Standing in the Dark
by: Megaraptor

Sigma stood, his body only partially completed, suspended in an upright position by wires and mechanical arms. This was how the once mighty reploid now existed, a pale shadow of his former self. Waiting, waiting for the time when he was reconstructed once again.

But thoughts of rising back to power, thoughts of vengeance were not on the warlord's mind. His attention was focused on the blue reploid with a mask standing before him.

"What do you want Vile?" Sigma asked. "I specifically ordered that no one disturb me till my reconstruction is completed..."

"Oh Commander Sigma, you are in no position to order anything," Vile replied, his glowing red eye intensifying in brightness.

"Is this treasonous talk Vile?" Sigma asked.

"Of course not," Vile replied with a laugh. "I came.. to share a thought with you."

Sigma rolled his optics. "Then do so, and then leave..."

Vile smiled behind his mask. "It's been many years since our 'crusade' began Sigma. Things have changed. You've been defeated numerous times, as have I. We learned your true form is a virus, and exploit that fact by coming back all the time to reap your vengeance."

"What's your point?" Sigma asked.

"My point is.." Vile answered, "is... you have lost sight of what you are fighting for."

"What? How dare you-?!" Sigma cried.

"It's true," Vile said. "You began this, claiming to liberate reploids from human oppression. But reploid rights have been increased over the years, Sigma. And you, you continue to possess them. Sending unwilling combatants into a war only you and some fanatics believe in."

Sigma was silent.

"You say humans oppress reploids," Vile replied. "And they should, in some manner. We are dangerous. It is wise that they fear us. Machines like us must earn trust in their eyes... they cannot automatically love what has the power to destroy them."

Vile continued. "But you... you are a far more devious opressor. You take reploids' very souls from them. You claim to fight for Reploid rights, but you take what makes them reploids to begin with!"

Sigma growled fiercely, trying to break free from his bonds. "How dare you lecture me?!" he cried. "You are but a murderer! By your own admission, you joined my side just so you could spread and cause carnage!"

"This I know," Vile replied. "That is still my goal, Sigma. But that does not make me blind to seeing what you truly are.."

Sigma stood there, mouth agape. He had nothing to say in his defense..

The masked reploid walked closer to Sigma, hands upon the base of his helmet. "You said it yourself... Sigma. All I am is a force that destroys. Needlessly. And now, see what is underneath my mask..."

Vile raised his helmet...

What Sigma saw horrified him.

His face. His own face.

Scared and disgusted, he looked away. When he dared look back, Vile was gone.

But then, he'd never been there at all... he was just some fabrication of his own mind, delivering him a message. This was all a wake up call, from his better nature, trying to show Sigma what he had become...

And what he would always be...

Sigma sighed a weary sigh, and looked at the ground.

He continued to stand there. In the dark.

In the dark...