Walking Ghosts
Third: Successor
by Lady Virgo
"The final moments of
life crashes
around your head
It comes."
///
It was growing dark and Blues couldn't help but to fidget. He knew the winds were changing, and with the hopeless air it brought, he knew the world was about to be shaken until it's already splintering confidence would shatter. But he still stood and waited and watched, trying to find a weakness, trying to find a way to stop and protect.
The ever vigilant guardian.
It hadn't taken as much persuasion as he thought to bring Shadow to realize what was going on. Apparently the younger robot had done his own investigating and was already planning on his desertion. But he didn't tell him about Forte, he didn't have to. Just like Shadow didn't have to tell him about Quick.
Because in each other's unyielding gaze, they knew. They were already lost.
Shadow shouldered his bag, intent on gaining Blues' attention. It worked.
"Ready?" He asked quietly, voice silent on the wind.
With a final look, burning the imposing, great planes of Skull Fortress into his mind, Blues turned and began to walk off. "Let's go."
////
Magnet's death hit a lot harder than Flash ever would have thought. He figured everyone would be out celebrating, cheering, singing and spiting on the corpse. But the eerie silence that haunted the halls grew quieter, graver. He had expected Pharaoh to become unstable, flying off the handle at any little thing. He had expected raging, uncontrolled emotions, maybe even a tear every now and then. Maybe not to the extent Snake went through, but something at least similar.
Instead the golden eyed robot grew quiet. The tears he cried over Magnet's body were the only ones he shed, and even those he hadn't shown to anyone. Just the traces of red eyes and tried stains on his cheeks were brave enough to betray his steel shell. He still carried on as he had been, just a little more withdrawn, the air about him seemed somehow wounded.
It wasn't Pharaoh that had gotten unstable, Flash had realized once. It was the air around him that did. No one knew how to act around him. No one every really knew, even before everything had happened. Sometimes you couldn't do anything around him without getting some sort of disapproving look, sometimes he'd be more entertaining than the more theatrical Robot Masters. But his mood always changed on a dime and it was always a gamble to figure out what may or may not change it.
Now, though, no one knew what he was thinking. Everyone left him alone, no one even spoke to him but they watched him warily. Because he was still, in their view, in charge. They turned to him when there were problems, they had grown expectant to him taking care of them, dealing with whatever it was that was causing a disturbance. But he didn't seem to do anything anymore. The Enforcers rarely acted, just stayed out of the way and the others felt afraid. Because, as much as they felt the Enforcers abused them just for entertainment, it was protection. From the world, from Wily, from each other... And now no one had anyone looking out for them.
The Robot Masters were leaderless. And no one made a move to take up the reigns.
///
"I've finally finished."
He could barely remember when the scientist had last spoken without prompting.
"Its been completed. It just needs to be booted and then.."
And then..
He knew. It would be over.
Dark, sunken eyes roved over his bowed shoulders. "I want a group formed as my witness. I want this to be a memory forever engraved into the world."
And what better way to sear your mark into eternity than in something that couldn't die?
Except, Pharaoh bit the inside of his lip, three of them had already..
"This," Wily said quietly, "is my final order to you."
Perhaps he knew that this would be his final accomplishment. Perhaps he knew that time would wrap its decaying tendrils around him the moment those lifeless eyes would snap open out of its unnatural sleep into an unnatural life.
Or perhaps he knew, somehow, that this would be his abrupt ending.
"What will this one be called, Wily-sama?" Pharaoh dared to ask, head bowed respectively.
After a moment of silence, the subtle squeal of the chair indicated he had turned back to the computers. And he said into the screens: "Zero."
///
They looked surprise as Pharaoh came into the rec room, faint purpose in his eyes. Along with a vague look of resignation. Flash didn't like that mixture.
"In half an hour," Pharaoh said, voice soft but not lacking in his authority, "Plant, Hard and Skull will form in front of Wily-sama's room. The four of us are to be witnesses to the activation of his newest robot."
Hard frowned, moving the cigar from his thick lips. "All four of us? Isn't that a bit much? I mean, it's just an activation of one robot."
Pharaoh looked at him with heavy eyes. If they knew just what sort of creature this was, they may have understood. A part of him even thought he was going overboard with all of them, but over the years he had learned to trust his instincts.
"It will be the four of us." He said with an assuring voice. "And also, I'm putting Flash in charge of the Enforcers."
He shot to his feet so fast his sunglasses slid half way down his nose, face going several shades of pale. "Wh-What?" Flash managed to stammer. The others looked equally shocked.
"You're the new leader."
Unaware, he shook his head. "No way." Pharaoh stayed silent, but watched him carefully. "I can't be leader! That's you're job!"
"I'm unfit for it. So I'm passing the responsibility to you." He shot Flash a look that cut off another protest. "If I didn't think you could handle it, I wouldn't be saying this. But I have another responsibility that takes precedence over all of you. I need someone I can trust to take over. I know you'll be fine."
There was a long silence and Flash flung his arms open. "You're crazy!" Plant, realizing the mood he was in, quickly ushered the other Enforcers out of the room. "I'm not doing it!"
"You have to."
"I won't!" He glared through the dark tint of his shades. Then, with his anger seeming to have dissolved, he spoke in a more reasonable tone. "Look, if there was only one time that I could ever be completely honest with you, this would be it." Something in Pharaoh's gaze made it seem he wasn't even registering what he was trying to say, but he continued nonetheless.
"A long time ago, I was made to fight in the Second War. At that time, there was another guy that was made, too. He was pretty weak, all he had was speed, but people looked up to him. I didn't. I couldn't stand him, I didn't understand why everyone depended on him. When the Third Army was created, there was someone else that challenged him. He was strong, he was ruthless, he was merciless. All he cared about was himself, and that was fine. I could deal with it. In fact, his strength and determination excited me. I was happy following someone that was more than willing to control with fear and put that goody-two-shoes in his place. And after a while, some others came into the picture. And then came the Boss. Stronger, faster, he inspired loyalty either out of fear or respect. He didn't care about getting his hands dirty, but he didn't go looking for trouble either. I followed him because he was, out of the two, the more powerful one. But one day, he fell. Hard. And after that, everyone turned back to the second guy because they were afraid. He had shown his true power, not afraid to use another's feeling against them, all that mattered to him was coming out on top.
"If I had stayed how I was, if I was like the others, I would've gone back, too. But, during the time I followed the Boss, I came to realize why people liked the pansy in the beginning. Because he took care of them, he was always helping them, never looking for trouble, but stopping it every chance he got. He worried so no one else would, and he smiled because it made everyone else smile. I never had anyone that stuck their neck out as much as the Boss did, and I realized that, because of my loyalty to him, he was just as loyal to me. It made me realize that all the other times, I was just a tool. But under him, I was someone that could be depended on.
"I have someone I'm programmed to follow, but there was only one person I would ever acknowledge as 'Boss'. And it was never anyone but you. I'd follow you to the end of the world, Boss, because I know that you'd have my back every step of the way."
Pharaoh let out a soft breath. It seemed everything that made up his 'old self' was sinking fast. "I know, Flash. I trust you, and I depend on you. You've always been the one I knew would accomplish any task no matter what. You've been a great friend and companion, and I'm honored that you feel that way towards me. So then you should understand what I'm doing." He placed a hand on Flash's shoulder. "Magnet's always run everything behind the curtain, but I've always considered you my right hand man. And because of that, I can entrust the Enforcers to you."
"But-"
"Flash." He said sternly, yet no force surfaced on his face. "When I took over, I made an oath to protect Wily-sama at all cost. I swore over Magnet's body that I would take care of him. I'll stay by his side to the end. That is what I was programmed to do."
"Everything's changed, Pharaoh."
"Things have. But you still stood next to me."
Flash lowered his head, unable to say anything in response. Pharaoh squeezed his shoulder. "I know you'll take care of them. I trust you."
Thus ended the first and last time the two would truly talk.
///
The three of them stood off to the side, uncertain with what they were suppose to do. Since the arrival of the Sixth Army the Enforcers had been witnesses to every robot activation after. Because of the number of robots in each army, it was understandable why all the Enforcers would be present. But four for one.. It seemed like overkill. But Pharaoh had insisted and they wouldn't argue with him.
There was a reason for this, they knew. There was a reason for everything Pharaoh did. With that knowledge secured in their minds, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.
But they stayed quiet, waiting in nervous patience as Dr. Wily worked in a possessed fervor. Pharaoh stood close by him, silent but watching sharply for any sign of the man struggling.
They watched as the values moved on the various screens, studying the way they moved and stabilized. Simultaneously their attention was drawn when the old man paused to give one or two strained coughs, but eased back as he continued to work, as if it never happened.
He didn't notice it at first, but as time wore on Pharaoh began to realize that Dr. Wily was murmuring to himself, gradually growing louder. He watched, uncertain, as the scientist's sanity slipped with each number fell into place.
"This is it." It was barely above silent as Wily's knotted hand hovered over the final release. The tension increased almost to the point of being tangible. "This is the culmination of my life. All that I have worked for. All that my creations lead up to be." He seemed to lose focus, speaking quietly into the unforgiving gray of the computer panel.
Pharaoh felt inclined to speak, but, unable to find suitable words, stayed a silent shadow at his master's side.
Just as the robots thought the human had frozen- perhaps the creeping death had finally pounced, catching its defiant prey in the talons of rigor mortis before it became aware -there was a dark chuckle, growing to a level just below giggling and far beyond madness. Pharaoh watched as the final strains of sanity cut and fell into the darkness of lunacy.
"Rise..." Wily commanded. "Rise..! Awaken! My child!"
In the roar of his master's thin voice, green eyes snapped open, under the high screech of laughter was the whirl of lungs pumping slowly, becoming familiar with its workings. As the blonde reploid sat up, Wily's stability fled and he cried, alternating between madden laughter and tears of hopeless joy.
The blonde hunched forward a bit, eyes struggling to focus upon his armored lap. Wily squealed with glee, obsessively happy with the results. His creation- already fully equipped -was finally activated. And everything was coming to an end.
"Now, Zero," he commanded, "stand!"
A pregnant moment and something seemed to war behind Zero's eyes. A low, rumbling noise echoed in the underground lab and it took a moment for Pharaoh to realize that it was coming out of Zero. The reploid turned his head slowly, glaring green eyes that glowed. And turned gold.
In a flash of movement, he had a bone-snapping grip on Wily's arm, rearing the other one back and sinking gripping fingers into the doctor as the old man twisted. Something cracked and Wily collapsed, screaming as blood sloshed onto the floor.
"Stop him!" Pharaoh shouted. "Kill him if you have to!"
Their attacks barely even phased the mad reploid, twisting his arm back to plunge it back into the fragile body- intent to kill. Vines wrapped around his wrist, holding him back and he snarled through his bangs. Plant struggled to hold his ground, slowly being pulled forward towards the enraged Zero before Hard gripped at the vines, his girth barely able to keep him in place.
Zero tore that vines apart, shooting towards the two, bloody hands open and ready to tear them to shreds. Skull slide between them, deploying his shield. The crackling energy repelled Zero and he let out a low howl of frustration. Behind him, Pharaoh gingerly picked up Wily and moved back towards the exit. He handed the unconscious human to Plant.
"Take Wily-sama and leave! Hard, you go with him- cover him, take him to the nearest hospital. Quickly!"
"But-" Plant stammered, "what about Zero? And Skull?"
"I'll take care of it."
"Pharaoh-"
"GO!" He commanded. "We can't let him get to Wily-sama, no matter what!"
The two ran off, clambering up the steps noisily. No doubt some of the others have been alerted to the noise, Pharaoh hopped they wouldn't come down to investigate. He didn't think he could protect them all.
I just need to get rid of him, he thought. That's all that matters. He began to gather his energy, blood snapping in his veins as the chemicals built themselves up, conducting themselves into his hands, forming into a ball of heated plasma. Just a little longer...
Skull cried out as Zero smashed his hand through his weakening barrier, grabbing the bioroid by the face and dangling him in the air.
"Skull!" Pharaoh shouted and Zero turned to him with a smirk. Before he ripped Skull's arm off. "SKULL!"
Skull looked at him, blood streaming down from his helmet as his face was slowly crushed from the strength of Zero's fingers, whimpering. "Pharaoh..." With as much effort as if Skull was made of tissue, Zero tore him in half, head exploding in his hand in a shower of electricity and gore. He turned to Pharaoh, under the splattered blood, a sadistically pleased smile sat upon his face.
Shit, no.... no.... He gritted his teeth. That was my brother.... That was my brother... The plasma build up was starting to crack the armor around his hands. He couldn't take the chance that Zero was strong enough to withstand his most powerful attack. He'd be defenseless, not having enough time or strength to pull off another one. He had to stop him with this one.
Crying out, all the pain and anguish of the past months rushed through him, Pharaoh swung his arms up, letting the blast burst through the reinforced ceiling of the lab, tears running unnoticed down his face. Zero looked up, snarling as metal began to fall recklessly around them, being crushed under huge sheets as they plunged in an uncompassionate rain. Pharaoh fell to his knees, body throbbing in pain yet blissfully numb, watching the wreckage, watching as his own life came to an end.
Maggie.... he thought, before the room came down on him.
by Lady Virgo
"The final moments of
life crashes
around your head
It comes."
///
It was growing dark and Blues couldn't help but to fidget. He knew the winds were changing, and with the hopeless air it brought, he knew the world was about to be shaken until it's already splintering confidence would shatter. But he still stood and waited and watched, trying to find a weakness, trying to find a way to stop and protect.
The ever vigilant guardian.
It hadn't taken as much persuasion as he thought to bring Shadow to realize what was going on. Apparently the younger robot had done his own investigating and was already planning on his desertion. But he didn't tell him about Forte, he didn't have to. Just like Shadow didn't have to tell him about Quick.
Because in each other's unyielding gaze, they knew. They were already lost.
Shadow shouldered his bag, intent on gaining Blues' attention. It worked.
"Ready?" He asked quietly, voice silent on the wind.
With a final look, burning the imposing, great planes of Skull Fortress into his mind, Blues turned and began to walk off. "Let's go."
////
Magnet's death hit a lot harder than Flash ever would have thought. He figured everyone would be out celebrating, cheering, singing and spiting on the corpse. But the eerie silence that haunted the halls grew quieter, graver. He had expected Pharaoh to become unstable, flying off the handle at any little thing. He had expected raging, uncontrolled emotions, maybe even a tear every now and then. Maybe not to the extent Snake went through, but something at least similar.
Instead the golden eyed robot grew quiet. The tears he cried over Magnet's body were the only ones he shed, and even those he hadn't shown to anyone. Just the traces of red eyes and tried stains on his cheeks were brave enough to betray his steel shell. He still carried on as he had been, just a little more withdrawn, the air about him seemed somehow wounded.
It wasn't Pharaoh that had gotten unstable, Flash had realized once. It was the air around him that did. No one knew how to act around him. No one every really knew, even before everything had happened. Sometimes you couldn't do anything around him without getting some sort of disapproving look, sometimes he'd be more entertaining than the more theatrical Robot Masters. But his mood always changed on a dime and it was always a gamble to figure out what may or may not change it.
Now, though, no one knew what he was thinking. Everyone left him alone, no one even spoke to him but they watched him warily. Because he was still, in their view, in charge. They turned to him when there were problems, they had grown expectant to him taking care of them, dealing with whatever it was that was causing a disturbance. But he didn't seem to do anything anymore. The Enforcers rarely acted, just stayed out of the way and the others felt afraid. Because, as much as they felt the Enforcers abused them just for entertainment, it was protection. From the world, from Wily, from each other... And now no one had anyone looking out for them.
The Robot Masters were leaderless. And no one made a move to take up the reigns.
///
"I've finally finished."
He could barely remember when the scientist had last spoken without prompting.
"Its been completed. It just needs to be booted and then.."
And then..
He knew. It would be over.
Dark, sunken eyes roved over his bowed shoulders. "I want a group formed as my witness. I want this to be a memory forever engraved into the world."
And what better way to sear your mark into eternity than in something that couldn't die?
Except, Pharaoh bit the inside of his lip, three of them had already..
"This," Wily said quietly, "is my final order to you."
Perhaps he knew that this would be his final accomplishment. Perhaps he knew that time would wrap its decaying tendrils around him the moment those lifeless eyes would snap open out of its unnatural sleep into an unnatural life.
Or perhaps he knew, somehow, that this would be his abrupt ending.
"What will this one be called, Wily-sama?" Pharaoh dared to ask, head bowed respectively.
After a moment of silence, the subtle squeal of the chair indicated he had turned back to the computers. And he said into the screens: "Zero."
///
They looked surprise as Pharaoh came into the rec room, faint purpose in his eyes. Along with a vague look of resignation. Flash didn't like that mixture.
"In half an hour," Pharaoh said, voice soft but not lacking in his authority, "Plant, Hard and Skull will form in front of Wily-sama's room. The four of us are to be witnesses to the activation of his newest robot."
Hard frowned, moving the cigar from his thick lips. "All four of us? Isn't that a bit much? I mean, it's just an activation of one robot."
Pharaoh looked at him with heavy eyes. If they knew just what sort of creature this was, they may have understood. A part of him even thought he was going overboard with all of them, but over the years he had learned to trust his instincts.
"It will be the four of us." He said with an assuring voice. "And also, I'm putting Flash in charge of the Enforcers."
He shot to his feet so fast his sunglasses slid half way down his nose, face going several shades of pale. "Wh-What?" Flash managed to stammer. The others looked equally shocked.
"You're the new leader."
Unaware, he shook his head. "No way." Pharaoh stayed silent, but watched him carefully. "I can't be leader! That's you're job!"
"I'm unfit for it. So I'm passing the responsibility to you." He shot Flash a look that cut off another protest. "If I didn't think you could handle it, I wouldn't be saying this. But I have another responsibility that takes precedence over all of you. I need someone I can trust to take over. I know you'll be fine."
There was a long silence and Flash flung his arms open. "You're crazy!" Plant, realizing the mood he was in, quickly ushered the other Enforcers out of the room. "I'm not doing it!"
"You have to."
"I won't!" He glared through the dark tint of his shades. Then, with his anger seeming to have dissolved, he spoke in a more reasonable tone. "Look, if there was only one time that I could ever be completely honest with you, this would be it." Something in Pharaoh's gaze made it seem he wasn't even registering what he was trying to say, but he continued nonetheless.
"A long time ago, I was made to fight in the Second War. At that time, there was another guy that was made, too. He was pretty weak, all he had was speed, but people looked up to him. I didn't. I couldn't stand him, I didn't understand why everyone depended on him. When the Third Army was created, there was someone else that challenged him. He was strong, he was ruthless, he was merciless. All he cared about was himself, and that was fine. I could deal with it. In fact, his strength and determination excited me. I was happy following someone that was more than willing to control with fear and put that goody-two-shoes in his place. And after a while, some others came into the picture. And then came the Boss. Stronger, faster, he inspired loyalty either out of fear or respect. He didn't care about getting his hands dirty, but he didn't go looking for trouble either. I followed him because he was, out of the two, the more powerful one. But one day, he fell. Hard. And after that, everyone turned back to the second guy because they were afraid. He had shown his true power, not afraid to use another's feeling against them, all that mattered to him was coming out on top.
"If I had stayed how I was, if I was like the others, I would've gone back, too. But, during the time I followed the Boss, I came to realize why people liked the pansy in the beginning. Because he took care of them, he was always helping them, never looking for trouble, but stopping it every chance he got. He worried so no one else would, and he smiled because it made everyone else smile. I never had anyone that stuck their neck out as much as the Boss did, and I realized that, because of my loyalty to him, he was just as loyal to me. It made me realize that all the other times, I was just a tool. But under him, I was someone that could be depended on.
"I have someone I'm programmed to follow, but there was only one person I would ever acknowledge as 'Boss'. And it was never anyone but you. I'd follow you to the end of the world, Boss, because I know that you'd have my back every step of the way."
Pharaoh let out a soft breath. It seemed everything that made up his 'old self' was sinking fast. "I know, Flash. I trust you, and I depend on you. You've always been the one I knew would accomplish any task no matter what. You've been a great friend and companion, and I'm honored that you feel that way towards me. So then you should understand what I'm doing." He placed a hand on Flash's shoulder. "Magnet's always run everything behind the curtain, but I've always considered you my right hand man. And because of that, I can entrust the Enforcers to you."
"But-"
"Flash." He said sternly, yet no force surfaced on his face. "When I took over, I made an oath to protect Wily-sama at all cost. I swore over Magnet's body that I would take care of him. I'll stay by his side to the end. That is what I was programmed to do."
"Everything's changed, Pharaoh."
"Things have. But you still stood next to me."
Flash lowered his head, unable to say anything in response. Pharaoh squeezed his shoulder. "I know you'll take care of them. I trust you."
Thus ended the first and last time the two would truly talk.
///
The three of them stood off to the side, uncertain with what they were suppose to do. Since the arrival of the Sixth Army the Enforcers had been witnesses to every robot activation after. Because of the number of robots in each army, it was understandable why all the Enforcers would be present. But four for one.. It seemed like overkill. But Pharaoh had insisted and they wouldn't argue with him.
There was a reason for this, they knew. There was a reason for everything Pharaoh did. With that knowledge secured in their minds, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.
But they stayed quiet, waiting in nervous patience as Dr. Wily worked in a possessed fervor. Pharaoh stood close by him, silent but watching sharply for any sign of the man struggling.
They watched as the values moved on the various screens, studying the way they moved and stabilized. Simultaneously their attention was drawn when the old man paused to give one or two strained coughs, but eased back as he continued to work, as if it never happened.
He didn't notice it at first, but as time wore on Pharaoh began to realize that Dr. Wily was murmuring to himself, gradually growing louder. He watched, uncertain, as the scientist's sanity slipped with each number fell into place.
"This is it." It was barely above silent as Wily's knotted hand hovered over the final release. The tension increased almost to the point of being tangible. "This is the culmination of my life. All that I have worked for. All that my creations lead up to be." He seemed to lose focus, speaking quietly into the unforgiving gray of the computer panel.
Pharaoh felt inclined to speak, but, unable to find suitable words, stayed a silent shadow at his master's side.
Just as the robots thought the human had frozen- perhaps the creeping death had finally pounced, catching its defiant prey in the talons of rigor mortis before it became aware -there was a dark chuckle, growing to a level just below giggling and far beyond madness. Pharaoh watched as the final strains of sanity cut and fell into the darkness of lunacy.
"Rise..." Wily commanded. "Rise..! Awaken! My child!"
In the roar of his master's thin voice, green eyes snapped open, under the high screech of laughter was the whirl of lungs pumping slowly, becoming familiar with its workings. As the blonde reploid sat up, Wily's stability fled and he cried, alternating between madden laughter and tears of hopeless joy.
The blonde hunched forward a bit, eyes struggling to focus upon his armored lap. Wily squealed with glee, obsessively happy with the results. His creation- already fully equipped -was finally activated. And everything was coming to an end.
"Now, Zero," he commanded, "stand!"
A pregnant moment and something seemed to war behind Zero's eyes. A low, rumbling noise echoed in the underground lab and it took a moment for Pharaoh to realize that it was coming out of Zero. The reploid turned his head slowly, glaring green eyes that glowed. And turned gold.
In a flash of movement, he had a bone-snapping grip on Wily's arm, rearing the other one back and sinking gripping fingers into the doctor as the old man twisted. Something cracked and Wily collapsed, screaming as blood sloshed onto the floor.
"Stop him!" Pharaoh shouted. "Kill him if you have to!"
Their attacks barely even phased the mad reploid, twisting his arm back to plunge it back into the fragile body- intent to kill. Vines wrapped around his wrist, holding him back and he snarled through his bangs. Plant struggled to hold his ground, slowly being pulled forward towards the enraged Zero before Hard gripped at the vines, his girth barely able to keep him in place.
Zero tore that vines apart, shooting towards the two, bloody hands open and ready to tear them to shreds. Skull slide between them, deploying his shield. The crackling energy repelled Zero and he let out a low howl of frustration. Behind him, Pharaoh gingerly picked up Wily and moved back towards the exit. He handed the unconscious human to Plant.
"Take Wily-sama and leave! Hard, you go with him- cover him, take him to the nearest hospital. Quickly!"
"But-" Plant stammered, "what about Zero? And Skull?"
"I'll take care of it."
"Pharaoh-"
"GO!" He commanded. "We can't let him get to Wily-sama, no matter what!"
The two ran off, clambering up the steps noisily. No doubt some of the others have been alerted to the noise, Pharaoh hopped they wouldn't come down to investigate. He didn't think he could protect them all.
I just need to get rid of him, he thought. That's all that matters. He began to gather his energy, blood snapping in his veins as the chemicals built themselves up, conducting themselves into his hands, forming into a ball of heated plasma. Just a little longer...
Skull cried out as Zero smashed his hand through his weakening barrier, grabbing the bioroid by the face and dangling him in the air.
"Skull!" Pharaoh shouted and Zero turned to him with a smirk. Before he ripped Skull's arm off. "SKULL!"
Skull looked at him, blood streaming down from his helmet as his face was slowly crushed from the strength of Zero's fingers, whimpering. "Pharaoh..." With as much effort as if Skull was made of tissue, Zero tore him in half, head exploding in his hand in a shower of electricity and gore. He turned to Pharaoh, under the splattered blood, a sadistically pleased smile sat upon his face.
Shit, no.... no.... He gritted his teeth. That was my brother.... That was my brother... The plasma build up was starting to crack the armor around his hands. He couldn't take the chance that Zero was strong enough to withstand his most powerful attack. He'd be defenseless, not having enough time or strength to pull off another one. He had to stop him with this one.
Crying out, all the pain and anguish of the past months rushed through him, Pharaoh swung his arms up, letting the blast burst through the reinforced ceiling of the lab, tears running unnoticed down his face. Zero looked up, snarling as metal began to fall recklessly around them, being crushed under huge sheets as they plunged in an uncompassionate rain. Pharaoh fell to his knees, body throbbing in pain yet blissfully numb, watching the wreckage, watching as his own life came to an end.
Maggie.... he thought, before the room came down on him.