Chapter 67, Everybody! Still working hard on all active fics this month and angling to get back into the updating swing of things and…and it's all written out we are FINISHING THIS YEAR, FOLKS! ;v;/
Moving on…Maxwell quotes Big Z from Surf's Up this chapter, while the one core quotes Piper from Robots. Both very fun movies. :D And the Woodlegs core is quoting the Monkey Island series and Pirates of the Caribbean. Also fun. :D
Also had the track "Bombs for Throwing at You" on infinite repeat while working on this and a chunk of the next chapter—really helped set the mood. :O
Don't Starve © 2013 Klei Entertainment
Portal © 2007 Valve
She wasn't surprised when the doors vanished quickly behind them, stayed close to Maxwell as they headed forward—she hated the darkness in KVAS, it always felt like it hid something sinister.
Light, up ahead—grab at a hand out of habit, was surprised when Maxwell squeezed it reassuringly—
And then they were in his chamber.
Well you found me.
For a second she was back with Wilson, trying to process what she was seeing, at seeing a human being tied up in cables and sitting on a nightmarish throne—
Except now she knew more about it than she wanted to, knew what this place did to people, knew what it was doing to Wilson—
Who was currently the unfortunate on the throne.
Congratulations, he said drily, expression souring as he took in her now squeezing Maxwell's hand painfully—let go, ready her grip on the portal gun. Was it worth it? Because despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break is my heart.
"Wow," Maxwell said, leaning on the doorframe a bit. "We spent like ten minutes out in the hall and that was the best you could come up with?"
Willow tugged Maxwell forward a little. "Don't sass when you're someplace you can get squished easily."
Better yet, don't talk at all, Wilson said, standing, motions almost pulling himself up but for the cables guiding the actions.
I am going to have to actually kill you, you know, he said, tone and expression bored, casual flick of his wrist summoning one of Maxwell's swords as the place moved and darkened around them. Also, I took the liberty of reviewing the tapes, he said to Willow. Or at least, his attention was focused on her. Brilliant, really, although I take full credit. But as such, I've outlined a four-step plan to avoid falling for the same pitfalls he did. Number one: no portable surfaces, he said, gesturing. Number two: start the neurotoxin immediately. Number three: bomb-proof shields for me, which leads directly into number four: bombs for throwing at you. All in all, a perfect plan—so good, in fact, that to be a sport, I'm going to turn off the neurotoxin.
"Say pal, don't you ever shut up?" Maxwell demanded.
Actually you know what, scratch that. Point at Maxwell. Because it'll kill him too, and I'm all for that one.
Willow took in the room—bolted at the first whistle that heralded the big boom. Glance to see Maxwell scrambling away—would have to keep Wilson's attention away, or maybe tackle him from behind when he turned to focus on Maxwell—
Getting in close wouldn't work—her attempt at that had him spinning around faster than she would have thought possible, fast enough she was certain something should break—
Saw the desperation and sheer frenetic terror in his eyes at that range as she dropped under his swing and slid under him—her Wilson was still in there, trapped in his own head.
She had to get him out somehow.
Speed over to Maxwell, grab him and drag him away from the next bomb arcing towards them.
"Plan—we need a plan," she hissed.
Maxwell glanced at where one of the bombs had hit—"Try to get him hitting in the same spot—I'll try something."
They broke apart, her running one way, him running the other—double back when the bomb launched—
"Seriously, this is taking too long," Maxwell jeered. "I'll die of boredom before the neurotoxin—can't you do any better than that?"
Wilson glared at him, steaming—Oh I can certainly introduce something more…percussive.
What did that—oh no.
"I'm going to kill that man," she muttered to herself—look up sharply—
She could guess why he did it—getting Wilson to summon some turrets meant he'd summon the spheres too—but she couldn't handle those spider-turrets—
Blink in surprise when something crispy and ragged landed in front of her, unable to muster anything but a blank click-click-click.
"I got 'em, right?" the blind turret asked. She looked up, startled—
Saw Wilson giving her a studiously blank look.
Oh…oh, those were the defective turrets, weren't they? he said. My mistake.
Tried to suppress a grin as she ran—felt it fade as an electric shock hit Wilson, causing him to drop the sword—he was in there. He was in there and fighting—
They had a chance, now.
Wilson staggered, gasping in ragged breaths—reached for the sword—
Too late—Maxwell had already surged forward, grabbed it—was brandishing it now.
"Ha-ha!" he barked. "Maybe we level the playing field a bit, shall we?" Lunge forward, sword slicing—
Wilson barked in alarm, trying to scramble back but unable to maneuver properly, one of his shields torqueing to bat Maxwell away—
Maxwell had already danced out of range, cackling darkly as several cables hung limply behind Wilson.
"Say pal, you don't look so good," he jeered. "Only problem with newer models is that they break so easily, wouldn't you agree?"
Wilson scowled at him, one arm hugged tight to his chest—
Summoned a fresh sword with his other hand.
At least I'm still under warranty, Wilson shot back. I'll have you trashed, compacted, and incinerated before this is all over.
"And then maybe you'll have time to get yourself some better lines."
Wilson lunged forward, roaring in fury, swinging wildly and forcing Maxwell back and on the defensive—dodging the bombs the facility still flung at her, Willow couldn't help but think that Maxwell had his knowledge of swordplay before being plugged into the facility. Wilson was faster and swinging with more ferocity, but something about the movements had the feel of someone operating off of a video of the action, not from personal knowledge.
Maxwell felt the same way.
"No joy, pal, no joy," he said, dodging sideways and leaving Wilson's lunge to embed into a wall panel. "Fail."
The next several slices had Wilson beyond a proper verbal response, sounding like that one sphere as he tried to yank his sword free—
Willow yelped, dodging back from something that crashed to the floor—
"Oh hello!"
"Hi!" she gasped—hauled up the personality core and ran it over to a still-distracted Wilson. "It's about time you showed up!"
"Really? What are we doing?" the sphere asked—optic widened as it took everything in. "OHHH is this the rescue I love it what can I do?"
Good question—Maxwell spotted her, kept up the jeering and jabbing—Wilson was starting to yank the sword free despite the cables swinging wildly, some whipping around in search of a warm body to burrow in—
Grabbing one was probably as smart as grabbing a live adder, so she opted for jabbing the sphere at several writhing cables and hoping they did the work for her.
They did.
HEY! Wilson barked, Willow scurrying away as he wrenched himself free and around. What is this what did you do!?
"Oh hi!" the core said. "We're here for a rescue and you…you're kind of cute."
Wilson flinched away at that. Excuse me?
"Did I stutter? HEY!" the core barked, when Maxwell took the moment of distraction to crack the hilt of his sword against Wilson's head. "RUDE!"
"Sorry pal, I was feeling a little neglected," Maxwell said, twirling his sword. "Just thought he needed a reminder that I'm still here. Alive. Being the better model."
Wilson snarled, lunged as the cables found purchase again—
Which was about the time another core came dropping in.
"Okay, which one are y—eek!"
Which was the usual response to some of the paneling just falling away—she might have heard the core give a little monkey shriek, wasn't sure—well there went the monkey wrench joke, some corner of her mind offered unhelpfully.
"Oh wow pal, really letting the place go, aren'tcha?" Maxwell asked, dodging another swipe. "Gotta say, not impressed."
Wilson growled—stabbed one of the bomb shields down in front of Maxwell so he could take a moment to point his sword at Willow.
Don't think I've forgotten about you, he snarled.
"Good, good, that was the point of the rescue mission," the core said, optic narrowing and looking very pleased with itself.
You get off! Wilson snarled, already moving to cut the core free—
Was interrupted by Maxwell slicing the cables guiding the action.
"Say pal," he snarled, going nose-to-nose with Wilson. "Maybe you should stay focused on me instead of picking on little girls."
Willow sprinted for another core as Maxwell socked him one again, Wilson spinning around, arm grabbing for Maxwell seized by cables—
"You know we should really talk about your anger issues," the core said.
Will you SHUT UP!? Wilson snapped at it—
Willow took the moment of distraction to shove another core at the cables wildly seeking their old host.
"Bwa-ha-HA!" it bellowed. "Now mighty Wolfgang will save day!"
This is NOT HELPING, Wilson snapped, glaring at Willow. Don't make me prioritize getting rid of you—
Maxwell sliced through several cables again. "You really shouldn't get so distracted, pal."
"Weakling," the 'Wolfgang' core said, narrowing its optic at Wilson as he scrambled back from Maxwell. "Puny muscles—no wonder you are losing."
SHUT UP! Wilson yelled at the core—squawked when Maxwell sliced at him again.
"Gonna want to get that temper of yours checked," Maxwell jeered. "And do something about those leaks, pal."
Wilson lunged at him again, motion of everything erratic, one of the bomb shields actually batting a bomb away from its intended trajectory and through the gaping hole of some of the paneling falling away—impacted on a tube snaking by, causing white to splatter in.
Willow dodged around one of those holes and kept running. The good news was, having said panels missing meant the neurotoxin pumping in couldn't build up to dangerous levels anymore. The bad news was, the smell was still sticking in the back of her throat, coughing wasn't making it go away, and more than a few of the spheres they had thrown in the tubes were bouncing out of the chamber, along with other junk now filtering in—several turret-cubes came crashing in, one landing on its back and shrieking in alarm as its little legs waved uselessly in the air—
One sphere landed—unfolded thicker legs and started scanning the area with multiple lasers.
Finally, Wilson snarled, tone not matching the look in his eyes. Take care of her for me, will you?
Willow stiffened—
Bolted when the spider-turret zeroed in on her and started its pursuit.
"Oi!" Maxwell barked, slicing at Wilson again. "You're supposed to be focused on me, remember?"
"Yeah!" the first core barked. "Stop trying to kill your girlfriend!"
Maxwell took Wilson's spluttering moment as an opportunity to slice more cables, which was all Willow had the opportunity to see before getting cornered by the spider-turret—it locked down, ready to fire—if she ran right now she might be able to jump over it before it—
Blinked in surprise when a turret-cube leaped in front of her, screaming—
Died messily, the spider-turret unlocking and scurrying forward—
Only to be body-checked by another turret-cube and sent spiraling into the abyss.
"Thank you!" she yelped, running past them—had a moment of regret for the dead one—
Snatched up another core and ran for Wilson—had to dodge a bomb shield slammed down hard enough to crack the panel beneath it, another one angling to get in her way right before Wilson was once again distracted by Maxwell slicing the cables and making him stumble—
The new core bonked Wilson on the head when Willow threw it, intercepted a good chunk of cables there.
"How dare ye throw a mighty pirate such as myself!?" the core demanded. "Ready the cannons!"
Now this one's just insulting, Wilson groused, rubbing at his head—flinched, yanking his hand back when cables grabbed the limb, was zapped for his trouble—
Managed to block the next swing Maxwell aimed at him—wasn't fast enough to dodge him slipping under his guard and slicing some of the cables around his leg.
"Poor form," the pirate core said. "How dare ye let that blaggard through your guard like that what kind of pirate be ye?"
I'm not a pirate shut. UP, Wilson ordered.
"Obviously! You are without a doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of!"
Wilson growled, swiped at it—was treated to another several cables being severed right before Maxwell clocked him one again—tripped over a turret-cube and ended up tangled in the cables, sword skittering away—
"Now would be a good time for number four!" Maxwell barked, dodging another bomb shield slamming down and causing the paneling beneath to crack and sheer away.
"Trying!" Willow yelled—yelped as a bomb bounced off the wall behind her, ran for a clear space—it got beneath the paneling before blowing, causing the floor to buckle up and roll her—
Ended up face-to-face with a spider-turret—
"SPIDEEEER!" one of the cores cheered as it came crashing down—collided with the spider-turret, sending them both careening off into the gaping void beneath them—
Didn't have time to appreciate the save, having to retreat as some of the ceiling paneling came crashing down—ended up launched into the air as it sent the panel rocking, scrabbled for purchase as the shield swung out over a gap in the paneling, kind of glad she had bothered with tying a strap to the portal gun—
Blinked in surprise at the new lighting, looked up—
Moonlight.
She froze, uncomprehending—it had been so long—her mind wanted to register it as some weird lightbulb, not the actual orb in the sky—
The shield swung back around, centrifugal force making her slip, smacking her against a far wall—Maxwell spun, barking in alarm—
Wilson closed the gap and stabbed him.
