Chapter 48: Perfect Imperfection
"...You're absolutely sure this is the best idea…?" Glimmer inquired, apprehensively as she and Brittni were being taken; in handcuffs, to Horde Prime's throne room. Brittni took a deep breath as she surveyed the area. The two were being led down a vibrant, white corridor, lined with neon green lights. Despite the luminescent ambiance, the two felt nothing but trepidation as they were being escorted by four of Horde Prime's clones. Brittni let out a nervous breath, turned to Glimmer, and nodded.
"I promise you that we will get through this, Glimmer," Brittni said with full confidence. Glimmer turned to Brittni and nodded, still nervous, but fully trusting her companion. With a shudder, however, Glimmer posed another question.
"And… Frosta will be okay?" Glimmer inquired. Before Brittni could respond, however, the two were brought to Horde Prime's antechamber. As the two were marched in past the massive airlock that led into the unnerving enclosure, they examined their surroundings. Much like the rest of the ship, the majority of the room was bright white with neon green lights. Various foreign objects were suspended on the walls, lining the entire area. Some of these objects looked… organic. A green carpet was laid out before Brittni and Glimmer that led all the way to the throne.
Atop the throne, Horde Prime leisurely sat, a twisted grin upon his face. With his legs crossed and his chin resting carelessly upon his wrist, Horde Prime let out a light chuckle.
"Welcome, my niece…" Horde Prime greeted, rather cordially. Turning his head to Glimmer, Horde Prime added, "and Princess Glimmer… Ah. Such a shame." Horde Prime said with a sigh. He then stood up and folded his arms behind his back. "You know, I really did have high hopes for you, child… Leader of Night Moon? You had such potential…" Horde Prime let out another sigh, "but, I suppose having you as leverage for Etheria's surrender can be just as beneficial." Glimmer growled at Horde Prime and attempted to run towards him. As she made her move, however, a shadowy figure dropped from the ceiling. Appearing right behind Glimmer, the figure gave her a kick to the back, sending her diving into the floor. Brittni let out a gasp and a growl as she turned and realized it was Void.
"Void… Or should I say, ``Double Trouble?" Brittni sneered. Void let out a giggle, turning to Brittni and placing a sword underneath Brittni's chin. Void then shifted her face into Double Trouble and sighed.
"Oh, please, darling. Only my friends call me 'Double Trouble.'" they said with a wink.
"So, nobody?" Brittni snapped, facetiously. Double Trouble shifted back into Void and let out a scoff.
"Very cute, young one." Void said, dryly, sheathing her sword and lifting Brittni's chin tisking a few times, "but I don't think you'll be having that flippant attitude for much longer." Brittni jerked her head away from Void's grasp.
"I guess we'll see." Brittni sneered. She then looked over at Glimmer who was groaning while attempting to pick herself up. Void took notice and moved over to Glimmer.
"Oh, Glimmer, Glimmer, Glimmer…" Void said, cocking her leg back, and letting it loose into Glimmer's oblique, knocking her back to the ground. Glimmer let out a cry of pain and a few obscenities to go with it. Void tisked again, "really, Lord Prime is right. You had the chance to rule alongside the most perfect and powerful ruler in the universe… and you threw it all away." Void cocked back her leg to kick again until she heard Horde Prime.
"Double Trouble. Enough." Horde Prime ordered, continually sitting casually on his throne. Void stopped her movement, turned to Horde Prime, and bowed.
"As you wish." Void said, obediently, while walking towards Horde Prime and taking a seat next to his. Brittni let out a growl, turning to the two of them.
"We will stop you, Prime!" Brittni yelled. A small smirk began stretching across Horde Prime's face that evolved into a small chuckle.
"Is that so? What, with your plan to shut down all of my perfected underlings using the killswitch on this ship?" Horde Prime demanded. Brittni's throat began drying upon hearing that and she let out a slight gasp. Horde Prime chuckled and continued, standing up.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? I know all." Horde Prime declared rather matter-of-factly, "Oh, yes. I know all about your plan to shut down my creations. I've already taken the necessary precautions to assure that does not happen." Horde Prime declared, gravely, walking towards Brittni. Once he was face to face with her, he continued, "you see, my niece. You cannot rely on hope… you can only rely on perfection. And that is why I am going to carry out… well… my will. The perfect will…"
Moments after Brittni, Glimmer, and Frosta were teleported to the dungeon...
A rapid succession of lasers flew from the barrel of Brett's rifle, lighting up the laboratory in neon green. Both black char and blood began painting the walls as the three remaining team members; Brett, She-Ra, and Catra fought for their lives.
"We can't keep this up- ergh! Forever!" Catra growled as she swiped her razor-sharp claws at a serpent, tearing its head apart and revealing its brain. She-Ra growled as she swung her sword viciously, looking for a way out. Though, a way out seemed impossible as more and more of the serpents were closing in on the three.
Suddenly, a loud clang sounded from a barred grate that fell from the ceiling. The serpents and the team looked up to find Entrapta grinning giddily at them.
"Hello!" Entrapta yelled as a long strand of purple hair slithered down and wrapped around Brett, pulling him up. Brett let out a gasp but quickly regained his composure, continuing to lay down fire upon the serpents. Soon enough, he was in the vent on the other side of the hole where the grate had been. Entrapta reached her hair down to grab She-Ra and Catra, but the serpents were seemingly innumerable. One of the serpents swung its scythe-like claw towards Entrapta's hair. She let out a gasp and pulled it back.
"Go! Get out of here! Plant the virus! We'll meet up with you!" She-Ra shouted. Entrapta was going to say more until she heard a blood-curdling scream coming from She-Ra. A serpent managed to slice her back open while said back was turned towards the serpents. She-Ra's eyes glared as she spun around, swung her sword, and sliced the serpent's head clean off.
"Adora!" Catra shouted. Entrapta let out a gasp but was quickly brought back into action when Brett pulled her towards him.
"Entrapta. We gotta go… planting that virus is what matters," Brett said, gravely. Entrapta switched glances between the battle below and Brett's helmeted head. She let out a shuddering sigh and nodded, letting Brett lead the way out.
As the two traversed through the vents, they could not block out the sound of carnage that was continuing to transpire behind them. Entrapta began tearing up a bit, though restrained herself from sobbing. Brett knew the risks of the mission. The only thing that mattered was stopping Horde Prime, and as such, suppressed his emotions and moved forward.
As the two continued to crawl through their rather claustrophobic pathway, Entrapta was studying her tablet, ascertaining the exact location of the mainframe that powered all of Horde Prime's creatures. Brett, in the meanwhile, was doing his best to keep out of loose grates so that he and Entrapta would not fall through. In fact, at that moment, there happened to be such a grate, and Brett pulled his knees over it to prevent such an accident. Without looking back, he spoke to Entrapta.
"Watch out for the loose grate, Entrapta." Brett cautioned as he continued moving. But, Entrapta being Entrapta, was so fixated on her tablet, she did not hear Brett's warning. As she continued to move, her knee put enough pressure on the grate for it to begin slipping. Brett heard and turned back, letting out a gasp.
"Entrapta! Watch out!" Brett shouted as she began falling through. Entrapta let out a scream, as her body gave weight to the grate and completely collapsed…
… Right onto one of Horde Prime's clones.
Entrapta had a quick look around as she picked herself up with her hair. She was in a simple, wide hallway… that was full of Prime's clones; there being at least a dozen. The dozen were formed in two lines right in front of her. Entrapta and the clones gazed at each other in great surprise as she blinked her eyes a few times and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Uh… heh. Hello…!" Entrapta said, rather nervously. The clones glared at Entrapta and raised their wrist-mounted lasers, the luminescence of green glowing brighter as their weapons were ready to fire. Entrapta closed her eyes, waiting for her demise…
…That did not come.
Brett sprung into action, quick as a flash, as he jumped from the vent, holding onto the grate hole, and swinging himself towards the clone squad. As he swung himself from the hole, his feet crashed into the two clones in front, knocking them into the others like bowling pins. Brett then landed on his back, but quickly picked himself up. He turned to Entrapta and reached out his hand. Entrapta blushed and grabbed his hand, pulling him into a hug.
This sweet rescue would have to wait, however, as a laser from one of the clones shot at Brett's back. He let out a shriek and fell to his knees. Entrapta screamed and wrapped her hair around Brett, carrying him away from the clones. Lasers began flying towards the two as they ran to a corner. Although Entrapta had strength in her hair and adrenaline running through her body, Brett's armor was still rather heavy.
"Brett! Please, tell me that you're okay!" Entrapta begged as she lifted him up and looked at his back. The armor did manage to stop the majority of the laser, though there was still some charred flesh. She held him close and took off his helmet as he groaned and coughed a few times. He looked up at her and grinned.
"I'm alright, 'Trapta," Brett said, chuckling. She let out a few tears and a sobbing chuckle. Soon enough, however, both of their countenances would change as the group of clones turned the corner and brandished their weapons at the two. Entrapta pulled Brett close and closed her eyes, waiting, once again, for her demise.
… That once again did not come!
Some snowflakes began falling around the clones, which caused them to cease firing their weapons. The clones all began looking around, baffled by this phenomenon. Brett forced himself to look over and let out a gasp, then flashed a grin.
"...Frosta," Brett said, with great hope. Soon enough, a wave of ice surrounded the clones and completely encased them, head-to-toe in the frozen liquid. Appearing right beside the ice sculptures and leaning, casually, on her creation, Frosta blew on her hands as though they were pistols and flashed a grin at Brett.
"That's me," Frosta said with a giggle. Entrapta helped Brett up, causing him to groan a bit in pain. Frosta's smile faded and she ran over to the two. "What happened?" Frosta inquired, also helping Brett up. Brett let out a chuckle as he was held up.
"Heh. Didn't think you cared, Ice Queen." Brett said, facetiously, with a cough. "One of the clones got me in the back. But, I'll be fine, my armor stopped most of the laser." Brett said, hopefully. A small smile crept back onto Frosta's face and she nodded. Entrapta then spoke up.
"Oh! We should probably head to the ship's mainframe so we can, y'know, stop this invasion." Entrapta said with a wide smile. Brett turned to her and nodded.
"You're right. Let's go."
Meanwhile, back at Horde Prime's throne room…
The sound of liquid being poured into a resplendent wineglass pervaded the air of the otherwise silent throne room. Glimmer was groaning quietly, still recovering from being kicked around by Void. Brittni merely gazed silently at Horde Prime as he sipped some kind of blue beverage that a servant had poured for him. After downing the drink, Horde Prime placed his goblet onto his armrest and stood up, taking a few steps down the small staircase towards Brittni. She was seething with rage but attempted to remain calm. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.
"Where is Keirnan?" Brittni demanded. A smile stretched across Horde Prime's face as he snapped his finger. The moment his fingers snapped, a door to Horde Prime's right opened vertically, and out came Keirnan… who was being dragged by-
"Scorpia?!" Brittni gasped upon seeing the human-scorpion hybrid carrying Keirnan. Something that Brittni also noticed is that Scorpia's eyes were glowing a neon green, just like Entrapta's when Entrapta was chipped by Horde Prime. Brittni switched glances between Horde Prime and Scorpia and let out a growl.
"What did you do to Scorpia?!" Brittni demanded. Horde Prime walked over to Scorpia and brushed her cheek with his hand. Turning to Brittni, Horde Prime grinned.
"I've purified her, my niece…" Horde Prime said, rather coldly, "and I will do the same to the rest of you." Brittni glared deeply at Horde Prime. Keirnan groaned a bit and blinked his eyes.
"B…Brittni?" Keirnan coughed. Brittni trained her eyes on Keirnan, her expression becoming more worried than angry.
"Keirnan! Hold on!" Brittni advised as she took a step towards him. Horde Prime then took a few steps away from Keirnan and nodded at Scorpia, who dropped him onto his knees. Horde Prime then brandished his wrist-mounted laser at the side of Keirnan's dome and looked to Brittni. Brittni's mouth began to quiver as she saw what was potentially about to happen.
"If it has not been made clear, let me illuminate the situation," Horde Prime began, "I am the supreme ruler of this universe. If I will it, it shall be made manifest. Join me, Brittni, and I can offer amnesty to the ones you love." Horde Prime declared. Brittni continued to glare, though a few moments later, the scowl on her face began being replaced by a smile that brought about a strange chuckle that then evolved into a full-blown guffaw. Horde Prime's face went neutral and he sighed.
"Perhaps your farcical attitude is a product of the realization that you've lost?" Horde Prime offered, attempting to understand Brittni's odd behavior. Brittni laughed for a few more moments then sighed.
"Y'know, Prime. For being the 'most perfect being in the universe,' you're actually pretty impaired." Brittni declared, rather impertinently. Horde Prime narrowed his eyes at Brittni, visibly offended, but remained calm. Keirnan looked up, confused at Brittni's composure. Horde Prime let out a light scoff and responded.
"Little fool. You cannot even comprehend perfection." Horde Prime said calmly, yet sternly. Brittni let out a sigh.
"I can comprehend imperfection. Remember how you attempted to wipe our minds in that simulation? You failed. Your forces attempted to take Fort Glenmar on Etheria? You failed. You even failed at keeping us from teleporting onto your ship." Brittni snapped. Horde Prime let out a light, almost inaudible grunt, though his facial expression declared his feelings to Brittni. She was actually making good points, and he knew it. But she did not stop there.
"Oh, and that space vacuum trap that you set for my brother, Entrapta, and Frosta? I've already seen it fail." Brittni declared, flashing an evil grin towards Horde Prime. At this point, Horde Prime was beginning to visibly shudder as he soaked in Brittni's words. Brittni then looked to Scorpia and added, "I've analyzed that chip that you implanted upon Entrapta at one point. It was connected to the neocortex; or the higher functioning part of the brain. But you know what takes precedence over the neocortex? The amygdala; which dictates fear." Brittni explained. Horde Prime cocked an eyebrow at Brittni and let out a growl.
"Just what is your point?" Horde Prime demanded. Brittni let out a chuckle. She then inhaled a great amount of air and yelled to Scorpia.
"Scorpia! Look out! It's a ninja!" Brittni shouted. Once that statement pierced Scorpia's ears, the neon-green in her eyes began flickering until she let out a loud gasp.
"N-Ninja?! Where?!" Scorpia demanded. She then turned to Horde Prime and growled. "You!" Scorpia shouted as she cocked back a clawed fist and let it loose right into Horde Prime's face. Brittni then knew it was time to put her vision into motion.
"Now, Glimmer!" Brittni shouted. Per Brittni's signal, Glimmer began to dematerialize in her purple sparkles. Just before she fully left, however, a growl was heard from Void.
"Oh, no you don't!" Void shouted as she tackled Glimmer. The moment that happened, the two disappeared.
Horde Prime had stumbled back from Scorpia's punch and let out a grimaced groan. Scorpia went to throw another punch, though Horde Prime merely pivoted to the right while simultaneously moving into Scorpia's oblique and gave it a brutal right hook. Scorpia choked out some air that was knocked out of her. That was not all Horde Prime did, however. Before Scorpia could retaliate, Horde Prime activated the wrist-mounted laser, point-blank into Scorpia's oblique. Scorpia flew back several feet and crashed into a windowed wall, severely cracking the window. A large black hole had been imprinted on a part of her carapace.
"Scorpia!" Brittni shouted as she attempted to move over to her. Horde Prime brandished his laser at her and four guards surrounded her. Horde Prime was breathing heavily now. Clearly, he was enraged.
"This pathetic little insurrection…" Horde Prime began, breathily, then immediately raised his voice to an almost shriek, "ENDS HERE." Horde Prime declared, aiming his laser at Keirnan's dome.
"I don't think so!" A voice shouted from the vents above Horde Prime. His eyes narrowed then quickly widened when he looked up to see.
"...She-Ra…" Horde Prime declared in a low voice as she swooped down, forcing her foot into his head, sending him plummeting into the ground. She-Ra, after landing on one knee, quickly got up and used her sword to cut Keirnan's bindings. Keirnan looked back to thank her but instead gasped.
"L-Look out!" Keirnan stammered as Horde Prime appeared behind She-Ra. As she turned around, he cocked back his fist and let it loose into her dome, knocking her back and onto the ground. Keirnan, still on the ground began crawling backward, afraid of Horde Prime.
A pair of energy blades began emanating from Horde Prime's wrist lasers. He was not messing around anymore.
"Destroy them all!" Horde Prime shouted in an animalistic rage. The four clones that surrounded Brittni brandished their wrist lasers, the neon glowing at the end of their barrels. Brittni merely stood there, seemingly surrendering. Suddenly, her composure was explained when yet another figure jumped out of the vents right on top of one of the clones who bumped into another clone. With the momentum, and cat-like reflexes, the figure jumped from the one she landed on and tackled a third. The fourth, alarmed by this, did not even see a roundhouse kick coming from Brittni as she launched her boot into his head.
"Thanks, Catra," Brittni said with labored breath as she turned her back to Catra. Catra finished slicing up the clone then moved to Brittni, quickly using her claws to pick the lock on Brittni's handcuffs.
"Thank me after we take care of these freaks," Catra muttered with a grin. Brittni nodded and the two kicked the two remaining clones in the face, successfully knocking them out. The pair then turned to She-Ra and Horde Prime who were battling with their respective melee weapons.
Although She-Ra's sword was broad, she managed to swing it rather quickly, though Horde Prime's wrist blades were quicker. While he parried her swings with one blade, he would quickly give a slice with his other. She-Ra fought through the pain and continued to swing wildly. Horde Prime had finesse, though, and continued dodging and parrying her moves, finally kicking her away.
"HA! Is this she almighty She-Ra that I am supposed to be tremulous towards? Come now! Let's see what you can really do!" Horde Prime mockingly challenged. She-Ra let out a growl and gripped her sword with both hands and picked herself up, sprinting towards Horde Prime. As she swung her sword, he merely ducked and used his shoulder to throw her behind him. He turned to her and grinned.
"Adora!" Catra shouted. She went running towards She-Ra but stopped and gasped as she and Brittni heard the pneumatic front doors open and poured out a legion of clones. The clones brandished their lasers and began firing.
"Get to cover!" Brittni shouted as she kicked over a table and hid behind it. Catra quickly dove behind it as well, breathing heavily as the green energy bolts flew past the overturned table.
While those two were pinned down, She-Ra realized she was letting the anger get to her. She studied Horde Prime and realized he was mostly playing on the defensive, being calm and collected with his thrusts. She then took a deep breath, picking herself up, taking a few steps back, and allowing Prime to come to her.
He took the bite and began moving on She-Ra, twirling his wrist blades like an oscillation. He thrust one to which She-Ra parried with her sword. While that blade was repelled back, he went in for another thrust, to which she also parried that. With both blades tossed away, She-Ra moved in close and jabbed her knee into Prime's stomach, arching his head forward. Once his head was in open view, she swung.
The blade of She-Ra's sword went through Horde Prime's neck, slicing it clean off. His lifeless body fell to the floor. She-Ra gasped and took a step back, realizing what she had just done.
At the same time, the clones stopped firing their weapons. Catra and Brittni turned to each other, then looked up behind the table. The clones merely stood there. The pair then turned to She-Ra and Horde Prime's lifeless body. There seemed to be electrical currents arcing from different parts of the body.
"He…" She-Ra began as she knelt down, "he's a robot." Suddenly, a laugh came from one of the clones. She-Ra, Brittni, and Catra turned to the clones and saw one of them shaking erratically. His head in particular. When the tremors ceased, a breath came from the clone that was front and center.
"No…" The clone said as he walked forward, "I am a perfect consciousness…"