Disclaimer: This will be my last disclaimer. Not only do I hate them but they're just too redundant. For the last time I don't own Medabots
Author's Note: Thanks to phantom-kensai for pointing out some very important things to me and to mad-man for all his help and diligent reviews. Thanks to Dark Lady1 for using Devon and Zagan in "Inside Out" (Go read it when you're finished here).
The Jackal's Gate
The Confident and The Cocky
Mariah tapped her foot nervously, anticipation rapidly fraying her nerves. She looked to Devon for some sign of reciprocation but found none. He sat calmly next to her, his stillness more than a bit disconcerting. She cast an agitated glance in his direction in the hopes of rousing him from his state of collected calculation.
Devon merely watched scenery rush by in blurs of black, purple, and blue. He enjoyed the relative calm of Riverview, much different from the noisy expeditions he was used to. He pressed himself into the warm train seat, attempting to formulate a plan of attack.
"We don't know how many there are, or what condition they're in." Devon silently assessed the current situation, searching for anything that might aid in a potential rescue. It was then that he noticed Mariah staring at him. Turning his attention from his thoughts he put on a reassuring persona.
Mariah second guessed him. "They'll be fine right?"
Devon attempted to maintain the role of confident gentleman but found it difficult. "I'm not the best at optimism" was all he could manage.
Though his words were truthful, Devon quickly regretted them. Mariah let her head drop into her hands. He began to place an arm around her but soon thought better of it and retreated to his own worries.
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Zagan crouched in the lobby of the Medabot Corporation, his saber drawn. A crowd of spectators had gathered to watch the battle that was taking place.
His opponent stood across the room, staring intently through a black visor. Rows of copper spikes jutted from his back, legs, and wrists, each one polished to gleaming intensity. "I can't let you leave here alive" he said, his voice jovial and upbeat.
The GDN kept silent. He refused to give his opponent the satisfaction of witty banter.
"Not much of a talker I see. That's too bad really. Anyway, name's Maverick…and it'll be my pleasure to kill you."
"Confident aren't you?" Zagan was supremely frustrated. Why would anyone talk so lightly in a fight of this caliber? Not caring for the answer he launched into a headlong charge. As he drew closer to Maverick he leapt into the air, allowing his gun barrel to slide into place.
As he dangled above the target he fired his cannon.
An energy blast rocketed down towards the cocky medabot. To the GDN's surprise Maverick held his ground. He chuckled as the attack hurtled toward him.
In a shocking display he raised his own arm and his hand retracted.
"Not bad" he added with a smirk as he launched two beams of intertwined pink energy. The attacks met in mid air, creating a blinding flash.
Shaken by Maverick's counter attack Zagan made a rough landing. His mind raced, desperately searching for a weakness.
"I bet you're wonderin' where I picked up this little number," Maverick laughed as he patted his cannon. "Ya see, you're not the only one ta ever open a gate."
"What do you mean a gate?" Zagan questioned.
Maverick scratched his head, adopting a confused tone. "You didn't think you were the only one did j'ya? I guess the title is a bit misleading. They should just say Jackal's Gates."
Zagan was stunned but made sure his voice remained cool and indifferent. "Gates…how do you know all this?"
Maverick cocked his head to one side. "Hmmm…I tell you what, if you can beat me I'll tell you everything I know."
Zagan considered the deal. It was more an assessment of the terms than his skills. After a moment he nodded in agreement.
"Great! Then what's say we get started" Maverick replied good humouredly. With that he began to circle the GDN. Zagan followed suit, now deeply interested in his mysteriously knowledgeable opponent.
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The battle raging outside the skyscraper was much less cheerful. Isis wheeled and dove, looking for an opening to launch an attack.
Brimstone did the same. He clutched his lance in both hands, waiting for the SPX to make a mistake.
"Activate Salamandra!" Brian shouted.
The DRG's optics began to glow and suddenly the very air around Isis exploded. Thrown off by the unusual attack she was unable to avoid the thrust of Brimstone's lance.
She placed a hand over the shallow gash in her thigh, drops of oil running down her leg.
"Aw does kitty have a boo boo?" Brian joked. "Keep up the attacks."
A grid was imposed over Isis' image as Brimstone's optics began to glow. Recognizing the coming attack she darted to the left, narrowly avoiding the explosion that followed.
"What da ya think? Impressive eh?" Brimstone chuckled as he watched Isis' confused expression.
"Brimstone, why…" she began.
Brian cut her off "Don't listen to her Brimstone! Just keep fighting!"
The DRG hesitated, he was reluctant to go all out against the beautiful medabot. "Oi'm just followin' ordas!" he told himself as he twirled his lance and launched into another attack.
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Mariah sprinted down the street, spurred on by the sight of Brimstone's relentless attacks.
"You have to get him on the defense" Mariah instructed, thanking God for medavision. However even with the holographic window hovering in front of her she found it difficult to devise any real strategy.
Devon did the same, giving Zagan the best help he could. "This guy isn't like anyone we've faced before. Watch 'im."
He had to admit that the GDN was doing well. He was holding his own but could not land a substantial blow.
"This is useless." Devon was just as frustrated, finding that only being able to see what his medabot saw was nearly useless compared to witnessing a robattle in person.
"Just hold out until I get there."
"Not a problem" was the reply. Zagan acted as if he had all the time in the world.
The two medafighters continued to run, both of them spurred on by what they saw through their medabot's optics.
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Metabee ran down flight after flight of stairs. The encounter with the mysterious assailant was still fresh in his mind and he was determined to have his revenge.
Metabee mumbled to himself. "Dirty lizard bot…why I oughta…I'm gonna…!"
"Hang on a second Metabee!" Ikki called after his medabot.
The angry KBT disregarded his medafighter, his mind focused solely on robattle.
"Metabee I order you to stop!" Ikki yelled.
Even with robattle filling his thoughts the word order stopped him in his tracks. "You can't order me! I'm my own medabot!" he retorted, his voice echoing through the empty stairwell.
"Listen Metabee! I'm your medafighter and you're my medabot! That means you follow my orders!"
"I already told you I'm my own medabot!" the KBT was growing angrier by the second, steam began to seep from his missile tubes.
"I'm not gonna tell you again Metabee! Now do as I say!" Ikki growled through clenched teeth.
"I don't need you! I can robattle on my own!" Metabee yelled as he stormed off.
After descending several more flights of stairs the gold medabot opened a door marked 1F. Ignoring the frustrated shouts of his medafighter he burst into the main lobby, unwittingly stepping into the middle of a battlefield.
"Get outta the way Metabee!"
The KBT turned to see Zagan coming toward him. The black medabot skimmed the ground, moving at break neck speed.
Reflex quickly took over and Metabee threw himself to the ground. Looking up he was surprised to see the GDN collide with a medabot he had never seen before.
"Just give it up. You don't stand a chance against me" Maverick laughed.
"Just keep telling yourself that" Zagan snapped back.
It was then that Ikki's voice rang out. "Get back here Metabee or I'll…" the words died on his lips as he noticed the scene in front of him.
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Devon and Mariah arrived at last. Though they were tired neither one was willing to rest.
Upon seeing her beloved medabot Mariah called out. "Isis! Isis we're here!"
The SPX's heart rose at the sound of her medafighter's voice. Not daring to take her optics off Brimstone she replied. "Good to see you!"
"I've gotta help Zagan. Handle this and meet us inside." Devon instructed as he ran into the Medabot Corporation.
Mariah nodded before turning her attention to the robattle. "I don't know why you're doing this…but nobody picks on my medabot!" she shouted, her voice filled with determination.
"Good luck stopping me" Brian laughed.
"Cocky bastard!" Mariah gritted her teeth, her emotions running higher than ever. She thought for a moment before issuing a command. "As long as he's in the air it's an even fight. You need to ground him."
It was easier said than done. Despite Brian's age he was no amateur and neither was Brimstone. It would take something devious to get the DRG out of the air. The answer came to her in a flash.
"Move in front of that lamp post" she commanded.
Isis obeyed and positioned herself accordingly.
Brian cracked a smile. "She was better off without her medafighter." He snickered before instructing Brimstone. "Move in and finish the job."
Brimstone smiled as he trained his lance on the SPX. "Say goodboi luv" he laughed. With one beat of his powerful wings he launched himself into a charge, the deadly sharp lance aimed at Isis' chest.
Isis stood her ground, refusing to move under the threat of being impaled. She kept her optics trained on Brimstone as she muttered "As dumb as you are handsome."
No sooner had the words escaped her transmitter than she moved behind the post and fired a single feather. The gleaming missile lodged itself and exploded, cracking the pole in two.
"No…"
The broken pillar toppled over, striking Brimstone. He hit the ground hard, the weight pinning him down.
Brian's medawatch bleeped an urgent message. "WARNING! WARNING! One hundred percent damage to all systems, function ceased."
The sickening sound of Brimstone's medal hatch struggling against the heavy pole rent the night air.
"I'm sorry…" Isis landed beside Mariah, quickly turning away before tears could come to her optics.
Mariah's eyes on the other hand were cold and hard. Her smile was almost sinister as she poked fun at Brian. "I bet you thought it was over. You've got a great medabot…it's a shame he's stuck with a cocky little shit like you!" Her expression never changed. It was always completely unfeeling.
Unable to stand the scene any longer Isis tugged gently on Mariah's pant leg. The medafighter understood the gesture and turned her gaze on the Medabot Corporation. The sounds of battle mixed with voices echoed into the street.
Not giving a second thought to Brimstone or Brian, Mariah ran towards the building, motioning for Isis to follow. Wiping away a tear the dutiful medabot chased after her.
The pair did not have far to go. Devon stood in the lobby, his eyes locked on Maverick. A brash smile was plastered on his face. "I've gotta admit, I like your style."
Maverick tipped an invisible hat. "Why thank you very much. I have ta say yours isn't half bad either" he replied in a chipper tone.
Devon's smile only grew wider at this. "Let's do this the right way" he instructed.
Zagan knew exactly what his medafighter meant; it was, after all, exactly what he had been thinking. Raising both fists the GDN took up a shallow stance.
Maverick smiled inwardly, incredibly pleased at seeing someone act like a real fighter. He followed Zagan's example and it was not long before the two were barreling toward each other.
Their fists met with a metallic click. Both medabots locked hands, each one trying to force the other backward. Maverick raised his knee to strike but Zagan countered with the exact same movement.
Devon watched intently. "Their styles are almost identical"
"Looks like…we're…evenly matched" Zagan said between grunts.
"Maybe…ta…you" Maverick retorted as he broke his opponent's grip and dropped into a leg sweep.
The move was obvious. Zagan jumped clear over Maverick, landing with his back to the enemy medabot. He kicked out, catching him in the back of the head.
Maverick grunted under the impact but reacted with the grace of a martial arts master. Leaning forward he allowed his legs to roll over his head. The rest of his body followed and he was soon upright.
Zagan smirked. "This guy knows what he's doing." He decided to try something radical. Without any instruction he executed the Air Dash. The GDN began to circle Maverick at break neck speed, his feet never touching the ground.
Maverick did his best to follow but Zagan's movements were just too fast. All he could see was an ebony blur. Without warning the Guardian type went on the offensive. Fists rained in from every angle. Defense was impossible; every time Maverick blocked one attack another would follow from somewhere else.
The formidable medabot collapsed under the flurry. Upon seeing Maverick down on his knees Zagan stopped. He knelt down in front of his opponent.
Devon was dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"
"He's got some information for us" was the reply. Devon folded his arms, now intrigued by whatever it was Maverick had to say.
"You fought well" Zagan complimented. "Now spill it."
Maverick chuckled weakly. "I…I never go back on my word." He paused before continuing. "Ya see…the a…ancient Medallorians were people of prophecy. T…they took the word f their seers as…law. That's why…they…sealed you and…the others away…"
His medal ejected before he could continue.
"Damn" Zagan cursed as he cuffed Maverick's shoulder. "For all that power you couldn't hang on for a few more minutes."
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar feminine voice. "Zagan!" The black medabot turned to see Isis running toward him. She was followed closely by Mariah. The young woman had a look of triumph on her face.
Both Devon and Zagan flashed confident peace signs. "Looks like we're not the only ones with skills" Devon chuckled.
"Very funny" Mariah laughed as she playfully punched his arm.
Isis embraced Zagan, a jubilant smile covering her face. "Good to see you survived" she giggled.
"It was a real struggle without you beautiful." The remark brought crimson oil to Isis' face.
Suddenly Zagan's vision grew distorted. Everything was covered in static and images split and shifted. "What the hell is goin' on?" It was not long before the entire world was awash in static.
The electronic snow quickly cleared and was replaced by a scene that he recognized.
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Zagan stood in a limestone chamber, its walls adorned with silver. With him was a brilliant medabot, her armor made of solid gold and decorated with crimson metal work. Her auburn wings were folded and sapphires of various sizes adorned her body. A gem hung from a circlet about her head.
The medabot fidgeted with her short black skirt, her optics reflecting her feelings of anxiety. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she questioned.
Zagan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice confident and collected. "It has to be done. If the prophets are right…"
She cut him off. "And what if they're not? What if no one ever comes for you?" her voice was nothing short of terrified.
Zagan said nothing and his silence at the questions only brought tears to her optics. He wrapped his able arms around her, his hand gently stroking the headdress she wore.
She returned the embrace, folding her wings to shroud them both.
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The scene faded and Zagan's normal vision returned. He faltered and dropped to one knee.
"Are you alright?" Isis asked as she knelt beside him.
Shaking his head he replied "Fine. Just some…battle damage."
"Maybe you should let Dr. Aki take a look" she suggested.
Devon's reply was sharp "No! …I'll handle it."
Before a protest could be lodged a tidal wave of people flooded out of the Medabot Corporation. The living mass ebbed and flowed, taking the proud combatants along with them.
One cry could be heard above the confusion "FIRE!!!"
Things really seem to be heating up for Zagan and the gang! I haven't started writing chapter six quite yet, school's been rough lately (I'm not gonna survive to see Christmas). Which reminds me, I do intend to keep writing through the holidays. Until next time…The Inferno Burns White Hot!