¡OVERGROWN!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN THE THREE GAMES. I WANT THE REVAMP OF THE FIRST COMING OUT. I HAVE THE ENTIRE SERIES. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO I OWN THE RIGHTS TO WA.
A/N: Sorry for another delay. I've been a playin' Skies of Arcadia: Legends(A great game) and then there was Mega Man: The Anniversary Collection. Two Gamecube games that have been taking the life from me. Then there was the 'little walk' I was talked into going on, but then it lasted three days and 12 miles. I hope no ones lost interest in this. I think I can finish this story in two to three chapters so, lets see.
The stuffy air of the ruins made it warmer inside. The heat was bearable, but nothing comfortable to do anything in. It was too bad that sunset was a good time from now.
The group entered in a near single file line. Clive was to the front followed by Virginia and Maya. Gallows and Thorn were next in the line as Jet fell behind them and Todd took the back at his insistence that it was for the better to have each end protected. To Thorn's directions they traversed the dungeon down an alternate path that was found only by pressing a hard to find switch. The path however took them already an hour into the ruins through many turns. If Clive was not also making a map as they traveled they would not be able to get back most likely since there was many alcoves that went nowhere, but looked like hallways in the dark.
When they finally reached a room the group was to say the least relieved. Of course, this room was near empty.
"Uh, this is about halfway to my home." Thorn added to everyone's dismay.
"Lets make a plan." Jet offered. "Some of us stay here for support and the others go ahead."
"A good suggestion." Clive acknowledged. "Virginia?" She nods. "Then who will go ahead?"
"I'm going." Jet confirmed. Todd gave a glance that said the same.
"As much as I'm interested with what's ahead, I think it to be best that I stay here and check the grounds. It's like we aren't even in the ruins anymore. I think there may be information on something whether it be what Botan has worked on or just basic stuff." Clive explained in a long-winded way.
"Should we take in account that this may be a trap and Botan knows we're coming?" Jet remarks.
Gallows glares at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Botan doesn't want us here. He may know we're here and are coming to him, and so he might try to kill us."
"You know what I meant?"
"You think I mean," Jet eyed Thorn. "I, didn't."
Gallows scoffs and turns away. "I'm staying here then." Gallows roughly states.
"Who cares?" Jet retorts, but only for show.
"I, I think I should go on ahead." Thorn admits.
"There's no real need. We don't need you know that I know where to find that bastard." Jet replies as he heads for the next corridor. "Let's go. I don't want to be tired when I finally get to him."
Everyone did not really like how he was talking. Talking like he used to and being a jerk. But, they had to give him leeway considering they were not the ones who just had about three to four vines growing out of him within a day's time. So, Virginia, Todd, and Jet went on ahead while Clive, Maya, Thorn, and Gallows stayed behind.
"I don't see what was his problem." Gallows mumbles after the others have left. "That kid has always been a snot-nosed punk."
"You have to admit, that he's not exactly the same as he was when we first met." Clive replies as he inspects the carvings on the walls.
"I don't know," Maya interjected. "He's always seemed about the same to me."
"How do you have any place in this conversation? You're not exactly his teammate or best friend." Gallows shot back.
"He's not a snot-nosed punk." Maya states calmly. "I can tell that much."
"What? You got a crush on him or something?" Gallows scoffs.
"I don't mix work and play."
"Will you two stop with the teenage girl talk!" Clive shouts in annoyance. The two nod their heads.
"He's a very nice person, Jet." Thorn mentions which causes Gallows to turn to her.
"How can you say that too? He doesn't exactly like you all too much either!"
Thorn stares at him. "I just do. I can tell, what sort of person he is. He sort of puts on a tough guy thing, but, he's probably the most fit of all of you to save the world or something." That brought grins to both Gallows and Clive. "No offense. He just seems more collected and all."
"Just remember though Gallows." Clive draws away from his inspection of the area. "We're a team. We don't have to like each other all the time, but we're sure as heck gonna get the damn job done."
"That's the only thing you've ever said that I've ever understood." Gallows admits.
They all laugh. It's as if they weren't really sitting around in some dank, dark, stuffy, dirty, old ruin deep in some bowels of Filgaia.
"So, know any good stories?" Virginia urges. The three of them had been walking a long while in silence. They kept on too even after she asked. Good company for her two guys who don't talk when not needed.
"Virginia, be quiet." Jet advises.
"You ca-" He silences her with a hand to her mouth.
"We're getting close. No noise."
Todd looks ahead. "I don't see an end. How can you say that?"
The look on Jet's face would send chills to the spine. "That's the weird thing. I just do." He continues with unbroken stride. He stops and awaits the other two. "Shit, we better just run ahead."
"What?"
"He knows we're here." Jet calmly admits as he kicks a leaf aside. "We may as well run head first into the danger than bother to take time."
Todd took up his sword. "After you."
Jet drew his arm and dashes ahead as Todd and Virginia follow behind shortly. Jet jumps into the next secluded room to find nothing. There was just a dark cloud over the room. Finally it lifted as the other two showed in the room. Machines lined the walls of the room. Pod-like containers no doubt used to grow Botan's projects. Other things anyone who was not a scientist like Botan could not even begin to make sense of.
"Where is he?" Virginia wondered.
"Don't say that?"
"Why not?"
"Because it's typical of someone to show up right after you ask it." Jet replied. Too bad he was right.
"So, you are the three who have been bothering me?" The clean cut man with the glasses and black hair in the lab coat appeared from a dark corner of the room. "No, not just you. I suppose there's more if Thorn is not with you." He goes on not really concerned with them. "No matter. I sent Stamen along that way. I have no doubt in his abilities. AS for you," HE looks back to them finally. Measuring them up as they can only stand with tighten nerves and muscles ready for anything he does. "I think Black Rose will be enough for you."
"Black Rose?" Virginia mutters.
"Father." From another part of the room comes a female hybrid based on a rose with black petals. "You wish that I kill them?"
"Yes, but try not to make much of a mess in here." Botan opens a hidden passage along the wall and exits with the door closing behind him.
"Black Rose," Jet gets her attention. "Do you wish that I die?"
"If it lets me get away without being directly responsible."
"Then, you must know, that I will not just do that for you, right?" Jet questions as Virginia and Todd just grow confused.
"I, I had that feeling, yes."
"If, if I were the one who was told to kill you, and I asked you to die, would you?"
"No."
"Why take Botan's orders? You're half human, and your will to live is as a human's, but you don't seem to have independence like a human. I know you believe you are superior to us, but, is taking orders from your, father what you will put up with? If you were superior to me, wouldn't you make your own choices?"
Black Rose just stares at him. "To kill you, or not to, is a choice that I make. I don't like you. You who would mess with my mind like that."
"So you will kill me?" Jet stands at attention with many holes in his defense. "I think, I know the latent defects in the majority of Botan's works. For one, the posses a built in program for aggression. Two, they are also programmed to take Botan's orders when given, and if they don't, tell me Black Rose, what is it you feel?"
She forms a fist. "It hurts. My head. IF I want to go against anything he says. I, don't like, putting one life to an end. I hate it!"
"But, you must if you want to live."
"Yes."
There's silence for a moment, and then both Jet and Black Rose move for one another in seconds. Thorns on her body shoot off at Jet who dodges and goes in closer.
"Todd, go after Botan." Virginia states.
"You coming too?" He wonders.
"I gotta make sure Jet's fine." She simply states.
"Right." Todd runs to the wall and exits into the passage Botan had went down.
"I will tell the truth," Jet admits as he continues running in a circle around Black Rose who continues attacking in the same movement. "I hate what you are. You hybrids have caused me nothing but trouble from the start. Vines growing out of me and all." Jet hits her back with the butt of his gun. "But, in person like this, I will admit to you that I too, don't want to kill you."
"Then, please stop moving and take my thorns." Black Rose pleads.
"I told you. Humans do not want death. They will run from it at all costs. The thing is, that neither me or you are fully humans really." Jet pushes back as she moves as well.
"You're not human? What do you mean?" Black Rose questions as she allows more thorn to go for Jet. Virginia meanwhile stands far aside behind a machine.
"I'm, not exactly like them. I'm more of a clone and a sample of Filgaia." Jet stops his running and still yet the thorns miss. "Still, I'd rather be human in the end. And, I am. I am the same as the humans really. No different. You, you could have the same benefits that I have. To live with them without being one officially."
"I think you and I both know I can't! Look at me for one thing. I look different, and you said it earlier, I'm programmed. I was born the way I am. My mind, was here before I even existed. I'm a product of genetics. Genetic engineering. Engineering. I think you know what that is."
"I do." Jet remains still as the two have ceased combat. "I was made to be as I am. You see me, as I was thought to be, but, I no longer perform whatever I was made for. I have freedom. I can make my choices and decisions, and that means you should be capable of the same."
"I'm sorry." Black Rose throws her arms out to Jet in an attempt to hold him still.
He does not move and is caught. "No, I am." He fires his arm into her outstretched body.
"Your weapon is of," she drops him to the ground. "What is this? I feel like, I'm burning on the inside." She falls back and onto the ground. "Why?" She shrieks in pain as she falls in a pile of her own roughage and when all is done there is a single rose bush with black petals.
"She became what she is." Jet mutters as Virginia joins him.
"Jet," Virginia silently mumbles as she goes to place her hand in his.
He moves away from it. "We have to go."
"Right, after Botan."
"No."
"Back then?"
"He said Stamen. I'm pretty sure he meant another hybrid. Back towards the others." Jet puts another bullet into his arm. He runs down the path they came in at.
"What about Todd?" She shouts as she catches up.
"He'll be fine. Besides, he's only against some stupid scientist whose creations couldn't even beat us."