Chapter IV: Meeting & Attack 4--Tyrelbeetle

In the park after school…

"So, what's this meeting about? Who called it? Why? When--" Metabee reached up and slapped a hand over Ikki's mouth to stop him from asking so many questions. Ikki struggled, but Metabee wouldn't put his hand down.

"Well, of course I called it!" Roks shouted back.

"Calm down, Roks. We called it, anyway," Zuru returned. He turned back to Ikki and continued once Metabee finally put his hand down, "It's about the virus. We called it. Because we need to do something about this virus. This morning. That answer your questions?"

"Enough," Ikki replied.

Roks held his head, squeezing his eyes shut, and only Metabee noticed. As Ikki asked, "So, what are we waiting for?" Metabee cautiously walked up to Roks.

"We're waiting for Rokusho to get back with Hushi. We need them here," Zuru answered. As if on cue, Rokusho, Erika, Brass, and Hushi walked up to the group, Erika with her camera, Brass holding Erika's pen and paper, and Rokusho wearing his silk, beige cape, and gripping Hushi's hand.

"What's wrong?" Metabee asked Roks quietly, partly fearing the outcome.

"I-I don't know, Metabee!" Roks replied, sounding angry with tears in his voice. Metabee took both of Roks's hands in his hands, pulling them away from Roks's face. Roks slowly lifted his head, his eyes glowing. "I-I'm sorry," he uttered, before he lost himself, pulling his hands out of Metabee's, opening his Cutlass on his right arm, pulling it back--his arm shook, rattling. Metabee took a step back instinctively, as Roks swung his Cutlass forward, sweeping it across Metabee's chest. It left a dent. Before Roks could attack again, he turned and forced himself to run away as fast as he could. By now, they had gained the attention of everyone in the park, but as much as Metabee liked being the center of attention, he just stared after Roks worriedly, clutching the new dent on his chest.

"Oh no…" everyone gasped, except for Metabee. As the damaged Kabuto turned around to face the group, the first thing he saw was Rokusho, his red eyes glowing.

"L-let's get on with the meeting," Zuru suggested, a twinge of worry in his voice, as he turned around and headed for a picnic table. The group followed stiffly. When Hushi took a step, still holding Rokusho's hand, Rokusho wouldn't budge, his eyes glowing brighter and brighter…

"Rokusho? Come on," Hushi questioned, lightly tugging Rokusho by his hand.

"Rokusho?" Metabee repeated. He slowly moved closer to the Kuwagata. Rokusho extended the three yellow screws around the front of his wide left forearm. Hushi pulled his hand away quickly, trying not to be hit by the screws, and took a few quick steps backwards, away from Rokusho. Rokusho cocked his Hammer Fist left forearm, and sped for Metabee. He brought his fist back and punched forward, hitting Metabee on his chest, right on top of the dent Roks left. He jumped over Metabee as he fell back, and then ran off, taking the path Roks took. Metabee sat up shakily, gripping his chest, and turned, looking after Rokusho as he ran quickly down the path. "Why did I get attacked twice doing about the same thing?!" he whined.

"This is getting weird," Ikki declared. He eventually walked up to Metabee and helped him up.

"Professor?" Zuru began, looking up at Hushi.

"Yes?" Hushi replied.

"Why has it only infected Roks, Rokusho, and Tyrelbeetle? And how did it start?" Zuru finished.

"Tyrelbeetle too, now? Well, that makes it certain. It only infects Kuwagata medabots. That rampaging kilobot started it. I've been calling it 'K.V.'," Hushi explained.

"'K.V.'?"

"Yes. Kuwagata Virus."

"How do we stop it?" Ikki chimed in, an arm around Metabee's shoulders to balance the Kabuto medabot, who gripped his chest.

"I'm not sure. We may have to run some tests and get an antidote, or destroy one of those infected and break the circuit, or something else," Hushi answered.

"Huh. The great Professor Hushi doesn't know something," Metabee stated sarcastically.

"Well, I didn't create this virus. It must be amazing technology to stay in Kuwagata medabots and never spread to anything else," Hushi replied.

"Does it infect kilobots, too? That rampaging kilobot seems to have it," Erika joined in, jotting down every question and answer as if it was an interview, Brass now holding her camera instead of the pen and paper.

"Yes, according to the readouts on it I got from Rokusho. In fact, that's what led me to believe that kilobot started it," Hushi answered.

"If he started it, then who infected him?" Erika continued. This seemed to stump Hushi. It could have been built into him deliberately, or he developed it over time, or he caught from another medabot or kilobot, but if he caught it, then he didn't start it, he was just another of the victims.

"How exactly are we supposed to get answers?" Metabee asked.

"Catch the kilobot and run some tests on him is the only idea I have as of now," Hushi returned.

"That seems impossible, since he's rampaging and all," Zuru said.

"We could run some tests on Roks and Tyrelbeetle," Hushi continued.

"Well, Roks just ran off for no reason, and Tyrelbeetle didn't come. He probably doesn't want to be tested, anyway," Zuru replied.

"Ok, then we'll search for Roks and Rokusho, and possibly that kilobot, starting tomorrow, just to see how Tyrelbeetle's virus progresses," Hushi declared.

"But if we find them, won't they go ballistic and attack again? Look at what they did to me with just two attacks!" Metabee pointed out. Everyone looked down at the multiple dents on Metabee's chest.

"Simple. We'll have some of us hang back for backup," Erika stated as if it was obvious.

"But who will hang back, and who will go?" Metabee returned.

"Uh, you, Ikki, Zuru, and Tyrelbeetle can go, and Professor Hushi, Brass, and I can hang back," Erika explained. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Let's meet at Professor Hushi's station tomorrow morning. We don't have school tomorrow. It's perfect!" Ikki exclaimed. Again, everyone nodded in agreement, and went their separate ways.

At Kam's mansion…

"Eddie, we'll walk. We need to be quiet to spy," Kam explained impatiently. Metabee's dark reflection, Blakbeetle, looked up at her master.

"Who are we spying on?" she asked.

"KiloRoks. Watching him on a screen is one thing, but watching it for real is another," Kam explained, again impatiently. "Come, Blakbeetle," he ordered as he turned and headed for the door. Blakbeetle followed.

Once outside, they walked through the short garden, unaware of a certain infected kilobot following them, hiding in the garden rosebushes, and debating with…himself. Blakbeetle didn't dare speak, and Kam had nothing to say. It was quiet, so the kilobot, KiloRoks, had to be careful not to make to much noise if he wanted to go unnoticed.

What do I do? Should I attack him while I have the chance and get my revenge?--No! I can't attack him! I'll kill him! He's human!--Then attack Blakbeetle.--What did she do?--Nothing. But use her to get to Kam.--I wouldn't be getting to him that way! He already doesn't care for her! If it wasn't for his driver guy, Eddie, she'd be scrap metal by now!--Then attack Kam, but not too harshly.--B-but…--No buts! -- I can't! I'll kill him!--So?--What?! You want to kill him?!--No, you do. I am you.--But…I don't want to kill him. The internal debate continued, as he unconsciously followed Kam and Blakbeetle, now jumping from treetop to treetop nimbly.

Blakbeetle hung her head. She knew that, by now, Rokusho, Tyrelbeetle, and, worst of all, Roks, were infected with K.V.

"Blakbeetle, how many Kuwagata do you think are infected by now?" Kam asked proudly. Blakbeetle kept her head down and didn't respond, if she even heard the question. "Blakbeetle!" Kam exclaimed, snapping Blakbeetle out of her daze.

"Oh, uhh…most of them, I'm sure. At least Rokusho and Tyrelbeetle," Blakbeetle answered.

"What about Roks? I know for a fact that he was the first to be infected. I made sure of it," Kam prompted.

"Yeah, and him, too," Blakbeetle agreed sadly, bowing her head again. She dimmed her optics. Sorry, Roks. She thought.

They continued down the road, toward the forest on the outskirts of town, where they received their last transmission from KiloRoks, signaling he was there. But unknown to Kam and Blakbeetle, KiloRoks was following them in the treetops.

At Zuru's house…

"I'm a little nervous about going tomorrow morning," Zuru admitted to Tyrelbeetle, bustling around the house for everything he might need the next day, currently standing in the kitchen preparing a few meals, hoping Ikki would bring some food, as well. They didn't know how long they might be out on the search for Roks and Rokusho, so they needed to be prepared. Tyrelbeetle sat spinning around on a bar stool at the tall, wooden kitchen table impatiently, arms crossed across his chest.

"Do I have to go?" Tyrelbeetle whined.

"Of course. We're looking for Roks. Don't you want to find him, and help overall with this virus? You do have it, too," Zuru returned, stuffing an unidentifiable plastic-wrapped sandwich into a large paper bag.

"But it's dangerous! I don't want to get hurt, or hurt anyone else!" Tyrelbeetle shouted back, gripping the edge of the table to stop himself from spinning.

"I'm going. I know it's dangerous. So do Ikki and Metabee, but they're going," Zuru replied, stuffing a few handfuls of chips into a small, plastic bag, and then stuffing the bagged chips into the large paper bag.

"But I don't want to go! Can't I hang back?!" Tyrelbeetle continued, his anger rising.

"No. We need you with us," Zuru shot this down, too. Tyrelbeetle jumped down and ran around the table to face Zuru, staying a few meters away from him.

"Just let me stay! I said I didn't want to go! It's dangerous, and I could hang back! I could just be backup!" Tyrelbeetle yelled.

"If you hang back, or don't go at all, we'll only have one medabot in each group, and Brass is more of a reporter than a robattler! We have two, possibly three, enemies, and Metabee can't hold them all off!" Zuru returned. Tyrelbeetle's eyes brightened. If he didn't get what he wanted, he would attack.

"Let. Me. Stay," he demanded slowly. Zuru shook his head.

"I'm sorry. You can't stay. We need you," Zuru said, "Don't attack. I think you're just worried."

"Worried?!" Tyrelbeetle lunged at his medafighter, head bowed and aiming his horns for him. Zuru yelped and jumped out of the way just in time, running into the kitchen table as he backed up quickly.

"I said don't attack!" Zuru shouted. Tyrelbeetle turned and ran for his medafighter again, preparing for the same Grappling attack. Again, Zuru yelped as he jumped out of the way. Tyrelbeetle couldn't stop in time, and he ran right into the table's side, splintering the wood and leaving a deep dent. Zuru backed away, but backed right into a corner. Tyrelbeetle turned for him and prepared to charge again.

"Tyrelbeetle!" Zuru exclaimed. Tyrelbeetle charged. Zuru got an idea as his 'friend' approached for the first and final hit. He raised his medawatch to his mouth, closed his eyes tightly, and shouted, "Eject!" Tyrelbeetle charged faster. Two feet away…one foot…six inches…four inches…he stopped finally, as his medal ejected from his back hatch. The medal hit the ground with a clank, a dim red light glowing in the usually green core. Tyrelbeetle's body fell forward. Zuru kneeled, catching the bulky, blue body before it hit the ground, shivering out of sheer terror as he realized he just barely lived.

On the edge of the forest on the outskirts of town the next morning…

"Are you sure this is where they are?" Metabee asked Ikki, looking up at him, unsure.

"No. But this is where he seemed to be heading yesterday, and we've looked pretty much everywhere else," Ikki replied. Metabee groaned.

"It might help if we knew for sure," Tyrelbeetle stated angrily and sarcastically.

"Tyrelbeetle, just hang in there!" Zuru returned, getting annoyed by Tyrelbeetle's bad attitude that he's had all morning and night.

"Sheesh! I bet you two are worse than me and Ikki!" Metabee commented, his hands on his hips, and looking over at Tyrelbeetle and Zuru.

"Stay outa' Vegas, Metabee," Ikki responded.

"Hey!" Metabee exclaimed.

Ikki lifted his medawatch to his mouth. "Erika? Come in, Erika," he said.

I'm here. Are you in the forest yet? came Erika's response over the medawatch.

"No, not yet, but we're about to enter. Are you, Brass, and Professor Hushi on standby?" Ikki returned.

Yes. Make sure to speak clearly if you call us while you're in the forest, though. The signal won't be that strong.

"Ok. Good. Over and out."

Over and out. the two beeped out, and Ikki turned to Metabee.

"You ready?" Ikki asked.

"As always," Metabee replied.

"Then let's get going!" Zuru exclaimed.

On Hushi's space station, right outside the forest…

Erika gripped her pen and paper to her chest nervously. Brass looked up at her.

"Miss Erika?" she questioned.

Good luck, Ikki and Metabee…

In the forest…

Ikki, Metabee, Zuru, and Tyrelbeetle ran through the forest, weaving through the large trees.

"I know there's a clearing around here somewhere!" Ikki shouted over the crunch of dry leaves under everyone's feet, metal or otherwise.

"And why are we going there?" Metabee asked, trying not to run ahead of Ikki.

"Wouldn't that make sense? If it's a robattle they want, they'd probably go to a clearing like that! It's a perfect field!" Ikki replied, now panting. "Oh, by the way, Zuru?"

"Yes?" Zuru replied, catching up to Ikki.

"Did you remember food?" Ikki continued.

"Yes," Zuru answered.

"Good, 'cause I didn't," Ikki stated coolly. Zuru sighed. He had hoped Ikki would bring some food in case they needed more than Zuru could bring alone.

"Sheesh! You guys are slow!" Tyrelbeetle shouted back to them angrily, leading the group by far.

"No, you're just fast," Metabee corrected.

"Yes, I am. Catch up already!" Tyrelbeetle shouted. His anger took a nasty turn for the worst, shooting upwards. He whipped around after a moment when not even Metabee made an effort to catch up, his eyes glowing.

"Tyrelbeetle?" everyone gasped, sliding to a halt before they ran right into Tyrelbeetle. Suddenly, with three flashes and hydraulics, Roks, Rokusho, and KiloRoks appeared around Tyrelbeetle, their eyes glowing brightly, Roks and Rokusho to his right, and KiloRoks on his left.

"Roks?" Zuru questioned.

"Rokusho?" Metabee also questioned.

"Hey, that's that kilobot on the news!" Ikki exclaimed, referring to KiloRoks.

"I am KiloRoks!" KiloRoks shouted. His metallic voice rang through the forest.

"You look just like Roks," Zuru pointed out.

Hushi's space station…

Hushi stood at the console, leaning on it, bracing himself up with his hands. He stared at the screen, which displayed the Kuwagata. He zoomed up on Rokusho's face as a tear rolled down his metal cheek.

"Hang in there, Rokusho. We'll find the cure," Hushi promised.

Back in the forest…

The four Kuwagata sneered, and then ran off in a flash, hydraulics roaring.