Chapter 8

A/N: Decisions! Light! Booms! Canti! Whoosh!

(Sorry of the temporary lack of sanity more apparent than usual... I took a break from this fic, wrote about three one shots, had my fun... and now I'm back!)

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Haruko took a breath.

What are you going to do to him?! she demanded to know.

We've found from observing your interactions with him that you bear a... soft spot, if you will, for him. It shows even now, from your pulse rate and eye dialation every time I mention him.

If you refuse, we will send surges of energy into his N-O gate. This might trigger his body to use his potential power -he could be more powerful then Atomsk.

However, there is a high chance it might not work -he will die.

Her heart fluttered. How the hell did they know anything about her time with Naota?!

Those fucking bastards... They can't kill Naota, she wouldn't let them.

So, if I join you... she stared hoarsely.

The doctor continued. You will get Atomsk's powers. We will let the boy go.

But if I don't-

The man placed a finger over a button on a controller that he pulled from his pocket. Haruko suppressed a shiver.

She could get Atomsk's powers and Naota would be let free... it couldn't have been that simple. How could she trust them?

But she had be after Atomsk for such a long time... and that power could finally belong to her. All of her searching, chasing.....

Time is ticking, Haruha-san.

But what about the GSPB? Yuto... Stealing Atomsk away from Medical Mechcania was one thing, but to work for them to get Atomsk...

You're running out of time. the doctor warned, seemly bringing his finger closer to pressing the button.

Could she still save Naota if she said no? But then Atomsk would escape her again... all because of Naota. And MM would have him again....

Time's up!


Naota didn't know what was going on until he heard a beep come from the machine. Suddenly he saw everything move in slow motion. The needle recoiled back... and rushed forward towards his head in one smooth motion. Before he could gasp in fear -the needle had penetrated his skull, piercing it and coming out the other side of his head. As soon as it emerged on the other side of the table, it opened up to form a dish shaped object in order to keep it from retreating back up.

Bolts of electricity cracked around the needle as energy rushed though it. An immense pain that Naota had never felt before seared though his entire body, burning him alive. His blood boiled and his skull had been split in two. His heart had been thrown into a running blender and his skin felt as if it would peel off. He let out an agonized scream as tears began to flow from his eyes.

NO! Naota!! Haruko screamed at the top of her lungs as the button was pressed. She struggled as hard as she could against the hold the guards had on her arms. No!! STOP IT! she screamed as she watched Naota writhe and convulage in pain on the table, his back arching from the table, and his limbs twitching. His agonized screams resounded through out the large room.

Don't you see it? Either way WE WIN!! The crazed doctor shouted back at her.

Naota's screams were cut short as his body began to convulage more violently then, in a seizure. A red fluid began to fly and drip from his mouth as he gurgled and sputtered.

Blood.

STOP IT!!! YOU'RE FUCKING KILLING HIM! Haruko yelled.

It's too late now! the man shouted back.

The sound of the heart monitor had suddenly gained everyone's attention as it dramatically sped up in a matter of seconds. Haruko gasped as it suddenly flat lined.

No. She shook her head.

No.

Naota was dead.

As she felt tears well up in her eyes -a blinding light filled the room.


Everyone had looked away until the light died down. What was in place of a boy on a table with a needle though his head was this: a figure enveloped in burning white flames that illuminated his features and clothes that made him glow. He bore no mark on his forehead. Haruko's bracelet did not move.

Surrounding him were the remains of what used to be a restraint table, now a bent piece of scrap metal; the twisted form of a semi-mealted needle branched off of a charred piece of shattered material. Other bits and pieces of wires and shattered glass of a heart monitor surrounded him.

All was silent as the figure stepped forward. No one made a move. The burning white figure made it's way next to the doctor. The doctor then lifted another controller and sharply pressed it. The figure then fell to it's knees, placing it's hands on the sides of it's head. You see? Along with it's other properties, that space serum was made so that once your absolute power was fulfilled, you would serve us! Your power belongs to us now! We'll conquer the Galaxy Sp- he was cut off as he was blown back across the room, and hit the wall with a loud crack. He was dead on impact. The glowing figure's arm was extended in that direction.

The divine form of Naota stood up. With an immense grace, it resumed it's walk forward. It headed to the large group of guards and Haruko. She stood there, in a slight state of shock. This... This was Naota? His potential had been reached. Jealousy twinged in the back of her mind and at the base of her spine... Naota had transcended her. The figure was a few feet away from her, and she was able to look into his now brilliant blue eyes, illuminated by his aura. A chill ran down her spine.

Nothing. There was no emotion, no life in those eyes.

A yelp was heard from a guard, for they were holding the Flying V. They fell to the floor as it was pulled from them, and it flew into the figure's left hand.

With a quick realization, Haruko realized what was happening. She pulled away from the guards -which had been in a stupor after the doctor died- and dodged to the side. The figure had quietly lifted it's right arm. Before another moment passed by, the large group had been blown back into the wall with the door. The door had broke open by the force, and many dents were left in the wall. All were dead.

As if nothing had happened, the figure once again resumed it's walk forward, out of the room. Haruko lifted her self from the floor, where she had ducked. He... He hadn't even recognized her. Even as Atomsk, he recognized her... to the point where he tried to give her that power. Now, he openly attacked -not caring if she was there or not. For some reason, this unsettled something inside her. Cautiously, she stepped out of the room after him.

This must have been the fourth lab level -at least, it had been. Most of the walls were blown out and severely dented, the intruder alert had gone off, and would not stop buzzing. As Haruko reached the end of the hall, she noticed tons of bodies, most of the guards, some of them scientists or doctors. All of them were dead. There was no sign of Naota.

Suddenly, Haruko felt a hand on her shoulder. She suppressed jumping out of her skin and she threw the intruder over her head. The pathetic form of a familiar, now upside down and on it's head, robot was in front of her. Canti! -Where the hell have you been?! You idiot, do you know how late you are?!

The robot rightened himself and stood up before her. He had a slight blush where his cheeks would be and he placed a hand on the back of his head. Canti still had his jacket from Earth on, but the back of his head had been fixed. Words started to flash across his monitor:

Sorry, I was kidnapped too. They shut me down and fixed me up and stuff, hoping that I'd switch sides again. Then there was just a big wave of power that hit, and the interference woke me up.

Hahahaha! I knew my rewiring was too good for them to crack! Haruko cackled confidently. That wave of power just then... that was Naota. She wondered if Canti knew this. Well, there was time for that later. They still had to figure out what they were doing. At this thought, another alert went off.

Atomsk Detainment Center breach. Evacuate Lab Levels immidiantly. Repeat: Atomsk Detainment Center breach. Evacuate Lab Levels immidiantly.

Something twinged inside of her again. Naota could wait.