Chapter V: Battle Royale!
The four Kuwagata sneered, and then ran off in a flash, hydraulics roaring.
"It's on!" Ikki exclaimed. He raised his medawatch to his mouth. "Erika! Erika, come in!"
Yes, Ikki? Erika replied over the medawatch.
"We need you and Brass!" Ikki continued.
"Why?" Metabee asked, looking up at his medafighter in shock.
"Metabee, follow them, quick!" Ikki shouted to his Kabuto medabot. "They'll lead you where we need to be, probably the clearing! Once you get there, call us! We'll wait here for Erika and Brass. We need another medabot in our group if you're following them! Now go! They could be long gone by now!" Metabee nodded, turned, and ran after the Kuwagata, doing his best to stay on their trail.
"Erika? You still there?" Ikki asked, back into his medawatch now.
Yeah. We're on our way. Over and out! Erika returned.
"Over and out." They beeped out, and Ikki flipped on his 'medavision'.
Metabee…
"Hey! Where did you guys go?" Metabee shouted, looking around frantically as he ran. The trees were thinning, and slowly opened out into a clearing. Metabee stopped on the edge of this clearing, and spotted the four Kuwagata standing in a line in front of Kam and Blakbeetle towards the right of the clearing. "Ikki," Metabee began to himself quietly, hoping he was getting through to his medafighter over the medawatch, "Are you seeing this?"
Sure am. Just keep watching, and keep your distance. If they notice you, I'm sure they'd attack, Ikki replied. Metabee nodded, then stared at the group and waited.
"So, KiloRoks, I wanted to congratulate you," Kam began halfheartedly, "This virus is working out just like I planned. I didn't think you could do it, but you did. And for that, I congratulate you."
Blakbeetle stared blankly at the infected kilobot-copy of Roks, thinking, He looks even more like Roks in person. Unless I am looking at Roks… She looked down the line, and cancelled that last thought when she saw the real Roks.
"I'm not here to make nice, or do your bidding, Kam," KiloRoks began strongly.
"Oh?" Kam gasped, staring at KiloRoks unbelievingly.
"I'm here for my revenge on you!" KiloRoks finished, shouting. His metallic voice rang through the forest--the animals scattered, trees shuddered, and leaves fell to the ground. The wind picked up, and the trees began whispering among themselves.
"You've taken a vengeance, I see," Kam replied coolly, unfazed by KiloRoks's boldness.
"Yeah," KiloRoks confirmed. He opened his Cutlass, eyes glowing brighter, and lifted his sword in the air, clenching his fist. He brought the sword down, bound to hit Kam on the side of his neck, but it hit with a clank. A moment later, KiloRoks realized what he hit: Blakbeetle. "Blakbeetle? What are you doing? Why did you take my attack?! Protect Kam?! Why?!" KiloRoks shouted, pulling his Cutlass away from the wincing Blakbeetle.
"I can't let you kill him!" Blakbeetle returned with a groan.
"Why not? After what he did to me, and every other Kuwagata in the world?! He treats you like dirt, nonetheless!" KiloRoks shot back, clenching his fists and creasing the top line of his bright red eyes.
"It's just not right," Blakbeetle stated. She gripped her left shoulder, partly gripping her neck, where she had a small dent from KiloRoks's attack.
"Get out of my way, or I'll be forced to kill you, and then Kam!" KiloRoks demanded. Blakbeetle shook her head, and straightened her arms out by her sides, prepared to take the onslaught.
"Try!"
"You asked for it!" With a scream, he lifted his Cutlass again, and brought it down on Blakbeetle deliberately, on her other shoulder. He stared sideways at the other three Kuwagata, waiting for them to do something. Immediately, Rokusho held up his Chanbara Sword and swung it for Blakbeetle. His attack connected with the black Kabuto's side, forcing her to grunt as she winced. She wanted to return the attack, but never got an order from a stunned and impressed Kam. Tyrelbeetle was the next to attack, bowing his head and aiming his grappling horns for Blakbeetle. He charged, fitting his horns around Blakbeetle's waist, and sending a surge through her body. She screamed weakly as the blue sparks reflected on her metallic skin. She closed her eyes, dearly hoping Kam would come to his senses and give her an order. Roks prepared for the final blow, lifting his own Cutlass in the air and clenching his fist. He swung it for Blakbeetle's side; closer, faster… Blakbeetle winced, bracing herself for the blow. This attack could cut right through her weakened armor. Suddenly, Roks's eyes faded to normal, and everyone but Blakbeetle stared. He stopped his Cutlass, resting the sharp edge on Blakbeetle's side dangerously. Blakbeetle cautiously opened her eyes one at a time, gasping when she saw Roks close his Cutlass and let his arm fall by his side.
"Roks?" Blakbeetle questioned. Roks stepped closer to her and laid his hands on her shoulders as she let her arms fall by her sides.
"Blakbeetle, I can't attack you. I'm sorry I even came close," Roks apologized. He turned as his eyes brightened and he lost control again. He ran off towards the forest, gesturing for Tyrelbeetle and Rokusho to follow. They smirked at Blakbeetle with a look as if they'd stick their tongues out at her if they had them, and followed their leader, Roks. KiloRoks gave her the same look, and lifted his sword, resting the point on the left of her chest.
"I'll get you someday," he swore, dragging the point across her chest, leaving a sparking and oil-bleeding gash in its trail. Blakbeetle winced, and then collapsed, clutching her hands over the gash, as KiloRoks ran off.
Metabee jumped out of the way as his Kuwagata 'friends' ran by, but stopped KiloRoks.
"I can't let you pass!" Metabee shouted, hands clenched into fists.
"But you will," KiloRoks spat back, staring menacingly at Metabee.
"Don't get your hopes up," Metabee returned. He approached KiloRoks slowly and cautiously, KiloRoks backing up one step for every two steps Metabee took. They eventually stood less than a meter apart in the middle of the clearing.
"Are you hinting for a robattle?" KiloRoks asked after a few moments in silence.
"What took ya'? Ya' know ya' want it!" Metabee shouted back. He lunged for KiloRoks, easily covering the two-and-a-half-foot-distance-or-so in a split second, and threw a punch square in KiloRoks's face. KiloRoks stumbled backwards, barely showing any signs of pain or damage, and raised his left arm. He opened his yellow Hammer Fist and pulled it back, ready to attack.
"Oh, this could get interesting," Kam commented as he watched the robattle, seeming to forget about Blakbeetle, who laid on her side on the ground, gripping her chest, and struggling to keep her eyes open and stay online, wincing. She rooted for Metabee to herself. She definitely didn't want KiloRoks to win; not only was Kam rooting for him, but he was also an imposter, a fake, of Roks.
Back in the forest with Ikki and Zuru…
"When's she going to get here?" Zuru whined, hearing the clanking of a robattle not to far away.
"I don't know. I hope soon. The Kuwagata are out and about again, and if they find us before Brass and Erika get here, we're done for," Ikki replied. He had closed his medavision at the start of the robattle, and was now looking around frantically for any sign of the Kuwagata or Brass and Erika. He heard a girl's voice from behind him, saying, "Ikki, there you are!", and whipped around to find Erika and Brass. He sighed with relief, and then got tense again when Erika and Brass asked a few questions.
"Where have the Kuwagata gone?" Erika asked first.
"What about Metabee? Where's he?" Brass added.
"Well, we ran into the Kuwagata," Ikki began, "and when they ran off, I sent Metabee after them."
"Now what's going--" Brass's question was cut short. The three well-known Kuwagata appeared with a flash in a line in between Ikki and Zuru and Erika and Brass. All three turned to one; Tyrelbeetle turned to Brass, Roks turned to Zuru and Ikki, and Rokusho turned to Erika.
Ikki's medawatch beeped a few times. Ikki raised it and looked at the small screen as the woman's voice reported the damage, Left arm--eighty-five percent damage. Warning.
Back in the robattle in the clearing…
"Take this! Missile launch!" Metabee shouted as he fired off two missiles from the double cannon mounted on his head, posing as horns, Ballister Cannons. KiloRoks nimbly dodged each missile as he ran up to Metabee, taunting, "Ha! Is that all you got?!"
"You've only seen a tenth of my ability, if that!" Metabee shouted, jumping backwards.
"Then I'm supposed to be proud I took out your arm?" KiloRoks continued sarcastically, swiping at Metabee with his Cutlass.
"Yeah…Wait!" Metabee shouted when he realized what KiloRoks said, "No! Besides, you didn't take out my arm!"
"I got it, though," KiloRoks pointed out. Metabee nodded, jumped back, landed, and aimed the two barrels on the end of his damaged left forearm at KiloRoks. He fired two rounds in succession at KiloRoks, and, though every shot hit him right on the mark, it didn't seem to do any damage.
"What are you made out of?! Titanium?!" Metabee exclaimed. KiloRoks didn't respond. He ran up to Metabee, his Cutlass cocked, and swiped it forward before Metabee could react. He sliced a deep gash across the delicate connection between Metabee's torso and legs, about where his stomach would be if he had one. Metabee clutched his hands over the gash and collapsed to his knees, shaking as oil trickled out from under his hands, out from between his fingers, and over his fingers and hands.
"How did that feel?" KiloRoks asked tauntingly.
"N-not very good, not v-very good at all," Metabee stuttered, eyes wide with pain and breathing heavily.
"That's what I was going for." KiloRoks raised his Cutlass, clenched his fist, and brought the sword down, about to hit Metabee on his back. Just in time, Metabee fell over and rolled out of the way, as KiloRoks's Cutlass, unable to stop in time, stuck in the ground where Metabee just was. KiloRoks yanked his sword out of the ground and shook off the oily mud.
Metabee shakily got to his feet. "I'm not out yet."
Back in the forest…
Brass took all the hits from Tyrelbeetle and Rokusho. Tyrelbeetle was satisfied with attacking Brass, for she was his target in the first place, but Rokusho's target was Erika. Ikki and Zuru, on the other hand, ran for their dear lives from Roks.
Head and torso--eighty-nine percent damaged. Legs--eighty-one percent damaged. Warning, Ikki's medawatch informed with a few beeps. Ikki jumped behind a tree and raised his medawatch to his mouth.
"Metabee," he began in a hoarse whisper, "are you ok?"
Yeah, I'm fine. In a way, my stomach hurts, and he just about took my arm out, but I'm ok, Metabee replied over the medawatch.
"Your stomach hurts?" Ikki asked, surprised.
In a way, as I said. He left a gash on my waist. It's bleeding heavily, and sparking every now and then when I move too quickly. Ikki, I think he knows what he's doing. With his speed, I'll need my agility, but if I can't move, you can call the match over!
Zuru ran by the tree, closely followed by Roks. Ikki had to go. "Metabee, listen. Zuru and I are being chased by Roks, Tyrelbeetle's attacking Brass, and so is Rokusho, but he's going for Erika. I can't really talk now. Just hang in there, buddy! I know you can beat him!" Without another word, he beeped off and ran.
Back in the robattle…
"You're right Ikki, I know. But what can I do? I can barely move it hurts so much!" Metabee said to himself. "Think, Metabee! How can I beat someone I can't keep up with, and is five times stronger than me?!"
"That's usually called an 'uneven match-up'," KiloRoks shouted to Metabee mockingly, charging at him. "But I thought you already knew we were 'at odds'!"
Metabee ran as fast as his hurting legs would carry him out of the way of the rampaging kilobot. KiloRoks slammed on the breaks, turned, and followed Metabee, who ran, clutching one hand over his gash.
"Why are we robattling, anyway? I thought you wanted revenge on Kam!" Metabee shouted back to KiloRoks.
"I do! And I'll destroy any-bot who gets in my way! You started it, anyway!" KiloRoks clarified angrily, gaining on Metabee.
"Yeah, yeah. Just the details. Uh, why do you want revenge on Kam?" Metabee asked as he turned so he didn't run into the forest; KiloRoks followed, adopting a sad look on his face.
"I-I'll tell you that later, if you beat me, of course!" KiloRoks regained his temper and angry expression as he forced a mocking giggle at the thought of Metabee beating him. Metabee noticed his former-sad-tone, and stared back at him sympathetically. They turned again.
The two ran in front of Kam and Blakbeetle. A puddle of oil had formed around Blakbeetle, who seemed to be getting weaker.
"Looks like Metabee chose the perfect question. I'd like to know the answer," Kam admitted.
"O-of course you d-do. I-it's about you!" Blakbeetle stated angrily. Kam nodded, but didn't acknowledge Blakbeetle anymore than that.
"Listen, buddy! I can kick your can! If you would just stop running!" Metabee shouted back to KiloRoks, panting as he slowed. He clutched his hand tighter over the oil-bleeding gash, trying to muffle the bleeding. Coming back around to start the second lap, his right toe got stuck in the hole KiloRoks left after getting his Cutlass stuck in the ground. He fell to the ground, screaming in pain as his metal fingers inadvertently dug into the gash. He laid still, hurting to much to try to move, shuddering and whimpering.
KiloRoks caught up to the fallen medabot quickly, his sane side aching with sympathy pains. His insane, currently in control side laughed at Metabee's misfortune.
"W-why are you laughing?" Metabee asked breathlessly.
"I've won," KiloRoks answered calmly.
"You haven't--" Metabee took a deep breath as he forced himself onto his knees, head hung, hiding a wince of pain as he pulled his fingers out of his gash, "--won--" he lifted his head, green eyes glowing brightly in perseverance, "--YET!" He jumped to his feet, seeming to choke on a rush of oil flooding up his metal throat.
KiloRoks backed up slowly to the middle of the clearing, a worried expression plastered on his face, as his eyes faded to normal. His optic targets rolled back into his head, and he fell backwards, out like a light. Metabee made his way to KiloRoks, clutching the gash, and staring at KiloRoks worriedly.
Ikki's medawatch, on Ikki's arm, on Ikki, deep in the forest…
Head part--ninety-eight percent damaged. Legs--ninety-four percent damaged. Shutdown imminent.