Fred's eyes scoured the low lit room, searching for some shape of the Nanite King. But what form would a creature like that take? He'd never met the monster himself, only heard of his cruelty and dislike of the human race through his nanite connections.
"You're not my brother," Fred said with defiance into the darkness, "Show yourself. I'm not scared of you."
A low chuckle vibrated around the museum, making Fred's bones rattle. It was not a pleasant sound.
"Oh it was never my intention to frighten you, Fred; as we are indeed, brothers. In death, you had shed your pathetically fragile human body, and through the blessed nanites were reborn into something wonderous. Something….above all others on Earth. Much as myself."
As if made of mist, small silver particles, or what Fred had mistakenly assumed were dust motes, began to converge together. Not a recognizable mass at first, but soon long limbs, a muscular trunk, and a very inhuman face took shape. The King's skull was pointy to a tip, from top to chin. His entire body had an odd metallic look about it, almost shiny.
Fred quirked a blonde eyebrow, "For all your spiel about being my brother, I don't see any family resemblance."
The King smiled, which somehow made him look even more monstrous, "Our commonality lies within your new genetic make-up, not our outward appearance."
XXXXXX
Daphne's sight narrowed on the four-armed beast as she pulled the trigger, watching it's head explode into a mess of gore. She didn't stop to admire her deadshot aim and kept moving, heading in the direction that she assumed Fred had gone in.
Damn him. Confronting the Nanite King all alone. Leaving me to grieve and worry...
Again.
When she finally catches up to him, she cant decide if she's going to punch him in his smug face or kiss him senseless. Probably both.
Thankfully, luck was on her side this time. Since Fred had come back from the grave, his walk had a zombie-ish slouch to it, his left foot dragging slightly, making an obvious trail in the dirt. Hopefully he wasn't too far ahead and she wasn't too late.
XXXXXX
"I suppose that your red-headed consort has asked you to kill me?"
Fred smirked, showing his guilt, "Am I that easy to read?"
The King snapped his thin silvery fingers and an exquisite throne assembled out of nowhere, seemingly made of the same material that the King himself was composed of.
Sitting down with as much poise as any royal, he rested his shiny head on his fist, "Not really, you still have human elements within your bones and humans, unfortunately, are incredibly predictable. The ultimate creatures of habit. You are ruled by petty feelings like lust, pride, anger, shame…when you should be guided by technical advantages that are presented. The Great Mother was more like us in that aspect."
Fred waved him off, "Velma? She might've been a tad cold before the plague, but she's just as emotional now as the rest of us. I think it was just difficult for her to show it."
The King continued, "Since she created me, I will offer her the chance to spare her life and that of her unborn child, once we launch our final attack on their pitiful headquarters."
A ping of fear flashed through Fred's heart, "What about the others? Shaggy? Scrappy? Daphne?"
The King shrugged his shoulders, "The end result is the same. Exterminate the real plague that is the human race, and begin a new, perfect world. Which is where you would become a critical asset to me."
"And should Velma refuse? She's as stubborn as a mule. You'll never be able to convince her with your world domination rhetoric."
"Then she will die as well."
The Nanite King's statement was said with such coldness and finality that Fred's face paled even further from his usual grey complexion. It appears the rumors spread by the nanites were true, The Nanite King was indeed a soulless monster.
"I can accomplish my vision on my own, but that would take massive amounts of time and energy. A more efficient way could be achieved with you by my side as my right hand man, so to speak."
Fred glared, his red eyes blazing, "I'm nothing like you. Nothing on this planet could make me join your deluded cause."
The King held up a pointed finger, sharper than any knife, "Ah, my dear brother, but that is where you are mistaken. I know what you desire most and I have the ability to give it to you, in exachange for your loyalty."
"I've already said. Nothing you can-"
"How much longer do you think you can contain your hunger, Fred? A few weeks? Eventually you'll give in to those undead cravings."
Fred clenched his teeth together, his fists balling up against his sides, "I have no idea what you're jabbering on about."
"Despite your futile attempts to play house with that firey woman, you are still a corpse; albeit, with a conscious. But sooner or later, you'll snap. Animal flesh will no longer dull the hunger, and you'll tear her throat out while she sleeps."
"I'd never…," he started, Fred's voice shaky. Or was his whole body trembling at the mere thought of hurting Daphne? Or that there might be truth in the King's prediction?
"Oh, you will. Some time soon, I expect. If currency was in any way valuable to me, I'd be willing to bet money that you've already starting imagining yourself gnawing on her-"
"Enough! I would rather pull my own heart out, than hurt her," he croaked, eyes squeezed tight. If he were capable of producing tears, Fred knew he'd be a blubbering mess by now.
"There is an alternative. I offer you an exchange of sorts. You stand by me and my endeavours...and I shall you give you new life. Better, even, then the one you had before."
"Bullshit," Fred spat, "You aren't God. You don't have that type of power."
"I believe me and God now work in the same realm, brother. We are both capable of snatching life away when we deem the creation unworthy, and are equally able to give life to those who deserve it."
The King grinned ghoulishly and snapped his fingers.
Fred crossed his arms over his chest, not impressed, "Was something spectacular supposed to happen? 'Cause I don't feel any different."
The King sat back on his throne, looking smug for reasons that Fred couldn't fathom, when he felt it. A tingle. Faint at first, but growing stronger by the second. It was nearly pulsing in his ears, the sound almost forgotten. Placing his hand on his chest, Fred could feel it beneath his palm thumping rhythmically.
His heartbeat.
Eyes wide in shock, he glanced down at his hands and saw that his flesh was now a healthy peach color, with no signs of the nasty grey coloring and red veins. Even the stub of his missing finger had mysteriously grown back.
Turning to face a reflective display case, Fred watched as his glowing red eyes slowly dimmed to reveal his normal steel blues. "What have you done to me? Is this a trick?" He whispered.
Again, the King laughed, and it shook Fred to his soul, "No tricks. I have given you a taste of what your rewards will be when you take your rightful place at my side. We will bring this miserable earth and all who dwell in it under my rule and make it perfect. As it should be. As The Great Mother wished it to be."