-Advance Wars 2

--Lash Factor

---Chapter 5: Train Reaction

What was I saying about Black Hole technology before? That it was advanced or something? Well forget it. It's a piece of crap. That's what it is. I got halfway toward the Western Coast facility when the tank died on me. Engine in all, just started smoking and gave out on me. Piece of crap! I hope the guys fighting in these things have to deal with maintenance problems as well! Geez... Guess I better get walking.

The only good thing I could say that the tank gave out right before the beach. So during my walk, I could enjoy the sun and surf. That was pretty nice. The ocean waves washing along the shore. The sunset. A pretty serene picture. I heard some places in Yellow Comet had some nice places like this too. Unfortunately, reality set back in when I could hear the heavy guns of Battleships going off in the distance.

Soon as I rounded the corner. I could see Black Hole and Orange Star forces going at it. Rockets and heavy shells were flying everywhere. Turns out the main event of the battle was going on at an island right across from my shore and I was on Black Hole's side of the fence. Good for me, bad for Lash and Flak... If they were both here that is. But it didn't matter who was commanding the forces, I could tell it started in a hurry.

There was just an atmosphere about it that told me it was a frantic battle. Everything was happening so quickly. It had to have been an ambush. With that in mind I began to hurry. Maybe I could jack a vehicle or something? It didn't take long before I could spot the center where Black Hole was running their show. They had one of their strange buildings as the field command center.

Too bad the bridge was about as defended as their central HQ. Dammit. I wasn't going to get over there that way. Then I heard a train whistle blow and could see that same black train that made me collide with Lash and Flak in the first place. It was approaching pretty fast, and on a whim I began to run after it as it passed. I leapt onto the back and tried the door, thankfully, it was unlocked and I snuck in.

The rear train car was some kitchen car with two levels. The downstairs was a meat locker, so I went in there knowing I wouldn't find any soldiers waiting to find me. I got in just in time as some soldiers appeared taking their normal routes. They stopped near a culinary table and began to talk, I could tell because they nodded their heads and gave looks at each other every so often.

But that's when my skin began to crawl, then began to burn. I looked down at it, it was bubbling. In seconds it felt like I had slapped acid onto my palms and began to rub them together. I nearly screamed in agony as that only made it worse and I eventually had no choice and got out of the large meat locker. They didn't turn around so I quickly started away from them heading up toward the diesel train up front.

The next car was some fancy dining car that looked like some five star restaurant. The Black Hole guys sure didn't have bad taste, that's for sure. I took a moment to duck under a table and take a look at my skin. Holy hell... Are the Black Hole guys not resistant to extreme cold? Cause I felt like someone had taken a blow torch to my skin. Lash said I was like their guys, only... myself as well... Eventually my skin was back to normal, but still hurt like hell.

I stood up and continued on through some supply cars with guns sticking out the side. There wasn't anyone right there at the moment and when I neared the middle car, the whole train lurched to a stop. My face slammed into the door with a thud and I instantly fell down holding my face in pain.

"Dammit!" I cursed as quietly as I could.

When I got back up, I could see through a window that the train had come to a stop. I had to hide soon, cause this whole train was going to be flooded with Black Hole soldiers. I ran forward through I don't know how many passenger cars looking for a place to hide. Eventually I reached a communications room of some sort and located a locker that was jarred open when the train came to it's sudden stop. I climbed in and shut it as a bunch of soldiers began to run by.

I held my breath. I didn't want to breathe when they went by for fear they would hear me and inspect the locker. When I went to look what was in the locker I found guns, lots of them. With my cramped hiding space I managed to slide a handgun into my palms and was relieved it was loaded. Black Hole surely was the type to shoot first and never ask questions later.

Watching from my secret spot, a bunch more soldiers walked through, and then Lash entered carrying a briefcase and swinging around like it was a mace of some sort. She managed to conk the two soldiers tailing her and soon set it down on a table.

"That Sami is so annoying! I can't have fun when she's around!" Lash declared. "All this trouble to plan this big strike and she manages to break into my HQ."

"Yes, mistress Lash." One soldier commented.

"Well, at least I get the last laugh with my dummy. Tee hee hee!" She laughed. "Ok, now get this train moving! We're heading toward Blue Moon now! We can leave Flak to clean up Orange Star."

"Of course."

With that one of the guards left as the other took a corner and readied his weapon. I stood there eyeing her angrily. My hand tightening on the pistol. I would have fired if I didn't get out of the locker and get her soon. Finally the soldier guarding her went over to a window, and I saw my perfect opportunity. I threw open the locker and rushed over to him and then threw him out the window. He hit the ground with a thud and soon the train began to move. He stood back up and began to try and get back on the train, but he wasn't fast enough.

Now I turned toward Lash, who had her back to me and raised my gun. Click. I pulled the hammer back.

"Hello Lash." I greeted her.

She paused for a second, set down everything she was doing and spun around with a happy expression. I couldn't believe her... She was crazy. But her happy face caught me off guard and I forgot about pulling the trigger.

"Tee hee hee! It's my pet project! You've come home!"

"Shut up!" I barked at her. "You're going to pay Lash. For it all, everything."

"Tee hee hee! You're perfect now!" She stated even more excited than before.

"Huh?" I began to lose my grip on the trigger. "What are you talking about?"

"We've totally changed you! We were initially concerned when you still retained your original memory during the transformation. But you're better now!"

"You better start making sense, or playtime is over!" I gestured toward my gun.

"Of course." She smiled at me. "You used to be James Heckler, some Orange Star soldier. You never knew what it was like to be driven by revenge and hatred. But you do now!"

My throat tightened as I began to understand why she as so excited.

"No no! I'm still James Heckler, I'm just..."

"No you aren't!" She laughed. "You think you've come this far because you want justice? Not a chance! It's all about getting even with the world! Isn't that right? My pet!"

"So what! So what? You certainly wont be enjoying any future position in the Black Hole Army!"

"You're so silly! Put the gun down! That's an order!" She giggled at me.

"No." I growled at her.

She vaguely lost her smile but still had a smirk on her face. I watched as she jumped up to sit on the metal counter behind her. She kicked her legs and got comfortable, like I would have her at gunpoint for a long time.

"Ok, I'll just sit here and wait." She smiled.

"Wait for what?"

"For you to stop acting silly and put the gun down."

"Hey!" I roared at her. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Please!" She scoffed at me. "If you were going to kill me, you would have done it by now!"

"No, you're wrong. I wanted to have some quality time before I took you out!"

"What? Make me get on my knees? Grovel at your feet or somethin'? No way! I'm wayyyy to smart to do that!"

"Why you little..."

I began to commit to my idea of taking her out. But before I could pull the trigger, I heard someone enter and cock a weapon. What should I do? Was it worth thinking I was faster than the person behind me? What was I doing anyway? Lash hadn't once stopped smiling since I entered. Maybe she was right... Maybe I wasn't going to kill her... I just didn't know anymore.

"Tee hee hee! You are silly! Put the gun down!" Lash ordered.

But I didn't.

"No. I'm just going to stand here and when I hear a shot, I'm going to shoot. So maybe I will pull the trigger. Maybe you're soldier behind me will make me to do it for me."

"Hm... You think you're so smart! But you're out of luck! Cause the soldier behind you isn't even Black Hole!"

That's when I spun around to see a Black Hole soldier standing there. Damn, I can't believe I fell for it. I kept turning and whipped my head back to Lash to see her still sitting on the counter. Hey... What was going on? I heard the clicking of the helmet rising off the soldier behind me and I looked to see Rick's face.

"Rick? What the hell are you doing here?" I gasped.

"Heckler..." He said breathlessly. "That's you? That's what they did to you?"

I had forgotten.... I lost my helmet when I was fighting Flak. He could see me now, he could see it all. The blue shiny skin. The beady red eyes. Even the snout that had begun to form on my face. Gone was my nose and mouth. It was just a snout now... Everything else looked about the same on me. My blond hair was getting darker by the minute, soon it'd be black or something.

"Tee hee hee!" Lash laughed out loud. "Now it's time for the final stage of the experiment!"

Rick and I didn't even look to her as she got down from the counter and moved over to a laptop.

"Hey, Mr. Orange Star in disguise! Why don't you call in the rest of your team?" Lash suggested.

"You know we're here?" He asked snapping back into reality.

"Of course I do! I'm a genius! I LET you on Adder's train! So I can complete my experiment! For all of you to see what a freaky monster your friend has become! Tee hee hee!"

I turned toward Lash as she began to type away on the laptop. She knew they snuck on the train? Probably thought a unit would be after her when the dummy plan went into action. I delayed her. But she wanted me to delay her. So... Oh man! Back when I was fighting Flak, she DID see me on the ground... From there, she orchestrated the whole event... And it comes down to this...

Three soldiers entered the car from where Rick was and took off their helmets. Ruby, Victor, and Palmer. What was Lash planning anyway? She looked up and gave a laugh.

"Ta da! Here you go everyone! The man of the hour! James who-used-to-be Heckler!" She announced.

I could hear a chorus of helmets dropping to the ground as they all stared at me. They looked horrible. Nell could take it easy I guessed, being the Supreme Commander and everything. But my own guys... What would they think... Lash looked at us all with an excited expression.

"Tee hee hee! Now it's all set! What do you think of my makeover?" Lash asked. "How I do love input for my beautiful creations!"

"You're a monster..." Ruby uttered.

Man... I though that was going to happen. They were going to see me... And then I could never be the same. Never. Now I was forced to side with Lash and Black Hole. They were the only ones who would take me in now. I was so angry. At everyone... This sucked. I couldn't think of a better term for it. It sucked.

"Ha ha! See? Now what are you going to do Heckler? You going to go back to your friends that hate you?" Lash asked giddily.

She was so excited that her plan was going perfectly... So perfectly... She could barely contain herself. Me? I was just so blown away that I couldn't say anything. I had to reassume my grip on the gun because the sweat pouring off of my palms was making it slippery in my grip

"I don't think you heard me Lash!" Ruby declared suddenly. "I said, you're a monster!"

"Huh? You mean... you were talking about her?" I asked slowly realizing my error.

"Hey! You're supposed to hate Heckler! Not me! Look at him? Are you going to have a freak in your military?" Lash asked in a childlike anger.

"Better a freak than someone like you!" Rick yelled out.

"Uh oh..." Lash realized her plan just got messed up.

For a moment she lost her smile and backed away, but after she jarred a gallery of chemicals she resumed her smile even as everyone on my team cocked their weapons and pointed it at her.

"Tee hee hee! I understand! I lost! That's so not fair Heckler! I underestimated how valuable you were to your teammates!"

"You lost? Is that all you can say?" Rick declared. "I'd say it' game over for you Lash! You see we're here to take you in!"

"Oh no. You won't do that! Cause I got the antidote to your friends predicament there." Lash declared bravely. "Tee hee hee!"

"No way! You can't be serious!" I shuttered.

"Oh I'm about as serious as Adder is! Tee hee hee! You let me go so Heckler can become all normal!"

I looked to Ruby, rather pitifully. I didn't want Lash to get away... But me, becoming normal again! That was a victory in itself. She seemed to be thinking the same exact thing and moved forward aiming her gun directly as Lash's head.

"How bout we capture you? And then force you to help Heckler anyway?"

"Phhhhh!" She stuck her tongue out at us. "That's not the same! I'll clam up and never talk!"

"We have ways of dealing with people who don't talk!" Ruby advised her.

"Sure you do!" Lash laughed. "I'm like, soooo scared!"

During their talk, I was moving closer to her. She had the answer to my problem, and I wanted it. She noticed this and likewise began to back away.

"Tee hee hee! Hey Heckler! You want to play a game? If you catch me, I might just return you to normal! But if I get away, I'll destroy all my research on transformation!"

I didn't say anything back, I simply glared at her while moving closer. She was going for the trains exit.

"Okay! The game is on! Catch me if you can! Tee hee hee!"

And with that she pressed a switch on the wall and the floor underneath us went flying upwards. The roof opened up and now we were on the top of the train while it moved. I was caught off guard and fell down as Lash took off. I stood back up and without a second thought, went after her.

-To be continued

-Concluded in Chapter 6: Running Man