Disclaimer: If you think I own medabots you're not just wrong, but you're stupid. And you're ugly, just like your mom (Anyone know where that line came from?).
Author's Note: I was supremely disappointed by the lack of reviews in my last chapter. If you don't tell me what you think needs to be fixed I can't make anything better. So come on guys, write those reviews! And by the way big thanks go out to mad-man for my one review!
The Jackal's Gate
First Strike
Brimstone made a rather ungraceful landing in a large alley. Massaging his chest plate he snarled at the very thought of being caught off guard. "She really showed you." Brimstone turned to see a young boy with unruly chestnut hair and vivid honey eyes. A mocking smile was plastered on his face.
The DRG scowled. "And just who are you to mock me? You're the medafighta, where were you when all this was goin' on?"
"I thought you could handle it. After all you're always bragging about how you can take on anyone" he retorted.
"I can!" The DRG was growing more and more annoyed.
"Sure, anyone except your girlfriend" his medafighter jeered.
"Whoi you...you little..." Brimstone was on the verge of exploding.
A third voice suddenly called out to them. "'Ey you's guys! The masta's got a new job fur us."
"Take it easy Rocky. We're just havin' a little fun."
"Well 'urry it up a'right. The masta wants ta see ya's right away."
"Come on lover boy let's go" laughed Brimstone's medafighter as he turned out of the alley.
"Shut up Broian!" Brimstone snapped as he ran after him.
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A young man sat on a fleecy soft bed. Gentle white lighting accentuated every detail of his elegant suite. Exquisite Mycenaean frescos adorned the walls and a large flat screen television was mounted on the far side of the room. The occupant flipped aimlessly through channels, his unfathomable indigo eyes filled with sheer boredom.
At his side was a truly twisted medabot. It stood at relaxed attention, held up by six colossal legs. Its navy optics reflected its medafighter's mood.
"Bored yet Grayson?" the medabot asked, her voice full of sarcasm
"Arachnis...you have no idea." The medafighter shrugged and lifted himself from the lavish bed. He gazed at a mirror and brushed his feathery blonde hair out of his face.
As he turned to pick up a phone the door flung open. Brimstone and his medafighter stumbled into the room, both panting heavily.
"You're late..."
"Well we would've been here sooner if somebody didn't stop for hydraulic fluid!" Brian quickly explained.
"Hey that only took a minute! If you hadn't stoaped to watch that girl in the paak!" Brimstone fired back.
"Enough!" Arachnis shouted.
Grayson nodded a thank you before speaking. "Now then, I'm assuming Rocky told you I have a job that needs to get done."
Brian and Brimstone nodded.
"Good. It seems Zagan and the KBT are getting too close to discovering our plan. That can't be allowed to happen just yet. That's where you two come in. I want you to stall them until I can make my move" at this a smug smile crossed Grayson's face.
"We'll get right on it" Brian nodded smartly as he turned to leave.
"Um, Broian...do you know where they are?" Brimstone inquired of his medafighter.
"Well they're...they must be on their way to...um...I guess I don't" Brian said as he laughed embarrassedly.
Grayson placed a hand to his temple. "Someday that enthusiasm will be your undoing" he chuckled. "They're at the Medabot Corporation." Suddenly his tone turned deadly serious. "Do not let them find anything" he snarled.
Without a word Brian and Brimstone turned and left.
"Why do you tolerate them?" Arachnis questioned.
"Because, no matter what their appearance, they're some of the best robattlers around" Grayson replied with a smile.
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Ikki rushed through floor after floor, desperately searching for Dr. Aki. Zagan and Isis followed him closely, their servos burning from exhaustion. "Slow down Ikki" Isis called. Her shouts only seemed to make the boy run faster. Suddenly, in a storm of paper, Ikki collided with the good doctor.
Both stood and rubbed their sore rears. Ikki was on the verge of an apology when he noticed the dark sunglasses and odd hairstyle. "Dr. Aki!" he cried. "Metabee's hurt and I need you to fix him!"
"Not again..." Dr. Aki groaned. "Follow me" he grumbled, picking himself up off the floor and leading them to an elevator.
Zagan and Isis were relieved to take a break. Already exhausted from their race, chasing Ikki through the skyscraper had not been a pleasurable experience. "He's faster than I would've thought" Isis huffed.
"At least...you can fly" Zagan remarked between puffs.
"Oh and what about you mister I use compressed air?" Isis teased, her usual disposition restored.
"Shut up" Zagan joked. The sight of Isis acting like herself had made him forget about how tired he was.
The elevator doors slid open and Dr. Aki stepped out, Ikki less than a pace behind. The group moved down a wide corridor filled with scientists. They moved swiftly until coming to a halt in front of a door marked Medabot Rehabilitation. Dr. Aki opened the door and was greeted by several scientists, each one beaming.
"Good evening Dr. Aki!"
"How can I help you Dr. Aki?"
"Can I have your autograph Dr. Aki?"
A self-important smile quickly spread across the doctor's face as he swaggered into the room, obviously taking pride in their elation.
"I've got a damaged medabot here boys" he proclaimed, his tone was that of a general addressing his troops. "Think you can fix him?" It was more challenge than question.
"Yes sir!" they piped in unison.
Zagan was astounded; they followed Dr. Aki as if he were a god. Turning from the scene he remembered why he had come. He moved carefully out the door, hoping desperately that no one would notice his departure. A sudden voice froze him in his tracks.
"And just where do you think you're going?"
Zagan turned to see Isis gazing at him inquisitively.
"I was just looking..."
She cut him off. "For Dr. Aki's office?" she smirked.
"I guess Mariah told you."
"Of course she did. Just because you're all dark and brooding doesn't mean you get all the information."
Zagan glanced back into the rehabilitation room. Ikki, Dr. Aki, and the other scientists were crowded around Metabee. "Let's go" he whispered.
The two medabots moved inconspicuously through the facility, searching for Dr. Aki's office. After a few minutes Isis realized the frivolousness of their situation. "How do we know we're going in the right direction?" she asked.
"Don't worry. I know exactly where I'm going" Zagan replied, his voice full of confidence.
"Ugh, men" Isis sighed.
The two soon arrived at an elevator. "We take this to the thirtieth floor" Zagan declared as he pressed several buttons.
Isis donned a skeptical look. "How do you know?"
"According to Devon that's what the floor plan says" Zagan replied smugly.
"You mean you've been following a floor plan the whole time?" Isis was shocked to discover that he had actually known where they were going.
Zagan turned to her and his visor glowed a whimsical cherry. "Of course, did you think I would just wander around aimlessly?"
Isis averted her eyes and hummed a fast paced tune.
"You should know me better than that" Zagan chuckled as he gave her a playful shove.
After a pleasant ride they moved down yet another passageway. At the end was a pair of large wooden doors. On which were engraved the words, Office of the President.
Zagan quickly turned the knob and entered the spectacular room. A gargantuan window provided a panorama of half of Riverview, its various buildings illuminated in every imaginable color. A desk sat against the far wall, cluttered with various papers and folders.
"Let's get to work" Isis chimed cheerfully as she rummaged through stacks of documents.
Zagan joined her, opening drawer after drawer and finding them full of old photographs. He leafed through them, looking for nothing in particular. He suddenly stopped and removed one. Examining it closely he was astounded at what he saw.
A younger Devon stood with Dr. Aki in what appeared to be Egypt. A great pyramid rose in the background and various archaeologists were scattered about.
Isis peered over his shoulder. "Is that who I think it is?"
Zagan's voice was hushed with surprise. "Certainly looks like it."
Quickly tucking the photograph back into a drawer he continued searching until something caught his optic. There, in a corner, was a steel brief case. Zagan quickly picked it up. "I think I've got something" he proclaimed.
Isis looked up from the desk. At the sight of the briefcase she rushed over to Zagan. "Do you think that's it?"
"Only one way to find out" he remarked as he raised a fist over his head. As he prepared to bring it crashing down on the lock an explosion shook the building.
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Devon strolled casually down an avenue, Mariah at his side. The two laughed and joked, reminiscing under the milky white stars.
"Do you remember that time you almost fell into a burial chamber?" Mariah asked, barely able to contain her laughter.
Devon touched his arm, recalling the scar he received from the incident.
Upon seeing his somewhat contorted face Mariah doubled up, her amusement escaping in the form of hysterical giggles.
Devon smiled; there was something about her laugh that made him feel sheer joy, if only for a moment. He searched his memory for another comical story and soon found one. "Oh, and what about that time when you found a scarab in your hair?" he chuckled.
Mariah shuddered at the thought of the large beetle scurrying through her scalp. The fact that she had been examining a two thousand year old tomb at the time had not helped matters.
Seeing her anxiety Devon placed an arm about her shoulders. She looked up at him and the beginnings of an uncomfortable stare began to form on her face. Just as he prepared to remove his arm she hugged him closer, enjoying the cool caress of his leather jacket and the warmth of his breath.
"Devon..." she called softly.
His voice was just as soft. "Yeah..."
"Would you like to...?"
Before Mariah could finish her question an urgent cry cut through the still air. Both searched for the source of the sound but soon realized it was the woman's medawatch. Raising it to her lips she answered. "What's going on Isis?" her tone held a bit of displeased frustration.
"We're in trouble and...!" The clamor of battle could be heard and then the transmission went dead.
Mariah turned a worried eye to Devon and without so much as a nod the two launched into a full sprint, deathly determined to reach their appointed destination.
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The building's violent quaking startled Ikki awake. Groggily, he scanned the room.
"Hiya Ikki!"
The boy nearly leapt from his seat at the sound of Metabee's voice. Immediately he embraced the KBT in a crushing hug. "Metabee!" his voice was filled with jubilation.
Metabee chuckled uncomfortably. "Uh...Ikki...take it easy dude."
Before Ikki could regain his composure another tremor sent both occupants toppling over one another.
Metabee was frustrated and obstinate. "What the heck was that?"
Ikki rotated his right arm, fearing that something had been dislocated. "I'm not sure but..."
His voice failed at the sight of a winged form speeding past a window. Ikki pressed his face against the glass, desperate to get a glimpse of the mystery figure. Even in the evening gloom there could be no mistaking the silhouette of a medabot. Though he could not identify it there was a surge of fear when a pair of green optics flashed through the darkness and a steel girder plummeted to earth, followed by a column of flame.
Metabee did not wait for Ikki's breath to return. He merely turned and exited the room, mumbling something about a fair fight.
And so ends another chapter! I really hope you guys enjoyed it. But seriously, I really need those reviews guys. Without feedback I've got no motivation. So please, keep writing those reviews!