Chapter Twenty: Of Red Demons and Black Monsters
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS VERY, VERY DARK. THERE IS VIOLENCE AND SWEARING... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. ZERO IS NOT HIMSELF, AS YOU WILL SOON SEE...
The speeder turned around smoothly at my abrupt course adjustment. My target and trajectory: into the swarms of enemies. Laughing again I pulled my saber out and activated it, enjoying the low hum amplifying to a flaming roar in the wind of my speed.
It was invigorating! The hilt felt like an extension of my arm as the surprised (and some still unaware) robots fell prey to my fatal strokes and slashes. Oil and bits of metal began flying about like a windstorm in a junkyard, the smell of scorched tin and titanium welcome in my nose. Every time one went down, two more came to replace it, making it all the more fun for me! Each swipe of my blade made me feel more and more powerful... but I craved a true challenge, and as the last Batonton was sent to the scrap heap my call was answered.
"So it's you again is it?" Bass sneered as he looked down at me from the platform. Wily I could see behind him, already pulling his hair out at the loss of his precious robo-pets. My only response to this and the carnage around me was a wide grin.
"NOOO!" the old man wailed. "My ROBOTS! DO SOMETHING, BASS!"
"Yeah, sure thing Doc," he answered, gaze not braking mine. To me, "Looks like the virus got you already."
Looking at the two of us in turn, it finally dawned on the idiot scientist. "You mean it works?"
"Yeah, Doc," Bass sighed impatiently. I could tell he was itching to fight me... Heh... I was too... "It works. Just look at him, jeez!"
He did, and broke into a gap-toothed grin. "He he he! You're right! Zero! You are now under my command! Welcome to--"
"Oh, I'm afraid there's a problem," I cut in. "I don't follow orders from anyone, especially a dumb human like you, Wily."
He seemed about to say something. Well shoot... heh heh... I'd already leaped at him, saber aimed to kill! But damn, just as I was about to spill his blood who would decide to interrupt but Bass himself!
"So," I taunted. "The Black Bastard's got guts after all." I noted the concentrated look on his face as he focused the power in his violet plasma sword. "Are we having problems?"
"Not at all," he smirked. "I'll just kill you, for I failed to do so a short time ago, then go carve my name in your girlfriend's heart. What do you think?"
Rule Number One in dealing with me... don't change the subject. Rule Number Two: never mention Sierra. Needless to say I got rather pissed off and threw all of my weight into a vicious down-swipe of my sword.
"Dammit!" Bass cried out as he was knocked over, sending Wily flying off the platform somewhere. I didn't care about him. My only concern was Bass.
I felt even more power surge through me, little blue sparks and lightning visible as it danced over my armor. The black 'bot looked up at me, and for the first time I saw terror in his eyes... he was afraid, and I was happy. My eyes widened with my grin at an executed side-swipe/jab combination aimed at his leg armor, the added power and strength I had allowing me to slice through the tough metal cleanly. Mechanical blood spouted from the wound, causing Bass to scream out in agony.
"Scream again!" I exclaimed, "It's funny!"
"What the hell... is wrong with you..." he gasped as he tried to stanch the bleeding. "This wasn't... supposed to happen!"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Bassie," I mock-pouted as I said this, "...but I don't give a damn what I'm supposed to be doing! I'm having too much fun!"
"...Fun, huh... heh heh..." he breathed. "I'll... show you fun!"
Suddenly he let out a shrill whistle that forced me to cover my ears. Following the high-pitched sound was a somewhat distant howl, and as I whirled to face where it came from a large shape came bounding from the fortress.
"Zero... meet Treble."
Treble. Very cute. I had to admit... very LITTLE thought went into that name! I mean, hell... Bass and Treble... I had to laugh at that! Wily must be completely obsessed with music or somethin'...
Who cares... now it was time to put the doggy to sleep... heh heh...
"Treble," Bass was saying fondly to the mutt. "I want you to destroy this guy, okay? Make him hurt... A LOT."
Sounded like fun! However... it wasn't me who was going to feel the pain! I saw the purple and black robo-wolf turn to growl at me, on its haunches and ready to spring at his master's commands. I smirked. How could this thing be any match for me?
Still grinning in amusement I raised a hand to motion towards myself, taunting the stupid thing. Its growl grew in volume, until finally it leaped through the air with rather impressive speed, bolts of purple plasma shooting from its outstretched front claws. I dodged them with a brisk side step and to my unexpected astonishment I watched as the bolts ate into the ground on impact: they were lined with strong acid!
I had to get rid of this beast, and fast. I raised my saber to shield myself from another barrage of blasts, clenching my teeth in anticipation. It was almost in slow motion-- too slow for me-- that Treble soared through the air at me...
I sliced...
...And cleanly cut through the pooch's armor, right down the middle. Blood erupted from it as the two halves flew past either side of me, falling off the platform to join the rest of the garbage. My armor was soon decorated with splashes and dripping lines of black, thick blood, surrounding me with the heavy smell of gas and motor oil...
"NO!" Bass screamed. "TREBLE! YOU... you BASTARD!"
I shook my saber to rid it of excess bits of debris as to not mar its perfect color, then turned with a yawn back to the black robot. "What's the big deal?" I asked him with a shrug and a leer. "He was worthless anyway... you can make a better one than that. O wait... you're not going to live to see another! I forgot!" I slapped my forehead, grin ever widening to show off my white teeth. "Silly me... heh heh heh..."
Bass got to his feet, activating his violet saber and backing away from me in pure terror. His eyes were as wide and white as the half moon shining above us from behind dark clouds... heh... seems even IT was afraid of me... how suitable.
"You're a monster!" he shouted, even the stripes on his cheeks betraying his strong fear. "An abomination!"
"Oooh... nice big words, Bass. I'm impressed you're so SMART... but enough of this!" I raised my plasma sword high into the air, and watched gleefully as my opponent stepped back again. "Fight me!"
And then, for the first time I'd ever seen... he hesitated. The mighty Black Bastard Bass was hesitating! I roared with laughter, then suddenly charged! My saber was blazing... I could taste the fear... I could see the carnage around me...
He blocked. Good... my dead run was halted by a desperate parry by the violet saber, exposing Bass's midsection. Without further ado I under-handed-slashed beneath the other's weapon, stopping dead just as I cut through the armor.
"This is no fun!" I whined. "Come on, Bass! Where's your sense of blood and battle? Where's the cockiness that let you beat me before? Or are you too scared to fight me again?"
"Damn you..." he whispered. "I'll destroy you!"
"Just try me, rookie!" I taunted, craving for a real fight for once... He suddenly let loose a fierce battle cry that made my circuits freeze for a second... finally... a CHALLENGE!!
"AAHHH!" I added my own scream to his, slicing the air with my sword as I did so. Slowly they yells died down, until Bass's gaze locked with my own... even my grin had faded as I saw the lust for revenge in his eyes... heh... but the last laugh would be mine! Revenge! For Rock...
A few moments just flew by, for suddenly the two of us were fighting vigorously for our very lives... and I was enjoying every minute of it!! Slash... A swipe... hell he almost took my head off! It was almost like he were infected by this virus too... no matter... This was fun!
Our sabers clashed again and again, multicolored sparks flying out in every direction each time as white steam emanated like white fire from the blades. Bass's face was a mask of furious concentration, while mine... let's just say I looked like a kid who's just found an enormous mountain of chocolate. He doubled his efforts now, cutting and slashing at me in every form imaginable... once or twice he could have taken off my arm... but of course I was ready for it.
I went for his free arm, but the resounding shudder I felt told me before I saw that it had been parried; then I went for the midsection... the sword-arm... then at his knees... all thwarted in quick succession. Finally I executed a double-feint at his blade, throwing it out of his hands. He dived for the weapon smoothly, but for an instant his back was exposed... and so of course I had to take a 'stab' at it... heh...
My teal plasma sword cleanly cut into the circuitry of the spinal joints... causing the black robot's blood to spill at last... and me to attack with full power at his sudden weakness, and a laugh easily left my lips to fill the air with what I felt... evil.
His screams continued as I aimed blows at his legs, his arms... until finally I decided to hold back and see what he would do. Broken and bloody he struggled to his feet, dark crimson gaze locking with my own emerald one.
"Through already, Bassie?" I pouted. "I'm just getting warmed up!"
He didn't respond as he tried valiantly to keep from falling down in a crumpled heap of metal and pseudo-flesh, not even bothering to pick up his saber that had been knocked a few feet away. He only stood there, staring at me with eyes filled with rage and unbroken pride.
"You'll never... conquer me..." he said at last, a trickle of blood making its way down one side of his lip. "Even if... I die... I'll die knowing... I fought fair. Besides... it's still... too late... for your friends... Wily's on his way... right now... to destroy them."
I glared at him at first in disbelief, then laughed. "Whatever, you liar."
"Didn't you... notice that he left?" he grinned, but the leer faded as he began to convulse in agony. "He'll... be back..."
"What the hell?!" I roared. Then he began to laugh... long, choked laughs that were followed each time by a spray of black blood from his lips. I held my saber in both hands so tightly that my knuckles began to spasm in protest... like I cared... I moved the blade to a downwards position as I stood over the fallen black robot, and with a snarl of annoyance and anger... plunged the blade downwards...
...until I had driven straight through him. He let out a final, twisted screech, then fell limp. His eyes tried to focus on me again, but the faded to black as he took his final breath. His chest rose once, but quickly collapsed... and did not rise again.
"Farewell," I said without emotion... for I felt none. I turned from the grotesque corpse quickly, making my way back to the hover bike, which lay forgotten among the scattered debris and wreckage of Wily's useless robots.
I sat in the seat silently while activating the tracking device, looking for signs of Wily's flying craft. I spotted a faint octane signature near the hangars... he hadn't left yet. That fool Bass... didn't even realize how slow the old man was. No matter... I had to kill him now, before it was too late...
...too late to save the others. Sierra... Blues... Doctor Light...
"AAHHH!" I screamed as the massive headache pounded at me again... and I almost lost consciousness when it finally faded. It was then... only then... that I realized the true extent and nature of my recent actions.
"I just... I just mutilated... dozens... of robots... I killed... a brother..."
I was sick... I felt like I could vomit... but robots couldn't vomit... so I was stuck with that awful, disgusting feeling... the knowledge that one had killed in cold blood...
I completely forgot about Wily... I decided in a nanosecond that he was of no threat without his robot goons, and headed at full speed back to the lab.
***
Author's Notes: You were warned... and now Zero has a life on his conscience... Please review, I'd like opinions. ~Sierra Omega~
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS VERY, VERY DARK. THERE IS VIOLENCE AND SWEARING... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. ZERO IS NOT HIMSELF, AS YOU WILL SOON SEE...
The speeder turned around smoothly at my abrupt course adjustment. My target and trajectory: into the swarms of enemies. Laughing again I pulled my saber out and activated it, enjoying the low hum amplifying to a flaming roar in the wind of my speed.
It was invigorating! The hilt felt like an extension of my arm as the surprised (and some still unaware) robots fell prey to my fatal strokes and slashes. Oil and bits of metal began flying about like a windstorm in a junkyard, the smell of scorched tin and titanium welcome in my nose. Every time one went down, two more came to replace it, making it all the more fun for me! Each swipe of my blade made me feel more and more powerful... but I craved a true challenge, and as the last Batonton was sent to the scrap heap my call was answered.
"So it's you again is it?" Bass sneered as he looked down at me from the platform. Wily I could see behind him, already pulling his hair out at the loss of his precious robo-pets. My only response to this and the carnage around me was a wide grin.
"NOOO!" the old man wailed. "My ROBOTS! DO SOMETHING, BASS!"
"Yeah, sure thing Doc," he answered, gaze not braking mine. To me, "Looks like the virus got you already."
Looking at the two of us in turn, it finally dawned on the idiot scientist. "You mean it works?"
"Yeah, Doc," Bass sighed impatiently. I could tell he was itching to fight me... Heh... I was too... "It works. Just look at him, jeez!"
He did, and broke into a gap-toothed grin. "He he he! You're right! Zero! You are now under my command! Welcome to--"
"Oh, I'm afraid there's a problem," I cut in. "I don't follow orders from anyone, especially a dumb human like you, Wily."
He seemed about to say something. Well shoot... heh heh... I'd already leaped at him, saber aimed to kill! But damn, just as I was about to spill his blood who would decide to interrupt but Bass himself!
"So," I taunted. "The Black Bastard's got guts after all." I noted the concentrated look on his face as he focused the power in his violet plasma sword. "Are we having problems?"
"Not at all," he smirked. "I'll just kill you, for I failed to do so a short time ago, then go carve my name in your girlfriend's heart. What do you think?"
Rule Number One in dealing with me... don't change the subject. Rule Number Two: never mention Sierra. Needless to say I got rather pissed off and threw all of my weight into a vicious down-swipe of my sword.
"Dammit!" Bass cried out as he was knocked over, sending Wily flying off the platform somewhere. I didn't care about him. My only concern was Bass.
I felt even more power surge through me, little blue sparks and lightning visible as it danced over my armor. The black 'bot looked up at me, and for the first time I saw terror in his eyes... he was afraid, and I was happy. My eyes widened with my grin at an executed side-swipe/jab combination aimed at his leg armor, the added power and strength I had allowing me to slice through the tough metal cleanly. Mechanical blood spouted from the wound, causing Bass to scream out in agony.
"Scream again!" I exclaimed, "It's funny!"
"What the hell... is wrong with you..." he gasped as he tried to stanch the bleeding. "This wasn't... supposed to happen!"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Bassie," I mock-pouted as I said this, "...but I don't give a damn what I'm supposed to be doing! I'm having too much fun!"
"...Fun, huh... heh heh..." he breathed. "I'll... show you fun!"
Suddenly he let out a shrill whistle that forced me to cover my ears. Following the high-pitched sound was a somewhat distant howl, and as I whirled to face where it came from a large shape came bounding from the fortress.
"Zero... meet Treble."
Treble. Very cute. I had to admit... very LITTLE thought went into that name! I mean, hell... Bass and Treble... I had to laugh at that! Wily must be completely obsessed with music or somethin'...
Who cares... now it was time to put the doggy to sleep... heh heh...
"Treble," Bass was saying fondly to the mutt. "I want you to destroy this guy, okay? Make him hurt... A LOT."
Sounded like fun! However... it wasn't me who was going to feel the pain! I saw the purple and black robo-wolf turn to growl at me, on its haunches and ready to spring at his master's commands. I smirked. How could this thing be any match for me?
Still grinning in amusement I raised a hand to motion towards myself, taunting the stupid thing. Its growl grew in volume, until finally it leaped through the air with rather impressive speed, bolts of purple plasma shooting from its outstretched front claws. I dodged them with a brisk side step and to my unexpected astonishment I watched as the bolts ate into the ground on impact: they were lined with strong acid!
I had to get rid of this beast, and fast. I raised my saber to shield myself from another barrage of blasts, clenching my teeth in anticipation. It was almost in slow motion-- too slow for me-- that Treble soared through the air at me...
I sliced...
...And cleanly cut through the pooch's armor, right down the middle. Blood erupted from it as the two halves flew past either side of me, falling off the platform to join the rest of the garbage. My armor was soon decorated with splashes and dripping lines of black, thick blood, surrounding me with the heavy smell of gas and motor oil...
"NO!" Bass screamed. "TREBLE! YOU... you BASTARD!"
I shook my saber to rid it of excess bits of debris as to not mar its perfect color, then turned with a yawn back to the black robot. "What's the big deal?" I asked him with a shrug and a leer. "He was worthless anyway... you can make a better one than that. O wait... you're not going to live to see another! I forgot!" I slapped my forehead, grin ever widening to show off my white teeth. "Silly me... heh heh heh..."
Bass got to his feet, activating his violet saber and backing away from me in pure terror. His eyes were as wide and white as the half moon shining above us from behind dark clouds... heh... seems even IT was afraid of me... how suitable.
"You're a monster!" he shouted, even the stripes on his cheeks betraying his strong fear. "An abomination!"
"Oooh... nice big words, Bass. I'm impressed you're so SMART... but enough of this!" I raised my plasma sword high into the air, and watched gleefully as my opponent stepped back again. "Fight me!"
And then, for the first time I'd ever seen... he hesitated. The mighty Black Bastard Bass was hesitating! I roared with laughter, then suddenly charged! My saber was blazing... I could taste the fear... I could see the carnage around me...
He blocked. Good... my dead run was halted by a desperate parry by the violet saber, exposing Bass's midsection. Without further ado I under-handed-slashed beneath the other's weapon, stopping dead just as I cut through the armor.
"This is no fun!" I whined. "Come on, Bass! Where's your sense of blood and battle? Where's the cockiness that let you beat me before? Or are you too scared to fight me again?"
"Damn you..." he whispered. "I'll destroy you!"
"Just try me, rookie!" I taunted, craving for a real fight for once... He suddenly let loose a fierce battle cry that made my circuits freeze for a second... finally... a CHALLENGE!!
"AAHHH!" I added my own scream to his, slicing the air with my sword as I did so. Slowly they yells died down, until Bass's gaze locked with my own... even my grin had faded as I saw the lust for revenge in his eyes... heh... but the last laugh would be mine! Revenge! For Rock...
A few moments just flew by, for suddenly the two of us were fighting vigorously for our very lives... and I was enjoying every minute of it!! Slash... A swipe... hell he almost took my head off! It was almost like he were infected by this virus too... no matter... This was fun!
Our sabers clashed again and again, multicolored sparks flying out in every direction each time as white steam emanated like white fire from the blades. Bass's face was a mask of furious concentration, while mine... let's just say I looked like a kid who's just found an enormous mountain of chocolate. He doubled his efforts now, cutting and slashing at me in every form imaginable... once or twice he could have taken off my arm... but of course I was ready for it.
I went for his free arm, but the resounding shudder I felt told me before I saw that it had been parried; then I went for the midsection... the sword-arm... then at his knees... all thwarted in quick succession. Finally I executed a double-feint at his blade, throwing it out of his hands. He dived for the weapon smoothly, but for an instant his back was exposed... and so of course I had to take a 'stab' at it... heh...
My teal plasma sword cleanly cut into the circuitry of the spinal joints... causing the black robot's blood to spill at last... and me to attack with full power at his sudden weakness, and a laugh easily left my lips to fill the air with what I felt... evil.
His screams continued as I aimed blows at his legs, his arms... until finally I decided to hold back and see what he would do. Broken and bloody he struggled to his feet, dark crimson gaze locking with my own emerald one.
"Through already, Bassie?" I pouted. "I'm just getting warmed up!"
He didn't respond as he tried valiantly to keep from falling down in a crumpled heap of metal and pseudo-flesh, not even bothering to pick up his saber that had been knocked a few feet away. He only stood there, staring at me with eyes filled with rage and unbroken pride.
"You'll never... conquer me..." he said at last, a trickle of blood making its way down one side of his lip. "Even if... I die... I'll die knowing... I fought fair. Besides... it's still... too late... for your friends... Wily's on his way... right now... to destroy them."
I glared at him at first in disbelief, then laughed. "Whatever, you liar."
"Didn't you... notice that he left?" he grinned, but the leer faded as he began to convulse in agony. "He'll... be back..."
"What the hell?!" I roared. Then he began to laugh... long, choked laughs that were followed each time by a spray of black blood from his lips. I held my saber in both hands so tightly that my knuckles began to spasm in protest... like I cared... I moved the blade to a downwards position as I stood over the fallen black robot, and with a snarl of annoyance and anger... plunged the blade downwards...
...until I had driven straight through him. He let out a final, twisted screech, then fell limp. His eyes tried to focus on me again, but the faded to black as he took his final breath. His chest rose once, but quickly collapsed... and did not rise again.
"Farewell," I said without emotion... for I felt none. I turned from the grotesque corpse quickly, making my way back to the hover bike, which lay forgotten among the scattered debris and wreckage of Wily's useless robots.
I sat in the seat silently while activating the tracking device, looking for signs of Wily's flying craft. I spotted a faint octane signature near the hangars... he hadn't left yet. That fool Bass... didn't even realize how slow the old man was. No matter... I had to kill him now, before it was too late...
...too late to save the others. Sierra... Blues... Doctor Light...
"AAHHH!" I screamed as the massive headache pounded at me again... and I almost lost consciousness when it finally faded. It was then... only then... that I realized the true extent and nature of my recent actions.
"I just... I just mutilated... dozens... of robots... I killed... a brother..."
I was sick... I felt like I could vomit... but robots couldn't vomit... so I was stuck with that awful, disgusting feeling... the knowledge that one had killed in cold blood...
I completely forgot about Wily... I decided in a nanosecond that he was of no threat without his robot goons, and headed at full speed back to the lab.
***
Author's Notes: You were warned... and now Zero has a life on his conscience... Please review, I'd like opinions. ~Sierra Omega~