Mika: believe me, after three hours at a computer screen, you need a break.
002: suuuuuuuuuuuuuure you did
Mika: in that time while I was gone, I read Fruits Basket and volume four of Cyborg 009
002: whatever.
Black Ghost: let me guess... I'm in the story where this Mika figure doesn't own anything but the gem girls and herself.
Mika: what was that all about?
Black Ghost: *pulls off BG accessories* cause I'm not Black Ghost!
Mika: o_O
~@~@~@~@~
The three elements were coming together as one now. The fire whirlwind had collided with the tsunami, and they were making their way toward 0016b. Spinel's storm was making in more vicious by showering it with chunks of ice. The ice got caught up in the whirlwind and got spat back out in a matter of minutes. Acting like bullets, they aimed at 0016b.
Ruby wasn't in her best of moods. As it turned out, Sapphire had told her it would be a bad idea to interfere quite yet. So Ruby had to wait until she was contacted by one of them. She frowned, then turned to Jade.
"Jade, can you freeze 0016? Then those three would have a better chance of catching her, and we'd stand a better chance of winning against this thing." Ruby asked Jade. Jade looked at her, but understood the request. She let loose a very large amount of ice, but it didn't hit 0016.
Instead, it hit Topaz. In an instant, Topaz had burned it off with a flurry of curses. She seized the excess energy and twisted it into a ball. 0016b soon received that energy ball in the face.
{Ok, since b0016 is out of the running due to Mika's large magic attack, it's safe to call the remaining 0016 just plain 0016.}
Morgan had had enough of riding on Diamond's snake-like beast. She sprang off and dematerialized. Within a minute, she had rematerialized next to Joe. Ruby was looking at her, seeming to have steam coming out of her ears.
"That is it." She stated as she tied her hair up into a loose braid. "I'm not about to let them have all the fun with 0016. Who's coming with me?"
Peridot raced to her side with Garnet in tow. "We're coming." They said.
Ruby took off at top speed, but was flattened by Peridot, who even while towing Garnet, could move extremely fast. Peridot saw her moving slow, so she grabbed Ruby's braid and began to drag her. Britain began to laugh at this. Ruby was shouting at Peridot, but Peridot was giving her no attention. Both of Peridot's passengers were dropped as she stopped. They sat there, and watched Peridot disappear again.
{well, I should tell you that all of them have enhanced vision cause I'm bound to be asked about it, so yeah.}
Garnet sat there, trying to think what to do. By the looks of things on zoom-cam, Peridot was bent on beating Aquamarine to the punch. Topaz, who was still cursing her head off, was actually standing on Aquamarine's shoulders. Spinel was riding on a gust of wind, trying to control her storm. Alex was watching them, also, on zoom-cam.
Suddenly, a thought came to mind. If she could break through walls, why couldn't she break through the earth? In theory, it was merely a large wall. Pressing her hands onto it, she began her effort to break through.
[Alex, direct your attention to Garnet from an aerial viewpoint.] Sapphire told Alex, sounding grim. [You may want to help her if she's going to do what I think she is.]
[Well then, I'll see you soon!] Alex replied, springing to her feet. "I'll see you guys later."
Taking to the skies, Alex saw a very large split in the earth. Soon after, she saw two small red dots. She didn't like how she had to fly; she could have just walked. Oh well, she thought, then landed next to Ruby.
Ruby looked genuinely surprised to see Alex's green hair swishing around next to her. Once Alex came fully into view, it took a little bit of the shock off. Garnet didn't seem to be paying any attention. Both of her hands were firmly pressed into the ground. Her face looked deep in thought.
[Let me help you, Garnet.] Alex said to Garnet, flopping down beside her. She placed one palm to the earth and saw what Garnet was doing.
[Mind if I join in?] she asked.
[You bet. C'mon, we still need to get there before Topaz and Aqua do.] Garnet's voice told her, and judging by the sound of it, it was happy to see her.
~@~@~@~
"AQUAMARINE!" Topaz yelled, "WE'RE GOING TO CRASH WITH 0016! SLOW DOWN!" Topaz realized what she had done when she had sat down on Aquamarine's shoulders: suicide. Plain and simple. Unless Aquamarine knew what she was doing, they were going to have one nasty incident with the remaining 0016.
"No way, Topaz." Aquamarine called up to her, "I know what I'm doing."
[Let's hit 0016 on three,] Spinel said from 100 feet above them, [Some other people are getting antsy to fight.]
[No kidding,] Topaz commented. [Ruby's about to jump in and fight for herself.]
At that moment, something very like what Topaz had predicted would happen happened: Peridot rammed with all her might in to 0016. She fell backward into the water, seeing as how 0016 had met her with a very large punch.
[1, 2, 3, GO!] Spinel told them, forcing all of the perspiration down on 0016. 0016 wheeled around, only to find that there was more heading toward her. Then, suddenly, she flew upward to where Spinel was and smiled at Spinel.
Looking at 0016, Spinel saw Diamond with blue hair smiling at her. This wasn't right, she thought wildly. Diamond was riding around on a snake thingy at the moment. Her hair wasn't pale blue, it was ice white. So Spinel did the only thing that was non-violent she could do: scream.
Amethyst heard and saw Spinel scream. She saw 0016 eclipsing Spinel, so she aimed the laser gun and fired. Unfortunately, 0016 moved right as she shot, so the laser hit Spinel instead. {I SUCK AT SUSPENSION! ADMIT IT! *rams head into wall*} Amethyst dropped the gun, ran to the edge of the small land strip and flung herself into the ocean. Tears streamed down her face as she saw Spinel's immobile body drop in.
~@~@~@~
Garnet and Alex had now successfully broken through the wall into a large vat of magma. They asked Ruby is she could get Topaz, since they were busy expanding their hole leading into the magma. Ruby had agreed with relish.
Topaz was now sitting next to them, forming swords out of the liquid magma. She had never thought to use swords against 0016, but it was a thought. When she had asked the zero-zero cyborgs, they had said that they would handle it. She had gotten into a "heated" {catch the pun} with Chang if they couldn't handle it. Topaz had been satisfied only when he had run in to grab a frying pan and she had melted it.
The first sword was completed. Garnet picked it up, and in doing so, broke her connection with Alex. Alex looked up and let out a pressured grin.
Garnet began to swing the sword around to see how it would work. Of course, she didn't have anything to test it on, but she could do her best on her own. It worked very well for her. She tapped Topaz on the shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up signal.
[It works great! May I put a garnet in it?] Garnet stated, smiling.
[Why not? Go kick 0016's ass for me, will you?] Topaz asked.
[You bet! C'mon, Ruby, we've got ass to kick.] Garnet told Ruby.
But Ruby didn't come. A voice was speaking to her. It would only say a few phrases, then fade off. But in time, it came back, strong as ever.
[Yume miru dakeja dame, yume o dakeshimete, kaze to isshimoshi, adding life where it must be edited. How can you look at a problem when you've only seen one face? Go to the other side of life and find it. How can you embrace something when you've only seen one side? Go to alternate realities and find your answers...]
Ruby's head was ringing through the words, You just can't dream, embrace the dream, together with the wind...[RUBY! I'M GOING TO LEAVE TO MURDER 0016 WITHOUT YOU! COMING OR NOT?] Garnet's voice sounded off in her head, sounding ticked.
"I'm coming." She said, standing up. "Where are Peridot and Amethyst? 002, Spinel and Turquoise?" she asked.
"Let's see," Garnet told her, walking at a brisk pace, "Peridot, Turquoise and 002 were defeated by one of the 0016s. Amethyst was trying to shoot the other, but accidentally shot Spinel instead."
"But then, what happened to Amethyst?" Ruby asked, sounding worried.
"Oh, you know her, she's really emotional. She went and ran into the ocean herself after what she did to Spinel." Garnet replied. Her voice was etched with sadness.
"Did she come back yet?"
"No, she's been down there for awhile. I think she can only be underwater for the maximum of an hour, so she probably should come up soon." Garnet said to Ruby, now sounding as if she were at a funeral.
~@~@~@~
Amethyst had run out of oxygen five minutes ago. She was beginning to compromise the things she had done: created Emerald, sought out the zero- zero cyborgs, rescued Diamond, fought two 0016s, killed Spinel and committed suicide. There wasn't much of a list.
In an instant, she had run out of air. Her system completely failed, so she shut down. Her now lifeless body floated to where Spinel's dead body lay on a rock. It was their final resting place.
Turquoise's cat-like body was on the opposite side of the rock from Spinel and Amethyst. It was ironic how even in death; they remained still as the gem girls.
~@~@~@~
"009?" GB's voice asked Joe, who was staring out at the ocean.
"Yes, 007?" he asked, breaking his chain of thought. "What is it?"
"Do you think that they need help? I mean, this is their first battle against Black Ghost." GB told him.
"Good point, 007!" Chang exclaimed. "They'll need help sooner or later. Why don't you go and attack 0016 while I stay here?"
"You're coming with us, 006. What if Topaz needs to melt something to turn into another sword? Why we have-"Britain began, but didn't get to finish. Chang had blown flames at him.
"If we're going to go, we should go now." Pyunma said, also looking out into the water. Joe took off at top speed, ready to tackle anything that got in his way this time. Pyunma dove into the water and began to swim with inhuman speed. Chang, GB {you can infer}, Albert, and Geromio ran after them, wanting to get in their share of the battle.
Garnet placed her stone into the hilt of the sword. Feeling herself surge with power, she ran out to meet 0016. She bumped into 009 on her way there. Soon after, 008 sprang out of the water. Both glared at her, like she was some forgein object. All Garnet did was smile at them.
Zircon walked up to them, her eyes looking an odd color of jet black. She had this haunted appearance to her, like someone who had been possessed. Zircon's eyes, aside from being black, had a blank stare.
"Hello, 009." She said, with a scary tone. "I've been looking for you."
With this, Zircon drew out an AK-47 and pointed it at the approaching 006. 0016 suddenly appeared in the sky, looking at Zircon. She was holding a sniper's rifle to get anyone who tried to get her. When Ruby caught sight of her, she flew away. Ruby sighed and drew out her own AK-47. Garnet was looking at her now, instead of at Zircon. Ruby nodded at her, and she swung her sword at Zircon, her eyes tight shut. Zircon caught the sword, and let it go back to Garnet. Then, Zircon changed positions so instead of having her gun aimed at Joe, it was facing Garnet. Zircon fired.
~@~@~@~
Mika woke up, dazed. Then she remembered that she had preformed magic to help Diamond. They were still out there, fighting like there was no tomorrow. She voted against herself to use any more magic. If she did, then she would be asleep for more than just a few hours.
Even still, Mika wanted to stay and watch the turnout. It would be interesting to watch. Sitting herself up, Mika focused her attention on 009.
~@~@~@~
Garnet had a look of utter shock on her face as she fell. Ruby immediately contacted four people: Emerald, Topaz, Alex and 003.
[Zircon just shot Garnet!] Ruby told them.
[Why'd she do that?] Topaz demanded.
[I don't know.] Ruby told her earnestly.
[I'm getting over there now. Hell with making swords, you guys need help.] Alex said hurriedly, jumping up. Kicking off, she flew a mere six feet from the ground. News that Garnet was down was bad.
[I'll be there in a minute.] Topaz told her, also pulling herself up off the ground. [I may be of some assistance.]
[I may as well get over closer.] Emerald said. She marched over to where Ruby stood. Zircon grinned now at Albert, who had just arrived.
"My creator tells me that you're prototype 004," she stated, "She also says you're a walking arsenal. Is it true?"
"Yeah, he is. What does it matter to you?" Joe demanded. Zircon gave him a very haunted look.
"Because I want to challenge one of you to a death match and see if you're worthy enough to face my creator." Zircon told them all, still wearing the same grin.
"Don't...do...anything." Diamond's ragged voice told them. "She's possessed. When she talks about her creator, she's talking about...0016."
"You are no one to talk about my creator that way." Zircon snapped, oddly black eyes flashing. "You look just like her."
Ruby realized she was right. 0016 looked just like Diamond, except the hair and eyes. But Diamond was 0017, so how come 0016 was different? How come they hadn't given Diamond any powers?
"I challenge you, prototype 0017, to a death match. We fight to the other's death. Do you accept?" Zircon asked, the haunt returning to her smile.
"I'll take it instead." Albert said, walking up to her. "0017 doesn't have any experience. Besides, I'm a worthier opponent."
Diamond just stood there, staring at him. Her gratitude was beyond words. He seemed to understand her and winked. Zircon drew a very long, sword-like object. It had stars all the way up the blade, which was silver. The hilt housed a pale pink gem, which Ruby recognized as a spinel. Diamond was quite willing to try and slip in so 004 would have a higher chance of winning.
"Before we start," Zircon began, wheeling around so she faced Ruby; "I believe prototype 0017 needs a reminder of what happens to prototype 004 if he loses."
Zircon held up the long blade and brought it down, thinking about it. Then, she drove it through Ruby. A wicked smile jerked onto her face as Ruby tried to cover to hole in her body. Ruby fell wordlessly to the ground, still bleeding profusely. Zircon kicked Ruby's body into the water without a word, but with a very haunted smirk on her face.
Albert walked out to meet her. An eerie light played in her dark eyes. She held the sword out at him, like a symbol to fight. Understanding what it meant, Albert open-fired at her. All the bullets were deflected with her sword, and she truly smiled.
{Before we go any further, I have to tell you I've written this part five times over. The first four times, my computer shut down without me saving most of it. Now it won't let me into the original copy, which I recovered from when the computer shut down. My stupid computer keeps telling me that the file is in use, but who would be using it? In addition, I have to store them on another drive so one doesn't get to loaded! *wails*}
~@~@~@~
Coral was perched now on top of a tree, using her zoom lens to find 0016. Alex was in the skies searching for 0016 with two pistols. Sapphire and Ivan were helping Diamond hack Zircon's system so 004 could win. All four were in contact with the others, if something happened to go wrong.
Diamond had just slipped past the main firewall. In Zircon's system, there was tons of coded data. Over half of it hadn't been installed by Diamond, the only one who had access to their systems.
[Diamond, give us a heads-up when you get done with getting in.] Sapphire told her.
[I'm in. Don't come in, Sapphire, or you for that matter 001. I'll handle this on my own.] Diamond stated simply.
[Can I possibly get in there and check for a virus?] Emerald asked, sounding innocently sorry.
[No, Emerald, I prefer it if you don't.] Diamond told her, wanting to get back to work.
[Fine then.] Emerald said.
Diamond dove back into the heaps of codes. She plucked out the ones she knew weren't in the original encodement. She felt someone poking her, but chose to ignore it.
~@~@~@~
Jade had investing in poking Diamond. She wanted to tell Diamond that her body was glowing white all over and sending out white waves all around. Looking around, she saw that Zircon was having trouble moving.
Zircon was beginning to have trouble moving her legs, but it didn't matter to her. As long as she had arms, she was all right. Drawing out her throwing stars, she sheathed her sword. The throwing stars were shaped as stars, but each had a dagger on each point. Zircon hurled them at Albert. Since they were made of titanium steel with a core of diamond, they should have been able to penetrate his armor.
"Nice trick. But it won't fool me." Albert stated, shooting the throwing stars before they had the chance to hit him. Zircon frowned. She hadn't wanted to use her favorite one, but she had no choice. Drawing her last throwing star, made of a combination of diamonds and zircons, she tossed it at Albert with all her might.
Of course, Albert shot it. It didn't stop its course for one second. Zircon cracked out another haunted smile. This throwing star was on that was almost unbreakable, unless she willed it to break. With mental control on it, it was the perfect weapon. Albert shot at it once more. It swerved around to head at Joe. Unexpectedly, it changed course once more and was rapidly approaching Albert. He tried to duck this, but it wasn't like the sword.
[I'VE GOT IT!] Diamond's voice rang through all their heads. Zircon froze suddenly, but the star kept going on free mode.
[How'd you do it?] Sapphire asked, sounding energetic. [001 and I tried forever to break through the first firewall, but we couldn't. I guess now you guys are out to fight the puppeteer, 0016?]
[You're helping.] Topaz stated skeptically. ['Cause we aren't going to get her without you. You could try and get into mental contact with her.]
[I'll help, but not by doing that. Do you want me to look for those who have been wiped out and bring them to the Dolphin?] Sapphire asked.
[That sounds good, and you can take Alex with you.] Morgan stated. She was getting bored, since all she was doing was sitting around playing with the zoom and infrared lenses.
Sapphire sprang off the Dolphin and called for Alex. [You need to get down here,] she told Alex, [Since we're going to go and find everyone who isn't here.]
Alex headed down for Sapphire. She stuffed the two pistols into her cargo pockets and landed next to Sapphire, who was wearing a blank expression.
"Let's look in the water first, since some of them are bound to be there." Alex said, glancing at Sapphire.
"Ok, can you fly underwater?" Sapphire asked her, touching her psychic energy store. Going underwater wasn't going to be a death-defying act, so all she needed was a bubble of energy.
"Of course I can!" Alex exclaimed. "Let's go, shall we?"
"Let's get going, then." Sapphire said, then encased herself in a large indigo bubble. She dove into the water, followed by Alex who flew into the water. Both looked for any sign that anyone was in the water before making contact with one another.
[I don't see anyone.] Sapphire told Alex, [Do you?]
[No, but let's split up and search for them,] Alex said, looking around. [You go left and I'll go right.]
[Deal.] Sapphire stated, then swam away in her bubble. Nothing was there but the open sea. In the distance, she saw the Dolphin's hull. Sapphire went further down, but it didn't do much good.
Alex was having just about as much luck as Sapphire. Nothing was in view for miles around, or so it seemed. Just then, a flicker of light caught her eye. She knew it was most likely garbage or one of the fragments of Zircon's throwing stars, but she went over to check it out anyway.
When she got there, she let out a gasp of horror. Spinel, Amethyst, Ruby, and Turquoise lay on one rock. Out of nowhere, Garnet's body plunged into the water, dead like the others. Alex got Sapphire immediately.
[SAPPHIRE! I found them!] Alex screamed in her mind to Sapphire. Sapphire suddenly came out of the water next to her in the indigo bubble. She, too, was rendered speechless. At long last, she let out a great sigh.
[You take two and I'll take three of them. If you can contact Emerald, tell her we need her on the Dolphin in fifteen minutes.] Sapphire told Alex. She picked Spinel, Turquoise and Ruby and drew them into her bubble. After that, she allowed it to rise up with the four of them in it. She seemed to be in a strain with the extra weight of Spinel, Turquoise and Ruby, but Alex didn't say anything.
[Emerald,] Alex called out, [Emerald, please respond.]
[Yes?] Emerald asked.
[Can you meet Sapphire and I on the Dolphin in fifteen minutes?] Alex asked in turn.
[Sure, but may I ask what for?]
[You'll see, but can you bring 002 with you?]
[Don't worry, I've got him.] Sapphire told them.
[Well then, I'll see you both in fifteen minutes!] Emerald exclaimed, breaking their connection. She shouted out to Jade that she'd be on the Dolphin if she was needed. Jade nodded and grinned. Emerald broke into a run to the Dolphin.
~@~@~@~
In ten minutes, Emerald burst into the Dolphin, and only stopped when she saw Sapphire's indigo hair. She sat down and panted.
"What happened to you, Emerald?" Alex asked.
"I....ran....all the way...here." Emerald told her in between huge gasps. Sapphire was sitting in midair, deep in thought.
"But, the true question is, what happened to all them." She stated, dropping back down to the floor. "There's six, and they weren't all wiped out by Zircon in her hacked stage. Only Ruby and Garnet were. My guess is that the 0016 with black hair did them in."
"Did who in, Sapphire?" Emerald asked, sitting up.
"You didn't see during your sprint on the way over? You didn't see as you came in here?" Sapphire asked, stepping aside. Then Emerald saw for the first time that there were six people behind Sapphire, none of which was mobile.
Alex noted that Emerald's eyes became much wider as she gaped at the six. "Well, now you see why we called you here, so can you help?" Alex asked.
"O..of course." Emerald said, her voice quavering. She walked over to Jet and closed her eyes. His system didn't have a virus, or didn't appear to. She sank in deeper, but there was nothing there. Pulling herself out, she healed the surface wounds, which were easy enough.
Turquoise had the same process repeated, since there weren't very deep wounds. Ruby was harder, since Zircon had dug deep into her. Spinel was terribly difficult, and she wasn't particularly easy. Garnet had been easy, and so was Amethyst. Emerald had had her work cut out.
"Wow." Alex stated, staring in awe at Emerald. Emerald sat down and closed her eyes. Even doing all those things had done her in. It was more than she was used to; which was usually one person every few days with only minor injuries. But today there had been six people, all with pretty large wounds.
"Wazzap, Emerald?" Alex asked, noticing how Emerald suddenly looked so tired. "You alright?"
Emerald didn't respond. She had fallen asleep right in front of them. Sapphire went over and tapped her shoulder. Nothing happened.
[Well, then, she can sleep, but I'm going to get Zircon. Coming?] she said to Alex.
"Nah. I'll stay here and watch. If it gets really bad, call me." Alex replied.
~@~@~@~
Zircon collapsed onto the ground. 0016 zoomed down to stand in front of Diamond. Joe looked at both of them and saw how alike they looked. All their features were the same, except the color of their hair and eyes. Diamond seized the pendant around her neck.
0016 made no response. Sapphire looked, then decided what she would do. She drew the dagger out of her right shoe and held it up. Pulling all her strength in, she flung the dagger at 0016.
Sapphire didn't believe what happened. The dagger halted just before it hit 0016 and turned to hurl itself at Sapphire. Sapphire stopped it and disintegrated it so she wasn't killed. 0016 turned to face Sapphire.
"So you're Sapphire?" 0016 asked, walking to Sapphire.
"And if I am, why does it matter to you?" Sapphire snapped back. The aura around had become indigo.
"Just asking." 0016 stated. She turned around once more to face Diamond. Diamond yanked the pendant off her neck and threw it at 0016. 0016 couldn't do anything. The pendant began to elongate itself so it made a very pretty star-shaped solid [I got the ideas from math and Brigadoon manga, math for the solid]. All the points housed different varieties of gems. Sapphire looked horrified.
0016 sprang back with a look of terror. The star became a replica of Diamond. She smiled at 0016 at held a diamond-hilted sword in the air. 0016 drew one of her arms in and a sword grew back in its place.
"Shall we?" the Diamond replica asked 0016.
"I accept your challenge with pleasure, 0017. I am glad your replica is taking your place in battle, since Black Ghost wants you returned safely." 0016 said, then marched out to meet the false Diamond.
~@~@~@~@~
Mika: I'm so very sorry that I have to divide this chapter into THREE parts!
002: bimbo.
Mika: *saws his hair off*
002: MY BEAUTIFUL HAIR! DON'T LOOK AT ME! *runs away*
Mika: well, the document was getting far too long, so I had to post. Way sorry it took so long, but read the author's note for a full account. I took SOO long on this chapter, since my mom nearly deleted it. I had to hide in my room for a while, but when I came out, Brigadoon had arrived! It only took me an hour and a half to read, so then I finished this part out. The weekend's here, so I'm going to aim to get it done!
007: what's wrong with that ass 002?
Mika: *hides chainsaw* dunno.
007: well then, I'll see ya!
002: suuuuuuuuuuuuuure you did
Mika: in that time while I was gone, I read Fruits Basket and volume four of Cyborg 009
002: whatever.
Black Ghost: let me guess... I'm in the story where this Mika figure doesn't own anything but the gem girls and herself.
Mika: what was that all about?
Black Ghost: *pulls off BG accessories* cause I'm not Black Ghost!
Mika: o_O
~@~@~@~@~
The three elements were coming together as one now. The fire whirlwind had collided with the tsunami, and they were making their way toward 0016b. Spinel's storm was making in more vicious by showering it with chunks of ice. The ice got caught up in the whirlwind and got spat back out in a matter of minutes. Acting like bullets, they aimed at 0016b.
Ruby wasn't in her best of moods. As it turned out, Sapphire had told her it would be a bad idea to interfere quite yet. So Ruby had to wait until she was contacted by one of them. She frowned, then turned to Jade.
"Jade, can you freeze 0016? Then those three would have a better chance of catching her, and we'd stand a better chance of winning against this thing." Ruby asked Jade. Jade looked at her, but understood the request. She let loose a very large amount of ice, but it didn't hit 0016.
Instead, it hit Topaz. In an instant, Topaz had burned it off with a flurry of curses. She seized the excess energy and twisted it into a ball. 0016b soon received that energy ball in the face.
{Ok, since b0016 is out of the running due to Mika's large magic attack, it's safe to call the remaining 0016 just plain 0016.}
Morgan had had enough of riding on Diamond's snake-like beast. She sprang off and dematerialized. Within a minute, she had rematerialized next to Joe. Ruby was looking at her, seeming to have steam coming out of her ears.
"That is it." She stated as she tied her hair up into a loose braid. "I'm not about to let them have all the fun with 0016. Who's coming with me?"
Peridot raced to her side with Garnet in tow. "We're coming." They said.
Ruby took off at top speed, but was flattened by Peridot, who even while towing Garnet, could move extremely fast. Peridot saw her moving slow, so she grabbed Ruby's braid and began to drag her. Britain began to laugh at this. Ruby was shouting at Peridot, but Peridot was giving her no attention. Both of Peridot's passengers were dropped as she stopped. They sat there, and watched Peridot disappear again.
{well, I should tell you that all of them have enhanced vision cause I'm bound to be asked about it, so yeah.}
Garnet sat there, trying to think what to do. By the looks of things on zoom-cam, Peridot was bent on beating Aquamarine to the punch. Topaz, who was still cursing her head off, was actually standing on Aquamarine's shoulders. Spinel was riding on a gust of wind, trying to control her storm. Alex was watching them, also, on zoom-cam.
Suddenly, a thought came to mind. If she could break through walls, why couldn't she break through the earth? In theory, it was merely a large wall. Pressing her hands onto it, she began her effort to break through.
[Alex, direct your attention to Garnet from an aerial viewpoint.] Sapphire told Alex, sounding grim. [You may want to help her if she's going to do what I think she is.]
[Well then, I'll see you soon!] Alex replied, springing to her feet. "I'll see you guys later."
Taking to the skies, Alex saw a very large split in the earth. Soon after, she saw two small red dots. She didn't like how she had to fly; she could have just walked. Oh well, she thought, then landed next to Ruby.
Ruby looked genuinely surprised to see Alex's green hair swishing around next to her. Once Alex came fully into view, it took a little bit of the shock off. Garnet didn't seem to be paying any attention. Both of her hands were firmly pressed into the ground. Her face looked deep in thought.
[Let me help you, Garnet.] Alex said to Garnet, flopping down beside her. She placed one palm to the earth and saw what Garnet was doing.
[Mind if I join in?] she asked.
[You bet. C'mon, we still need to get there before Topaz and Aqua do.] Garnet's voice told her, and judging by the sound of it, it was happy to see her.
~@~@~@~
"AQUAMARINE!" Topaz yelled, "WE'RE GOING TO CRASH WITH 0016! SLOW DOWN!" Topaz realized what she had done when she had sat down on Aquamarine's shoulders: suicide. Plain and simple. Unless Aquamarine knew what she was doing, they were going to have one nasty incident with the remaining 0016.
"No way, Topaz." Aquamarine called up to her, "I know what I'm doing."
[Let's hit 0016 on three,] Spinel said from 100 feet above them, [Some other people are getting antsy to fight.]
[No kidding,] Topaz commented. [Ruby's about to jump in and fight for herself.]
At that moment, something very like what Topaz had predicted would happen happened: Peridot rammed with all her might in to 0016. She fell backward into the water, seeing as how 0016 had met her with a very large punch.
[1, 2, 3, GO!] Spinel told them, forcing all of the perspiration down on 0016. 0016 wheeled around, only to find that there was more heading toward her. Then, suddenly, she flew upward to where Spinel was and smiled at Spinel.
Looking at 0016, Spinel saw Diamond with blue hair smiling at her. This wasn't right, she thought wildly. Diamond was riding around on a snake thingy at the moment. Her hair wasn't pale blue, it was ice white. So Spinel did the only thing that was non-violent she could do: scream.
Amethyst heard and saw Spinel scream. She saw 0016 eclipsing Spinel, so she aimed the laser gun and fired. Unfortunately, 0016 moved right as she shot, so the laser hit Spinel instead. {I SUCK AT SUSPENSION! ADMIT IT! *rams head into wall*} Amethyst dropped the gun, ran to the edge of the small land strip and flung herself into the ocean. Tears streamed down her face as she saw Spinel's immobile body drop in.
~@~@~@~
Garnet and Alex had now successfully broken through the wall into a large vat of magma. They asked Ruby is she could get Topaz, since they were busy expanding their hole leading into the magma. Ruby had agreed with relish.
Topaz was now sitting next to them, forming swords out of the liquid magma. She had never thought to use swords against 0016, but it was a thought. When she had asked the zero-zero cyborgs, they had said that they would handle it. She had gotten into a "heated" {catch the pun} with Chang if they couldn't handle it. Topaz had been satisfied only when he had run in to grab a frying pan and she had melted it.
The first sword was completed. Garnet picked it up, and in doing so, broke her connection with Alex. Alex looked up and let out a pressured grin.
Garnet began to swing the sword around to see how it would work. Of course, she didn't have anything to test it on, but she could do her best on her own. It worked very well for her. She tapped Topaz on the shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up signal.
[It works great! May I put a garnet in it?] Garnet stated, smiling.
[Why not? Go kick 0016's ass for me, will you?] Topaz asked.
[You bet! C'mon, Ruby, we've got ass to kick.] Garnet told Ruby.
But Ruby didn't come. A voice was speaking to her. It would only say a few phrases, then fade off. But in time, it came back, strong as ever.
[Yume miru dakeja dame, yume o dakeshimete, kaze to isshimoshi, adding life where it must be edited. How can you look at a problem when you've only seen one face? Go to the other side of life and find it. How can you embrace something when you've only seen one side? Go to alternate realities and find your answers...]
Ruby's head was ringing through the words, You just can't dream, embrace the dream, together with the wind...[RUBY! I'M GOING TO LEAVE TO MURDER 0016 WITHOUT YOU! COMING OR NOT?] Garnet's voice sounded off in her head, sounding ticked.
"I'm coming." She said, standing up. "Where are Peridot and Amethyst? 002, Spinel and Turquoise?" she asked.
"Let's see," Garnet told her, walking at a brisk pace, "Peridot, Turquoise and 002 were defeated by one of the 0016s. Amethyst was trying to shoot the other, but accidentally shot Spinel instead."
"But then, what happened to Amethyst?" Ruby asked, sounding worried.
"Oh, you know her, she's really emotional. She went and ran into the ocean herself after what she did to Spinel." Garnet replied. Her voice was etched with sadness.
"Did she come back yet?"
"No, she's been down there for awhile. I think she can only be underwater for the maximum of an hour, so she probably should come up soon." Garnet said to Ruby, now sounding as if she were at a funeral.
~@~@~@~
Amethyst had run out of oxygen five minutes ago. She was beginning to compromise the things she had done: created Emerald, sought out the zero- zero cyborgs, rescued Diamond, fought two 0016s, killed Spinel and committed suicide. There wasn't much of a list.
In an instant, she had run out of air. Her system completely failed, so she shut down. Her now lifeless body floated to where Spinel's dead body lay on a rock. It was their final resting place.
Turquoise's cat-like body was on the opposite side of the rock from Spinel and Amethyst. It was ironic how even in death; they remained still as the gem girls.
~@~@~@~
"009?" GB's voice asked Joe, who was staring out at the ocean.
"Yes, 007?" he asked, breaking his chain of thought. "What is it?"
"Do you think that they need help? I mean, this is their first battle against Black Ghost." GB told him.
"Good point, 007!" Chang exclaimed. "They'll need help sooner or later. Why don't you go and attack 0016 while I stay here?"
"You're coming with us, 006. What if Topaz needs to melt something to turn into another sword? Why we have-"Britain began, but didn't get to finish. Chang had blown flames at him.
"If we're going to go, we should go now." Pyunma said, also looking out into the water. Joe took off at top speed, ready to tackle anything that got in his way this time. Pyunma dove into the water and began to swim with inhuman speed. Chang, GB {you can infer}, Albert, and Geromio ran after them, wanting to get in their share of the battle.
Garnet placed her stone into the hilt of the sword. Feeling herself surge with power, she ran out to meet 0016. She bumped into 009 on her way there. Soon after, 008 sprang out of the water. Both glared at her, like she was some forgein object. All Garnet did was smile at them.
Zircon walked up to them, her eyes looking an odd color of jet black. She had this haunted appearance to her, like someone who had been possessed. Zircon's eyes, aside from being black, had a blank stare.
"Hello, 009." She said, with a scary tone. "I've been looking for you."
With this, Zircon drew out an AK-47 and pointed it at the approaching 006. 0016 suddenly appeared in the sky, looking at Zircon. She was holding a sniper's rifle to get anyone who tried to get her. When Ruby caught sight of her, she flew away. Ruby sighed and drew out her own AK-47. Garnet was looking at her now, instead of at Zircon. Ruby nodded at her, and she swung her sword at Zircon, her eyes tight shut. Zircon caught the sword, and let it go back to Garnet. Then, Zircon changed positions so instead of having her gun aimed at Joe, it was facing Garnet. Zircon fired.
~@~@~@~
Mika woke up, dazed. Then she remembered that she had preformed magic to help Diamond. They were still out there, fighting like there was no tomorrow. She voted against herself to use any more magic. If she did, then she would be asleep for more than just a few hours.
Even still, Mika wanted to stay and watch the turnout. It would be interesting to watch. Sitting herself up, Mika focused her attention on 009.
~@~@~@~
Garnet had a look of utter shock on her face as she fell. Ruby immediately contacted four people: Emerald, Topaz, Alex and 003.
[Zircon just shot Garnet!] Ruby told them.
[Why'd she do that?] Topaz demanded.
[I don't know.] Ruby told her earnestly.
[I'm getting over there now. Hell with making swords, you guys need help.] Alex said hurriedly, jumping up. Kicking off, she flew a mere six feet from the ground. News that Garnet was down was bad.
[I'll be there in a minute.] Topaz told her, also pulling herself up off the ground. [I may be of some assistance.]
[I may as well get over closer.] Emerald said. She marched over to where Ruby stood. Zircon grinned now at Albert, who had just arrived.
"My creator tells me that you're prototype 004," she stated, "She also says you're a walking arsenal. Is it true?"
"Yeah, he is. What does it matter to you?" Joe demanded. Zircon gave him a very haunted look.
"Because I want to challenge one of you to a death match and see if you're worthy enough to face my creator." Zircon told them all, still wearing the same grin.
"Don't...do...anything." Diamond's ragged voice told them. "She's possessed. When she talks about her creator, she's talking about...0016."
"You are no one to talk about my creator that way." Zircon snapped, oddly black eyes flashing. "You look just like her."
Ruby realized she was right. 0016 looked just like Diamond, except the hair and eyes. But Diamond was 0017, so how come 0016 was different? How come they hadn't given Diamond any powers?
"I challenge you, prototype 0017, to a death match. We fight to the other's death. Do you accept?" Zircon asked, the haunt returning to her smile.
"I'll take it instead." Albert said, walking up to her. "0017 doesn't have any experience. Besides, I'm a worthier opponent."
Diamond just stood there, staring at him. Her gratitude was beyond words. He seemed to understand her and winked. Zircon drew a very long, sword-like object. It had stars all the way up the blade, which was silver. The hilt housed a pale pink gem, which Ruby recognized as a spinel. Diamond was quite willing to try and slip in so 004 would have a higher chance of winning.
"Before we start," Zircon began, wheeling around so she faced Ruby; "I believe prototype 0017 needs a reminder of what happens to prototype 004 if he loses."
Zircon held up the long blade and brought it down, thinking about it. Then, she drove it through Ruby. A wicked smile jerked onto her face as Ruby tried to cover to hole in her body. Ruby fell wordlessly to the ground, still bleeding profusely. Zircon kicked Ruby's body into the water without a word, but with a very haunted smirk on her face.
Albert walked out to meet her. An eerie light played in her dark eyes. She held the sword out at him, like a symbol to fight. Understanding what it meant, Albert open-fired at her. All the bullets were deflected with her sword, and she truly smiled.
{Before we go any further, I have to tell you I've written this part five times over. The first four times, my computer shut down without me saving most of it. Now it won't let me into the original copy, which I recovered from when the computer shut down. My stupid computer keeps telling me that the file is in use, but who would be using it? In addition, I have to store them on another drive so one doesn't get to loaded! *wails*}
~@~@~@~
Coral was perched now on top of a tree, using her zoom lens to find 0016. Alex was in the skies searching for 0016 with two pistols. Sapphire and Ivan were helping Diamond hack Zircon's system so 004 could win. All four were in contact with the others, if something happened to go wrong.
Diamond had just slipped past the main firewall. In Zircon's system, there was tons of coded data. Over half of it hadn't been installed by Diamond, the only one who had access to their systems.
[Diamond, give us a heads-up when you get done with getting in.] Sapphire told her.
[I'm in. Don't come in, Sapphire, or you for that matter 001. I'll handle this on my own.] Diamond stated simply.
[Can I possibly get in there and check for a virus?] Emerald asked, sounding innocently sorry.
[No, Emerald, I prefer it if you don't.] Diamond told her, wanting to get back to work.
[Fine then.] Emerald said.
Diamond dove back into the heaps of codes. She plucked out the ones she knew weren't in the original encodement. She felt someone poking her, but chose to ignore it.
~@~@~@~
Jade had investing in poking Diamond. She wanted to tell Diamond that her body was glowing white all over and sending out white waves all around. Looking around, she saw that Zircon was having trouble moving.
Zircon was beginning to have trouble moving her legs, but it didn't matter to her. As long as she had arms, she was all right. Drawing out her throwing stars, she sheathed her sword. The throwing stars were shaped as stars, but each had a dagger on each point. Zircon hurled them at Albert. Since they were made of titanium steel with a core of diamond, they should have been able to penetrate his armor.
"Nice trick. But it won't fool me." Albert stated, shooting the throwing stars before they had the chance to hit him. Zircon frowned. She hadn't wanted to use her favorite one, but she had no choice. Drawing her last throwing star, made of a combination of diamonds and zircons, she tossed it at Albert with all her might.
Of course, Albert shot it. It didn't stop its course for one second. Zircon cracked out another haunted smile. This throwing star was on that was almost unbreakable, unless she willed it to break. With mental control on it, it was the perfect weapon. Albert shot at it once more. It swerved around to head at Joe. Unexpectedly, it changed course once more and was rapidly approaching Albert. He tried to duck this, but it wasn't like the sword.
[I'VE GOT IT!] Diamond's voice rang through all their heads. Zircon froze suddenly, but the star kept going on free mode.
[How'd you do it?] Sapphire asked, sounding energetic. [001 and I tried forever to break through the first firewall, but we couldn't. I guess now you guys are out to fight the puppeteer, 0016?]
[You're helping.] Topaz stated skeptically. ['Cause we aren't going to get her without you. You could try and get into mental contact with her.]
[I'll help, but not by doing that. Do you want me to look for those who have been wiped out and bring them to the Dolphin?] Sapphire asked.
[That sounds good, and you can take Alex with you.] Morgan stated. She was getting bored, since all she was doing was sitting around playing with the zoom and infrared lenses.
Sapphire sprang off the Dolphin and called for Alex. [You need to get down here,] she told Alex, [Since we're going to go and find everyone who isn't here.]
Alex headed down for Sapphire. She stuffed the two pistols into her cargo pockets and landed next to Sapphire, who was wearing a blank expression.
"Let's look in the water first, since some of them are bound to be there." Alex said, glancing at Sapphire.
"Ok, can you fly underwater?" Sapphire asked her, touching her psychic energy store. Going underwater wasn't going to be a death-defying act, so all she needed was a bubble of energy.
"Of course I can!" Alex exclaimed. "Let's go, shall we?"
"Let's get going, then." Sapphire said, then encased herself in a large indigo bubble. She dove into the water, followed by Alex who flew into the water. Both looked for any sign that anyone was in the water before making contact with one another.
[I don't see anyone.] Sapphire told Alex, [Do you?]
[No, but let's split up and search for them,] Alex said, looking around. [You go left and I'll go right.]
[Deal.] Sapphire stated, then swam away in her bubble. Nothing was there but the open sea. In the distance, she saw the Dolphin's hull. Sapphire went further down, but it didn't do much good.
Alex was having just about as much luck as Sapphire. Nothing was in view for miles around, or so it seemed. Just then, a flicker of light caught her eye. She knew it was most likely garbage or one of the fragments of Zircon's throwing stars, but she went over to check it out anyway.
When she got there, she let out a gasp of horror. Spinel, Amethyst, Ruby, and Turquoise lay on one rock. Out of nowhere, Garnet's body plunged into the water, dead like the others. Alex got Sapphire immediately.
[SAPPHIRE! I found them!] Alex screamed in her mind to Sapphire. Sapphire suddenly came out of the water next to her in the indigo bubble. She, too, was rendered speechless. At long last, she let out a great sigh.
[You take two and I'll take three of them. If you can contact Emerald, tell her we need her on the Dolphin in fifteen minutes.] Sapphire told Alex. She picked Spinel, Turquoise and Ruby and drew them into her bubble. After that, she allowed it to rise up with the four of them in it. She seemed to be in a strain with the extra weight of Spinel, Turquoise and Ruby, but Alex didn't say anything.
[Emerald,] Alex called out, [Emerald, please respond.]
[Yes?] Emerald asked.
[Can you meet Sapphire and I on the Dolphin in fifteen minutes?] Alex asked in turn.
[Sure, but may I ask what for?]
[You'll see, but can you bring 002 with you?]
[Don't worry, I've got him.] Sapphire told them.
[Well then, I'll see you both in fifteen minutes!] Emerald exclaimed, breaking their connection. She shouted out to Jade that she'd be on the Dolphin if she was needed. Jade nodded and grinned. Emerald broke into a run to the Dolphin.
~@~@~@~
In ten minutes, Emerald burst into the Dolphin, and only stopped when she saw Sapphire's indigo hair. She sat down and panted.
"What happened to you, Emerald?" Alex asked.
"I....ran....all the way...here." Emerald told her in between huge gasps. Sapphire was sitting in midair, deep in thought.
"But, the true question is, what happened to all them." She stated, dropping back down to the floor. "There's six, and they weren't all wiped out by Zircon in her hacked stage. Only Ruby and Garnet were. My guess is that the 0016 with black hair did them in."
"Did who in, Sapphire?" Emerald asked, sitting up.
"You didn't see during your sprint on the way over? You didn't see as you came in here?" Sapphire asked, stepping aside. Then Emerald saw for the first time that there were six people behind Sapphire, none of which was mobile.
Alex noted that Emerald's eyes became much wider as she gaped at the six. "Well, now you see why we called you here, so can you help?" Alex asked.
"O..of course." Emerald said, her voice quavering. She walked over to Jet and closed her eyes. His system didn't have a virus, or didn't appear to. She sank in deeper, but there was nothing there. Pulling herself out, she healed the surface wounds, which were easy enough.
Turquoise had the same process repeated, since there weren't very deep wounds. Ruby was harder, since Zircon had dug deep into her. Spinel was terribly difficult, and she wasn't particularly easy. Garnet had been easy, and so was Amethyst. Emerald had had her work cut out.
"Wow." Alex stated, staring in awe at Emerald. Emerald sat down and closed her eyes. Even doing all those things had done her in. It was more than she was used to; which was usually one person every few days with only minor injuries. But today there had been six people, all with pretty large wounds.
"Wazzap, Emerald?" Alex asked, noticing how Emerald suddenly looked so tired. "You alright?"
Emerald didn't respond. She had fallen asleep right in front of them. Sapphire went over and tapped her shoulder. Nothing happened.
[Well, then, she can sleep, but I'm going to get Zircon. Coming?] she said to Alex.
"Nah. I'll stay here and watch. If it gets really bad, call me." Alex replied.
~@~@~@~
Zircon collapsed onto the ground. 0016 zoomed down to stand in front of Diamond. Joe looked at both of them and saw how alike they looked. All their features were the same, except the color of their hair and eyes. Diamond seized the pendant around her neck.
0016 made no response. Sapphire looked, then decided what she would do. She drew the dagger out of her right shoe and held it up. Pulling all her strength in, she flung the dagger at 0016.
Sapphire didn't believe what happened. The dagger halted just before it hit 0016 and turned to hurl itself at Sapphire. Sapphire stopped it and disintegrated it so she wasn't killed. 0016 turned to face Sapphire.
"So you're Sapphire?" 0016 asked, walking to Sapphire.
"And if I am, why does it matter to you?" Sapphire snapped back. The aura around had become indigo.
"Just asking." 0016 stated. She turned around once more to face Diamond. Diamond yanked the pendant off her neck and threw it at 0016. 0016 couldn't do anything. The pendant began to elongate itself so it made a very pretty star-shaped solid [I got the ideas from math and Brigadoon manga, math for the solid]. All the points housed different varieties of gems. Sapphire looked horrified.
0016 sprang back with a look of terror. The star became a replica of Diamond. She smiled at 0016 at held a diamond-hilted sword in the air. 0016 drew one of her arms in and a sword grew back in its place.
"Shall we?" the Diamond replica asked 0016.
"I accept your challenge with pleasure, 0017. I am glad your replica is taking your place in battle, since Black Ghost wants you returned safely." 0016 said, then marched out to meet the false Diamond.
~@~@~@~@~
Mika: I'm so very sorry that I have to divide this chapter into THREE parts!
002: bimbo.
Mika: *saws his hair off*
002: MY BEAUTIFUL HAIR! DON'T LOOK AT ME! *runs away*
Mika: well, the document was getting far too long, so I had to post. Way sorry it took so long, but read the author's note for a full account. I took SOO long on this chapter, since my mom nearly deleted it. I had to hide in my room for a while, but when I came out, Brigadoon had arrived! It only took me an hour and a half to read, so then I finished this part out. The weekend's here, so I'm going to aim to get it done!
007: what's wrong with that ass 002?
Mika: *hides chainsaw* dunno.
007: well then, I'll see ya!