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CHAPTER EIGHT

Chapter Title: Quick To Reactor

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"Sir, Heavy Lobster has been destroyed!" Butch reported to Metaknight, who began to dig his fingers into the arm of his seat.

"Dang it, Kirby! You have always been the proverbial thorn in my side! I will relish the day I defeat you," Metaknight cursed to himself. He got out of his chair, turned to Waddle Dee, and commanded, "Waddle Dee, keep me updated about Kirby's doings within the next hour . . . I believe I know his next move. If worst comes to worst, abandon the Halberde."

"But, sir, this ship is you pride and joy!" Waddle Dee worried aloud.

"I know, I know . . . " Metaknight sighed. He turned to leave the room when Skullkor and two crewmembers stumbled through the doorway, toppling over the surprised knight. Metaknight was furious, and tossed the three personnel through the air as he rose to his feet. The dazed men came to their feet as Metaknight turned around to face everyone within the deck.

"What is the meaning of this?" Metaknight roared, sending shivers down his entire crew's backs. Skullkor stepped forward, saluting Metaknight like he was instructed to.

"Sir, I have regained my health, and am prepared to retake my position at the controls of the Halberde," Skullkor imparted. "We have brought something you may want, sir," he added, walking over to one of the crewmembers that had stumbled through the door. The soldier presented Skullkor with the sword Blade Knight had dropped during battle. Skullkor grabbed it, and walked over to Metaknight. He handed Metaknight the fallen knight's legendary weapon.

"Th-thank you, Sk-Skullkor," Metaknight stuttered. He held the sword as if it were a museum display, eyes wide with emotion. "Skullkor, you may return to your position at the controls. Waddle Dee, monitor the Halberde's status, and report to me any problems with Kirby.I'll be in my room," Metaknight commanded, walking through the sliding door leading out of the deck. The door slid shut as Skullkor returned to his seat.

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Kirby had been wandering around in the capacious hanger area for about an hour before he found his skateboard. Pieces of Heavy Lobster were strewn around on the metal floor, smoke rising from their melted edges. Kirby walked over to his skateboard, and lifted it from the ground.

"Now, let's see . . . " Kirby spoke to himself, "to disable the Halberde permanently, I'll need to destroy the reactor." Kirby headed over to the stairwell through which he had entered the Halberde, and floated up the metal cylinder to the fourth floor of the Halberde, the only floor he had not yet visited.

As Kirby floated up the large cylinder, he began to think of all the events that had taken place since he had first landed on the Halberde. He thought about fighting Heavy Lobster, landing on Grape Gardens, fighting alongside Gim, and the rematch with Heavy Lobster. He finally reached the fourth floor, where Heavy Lobster had blown the doorway apart. He stepped off his board and onto the flat, metallic floor of the hallway. To his right was a sign that read as follows:

[REACTOR ROOM AHEAD. ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL TURN BACK NOW!]

"Authorized my eye," Kirby laughed as he headed down the dark corridor to the reactor room.

At the end of the hallway was a large door, which Kirby had some trouble moving. The sheer weight of the door was hard for Kirby to push, but he managed to get through. On the other side was a large, glass-like cylinder, which contained a glowing, neon crystal. To either side of the cylinder were glass cages, which imprisoned hundreds of Wheelies, which were used to pull power from the crystal.

Wheelies are creatures shaped like wheels, only they have eyes instead of hubcaps. Wheelies can spin their bodies, while their eye remains perfectly motionless. This allows them to achieve great speeds and still have good maneuverability, and also allows them to travel over the surface of water. World law forbids the use of Wheelies as power sources, which is what Metaknight was currently doing.

Kirby walked over to the cylinder, and put his hand upon the clear surface. He muttered something under his breath as the panel exploded into millions of pieces, exposing the crystal to Kirby's attacks. Kirby shielded himself from the falling shrapnel, which bounced of his magical force field. He lowered the force field as the glass ceased falling, and held his hand up in the direction of the crystal.

"Star Beam, FIRE!" Kirby commanded as star-shaped energy beams began to shoot out from his hand. They caused a direct hit on the crystal, but had no effect on it. Kirby had to dodge the ricocheting beams refracting off the crystal and heading towards him.

"What's going on here? My star beam always works!" Kirby gasped, confused by the current situation.

"Intruder! Prepare to be terminated!" a computer's voice blared. A moving panel in the ceiling of the room opened up as a laser cannon appeared out of the opening. Kirby, sensing his immediate peril, jumped on his skateboard and flew through the air as the cannon blasted a hole in the floor of the room where Kirby had been. Kirby could do nothing to destroy the crystal or the cannon that was trying to blast him into oblivion.

Suddenly, one of the cannon's shots skimmed across the crystal. The blast ruptured a piece of the crystal, causing a tremor to flow out from the reactor. The cages containing Wheelies began cracking because of the aftershock.

"Danger! Danger! Core rupturing!" the computer blared as the cannon continued to attack Kirby.

"This computer doesn't know what it's doing! I'll get the cannon to blast the reactor!" Kirby plotted as he flew to the crystal. The crystal began shooting out bolts of energy at Kirby, since the cannon had ruptured its stability. Kirby waited for the cannon to aim directly at him.

With a great explosion, the cannon shot a laser beam straight at Kirby, who dodged it. The laser hit the crystal, shattering it into millions of pieces. The blast caused an enormous quake to ripple throughout the Halberde, breaking the glass within the reactor room. The Wheelies broke free of their cages, and immediately sped out of the room. The whole Halberde began to shake violently as the reactor melted down.

"I better get outta here," Kirby yelled to himself as he turned around to head out of the room. Suddenly, a trap door opened up under his feet, and he fell through the hole, which closed behind him.

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Where is Kirby headed to this time? Is this his final hour? No, wait, it's about three o' clock. Prepare for the next chapter, coming eventually!