Disclaimer: Well my hostile takeover of Natsume has failed but I managed to impress some CEOs. They're thinking of letting me feature a few characters on the show. I was gonna ask everyone but since Medabots only airs in Canada it may be a bit difficult for you to see your creations on TV. Oh well!
Author's Note: In case you haven't noticed I try to portray different dialects and accents as closely as possible. So if some dialogue is misspelled it's probably because that character has an accent. I am NOT a first grader and I DO know how to spell! (P.S. DRG stands for Dragon type and SPX stands for Sphinx type)
The Jackal's GateEnigma Rising…Flickers of Love?
Dr. Aki ran as swiftly as his legs would carry him. Dripping sweat and panting heavily he continued his mad dash. "Where did he get that thing?" Aki asked himself over and over. He had seen it with his own two eyes, a black medabot wielding a sword. But even now he simply could not believe it. "He couldn't have done it…he couldn't have opened a gate…"
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Devon and Mariah sat with Ikki, trying to coax answers out of him. "Please Ikki we need you tell us about Dr. Aki" Mariah pleaded.
"I already told you everything I know!" Ikki was growing frustrated with the pair's interrogation.
Zagan leaned against a counter on the far side of the room. He clenched his fists, annoyed with the boy's stubbornness and juvenile attitude. Isis stood next to him, her tail swaying back and forth.
"I've got no patience for kids" Zagan said, his voice held a drop of disdain.
Isis growled playfully. "Take it easy. He's just trying to be tough." She giggled before adding "You do the same thing."
Zagan stared at her a moment before ruffling the bangs that hung over her eyes. She laughed again; it was rare to see him so laid back.
Metabee sat at a table, wanting nothing more than to speak to Isis. He sighed inwardly and wondered what she saw in Zagan. "Maybe meda-chicks just like black." Staring down at his gold meda-parts he pondered the thought. He had always thought of himself as a handsome medabot but none of his charms seemed to faze her. Looking back to the pair another thought formed in his central processor. "Or maybe it's the sword." He remembered the way Zagan handled his blade. He fought with both ferocity and finesse; more than enough to impress anyone.
His thoughts were interrupted by a groan from Ikki. "Look! I already told you, yes, Dr. Aki acts strange all the time and no, he's never mentioned archaeology!" At that Ikki stood to leave, only to discover that Devon had a firm grip on his shirt.
"Ikki, I'd like you to deliver a message to Dr. Aki for me."
Ikki furrowed his brow at the request. "What is it?"
"Tell 'im I'm looking for 'im…and I will find 'im eventually." Devon's tone was low and menacing.
Ikki noted it and left, motioning for Metabee to follow him. Once they were gone Henry emerged from a back room. "Ya know I could talk to Dr. Aki for you."
Thanks Hikaru but they came after Metabee. Ikki is a part of this now, whether he realizes it or not" Devon sighed, his tone growing even more cryptic.
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Dr. Aki sat silently in his office. He leafed through several documents but found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. He asked himself the same question over and over again. "How could he have opened a gate?"
Turning his attention to the window Dr. Aki stared out at the overcast sky. To him the darkening heavens were more than just an act of nature, they were an omen. "Calm before the storm" he muttered.
Before he could continue his thoughts there was a knock at the door. "Come in" Dr. Aki sighed.
At the sound of his voice a scientist entered, her flaming red hair tied back. "I have the information you requested."
Dr. Aki heaved another sigh before responding. "Fine, just leave it on my desk."
The scientist narrowed her pearl gray eyes. In a monotone voice she remarked. "You know, if the gates are open it won't be long before we all face Judgment"
Dr. Aki slammed a fist down on his desk and gritted through clenched teeth. "And so you shall be purged from the face of the earth…"
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Ikki trudged home, his mind awash with questions. "Why do they want Dr. Aki?" he mumbled.
Metabee was just as inquisitive, though his thoughts were of a more romantic nature. "I wonder if she likes flowers."
As the pair continued their journey their thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Ikki turned round, scanning for any signs of movement. Yet there was nothing.
"You okay Ikki?" Metabee asked.
"Y…yeah I'm fine." The response was confident but his tone was uneasy. After a moment Ikki dismissed his suspicions. Metabee shrugged and continued walking. Before long a gentle rain began to fall.
"Oh great, now I'm gonna get…AH!" Metabee was stopped in mid sentence by a searing pain.
Turning to his medabot Ikki was horrified to see the cascade of oil that flowed from Metabee's left arm. A few feet away a monstrous medabot kneeled, its crimson wings beating methodically. It rose slowly, revealing a pair of olive green optics. Its long reptilian snout was twisted into a sinister grin. A thick, powerful tail swished behind it and in its hand was a lengthy spear, the blade dripping scarlet oil.
"Are you okay Metabee?" Ikki's voice was filled with concern.
Metabee clutched his arm, trying to stem the tide of oil. "Do I look okay ta you?"
The red medabot placed a hand to his elongated neck, stroking the large silver pendant around it. "You really shouldn't walk the streets alone mate. Never know who you'll run into" he chided in an Australian accent.
Metabee glared at him through narrowed optics, noting the organic look of his meda-parts. "Who are you?" he winced.
"They call me Brimstone. Not that it really mattas seein' as you won't be functionin' long enough ta remembah" he teased.
Metabee grunted in pain and anger as he tried to look intimidating. Brimstone was not impressed; he knew very well that he had damaged the KBT who was now at only a fraction of his fighting strength.
Grinning broadly Brimstone launched himself at Metabee. Ikki was taken aback by the sudden charge and was unable to give a command in time. Brimstone extended his spear and blew past Metabee, leaving another wound on his leg. Metabee dropped to his knees and bit his proverbial tongue, the pain was excruciating.
Quickly remembering his role as medafighter Ikki formulated a strategy. "Use your seeker missiles!" he commanded.
Metabee acknowledged the command. "Missile launch!" he shouted. With a puff of thick white smoke the projectiles barreled towards their intended target.
To Metabee's surprise Bimstone made no attempt to dodge. He simply stood, seemingly paralyzed by the sight of the highly destructive attack. As the missiles drew within killing range he leapt directly at them. Tucking his wings and twisting his sleek body he slid between the missiles in mid-air. Landing neatly he flicked his long black ponytail and flashed a cocky smile. "A good try there mate but you'll 'ave ta do betta against a 'andsome dragon toipe like me" he smirked.
Ikki was dumbfounded. Brimstone had literally slipped by the seeker missiles and stood unharmed, while Metabee was badly damaged and had virtually no way to defend himself.
Without another word Brimstone charged yet again. Metabee raised his submachine gun and fired off a burst. The DRG leapt high into the air with the greatest of ease. Before Ikki could react he latched onto Metabee's shoulders with his clawed feet. Brimstone dragged Metabee across the ground, unleashing a shower of sparks. The sound of metal scrapping against concrete was enough to make Ikki nauseous.
After several moments of merciless attack Brimstone released Metabee, sending him careening into a nearby trashcan. "Metabee you have to get up!" Ikki hollered into his medawatch. Metabee staggered to his feet but felt as if he should have stayed down. His head scrapping along the ground combined with the collision with the trashcan had badly damaged his internal targeting system. A fuzzy crosshairs appeared before his optics. It danced wildly across his field of vision, making a desperate attempt to establish a target lock.
Brimstone readied himself for another charge. As he spread his wings a flurry of white feathers struck him and detonated. Brimstone staggered backwards, scanning the area for the source of such an attack.
Isis soared over the battlefield, her keen eyes watching Brimstone's every move.
Brimstone smiled up at her. "Well 'ello love. Been keepin' yaself pretty oi see."
She glared at him, yet her optics held a touch of concern. "It's been a long time since Sydney Brimstone" she remarked as she glided gracefully down to earth. "What are you doing here?" she queried.
"Just followin' ordas sweet 'eart" he replied. Before Isis could ask for a further explanation Zagan appeared on the scene. "And that's moi cue ta leave. Until next time Sheila," with a flap of his broad wings he was off.
Rather than rushing after Brimstone Zagan knelt beside Metabee and helped him to his feet. "What just happened?"
Metabee groaned as he leaned heavily against Zagan. "I…I'll letcha know as soon as…as soon as I go night…night" Metabee mumbled before hanging his head.
Ikki's medawatch chimed, "Oil depleted, function ceased."
Zagan gently shook Metabee. After receiving no response he set the unconscious KBT down. Ikki scooped him up, his eyes filling with tears. "Not again!" he cried.
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Devon took a sip of hot coffee. "Did you find them?" he questioned.
Zagan's voice projected from his medawatch. "Yeah we found 'em but Metabee's pretty banged up."
"Bring 'im back here. I should be able ta fix 'im" Devon instructed as he took another sip.
"Actually Ikki plans to take him to the Medabot Corporation."
Devon sputtered and choked. "Uhgnh, uhgnh! You mean he wants to take him to Dr. Aki?"
Zagan let out a slight chuckle. "It certainly seems that way. Do you want us to wait for you?"
"No. Go with 'em and report when you get there." Devon pressed a button on his medawatch and a small holographic window appeared.
"You don't need to spy on him ya know." Mariah smiled before adding, "I'm sure we can find out what we need to know without medavision"
Devon shot her an icy glance. "I suppose we could but that takes too long" he retorted with a smirk.
Mariah's tone suddenly grew serious. "Ya know if Brimstone's here there's no telling who else knows."
"Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if the whole team were here. From what you've told me at this point anything can happen" Devon responded, his tone matter-of-fact. "We'll just have ta hold back and see what Aki knows."
Devon's face was the picture of calm but Mariah was worried. She knew all too well what was brewing just below the surface.
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Ikki rushed down the street, his mind reeling.
"Who was that and what did he want with Metabee?" were the two questions on his mind. Nothing made sense anymore. First, he and Metabee had been attacked by what could only be described as a phantom and now a DRG type he had never seen before was after them. "Why is he after us?" Ikki asked to no one in particular.
"I'm not even sure who he was" Zagan replied.
"His name is Brimstone" Isis sighed, her eyes cast down.
"I take it you know him."
"He's my…well…we were…involved" she mumbled.
Zagan stopped dead in his tracks. "You mean he's y…your ex-boyfriend?" he stammered.
Isis looked towards the sky. "Yes. We met once in Egypt."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Zagan's tone was unusually demanding.
Suddenly, Isis smiled. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Her optics brightened as she awaited his response.
Zagan hesitated. "No…"
Without warning she took his hand. "You're so cute when you're insecure" she giggled.
Zagan felt his faceplate grow warm. Just then a message began to scroll across his vision.
I'll see you again soon…
Thoughtfully, Zagan remembered the life he'd had before being deactivated. "What am I doing?" he thought. "I can't just forget about her." Looking over at Isis he saw something he had never noticed before. She wore a black circlet, and dangling from it was a pink gemstone. He squeezed her hand to get her attention.
She looked at him inquisitively. "What's the matter?" she asked in an angelic voice.
"I was just wondering where you got that gem" he replied, pointing to her forehead.
She gingerly touched the circlet. "This? It was a gift from Mariah. She said it's been in her family for generations."
"I see…" he trailed off and stared up at the sky. After a moment he turned his attention back to the task at hand. "She can't be…can she?" he asked himself, his mind suddenly filled with obscure thoughts.
An unexpected shout from Ikki broke his concentration. "There it is!" Ikki burst into a sprint as the Medabot Corporation came into view.
"Wait a minute!" Zagan called.
"Come on let's go" Isis chimed happily as she ran after Ikki.
Zagan shrugged before following them. He soon caught up to Isis who turned to him and smiled. Spreading her wings she skimmed the ground.
"So it's a race you want" Zagan chuckled as he ran.
"You don't really think you can keep up with me do you?" Isis giggled. "As long as you're stuck on the ground I'll beat you every time."
"That's what she thinks" he joked to himself. In a rush of air Zagan lifted himself from the earth. Speeding only a few inches above the ground he quickly closed the gap.
Isis looked to her left and was shocked to see Zagan sail past her. Frenziedly she searched for an explanation. She soon found one; looking at his feet she noticed a pair of exhaust valves in the soles. "No fair!" she complained. "You're using jet fuel!"
Zagan craned his neck to look back over his shoulder. He retorted in a sarcastic tone. "Actually its compressed air and you never said I couldn't."
Isis readied another remark but discarded it when she saw that they were already at the entrance to the Corporation building. Straightening up and folding her wings she gave Zagan a disheartened look. "No fair…you never told me you could fly." She lowered her head into her hands and began to sob.
Zagan felt a twinge of guilt but would have none of it. Pulling Isis' hands away from her face he corrected her. "That's because I can't fly. My leg parts are built for speed and jumps."
Isis looked up, not a single tear stained her face. She stuck her tongue out at him before saying, "Well then how did you do what you just did?"
"It's called the Air Dash. It's a move Devon and I developed" he quipped.
"Well EXCUSE ME!" she shouted in an indignant tone.
Rather than yell Zagan covered her mouth. Before she could struggle he took her hand in his.
The SPX's teal eyes grew wide. "What are you doing?" she questioned, unintentionally tightening her grip.
"Nothin'" he replied. Yet he felt a pang of sorrow surge through his medal and quickly turned away.
"If you two love birds are finished, METABEE NEEDS HELP!" Ikki howled.
"Sorry" Zagan apologized as he rubbed his head.
This chapter didn't take as long as I expected. Sorry about the sudden romance but there was no way to subtly introduce it. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. So please write those reviews and to everyone who already has thanks a lot!