warren's approval. Whenever his mentor showed how proud he was of REX, it always made him happy.
REX hugged Neon back and relaxed completely. He felt happy again. His family was safe now, and his brother was alive.
He turned to WALL-E, who was practically being crushed in EVE's hold as she had him in a tight hug. REX smiled and patted WALL-E on the back.
"Good to have you back, bro."
WALL-E smiled in response and made a cheerful chittering sound. EVE giggled from his vocal noises, then gave him a long-lasting spark kiss and nuzzled him.
REX laughed to himself. For this brief time, they didn't have a war to fight. They were a family, they enjoyed being with each other. They enjoyed their family love.
"REX," Neon whispered to him. "Hero."
EVE then glided up to REX with WALL-E still in her arms. She gave REX a grateful spark-kiss on the side of his face and hugged him with WALL-E doing the same.
"Thank you." EVE said.
"We're a family, we stick together." REX returned the hug. "I love you all."
Everything else was blocked out from REX's mind as he enjoyed being with his family. REX had been misinterpreted as a soulless killing machine in his past life because he was made to fight a war. But REX didn't believe in that purpose anymore, because he was protecting, not murdering. REX protected his family with his life; anyone who threatened his family's existence would be the sole target of his true side, the side of him that was made for the war.
After a long period, they parted the group hug. EVE and Neon, however, still clung onto their respective boyfriends in tight hugs. It made sense since REX and WALL-E had both come close to certain death. But now it made REX feel ashamed that they had scared their girlfriends like that.
McCrea then came up to the group with two hoverchairs. Everyone started clearing a path to the Lido Deck.
"Take a seat, REX." McCrea said. "Please. This is all happening too fast. You all need to relax."
REX didn't bother to say anything. He sat down in one hoverchair with Neon still in his arms while WALL-E and EVE took the other one, still holding each other tight. The chairs then began to head for the Lido Deck with everyone following them.
"You're a hero, REX." McCrea said along the way. "You saved WALL-E."
"Don't call me a hero, because I'm a soldier, not a hero."
It was something General Warren told him once. Something that REX never forgot. You can save lives, you can stop bombs from going off. But once you take a life, you will never be a hero. Soldiers aren't heroes; they get the job done.
REX was never a hero. He didn't do what he did for a global good or some noble cause like those so-called "heroes" in the movies, he had his own reasons. He fought to protect the ones he loved, and he wouldn't hesitate to do what some called "heartless" in order to protect them.
But being a hero wasn't important to him. The only thing that was important was his family. WALL-E, EVE, and Neon were his family. They mattered more than being a hero, they mattered more than his own life.
Neon pressed her head into REX's chest. He held her tight and relished in the affection she was giving him. REX loved his family, and they loved him.
But the Prophet was still out there. Until he was dead, REX's family was still in danger. This war needed to end.
The hoverchairs carried them to the Lido Deck. WALL-E and EVE didn't break away from each other, and neither did REX and Neon. None of them were willing to break away from each other. Emotions were running high right now.
The large group of humans and robots surrounded the family, but REX paid no attention to them. He just wanted his family right now.
Eventually, McCrea broke the silence. "REX, what do we do now? The Prophet surely has declared war on us."
REX tried to ease Neon off of him, but she groaned and gripped tighter on him. He understood her feelings. EVE and Neon were on the brink of losing it because he and WALL-E were nearly killed. This war had officially gone too far.
He submitted to Neon's affection and stayed in the chair, instead turning to McCrea and speaking from there.
"There's only one option," REX said. "I have to fight them."
"No," Neon cried. "REX . . . stay."
"I have to, Neon. I have to protect you."
A high-pitched beeping sound suddenly erupted from the ground. REX turned to where the sound came from and saw M-O giving him a glare that hinted confidence.
"Help," the tiny cleaner bot chirped.
Just hearing that one word stunned REX. M-O wanted to fight too.
"You can't be serious."
"No," said another voice. "We're not."
Soon enough, the rogues appeared, followed by several Stewards, then several other robots. They all stared at REX with a certain kind of look that he had seen in soldiers during his past life: the sign that they were willing to fight.
Auto appeared on one of the screens of a Steward. Since Auto couldn't leave the captain's room, he had to use Stewards to communicate outside of it.
"You won't survive fighting them alone." Auto said. "Let us help you. Every single robot here wants to fight as well. This is our home too."
Neon got off of REX and joined WALL-E, EVE, and the sisters in a small group. They all gave him that same look that the other robots were brandishing. They wanted to fight as well.
"Family." WALL-E said. EVE and her sisters nodded in response to him, stating that they wanted to fight, because they were fighting for family.
Then, the Atlas construction crew came up. James was at the lead.
"We're not loyal to the Prophet's schemes." James said. "This is our home too, and I don't want it to be ruled by some ruthless tyrant. We're fighting too. The Rounders were built for construction, but we know how to use them for other means."
REX didn't know how to respond. Everyone wanted to fight. Everyone wanted to help him fight against the Syndicate.
But then he remembered one lesson from General Warren. One he had learned about something called resistance fighting.
Some people run scared when the fight comes to them. But one thing about resistance fighters is this: when everything they have is being threatened to get taken away from them, they'll fight to the death to keep that from happening.
REX realized what that meant. He couldn't do this alone because this wasn't his fight anymore, it was everyone's fight. They were threatened to have their new home taken from them, and they didn't want that. If the Prophet wanted the planet so badly, he would have to take it over everyone's dead body.
So REX got out of the hoverchair and took off for the raised Holo-detector platform. Everyone gathered around the platform and REX looked among them with the best motivational face he could muster. He knew what to do.
"The Prophet threatens to exterminate us like we're some kind of insects," He shouted to everyone. "But what he doesn't know is that we bite back. This is our home, our planet. He thinks that he can just take over and put us down without a care."
There were some slight nods and murmurs of approval. REX was already getting them enthralled in his speech.
"And what he doesn't have is loyalty. He treats his inferiors like scum and disregards them without a second thought. Because of that, he has few followers to do his bidding. But us, we are a unified force. Humans and robots working together. We don't serve one another, we help each other. That in turn, makes us loyal to one another."
WALL-E, EVE, and Neon came up to the platform and stood by REX's side. Just having his family with him motivated REX to keep going.
"We will fight the Prophet, and we will win. Because we fight for a common goal, we fight together. Am I right?"
There was a loud cheer. It was so loud that REX's hearing vibrated slightly because his hearing processors couldn't take in the sudden outcry. Everyone was getting pumped.
Auto's voice suddenly jumped in. "A message from the Prophet."
Everyone started booing and spitting when Auto said the Prophet's name. It seemed courage was already molding into them. REX was amazed that they became so fearless so quickly.
"Hold up, hold up." McCrea shouted over the noise. "Let's hear what it says."
Auto read out the message. "Your defiance is intolerable. We will attack you from the north in great numbers. You have one day to prepare for our invasion."
REX was actually laughing. The Prophet had just revealed his attack strategy. He wasn't just deranged, he was an idiot.
"The Prophet has underestimated us." REX called out to the audience. "He expects this to be an easy victory."
Talon and McCrea came up to the Holo-detector. They took REX's flanks and looked over the ground.
"The Prophet killed many innocent people way back in time." Talon shouted. "He is a cold, emotionless monster. He needs to be stopped."
McCrea kept the speech going. "He had his lackeys nearly kill WALL-E. He plans on killing us all. I say that if we are to go down, we go down fighting."
REX then prepared the conclusion. "So what does this mean? Are we going to surrender and let him wipe us out, or are we going to fight back and show the Prophet that he can't just take something without consequences?"
A deafening cheer erupted. "WE'RE GONNA FIGHT!"
Everyone started cheering and pumping fists into the air. REX was actually feeling excited now. They had an army, and he was leading it.
WALL-E came up to REX and chittered excitedly. REX smiled and put his little brother in a playful armlock. If they were to die tomorrow, then they would die together. Another lesson taught by General Warren. Soldiers fight together, and soldiers die together. Because they're not just soldiers, they're brothers.
"REX," McCrea said. "Now what?"
"What do you think?" REX gave him a friendly slap on the back. "We take the fight to them."
