CHAPTER 7
ON MY HONOR
The next day, everyone crowded around the lab table while Darren and Professor Olson pieced the four computer chips together.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Darren?" Sharon asked.
"Each chip has ridges that fit together with the others' like a jigsaw puzzle," Darren said as he flipped his safety mask up for a moment. "I'm pretty sure I'm doing this right."
"Besides," Olson said. "We won't weld them together until we're sure we have the right combination."
"How're you doing this morning, Darren?" Iris asked.
"I'm feeling really great, actually," Darren replied. "I'm almost totally healed!... Urgh... Except for my left side. That needs a bit longer."
"Anyway, we should be at this for a while longer, so you guys should take a break," Olson said. "You too, Darren."
"Yeah, we've been globetrotting for days," Smith said. "I think I'm ready to just sit back and watch some TV."
"I need to practice my martial arts," Sharon said as she threw a few punches. "I don't wanna get sloppy!"
"You guys go ahead," Iris said. "I'm just going to have a little quiet time."
"Suit yourself, Iris," Smith answered. "Hey, why don't you help Snake Man with his exhibit maintenance? That would be nice."
"Yeah, I guess that would be all right," Iris said as she grabbed a spare labcoat and started out. "Wanna come, Darren?"
"Ahh, why not?" Darren asked as he took another coat and joined Iris. "As long as I stay off ladders, I'll be fine."
The museum inhabitants merrily set to their activities, unaware that, on the rooftop of a nearby building, a hulky figure was looking in on them.
"So, Iris," Snake Man said as he inspected an Incan statue's head and dusted off the filthy areas. "I've heard you've been having a lot of adventures."
"Yeah, I have," Iris replied as she cleaned the statue's feet. "I've seen the new world and collected everything I need to get Zero back. Now all I need to do is find out where he is..."
"I bet we'll find out," Darren said as he polished the statue's torso. "In the history books I've read, he voluntarily sealed himself up somewhere... Didn't you say that your dream told you where he was?"
"X told me that Zero was in a tunnel past a bridge over a lava pool," Iris answered. "He didn't say where."
"Lava pool, eh?" Snake Man asked. "Well, there're only so many caves and ruins in the world with volcanic activity inside of them. That'll narrow your search significantly."
"'Your?'" Iris asked. "Snake Man, you're talking like this doesn't concern you."
"Well, I don't see how it would," Snake Man explained. "I mean, I don't know this Zero fellow, and you didn't ask me to come along with you before."
"Aww, sorry, Snake Man," Darren said. "I didn't realize that you minded."
"Don't worry about it," Snake Man muttered. "Besides, I got the whole museum fixed up; that's nothing to sneeze at, either."
"Well, from what I got from our talks, you seemed content to stay here," Iris said. "I thought you wouldn't have wanted to come."
"At first I probably would have turned down the offer, yes," Snake Man said as he scratched his head in thought. "But after seeing you guys going out to all sorts of places and getting to know each other better and all, I can't help but feel a little left out."
"Sorry about that, Snake; honestly," Darren apologized. "Well, to make it up to you, we'll help you with your entire rounds today."
"AND would you like to come with us to find Zero?" Iris asked.
Snake Man gave the two a stubborn look, but then grinned and laughed. "Ahh, how can I say no?" he chuckled. "You bet I'll come!... Well, providing the museum doesn't get smashed up again."
"Wonderful!" Iris said as she smiled warmly at Snake Man. "We'll be glad to have you along."
"It'll be good to get out for a bit," Snake Man replied. "But first, let's keep working. I noticed the Egyptian sarcophagi were looking absolutely horrible!"
"Hmmm..." Olson frowned as he delicately tried to piece the four chips together. "No... That's not it... Drat! This syrum is very hard to assemble."
"Oh, keep at it," Smith replied as he typed away at his computer. "I bet you'll figure it out sooner or later."
"There're so many different ridges on each cube..." Olson growled. "I don't even know what this thing is supposed to look like! It's like one big cube puzzle or something..."
"I just got a letter from Dr. Bahai," Smith said. "Looks like he's put Storm Owl and his Repliforce followers to work excavating a new ruin. Good; I knew he'd find something for them to do."
"Cube puzzle..." Olson grumbled. "Cube puzzle... Cube..."
Smith sighed heavily. "This is getting way too dangerous," Smith said. "Ever since I revived Iris, everyone's been trying to either destroy or capture her..."
"Cube puzzle?..." Olson asked himself. "Hmm..."
"I'm glad that Iris is happy and enjoying herself," Smith said as he sat back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "But all we've done is fight. I brought her into the world again so she could have a peaceful and happy life... But it doesn't look like that'll happen..."
"Cube puzzle..." Olson repeated. "Cube puzzle?"
"This all can't just be a coincidence..." Smith growled as he started typing on his machine. "Someone is trying to hurt Iris... And I think I have a pretty good clue-"
"EUREKA!!!" Olson yelled as he leaped from his chair and spread his arms in victory. Smith tumbled out of his chair in surprise, then glared up at him. "Sorry," Olson apologized. "I've always wanted to say that."
"There we go!" Snake Man said as he dropped his squeegee into a bucket of water and climbed down his ladder. "If that's not a clean window, I don't know what is!"
"Well, that's everything, right?" Darren asked. Iris and he had been helping Snake Man with his chores throughout the museum since the morning, and now the sky was just beginning to turn orange.
"Yep," Snake Man said. "Another day's work well done. Thanks to you guys, I got it all finished before dinner, too. Thanks!"
"You really love working here, don't you, Snake Man?" Iris asked.
"You bet!" Snake Man replied with a smile. "But still, I would like to get out and see the world... You know, Iris, after you guys left on your adventure, I started thinking... You're out there, doing what you want to do, right?"
"Well, I want to find Zero..." Iris answered. "...I suppose you could say that I'm doing that, yes."
"Well, I made an important decision," Snake Man said. "I want to become... an archaeologist."
"An archaeologist?" Darren asked.
"Yeah!" Snake Man replied. "That way, I wouldn't just get to be around old artifacts; I'd get to actually FIND them! That's what I'm gonna do, yessir!"
"That's really neat, Snake Man," Iris said with a smile. "I hope you can become one."
"Well, I'll need plenty of money for the education, and I'm still next door to broke, so I'll be here a while longer," Snake Man grinned. "Until then, I'd be happy to help you guys out."
"Trust me, Snake Man, you will," Iris said. "You're definitely coming with us next time; that's a promise."
"Great," Snake Man chuckled. "Oh, drat, I remembered one last chore we should do... Come on."
Iris and Darren looked at each other in confusion, then turned and followed Snake Man.
Sharon inhaled deeply, then with a sharp yell flew through the air, and a cement block was smashed to dust as if it were styrofoam. She then threw fifty rapid-fire punches into a punching bag and knocked it clear across the room. Finally, she jumped above a training dummy, whipped out her arm cannon and lashed a tough, red tentacle straight through the doll. She landed on her feet, wiped the sweat off her brow and laughed with satisfaction.
"Whew..." she panted as she grabbed a glass of water from a nearby cooler. "I think I've integrated that into my training pretty nicely."
"Hey, that was nice," Professor Smith's voice broke in on Sharon's thoughts. Sharon whirled around to see him standing in the doorway. "I thought I'd find you down here. Good thing I got the museum board to set up this training room for its security guards." He turned and glanced at the tentacle hanging from Sharon's arm cannon. "Iris told me that you defeated Launch Octopus when we were in Australia. That's from him, I'm guessing."
"Really?" Sharon asked as she smiled at her arm cannon. "I guess he was useful after all."
"From the look of it, I'd say you have his Sonic Tentacle weapon," Smith commented. "Use it well."
"You bet, prof!" Sharon chuckled.
"Good..." Smith said with a half-hearted sigh.
"Huh?" Sharon asked. "Hey, prof, you sound kinda down. What's going on?"
"Hmm?" Smith asked. "Oh. Sorry, Sharon; I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I'm starting to get an idea of what's behind all this Maverick activity..."
"What do you mean?" Sharon asked.
"All the Mavericks we faced were in the same ruins as the chips," Smith said as he scratched his stubble and paced. "They've all been after both the chips and Iris... It's exactly what he would do."
"'He?'" Sharon asked. "'He' who?"
"Yes, they're certainly all connected to him," Smith muttered, seeming not to hear Sharon's question. "I'm sure of it! And sooner or later..."
"Prof, you're really creepin' me out, here!" Sharon huffed. "WHO are you talking about?!"
Smith opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly the entire building shook violently. "What the?!" Smith gasped as he whipped around and stared out of the museum's front windows. For a brief moment, he saw a dull pink blur zipping upwards, but then it was gone.
"Prof, what's goin' on?" Sharon asked as she glanced around crossly.
"I don't know, but I think Iris is in danger!" Smith said as he grabbed Sharon and raced out of the room. "Come on! We have to find her!"
"Clean the vents?!" Darren asked as he looked around. Iris, Snake Man and he stood on the museum roof, looking out over downtown St. Paul.
"Yep," Snake Man replied. "These vents have to be cleaned to keep good ventilation. So, after I'm done here, I'll be done for the day." He walked over to the largest vent and peered inside.
"Oh, boy..." Iris sighed as she hugged herself for warmth. "It's pretty chilly up here..."
"Sometimes I wish they wouldn't keep the city in winter all the time," Darren muttered as he shoved something large and fuzzy at Iris. "Here, have a coat."
"Thanks, Darren," Iris said as she donned the warm garment. "I feel warmer already."
"Hmm..." Snake Man said as he looked at Darren and Iris. "That's weird..."
"What's up, Snake Man?" Iris asked.
"Well," Snake Man chuckled embarrassedly. "It looks like there's something clogging this vent, but my arms are too thick to reach in and get it."
"Really?" Iris asked. "That's a shame... Here, let me help; my arms are thinner."
Iris walked over to the vent, lean in and groped around. Almost instantly her fingers closed around something long and crinkly. "Hey, I've got it!" she cried as she tugged hard and dislodged the object.
"Hey, great!" Snake Man said.
"What was it?" Darren asked.
Iris looked at the object; it was a roll of weathered, thick, blue paper tied with a string. "What in the world?..." she asked as she undid the string and opened the roll. Almost immediately, her eyes widened in amazement.
"Woah!" Darren exclaimed as he peeked over Iris's shoulder. "Are those what I think they are?!"
Iris read the large print on the paper: OFFICIAL MAVERICK HUNTER ZERO Z-SABER SCHEMATIC.
"The schematics for Zero's sword..." Iris whispered as she pulled the weapon out and held it to the paper.
"I thought Zero's blade was one-of-a-kind," Darren said. "...It looks like someone managed to analyze it and write up a report."
"Yeah!" Snake Man chuckled. "Cool, huh?"
"What?" Iris asked. "You knew about this, Snake Man?"
"When I was repairing the whole you made in Smith's lab, I found that near where you found the Z-Saber," Snake Man pointed out. "Isn't that neat? I don't know what you'd do with it, but at least we have it."
"Yeah, that's really cool!" Darren laughed. "Thanks a bunch, Snake Man!"
"Well, I wasn't kidding about cleaning the vents, but if you're cold, you can go back down now," Snake Man said. "I can take it from here."
"Good," Iris said. "I'm freezing! C'mon, Darren..."
Suddenly, everyone heard a loud rumbling, and the building started to shake. "Agh! What's going on?!" Darren asked as he nervously looked around.
"I don't know... but..." Iris gulped. "I don't like it..."
Suddenly, a huge, rolling, pink ball flew up from the building side and smashed onto the roof. It stopped spinning and uncurled to reveal a solemn-looking armadillo Reploid with a gigantic suit of armor.
"What the?!" Iris asked.
"Hey, that isn't just going to buff out!" Snake Man yelled.
"You are Iris Thorne?" the Reploid asked Iris.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Iris asked with a frown.
"I am Armored Armadillo," Armored Armadillo said with a polite nod. "As for what I want, I want what everyone else wants. So... kindly relinquish the chips you have gathered, and come with me."
"No way!" Darren growled as he balled up his fists. "There's no way you're taking Iris! Agh!" He snarled and clutched at his side.
"Easy, Darren," Snake Man said as he put a hand on Darren's shoulder. "You're still pretty beat up."
"What's going on?" Iris asked. "Why are all sorts of Reploids trying to catch me?"
"The master requires your assistance," Armadillo replied. "With what, I do not know. But if you don't cooperate, I'm under orders to take you in however I need to."
"Well, you seem like a nice enough guy..." Iris said. "I'm not going to go with you, though. Do you really need to fight?"
"The master has commanded it, so I shall I do it," Armadillo said solemnly. "Obedience brings victory, and victory brings honor. Nothing you can say will deter me."
"I was afraid of that..." Iris sighed sadly. "Why do I always have to fight?..."
"We shall have a one-on-one duel, according to the code of the Samurai," Armored Armadillo said as he produced a laser-bladed katana from somewhere in his shell. "I know that you have a sword. I must request that you use only it."
"Only my Z-Saber?" Iris asked as she looked down at the weapon. "But... I haven't had a lot of practice with it..."
"Use the Z-Saber..." Armadillo said as a compartment on his forehead snapped open and a gun popped out and aimed at Darren and Snake Man. "...Otherwise, you shall make your friends... very unhappy."
"Aww, geez, that's below the belt!" Snake Man huffed angrily.
"Do what you think is best, Iris," Darren said as he glanced at Iris. "We'll go with it."
Iris gave Darren and Snake Man a worried glance, then activated her Z-Saber. "All right, we'll do this your way," she said.
"Good," Armadillo said as a faint smile pursed his mouth and he raised his katana. "Whomever draws first blood wins the duel. Are you ready? Prepare yourself!"
Armored Armadillo charged across the roof and lunged. Iris blocked his attack and staggered backwards, panting nervously. "You are afraid?" Armadillo asked as he glared stonily at Iris. "You should be. If you don't wish to continue, I'll cut you with one stroke. You had enough honor to accept my challenge, after all."
"(What've I gotten myself into?!)" Iris thought. "(I don't know how to duel like this! There's no way I'll win!... But... That attack he did looked kind of familiar... Maybe...)"
Armadillo lunged forward with a series of stabs and swipes, driving Iris to the roof's edge, where they clashed in a deadlock. "You aren't very skilled with your blade..." he growled. "Perhaps I should have finished you right away."
Iris looked at Armadillo with determined eyes. "I've just gotten started!" she declared as she gathered up her strength, shoved Armadillo away and thrust at him until they were on the center of the rooftop again.
"So, you may have skill after all," Armadillo said as the blades clashed again.
"I've watched the best," Iris replied as she kept the deadlock.
"Oh?" Armadillo asked. "Perhaps there is more than that..."
"Hmm?" Iris asked as she loosened her grip and eyed Armored Armadillo questioningly.
Armadillo grinned darkly and gave Iris a sharp shove. She crashed to the ground, rolled a few meters and struggled to her knees. "Never let your guard down," he said as he advanced on Iris with his katana raised.
"Ooohhh..." Iris swooned as she staggered to her feet and rubbed the impacted spot. "That was a pretty low blow..." she grunted.
"I did it with the sword, which makes it an honorable move," Armadillo replied.
"You're really big on honor, aren't you?" Iris asked.
"My honor is my life," Armadillo said. "Without it, I am nothing."
"Kinda weird that you'd find honor in an unfair fight like this..." Iris said.
"There is great honor in fulfilling my master's requests," Armadillo replied. "My victory brings honor to him, and he gives honor to me."
"Yeah?..." Iris asked as she eyed Armadillo's katana. "Well, maybe you should get your honor from a different source!"
Iris rolled away when Armadillo stabbed at her and got to her feet. "Come on!" she said. "There's still plenty of fight left in me!"
"Hmm..." Armadillo said, genuinely impressed. "You have plenty of spirit; I'll give you that much. However..." He lunged at Iris again, and a tear opened in Iris's outfit.
"Agh!" Iris cried as she leaped backwards. Armadillo smiled coldly.
"My blade is so swift, you'll never see it approach," Armadillo said as he advanced again. "Perhaps you should surrender and lose with honor."
Iris frowned defiantly. She didn't want to lose to Armored Armadillo, but he was much more skilled than she was. How could she defeat him?
As Iris sat thinking, she started to feel strange; a warm, vibrant sensation welled up in her stomach, and she slowly began to feel her confidence returning. She had watched her brother Colonel and Zero spar with their sabers many times, but now those observations were actually coming together and forming something great. Suddenly, in a flash, it came to her, and she rose to her feet.
"Hmm?" Armored Armadillo asked. "What's this?"
With a defiant cry that didn't sound like her own voice, Iris lifted the Z-Saber and flew at Armadillo. Armadillo ran at Iris with his own blade swinging, and a sparking electric clash split the cold air. Both combatants stood still where they landed.
"...What happened?!..." Darren asked.
"I can't watch!" Snake Man gulped.
Iris slowly turned and faced her friends with a kind smile. Her uniform, aside from the previous tear, was intact.
"Iris! You're OK!" Darren cheered happily.
Armored Armadillo emitted a small gasp, then fell to one knee as a small wound opened up on his chest and a drop of blood splashed on the icy stone roof. "I-impossible..." he choked. "I... I lost?..."
"Wow! You did it, Iris!!!" Snake Man cried. "You beat 'im!"
"Yeah..." Darren said. "But how did you do it?"
"I... I don't know," Iris said as she scratched her head. "I remember that I used to watch Colonel and Zero spar... Maybe I just picked something up from them."
"Well, whatever you picked up, it sure worked," Snake Man said. "Nice work."
Iris glanced over at Armored Armadillo, who was getting to his feet. She quickly motioned for Darren and Snake Man to get out of the way.
Armored Armadillo lumbered over and stared down at Iris. "You have defeated me," he stated.
"Yeah... I guess so," Iris replied.
Armadillo knelt before her and lowered his guise. "I offer you my head," he said.
"What?!" Iris exclaimed. "Are you crazy?! I'm not going to decapitate you!"
"So be it," Armadillo said as he raised his katana to his throat.
"...What are you doing?" Iris asked in alarm.
"To lose a battle is to lose honor," Armadillo said. "To retain my master's honor, I must perish... By your hand or mine, it doesn't matter."
"What?!" Iris exclaimed. "What kind of rule is that?!"
"It is in the code of the samurai," Armadillo replied. "To go against the code is the most horrific infraction a samurai can commit."
"But killing yourself just because you lost?" Darren asked. "That's not fair at all!"
"Fair or not, it is the code," Armadillo sighed. "I am prepared. It is time..."
"No..." Iris whispered. "Please, no more killing... I've seen enough."
"HOLD IT!!!"
Everyone turned to see Professor Smith and Sharon emerge from the service elevator. Armored Armadillo's eyes widened. "You..." he said.
"Armadillo! You know you don't have to do this!" Smith huffed angrily.
"Iris defeated me," Armadillo replied. "What other choice do I have? I must keep my master's honor intact."
"Your master's honor!" Smith snorted. "Your master doesn't have a shred of honor, and you know it! Why would you take your life for someone like him?!"
"He is the master," Armadillo replied. "I must obey."
"But if you know what he's doing is wrong, and you disagree with it, why go along with it?" Smith asked. "Wake up, Armadillo! You're not doing him any favors by killing yourself!"
Armored Armadillo gave Smith a thoughtful look, and after a tense silence, sheathed his katana. "I suppose you're right..." he said. "The master has brought nothing good upon the people... Perhaps I should not be so quick to defend him."
"Yeah..." Smith said as he smiled. "You're your own man, Armadillo. You should do what you want, not what he wants."
Armadillo nodded. "Yes... Now I understand..." he replied. He turned back to Iris and knelt again. "Thank you, Iris, for sparing me," he said.
"Err, don't mention it," Iris replied.
"Please, take this," Armadillo said as he opened a compartment in his arm, took out a small cube and handed it to Iris. "This is my strongest attack, Rolling Shield. Think of it as a prize for defeating me."
"Th-thanks," Iris said as she accepted the cube.
"And many thanks to you, old friend," Armadillo said as he turned to Smith. "Your words were always full of honor. Thank you for coming to me now."
"No problem," Smith said with a laugh.
"I don't get it," Darren said. "What's going on here?"
"A while ago, Armadillo and I worked for the same guy," Smith answered. "Of course, that was before I quit and joined the museum, but... Well, you get the picture."
(Flashback)
As the sun slowly set outside the office window, 33 year-old Professor Ross Smith sat poring over some papers and biting his lip in thought. Armored Armadillo stood in the corner, watching him work. "Are you certain about this?" Armadillo asked.
"I've been poring over these reports for the past twelve hours," Smith answered. "What the boss is doing is wrong. I won't allow it!"
"But the master has the final say in all projects," Armadillo said. "You cannot hope to defeat him here."
"Exactly," Smith said as he slapped on a tweed jacket and matching cap. "Someone's got to stop him... I'm gonna get to it before he can; that'll teach him to toy with this!"
"You are just going to leave?" Armadillo asked. "Such an act is worth great dishonor."
"Not in this case," Smith said as he tossed the papers to Armadillo. "Try reading 'em yourself."
Armadillo set the papers back down. "Mine is not to question the master," he replied. "Go if you must, though."
"All right," Smith said as he opened the office door. "See you around, Armored Armadillo."
The door slammed shut, and Armadillo was left alone in the dusk-filled office.
(End Flashback)
"Yes... Smith always treated me more like a friend than a servant," Armadillo said as he turned away. "Perhaps we shall meet again someday, friends. Until then, stay safe... The master will send others."
"Others?" Snake Man asked. "So, does that mean everyone who was after Iris worked for the same guy?"
Suddenly, the air split with high, psychotic laughter. "Huh?!" Sharon asked as she looked around. "What's goin' on?!"
"Hyeee hee hee heeee!!!" a voice cackled. "You're right, kid! We all work for the same guy!"
"No..." Armadillo gasped as he whirled around.
The air around the edge of the roof shimmered, and a shiny, green, lizard-like Reploid appeared. His long, red tongue flicked in and out, and his eyes darted to each person with malice. "I thought he'd screw up, so I tailed 'im here," the Reploid sneered.
"Sting Chameleon!" Armadillo growled.
"Another of 'the master's' employees, I'm guessing?" Darren gulped.
"Very perceptive!" Sting Chameleon laughed. "Well, unlike some blowhards, I don't care if the property's a bit damaged when I take it in. So get ready to bite it, Iris!"
"Oh, no you don't!" Snake Man declared. "Nobody's taking anyone!"
"Get lost and tell your master that we won't take this abuse any more," Smith growled.
"Oh? So, you, huh?" Chameleon chuckled. "Yeah, I heard about you... Get ready to pay for what you did, old fogey!"
"Old?!" Smith snarled angrily. "I'm only 35!!!"
"Shut up!" Chameleon laughed. In a flash, his iron tongue shot out like a bullet, flying straight towards Professor Smith.
"Professor!!!" Iris cried.
Suddenly, Sting Chameleon's tongue stopped dead. Everyone looked to see Armored Armadillo standing in front of Professor Smith, the tongue wrapped around his arm, and his katana blazing in the other. "I won't allow you to harm them," he stated coldly as he yanked Chameleon's tongue.
Sting Chameleon sailed over the group and landed on his feet behind them. "Well, fine, pal!" he laughed. "Guess I'll just have to tell the boss I had to execute another traitor! HAAAA!!!"
Chameleon swung his spikey tail, and a hail of thorns embedded themselves in Armadillo's chest. He thrust out his arms and sprayed the warrior with green energy blasts to bring him to his knees. FInally, with total precision, he sent his tongue straight through Armadillo's head.
"Oh, no!!!" Iris cried as Armadillo fell to the ground with a dull THUD.
"Armadillo!" Smith cried as he ran to the downed Reploid and helped him sit up.
Armadillo grunted in pain. "I'm... fading fast..." he whispered.
"Armadillo, tell me!" Smith said. "Why? Why did you do that?!"
Armadillo gave Smith a warm smile. "You told me that I should do what I want to do..." he said.
"...Armadillo..." Smith whispered.
With the smile still on his face, Armadillo's eyes closed and he slumped backwards. Smith lowered his body back to the ground and got up, his eyes starting to water.
"You... You rotten bastard!!!" Smith yelled at Chameleon. "You're not gonna get away with that!!!"
"Hee hee hee," Chameleon chuckled. "And what're YOU gonna do about it, fleshy?!"
Sting Chameleon took a step forward, but he leaped back from a barrage of plasma blasts. He looked up to see Iris, Snake Man and Sharon glaring at him, their guns trained on his feet. "He's not going to do anything," Sharon growled. "It's US you should be worried about!"
Sting Chameleon blinked in surprise, then laughed crazily again. "You think you can take me?! Fine! Bring it on, chumps!!! But I'm not gonna go down easy!"
A cold wind blew over the rooftop. Iris glanced over at Armored Armadillo's lifeless form and frowned. If a powerful Reploid like him didn't last against Sting Chameleon, what chance did her friends and she have?