Chapter 26. Read it, review it, and tell me what you people think. This is just here for people to enjoy. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 26: The Age of Steel and Iron
Zilla's dorsal spine began to glow blue and he fired his atomic breath at the Mechanoids, which expels a shoot of golden light which bounds off one of them and onto the others, they are all disintegrated. Rodger was struck in awe at the site.
"What the hell was that?" Rodger said in shock.
"We'll have that instead, run!" Zilla shouted. And they run. Phoenix drives onto the scene in a blue van she hijacked, hooting the horn.
"Everybody in!" Phoenix shouted.
"Hijacked!?" Litwick asked.
"Yep!" She said. Rodger tries to run back to the house, but Mage grabs him and tries to restrain him.
"I've gotta go back, my wife's in there." Rodger said.
"Anyone inside that house is dead. If you wanna help, then don't let her die for nothing. You've gotta come with us right now." Mage says. Rodger understands, and hurries back to the van.
"Come on, get a move on!" Phoenix shouted.
"Come on." Mage says pushes Dream and Wish in the direction of the van and they get in the back.
"Finished chatting?! Never seen a slower getaway in my life!" Phoenix criticized and they drive off. More Mechanoids march ominously forwards but they managed to get away.
Back in the mansion, the door in the basement of the Tyler's house creaks open a crack. Helen peeks out with wide eyes. A Mechanoid is walking away from her, its back turned. Very suddenly another steps out of a doorway about halfway along the corridor. Helen gasps and hastily withdraws - but too late, it has seen her.
Out on the road, the van is driving along at a steady speed now, relatively calm. Rodger, glares at GMAD with anxiety after what he had just seen tonight.
"What was that thing?" Rodger asked.
"If you watch the news I have Kryptonian and nuclear power within my DNA." Zilla said. "I mean come on I'm a walking talking t-rex for crying out loud."
"Right. So, we've got weapons." Rodger said.
"Might not be one of those metal things, but they're good enough for men like Malik."
"What's he done wrong?" Wish asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, you know, just laid a trap that's wiped out the Government. And that left Malik in charge." Rodger said.
"Is that true?" Phoenix said.
"We've got a government mole who feeds us information. Malik's private files, his South American operations... the lot. Secret broadcasts twice a week. Broadcast from Gemini" Rodger said.
"And how do you know that?" Litwick asked.
"I'm Gemini. That's me." Rodger said. "Encrypted wavelength six-five-seven using binary nine. That's the only reason I was working for Malik. To get information. I thought I was broadcasting to the Security Services, and what do I get? Scooby Doo and his gang. They've even got the van!"
"Then you haven't met them in person." Mage murmured.
"They took my wife."
"She might still be alive." Dream said.
"That's even worse. 'Cos that's what Malik does. He takes the living... and he turns them into those machines."
"Mechanoids." Mage said. "They're called Mechanoids. And I'd take those ear-pods off, if I were you." Rodger obliges and gives them to Mage. "You never know... Malik could be listening." He disables them with his newest technomagic the Sonic Wand. "But he's overreached himself. He's still just a businessman. He's assassinated the President. All we need to do is get to the City and inform the authorities. Because I promise you, this ends tonight."
At Malik's Headquarters, there are several of Mechanoids in Malik's office, talking to him.
"My everlasting children... tell me... how does it feel?" Malik said to his creations.
"We feel nothing." Mechanoid said.
"But in your mind? What do you think?"
"We think the same. We are uniform."
"But you think of... what?"
"We think of the humans. We think of their difference and their pain. They suffer in the skin, they must evolve."
"Excellent. Then let's begin!" Malik then turned to his computer. "Computer, identify Malik."
"[Voiceprint acknowledged.]"
"Activate ear-pod primary sequence."
"[Please state area of activation.]"
"The City of London. I've just declared Independence. Begin transmission!"
On a typical London street, people are going about their usual evening business. An alarm sounds and they all come to a halt, frozen in their tracks. The ear-pods flash.
Back at the mansion, the door creaks open in the basement. Helen stands there, her ear-pods also flashing.
As one, the people on the street all turn and walk in the same direction.
Helen marches up the stairs from the basement.
Back at Malik HQ
"You will come to me. My dear children. The Immortal Ones."
Even the TV Studio was in chaos.
"All of London has been sealed off. There are reports of an army, an army of metal men. All citizens should remove their ear-pods. Repeat: remove all ear-pods. London has been placed under martial law. If you're hearing this, stay in your homes. I repeat: stay in your homes."
Outside the Battersea Power Station Mr. Ralph winces and clutches his ears. With some effort, he rips them from his ears.
"Oh no you don't."
The heroes are walking along the street where all the people are marching towards the same destination. They watch them, bemused.
"What the hell...?" Dream said looking shocked.
"What's going on?" Wish added.
"It's the ear-pods. Malik's taking control." Mage said.
"Can't we just... I dunno, take them off?" Dream asked as she reaches up to one man to take his ear-pods out, but Mage stops her.
"Don't!" Mage said warningly. "Cause a brainstorm. Human Race, for such an intelligent lot, you aren't half susceptible. Give anyone a chance to take control and you submit. Sometimes I think you like it. Easy life."
"Hey." Litwick call whispered, peering around the corner, crouching. "Come and see." The heroes join them in looking around the corner. A row of Mechanoids march alongside the people under the control of the ear-pods, still heading in the same direction.
"Where are they all going?" Wish asked.
"I don't know. Malik must have a base of operation." Mage said.
"Battersea. That's where he was building his prototypes." Rodger said.
"Why's he doing it?" Dream asked.
"He's dying. This all started out as a way of life by keeping the brain alive. At any cost." Rodger explained.
"Never mind that. Come on, we need to get out of the City." Litwick said as the Mechanoids are fast approaching down the street. "Okay, split up, Phoenix, you look after that guy. Twins, distract them, go right, I'll go left, we'll meet back at Bridge Street. Move." He runs off in one direction, the rest in the other.
"Come on, let's go." Phoenix says they all ran as the Mechanoid march towards them. "There!" They run down a side alley, with some Mechanoids in pursuit.
The twins Dream and Wish come to a fork in the road and halt, out of breath but they hear the sound of marching feet behind them and spin around as the Mechanoids are approaching.
"Mechanoids!" Dream said.
"Split up!" They said in unison. They dash off in opposite directions.
Back on the street, the Mechanoids march down the street whilst the heroes crouch hidden behind a pile of rubbish and dustbins. The Mechanoids stop as if they want to investigate the rubbish further, but Mage points his Sonic Wand in their direction. It bleeps and they go on their way. They all stand warily and watch the Mechanoids march off into the distance.
"Go." Zilla whispers. They creep out from behind the dustbins and run in the opposite direction.
Back at the Battersea Power Station, the people under the control of Malik file out of the back of a lorry, including Helen.
"Chamber twelve now closed for sterlisation. All reject stock will be incinerated." Said a Mechanoid voice.
In Malik's HQ, the Mechanoids march Mr. Ralph to stand before Malik.
"This one is unprogrammed." The Mechanoid said.
"Mr. Ralph. I thought you were one of the faithful." Malik said.
"Oh, that I am, sir. My ear-pod must've malfunctioned. For which I apologize." Ralph said. Malik squints at him suspiciously. " If I er... might...?" Malik nods his ascent, and Mr. Ralph takes a few steps closer to Malik's wheelchair. " I'd like to request an evolution, sir. I've seen the future, and it's copyright Mech Industries. Sign me up."
"A willing volunteer." Malik smirked.
"You've known me a long time, sir. Quite a team, you and me." Ralph said. Malik gives a smile that looks more like a grimace. "I've been with you all the way. But believe me, sir, knowing you so well... I know exactly what to do." He suddenly lunches forward and rips the breathing apparatus away from Malik, ignoring his yells and protests. He smashes the life-support system built into the chair and it explodes.
"Help me!" Malik called out desperately. One of the Mechanoids comes to his aid, sending Ralph flying across the room with one swipe of its arm.
"Die, you-!" But the Mechanoid grabs hold of his neck and kills him.
"Help me!" Malik called out desperately once again.
"You are in pain. We can remove pain forever." The Mechanoid informed. "We will give you immortality."
"Yes." Malik said, having difficulty breathing. "I suppose it's time. I'm close to my last breath!" The Mechanoid stomps round to the back of Malik's wheelchair.
"Then breathe no more." The Mechanoid then hits the logo on its chest and then they wheel Malik out.
Back on the street, the heroes regrouped with each other.
"We ran past the river. You should've seen it, the whole City's on the watch. Hundreds of Mechanoids all down the Thames." Dream informs them.
"I'm so tired." Wish expressed.
"We can rest when London is safe. But now, we move on." Zilla said. The group nods in response.
They walk up a slope, which overlooks the river to see the Battersea is on the opposite bank.
"The whole of London's been sealed off, and the entire population's been taken inside that place. To be "converted"." Mage said.
"We've gotta get in there and shut it down." Dream said.
"How do we do that?" Phoenix asked.
"Oh, I'll think of something." Mage said.
"You're just making this up as you go along!" Phoenix said indignantly.
"Yuuuup. But I do it brilliantly." Mage bragged. Dream smirks and Phoenix had to agree. Mage got out his laptop out, and shows a 3D model on the screen.
"That's a schematic of the old factory. Look, cooling tunnels... underneath the plant... big enough to walk through." Mage explains. Everyone is crowded around the laptop on a bench.
"We go under there and up into the control center?" Litwick asked.
"Yep."
"There's another way in." Rodger spoke up. Everyone looks at him. "Through the front door. If they've taken Helen for evolving, that's how she'll get in..."
"We can't just go strolling up." Phoenix said.
"Or, we could... with these..." Mage said as he takes some ear-pods from his pocket. Everyone takes one. "Fake ear-pods. Dead. No signal. But put them on, the Mechanoids would mistake you for one of the crowd."
"Then that's my job." Rodger said.
"You'd have to show no emotion. None at all. Any sign of emotion would give you away." Mage instructed.
"How many of those have you got?" Wish asked.
"Just two sets." Mage answered.
"Okay. If that's the best way of finding Helen... I'm coming with you." Wish says as she gets up and stands next to Rodger.
"Why does she matter to you?" Rodger asked.
"We haven't got time. Guys, I'm going with him, and that's that." Wish said, with determination.
"No stopping you, is there?" Zilla said.
"Nope."
"I'll come along too." Dream offered.
"Tell you what... we can take the ear-pods at the same time. Give people their minds back. So they don't walk into that place like sheep. Litwick?" Mage leads Litwick further up the hill for a better look at Battersea and the zeppelin stationed above it. "Malik's transmitting the control signal, and it must be from over there..." He points the Sonic Wand in that general direction. It bleeps. "There it is... on the zeppelin, see? Great big transmitter. Good thing Malik likes showing off. Reckon you could take it out?"
"Consider it done." Litwick said smiling, pleased. Mage pats him on the shoulder and goes back to the others.
"You can count me in." Zilla said.
"Phoenix... would you care to accompany me into the cooling tunnels?" Mage asked.
"How could I refuse an offer of cooling tunnels?" Phoenix shrugged.
"We attack on three sides, above, between - below. We get to the control center, we stop the conversion machines." Mage instructed. "If we survive this, I'll see you back at home. Good luck."
Mage and Phoenix managed to find the trap door opens into the cooling tunnels. Phoenix descends a ladder, followed by Mage.
"It's freezing here." Phoenix said. "Good thing I'm warm blooded."
"Any sign of a light switch?" Mage said.
"We have magic, right?"
"I keep forgetting that fact." Mage acknowledged. They used their magic to create a laminating light. "Let's see where we are. He says and takes a few steps forward. The first thing the light falls on is a Mechanoid. There are hundreds of them lining the cooling tunnels, but they are lifeless. "Already converted, just paralyzed. Come on!" He walks forward, ready to start the journey down the cooling tunnels. After a moments hesitation, Phoenix follows. Mage pauses and raps one on the nose (or where the nose should be) which elicits no response. "Let's go slowly. Keep an eye out for trip systems." They edge slowly and warily down the tunnel, past lifeless Mechanoid after lifeless Mechanoid.
Meanwhile a huge truck drives away from the power station. A row of Mechanoids march in the opposite direction. The whole place is very busy.
"Chamber six now open for human evolution." The twins and Rodger dart along the side of the building, trying to remain unseen. "Chamber seven now open for human evolution." A row of brain-dead people march alongside the Mechanoids while the twins and Rodger are crouched out of sight. "Chamber eight now open for human evolution."
"Just put them on. Don't show any emotion. No signs, nothing. Okay?" Rodger said referring to the ear-pods.
"Don't worry. We can do it." Dream said confidentially
"Chamber seven now open for human evolution." They put their ear-pods in place.
"We could die in here. Why are you doing this?" Rodger asked.
"Let's just say we're doing it because we want to. Right, let's go." Wish said. They come out of their hiding place.
"Chamber eight now open for human evolution." They join the line of people filing into the building for upgrading. "Chamber nine now open for human evolution. Chamber ten now open for human evolution. Chamber eleven now open for human evolution." The twins and Rodger file after the other humans, in line, not a flicker of emotion on their faces.
Meanwhile, both Zilla and Litwick fly overhead onto the roof of the building, over which the zeppelin is parked. They land and creep stealthily behind a wall to avoid being noticed by the guards standing beneath the zeppelin.
"Two guards. We can take them." Zilla said.
"Good thing I brought Smelling salts." Litwick said reaching into his pocket and takes out two small corked bottles. "Bit stronger than that. One of my little tricks. Should knock them out." He hands Zilla one. "Three, two, one..." They run out from behind the wall and creep up behind the guards. They grab them from behind and shove the 'smelling salts' under their noses. They're unconscious in seconds. "There's gotta be more guards on board." Litwick speculated.
"Then let's go get them." Zilla said. They start up the ladder to the zeppelin.
Back at Malik's HQ An alarm goes off on a computer. A Mechanoid strides over to it.
"Movement in Deepcold Six."
"Awaken the army."
Back under the cooling tunnels, Mage and Phoenix are still making their way stealthily along the tunnel. A Mechanoid's hand twitches slightly.
"Mage? Did that one just move?" Phoenix said.
"It's just the light." Mage said. "Keep going, come on." Another one, just in front of them, definitely turns. "Nope. They're waking up... Run!" They run down the cooling tunnel as fast as they can. As they go, the Mechanoids spring to life, one after another. They begin to march forwards just as they reach the ladder at the end of the tunnel. They scramble to get up it.
"Get up! Quick! They're coming!" Phoenix shouted. Mage attempts to open the seal with his Sonic Wand. "Open it! Open it!" Mage succeeds and tosses the door aside. "Get up!" They climb up the ladder as fast as they can. "Quick! Quick!"
"Come on! Come on!" Mage shouted. They climb out of the trapdoor, the Mechanoids are following, but they manage to slam the door closed just in time. Mage seals it with his Sonic Wand. "Oh, good team, Phoenix!" Phoenix nods.
Inside the Mecha-Conversion, The twins and Rodger now file along inside the factory.
"Units evolving now six-thousand-five-hundred. Repeat: six-thousand-five-hundred and rising." They walk along, emotionless, along with hordes of others. A Mechanoid steps out in front of Dream and stops her going any further.
"You will wait." And then It moves on.
"Are you girls okay?" Rodger asked.
"No." Wish said all frightened.
"Chamber Six now open for human evolution." The people file forwards, ready to be upgraded. Flames align themselves above incinerators. "All reject stock will be incinerated." A walks into a cell, the doors closing on her. The blades swoop down on her, converting her... a Mechanoid's head is lowered down. The camera pulls out and there are hundreds of conversion machines all working simultaneously.
"Any sign of Helen?" Rodger asked. A Mechanoiud turns as though at the sound of his voice. Rodger freezes. The Mechanoid considers him and stomps over to him.
"You are Rodger Tyler. Confirm: you are Rodger Tyler." The Mechanoid said.
"Confirmed." Rodger said with uncertainly.
"I recognize you. I went first. My name was Helen Tyler."
"No!" Wish said before she can stop herself.
"Oh shit…" Dream did too.
"What?!" Rodger spluttered in shock.
"They are unprogrammed. Restrain." The Mechanoid ordered.
"You're lying. You're not her! You're not my Helen!" Rodger said desperately. Several Mechanoids step forward, ready to restrain him and the twins. Rodger lunges forwards to the Mechanoid who was Helen.
"No. I am Mecha-form. Once I was Helen Tyler."
"But you can't be... not her...!" Wish said horrified.
"Her brain is inside this body."
"Helen, I came to save you." Rodger said.
"This man worked with Mech Industries to create our species. He will be rewarded by force. Take them to Mecha Control." The Helen-Mechanoid stomps away. The twins and Rodger are grabbed from behind and marched away.
"They killed her... they just took her and killed her!" Dream said horrified.
"Maybe there's a chance, I dunno. Maybe we can reverse it." Rodger said desperately.
"There's nothing we can do." Dream said.
"But if... if she remembers..." They turn and strain to see Helen - there are hordes and hordes of Mechanoids, and they all look identical. "Where is she? Which one was it? Which one was her?"
"They all look the same!" Wish said. They are shoved roughly forwards again.
Meanwhile, having successfully drugged another guard, Zilla and Litwick enter the control room of the zeppelin.
"Nice one." Zilla complimented. Seeing the room deserted, nobody's home. But they do find the transmitter controls.
"What do they look like?" Litwick asked.
"Well, I don't know, they might have "TRANSMITTER CONTROLS" written in big red letters, just look!" Zilla said. They both look around the control room. Litwick turns and jumps to see a Mechanoid standing in a dark alcove. "Mechanoid!" But it doesn't move. Confused, Zilla moves closer and turns a light switch, illuminating the alcove. Litwick also takes a few steps closer to examine it. It becomes apparent that it is lifeless.
"It's dead. I don't think it was ever alive." Ltwick said as he taps it on the head. It sounds hollow. "It's empty. No brain. It's just a robot suit. It's for display."
"Okay. Transmitter." Zilla reminded. They head off in different directions to search for the transmitter.
Back with Mage and Phoenix in the cooling tunnels, edge along a dark, metal corridor. Suddenly, a Mechanoid steps out in front of them. They both jump.
"You are not evolved."
"Yeah? Well, evolve this." Phoenix growls as she throws a small lightning ball at the Mechanoid - it sticks to its chest. It sparks and causes the Mechanoid to be electrocuted. It shakes and jerks, and then slumps to the floor. Mage looks delighted.
"What the hell was that thing?!" Mage asked as they approach the body.
"Electromagnetic magic. Takes out computers, I figured it might stop the Mech-suit." Phoenix explained.
"You figured right. Now, let's have a look..." He takes out his Sonic Wand, bends down and holds it to the Mech logo on its chest. " Now... know your enemy..." and the logo on the front... "Malik's turned them into a brand." He takes the logo off so that they can see inside the Mechanoid. "Heart of steel... but look..." Mage said showing Phoenix. He puts his fingers inside the Mechanoid, and draws out some bodily tissues.
"Is that flesh?" Phoenix asked.
"Hmmm... central nervous system. Artificially grown then threaded throughout the suit so it responds like a living thing. Well, it is a living thing. Oh, but look..." He carefully fingers an electronic chip. "Emotional inhibitor. Stops them feeling anything."
"But... why?"
"It's still got a human brain... imagine its reaction if it could see itself. Realize itself inside this thing. They'd go insane..."
"So they cut out the one thing that makes them human."
"Because they have to."
"Why am I cold?" The Mechanoid said.
"Oh, shit. It's alive. It can feel." Phoenix said in shock.
"We broke the inhibitor." Mage said. He leans over the Mechanoid, touches its head. Sincerely... "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Why so cold?"
"Can you remember your name?" Mage asked.
"Sasha. Sasha Phelan."
"You're a woman..." Phoenix acknowledges.
"Where's Joseph?"
"Who's Jospeh?"
"He can't see me. It's unlucky the night before."
"You're getting married." Phoenix figured.
"I'm cold. I'm so cold."
"Sorry. You sleep now, Sasha. Just go to sleep." Mage said quietly, as he points the Sonic Wand just inside the suit. The blue light inside goes out. "Sasha Phelan didn't die for nothing." Mage says as the thought dawns on him. "'Cos that's the key. The emotional inhibitor, if we could find the code behind it, the cancellation code, then feed it throughout the system into every Mechanoid's head... They'd realize what they are..."
"And what happens then?"
"I think it would kill them." Magse says with his brow furrowing. "Could we do that?"
"Whatever choice you make we're behind you." Phoenix assured him. "But we have to choose quickly. Before they kill everyone else." She stands while Mage is still staring at Sasha's body. Neither of them notice that a Mechanoid is standing right behind Phoenix. Mage finally notices.
"Uh, Phoenix…" Mage stares in horror.
"What?" But Phoenix turns and sees why. "Oh shit."
"Sensors detect a binary vascular system. You are unknown evolutions. You will be taken for analysis." Mage and Phoenix, both looking disgusted by them, allows themselves to be lead off by two other Mechanoids.
Back on Malik's zeppelin, Zilla goes over to Litwick who is standing by a panel which does indeed have "TRANSMITTER CONTROLS" written on it in large letters.
"The transmitter controls are sealed behind here, we need like, an oxyacetylene or something." Litwick asked.
"Can you magic it?" Zilla asked.
"More like alchemy it." Litwick corrected. "But no, it's more complicated."
"Isn't magic always?" Zilla said.
"Well, then what do we do?"
"We'll crash the zeppelin." Zilla said simply.
"With us inside it?"
"We could set it to automatic and then just leg it! Let's have a look." Zilla said. They go over to the controls. Litwick taps on the keyboard and shakes his head.
"It's locked. There's gotta be an override..." Litwick said wondering
"Let me have a go. I'm good with computers, trust me." Zilla said as he taps on the keyboard and Litwick watches. They are oblivious to tiny red light that has just started flashing and beeping quietly behind the mech-suit.
In the control room, Mage and Phoenix are marched into the main control room of Battersea. The twins and Rodger are both there too, by the computers.
"I've been captured, but don't worry, the twins and Rodger are still out there, they can rescue me... oh well, never mind." Mage said sarcastically. Clearly he was pissed off at their failure.
"Oh shut up, hedgehog." Dream groaned in annoyance.
"You okay?" Phoenix asked them.
"Yeah. But they got Helen." Wish said in sadness.
"We were too late. Malik killed her." Rodger said in the same sad tone.
"Then where is he? The famous Malik? Don't we get the chance to meet our Lord and Master?" Mage said raising his voice, looking around.
"He has evolved." One of the Mechanoids said.
"So he's just like you?"
"He is superior. Naturally our creator, our father deserves such a luxury and privilege." The Malik Unit has been designated Mecha Controller or Mecha King in other sense. They all turn as the sliding doors open. Malik, now as a Mechanoid, rolls through them. He is sitting on an elaborate chair, covered with wires and tubes. Rodger stands in amazement.
"This is The Age of Steel and Iron, and I am its Creator." Malik announced.
Back on the zeppelin…
"Almost there." Zilla said, still tapping on the computer.
"Not bad work." Litwick said approvingly. Suddenly, the Mechanoid behind them flexes its fingers. It raises its arm and steps out of the alcove. "It's moving!" They move hurriedly out of the way. "You said it was dead!"
"Yeah. But he's still a steel robot." Zilla said. Litwick points his Epic Keyblade at it. But Zilla pushes his hand down. "Wait a minute. Hey, Mechnoid, over here." The Mechanoid turns to Zilla. "Come on, you brainless lump of metal." Zilla said with anticipation. It stomps towards them, and Zilla beckons it forward. "Come and have a go!" The Mechanoid raises its fist, ready to strike, Zilla and Litwick duck out of the way at the last second, and its fist slams into the transmitter controls. It explodes with blue electricity, destroying both the controls and the Mechanoid.
Back in the Mecha-conversion floor, THIS shuts down the mecha control on the everyone's earpiece. The ear-pods on the people marching into the factory flash and are deactivated. The people wake up and with horror, realize where they are. They all shriek and start running in different directions. The people flee out of the power station, screaming and knocking the Mechanoids out of the way.
Back on the Zepplins…
"The transmitter's down!" Zilla shouted jovially. Both Zilla and Litwick hug excitedly.
Back in the control room, Mage and the rest of our heroes hear the screams clearly from Malik's control room. The Mechanoids look around.
"That's my friends at work. Good boys!" Mage said proudly. "Malik, I think that's a vote for free will." He winks.
"I have factories waiting on seven continents. If the ear-pods have failed, then Mechanoids will take humanity by force. London has fallen. So shall the world." Malike proclaimed.
Back on the Zeppelin…
"Hold on, I've logged on to Mecha Control." Zilla said. He has managed to hack into a security camera of sorts overlooking Mecha Control, where the heroes are. "They're alive! There they are!" Zilla said beaming.
"But what the hell is that thing?" Litwick said pointing to Malik.
"Has this thing got sound?" Zilla. taps on the keyboard which gives them audio.
"I will bring peace to the world. Everlasting peace, and unity, and uniformity." Malik proclaimed further.
"And imagination? What about that? The one thing that lead you here. Imagination, you're killing it, dead!" Mage said.
"What is your name?" Malik asked.
"SonicMage."
"Ah yes. You are a member of GMAD. As I assume the rest of you are." Malik speculated. "Splendid! It is an honor to meet you all at last. Since I myself sought immortality as once you all did, I should be honored to have you all here as my guests."
"Oh I'm sure." Phoenix said sarcastically.
"You are all my inspiration." Malik said. "You inspired me to seek out life and live it too the fullest."
"Wait what?" Dream said. "How all of THIS inspiring to you?"
"Because death is evil. It takes away life with no regard." Malik explained. "Death comes in many forms; war, disease, psychopathic murder. This also leads up to emotional pain. The pain of losing someone dear to you. The pain of dying. But you all have transcended the mortal coil and ascended higher than any mortal."
"So… you do all this… because we inspired you?" Wish asked.
"Yes." Malik said. "I have conquered the diseases that brought their victims here. In every way, I have complied with the wishes of those who came in anticipation of one day being returned to life."
"But never, in their worst nightmares, did any of them expect to come back... as Mechanoids." Mage said.
"All the resting ones I have used were people of status, ambition. They would understand! Especially as I have given them the opportunity to become masters of the universe!" Malik said with dramatic punctuation.
"With you as their Emperor." Mage guessed.
"Precisely." Malik confirmed.
"Then why not use them as a force for good?" Phoenix asked. "Protection and security."
"I am. They are a force of good." Malik said.
"But it's a twisted point of view!" Mage retorted.
"Then yours is blasphemy and heresy!" Malik said. "This is ultimate perfection! Bodies that cannot feel, cannot get sick, cannot age, cannot die!"
"Yeah, but that's it! That's exactly the point!" Mage said despairingly stepping forwards in his enthusiasm. "Oh, Malik, you're a clever man... I'd call you a genius, except I'm in the room. But everything you've invented, you did to fight your sickness. And that's brilliant. That is so human. But once you get rid of sickness and mortality, then what's there to strive for? Eh? The Mechanods won't advance. You'll just stop! You'll stay like this forever. A metal Earth with metal men and metal thoughts. Lacking the one thing that makes this planet so alive. People. Ordinary, stupid, brilliant people."
"You are proud of your emotions?" Malik asked.
"Oh, yes."
"Then tell me, Mage, have you known grief, and rage, and pain?"
"Yes. Yes, I have."
"And they hurt?"
"Oh yes."
"I could set you free. Would you not want that? A life without pain?" Malik offered.
"You might as well kill me." Mage said. "If you can find a way that is."
"Clever." Malik complimented. "But I can still take the other options"
"There not yours to take. You're a mecha controller. You don't control me or anything with blood in its heart." Mage said,
"You have no means of stopping me. I have an army. A species of my own." Malik said. Mage puts his face in his palm, exasperated.
"You just don't get it, do you? An army's nothing. 'Cos those ordinary people, they're the key." Mage explains. He then glances at the security camera. "The most ordinary person could change the world."
Back on the zeppelin where Zilla and Litwick were watching the face off with Mage and Malik, Zilla nods knowing what to do.
"Some ordinary man or woman... some idiot... All it takes is for him to find, say, the right numbers... say, the right codes... say, for example, the code behind the emotional inhibitor. The code right in front of him. 'Cos even an idiot knows how to use computers these days. Knows how to get past firewalls and passwords... knows how to find something encrypted in the Malik Database, under... what was it, Rodger? Binary what?"
"Binary 9." Rodger said loudly
"Binary 9." Zilla whispers. He begins to type. The code starts to appear number by number on the screen.
"An idiot could find that code. The cancellation code. And he'd keep on typing. Keep on fighting." Mage says looking meaningfully into the camera. "Anything to save his friends..."
Back at the control center…
"Your words are irrelevant." Malik said.
"Talk too much, that's my problem." Mage says grinning. "Lucky I got you that cheap tariff, Dream. For all our long chats. On your phone. Another meaningful glance into the camera." Mage sais as he does the 'phone' sign.
Back on the zeppelin…
"The phone…" Zilla says as he takes out his own mobile.
Back at the control center…
"You are just asking to be terminated, aren't you?" Malik speculated.
"Yes, terminate, erase. That would be the delete button. Delete, control, hash, all those lovely buttons." Mage continued.
Back on the zeppelin, Zilla types the numbers into his phone as a text message.
Back at the control center…
"Then of course, my particular favorite, send." Mage continued.
Back on the zeppelin, Zilla presses 'send'.
Back at the control center…
"And let's not forget how you seduced all those ordinary people in the first place." Mage continues. Dreams's phone beeps, indicating that she has just received a message. "By making every bit of technology compatible with everything else..." He loiters by one particular computer.
"It's for you." Dream says. She chucks him her phone and he catches it.
"Like this." He shoves it into a port. It fits perfectly. All hell breaks loose and the Mechanoids clutch onto their heads, moaning. The code flashes on every single computer screen.
Back on the zeppelin…
"Yes!" Zilla and Litwick cheered in unison as they jump up and down in delight.
Back at the control center the Mechanoids, all over the factory, fall around and start twitching, crying out and clutching their metal skulls. One of them has caught sight of their reflection in a piece of metal and is whimpering and touching its face and fingering its reflection.
"I'm sorry." Mage said sincerely.
Outside, one of the Mechanoids falls to its knees and its head explodes.
"What have you done!?" Malik shouted furiously.
"I gave them back their souls. They can see what you've done, Malik! And it's killing them." Mage said, as he and the others run from the room.
"Terminate! Terminate! Terminate!" Malik shouted.
Small explosions erupt all over the factory, whilst the heroes run for their lives, looking for a way out. They try one door but find the way blocked by wailing Mechanoids. Mage shuts it again.
"There's no way out!" Mage said. But then Zilla began to contact them telepathically.
"Can everyone hear me? Head for the roof!" Zilla said. They wasted no time as they run up a flight of stairs, trying to avoid the explosions and flames.
Malik roars with fury and pulls the tubes binding him to the chair off himself. He stands, roaring with rage.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Up on the roof, they reached the top of the ladder to the roof. They leap over the wall, followed by the others. They halt when they see the zeppelin.
"Guys, where'd you learn to fly that thing?!" Phoenix asked.
"Playstation. Just hold on, guys. I'm coming to get you." Zilla answered as he runs out of the zeppelin and flies down to get them. The others bolt forwards, flinching at the random explosions all around them. Zilla lands on the roof.
"Hold on tight, we're going up!" Zilla grins. Everyone gathers with Zilla from the arms, shoulders, and waist. "Welcome to Zilla's Airlines. Please enjoy your flight. Woo!" He laughs, flying up into the air and into the zeppelin.
Everyone breathes and laughs in relief as as the zeppelin carries them away to safety.
Meanwhile out back on the Thames, GMAD called their dragons back to go home. Though their vacation was ruined, at the very least they saved the world.
"I can't thank you enough for what you did for us." Rodger said.
"It's our job." Dream smiled.
"So what happens next?" Wish asked.
"I suppose we move on." Rodger said. "Well… I suppose me…"
"I see…"
"I've gotta go..." Rodger said. "There's all those Malik factories out there. All those Mechanoids still in storage. Someone's got to tell the authorities what happened. Carry on the fine..."
"I suppose." Dream said.
"Dream! Wish!" Phoenix called. "Time to go!"
"Coming!" Dream called back.
"Bye." Wish said to Rodger.
"See you soon."
At GMAD HQ the heroes got back and feeling really tired.
"Well this was a complete waste of time." Dream complained. "Our vacation was completely ruined."
"Well at the very least we saved the world." Phoenix said.
"Oh shut up!" Dream retorted.
"Well it's late. I think we should all hit the hay." Litwick said.
"No complaints from me." Mage said. As everyone was leaving to their rooms, Zilla noticed Wish stopped in her tracks.
"What's wrong, kiddo?" Zilla said kneeling.
"I… I was thinking about what Malik said." Wish said.
"About being a Mechanoid?"
"Not really. I was actually thinking about what Malik said about us." Wish answered.
"What do you mean?"
"What he said got me thinking. He said we inspired him to do all these things." Wish said trembling in fear. "What if all the good we're doing can also do bad. The same paths of justice can not only save the world, but also doom it."
"That's not true, Wish." Zilla said trying to comfort her.
"Isn't it?" Wish exclaimed. "Malik sought immortality and he was one of our admirers! A Fan!" Wish began to shed tears. "Are we really making a difference!?" Wish began to cry onto Zilla's shoulder. Zilla rubbed her back trying to sooth her. But now Malik's words began to play out in his mind too. He began asking himself the same questions. Are they doing more harm then good? This was a question he found himself unable to answer.
Meanwhile back in London, at the ruined destroyed factory, the ruins of burnt and destroyed rumble and debris with the bodies of dead Mechanoids underneath. But suddenly a metallic hand of a surviving Mechanoid burst through the rumble. It was Malik.
"I am entombed, but I live on. This is only the beginning. I will prepare, we will grow stronger. When the time is right, we will emerge and take our rightful place as the supreme power of the universe!"
Chapter 26 complete! This was a mini saga to introduce Mage's nemesis Malik. But just like the end of every saga, a new one begins. Read it, review it, and tell me what you people think. This is just here for people to enjoy. Enjoy! :)