Disclaimer: I do not own Medabots, nor any of the characters from the original manga. I own myself and all of my characters, that including Foxfire, Foxy, Akura Yukienata and Dr. Yukienata. And the device. Can't forget the device. Horumarin owns Medabots. I own the plot and rights to this fanfic, courtesy of the site.

Author's Note: Omaigod it's almost done 0 0. We should like... party or something. Y'know, to celebrate the end. Atleast I think we should. Okay, if -I- finish the fanfic in this chapter, I say you guys bring smoothies. And pie. It's not party without smoothies or pie. Then we can parrtaaayy.
I've been sick the past week so I'm allowed to be weird :x

The squeaks and rattling of tiny wheels rang throughout the hall, though still quiet despite how many of them there were. The white, tiled floor just barely reflected his feet as they hung a good two inches or so above them. There was peace in the hallway, yet chaos. Women and men alike rushed and walked this way and that. He would've been surprised if half of them even knew where they were going, if he were paying attention.

But his optics were fixated on the door just to the right of him. Brass numbers nailed near the top told him that behind it was room 205. But the fact that the door was still closed told him that the doctors were still working.

It had been an hour. Not unusually long for them.

But as the minutes ticked by on the clock above him, he wondered more and more what they could be DOING that was taking so LONG.

But then again, he was a rather impatient Medabot.

"Metabee, stop that." Ikki nudged his elbow against his partner. The KBT glanced up with a blink.

"What?" He asked, still holding an indignant tone.

"You're kicked the bench leg, stoppit." He looked down and, indeed, he was absently hitting his boot with the bench leg. Already there was a good indent.

"Sorry." He mumbled, definitely not in the mood for arguing."

"S'okay." Ikki replied, his voice was hushed and his eyes half-lidded. The ten-year-old obviously wasn't used to all-nighters. Metabee checked his internal clock.

04:27 AM

"You should sleep." Metabee quipped. Ikki side-glanced him as he leaned back against the wall.

"Hunh?" The Medabot seemed hesitant about repeating himself, looking almost... embarrassed?

"You should go to sleep. I'll wait." He said, suddenly replacing the kicking of the bench with a tap of his hand to his knee. Ikki smiled and shook his head.

"Naah, I'm fine. Thanks though." It might've been a convincing argument, if Ikki hadn't yawned at the end of the sentence though. Metabee was just about to protest when the door to room 205 opened. The duo rose up from their seats immediately.

Dr. Aki stepped out, lab uniform and all, and glanced over to them. There was a pause, no words needed. Ikki and Metabee's hopeful stares asked Dr. Aki's rather calm face. The calm face grew into a proud smile, and the hopeful stares followed into relief.

"They'll be fine. The bodies just need some time to rest."

The three of them were still inside the Medabot Corporation. The Rubber Robos had been apprehended only moments after the device had been pulled off Foxfire. The police and security were summoned in to arrest them. But it was only twenty minutes later, when they were bringing Foxfire, Rokusho and Foxy down to the Medabot Infirmary, that they were told the Rubber Robos had managed and escape. Thanks to White Sword.

No one seemed surprised at the fact. Most were just glad it was all over with. Rokusho and Foxy were in intense care, whilst Foxfire was just recovering.
However, dear reader, it does not end here.

"Dr. Aki." Ikki said while they went down to the cafeteria for an early breakfast. Metabee stayed behind to wait, saying something about 'being a good brother' and nonsense. The old man 'hmm?'ed in answer. "You were talking about Foxfire's 'deadly element' back there, something about the metal in the Medabot's body?"

Dr. Aki hesitated slightly, leaving his mouth ajar before giving a slow nod.

"Yes. I did... why?" Ikki reached out for a carton of orange juice.

"Why's it called the DEADLY element?" He'd expected that question, and probably a million more to follow it soon after. Dr. Aki grabbed a soup bowl and led Ikki to an empty table. It was almost 5 AM so a lot of the tables WERE still empty. Dr. Aki tapped his cheek for a moment with his chopsticks before answering.

"It's called the 'deadly element' because, with a move like that..." He trailed off, pausing again. This was a subject he'd hoped to have never come up. With anyone. "Look, there's a reason why we only made one Foxfire." He started. "Elements can be a very complicated thing. Complicated, and dangerous. They make up everything that we live in. Like--" He pointed to Ikki's juice carton. "You break down styrofoam, it goes to polymer and styrene. Styrene is a liquid and can derive from water. Therefore, Foxfire can control it."

Ikki blinked at the example, suddenly looking at the orange juice carton at a new angle. "What but-- how can she? It's not a liquid now so she shouldn't be able to do that."

Dr. Aki nodded in agreement. "You're right. She shouldn't." Then came a regretful sigh. "In the beginning, Foxfire could create and manipulate the basic elements. Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. And that's all she was supposed to do. But...," He paused. Ikki leaned his head forward. "... But eventually, Foxfire learned how to use those elements, even if they had been chemically changed. Basically... giving her access to everything on the planet."

"As you saw, Foxfire was able to gain control of the metal alloy in White Sword and Foxy. Metal comes from the minerals in the earth. We call that kind of power the 'deadly' element because with that attack, she could completely destroy her opponent. We were almost going to scrap the entire body, only because it would be too powerful."

"So--" Ikki cut in, holding up a hand. His drink abandoned. "So you were going to destroy her because she could destroy the Medabots? But couldn't that be useful for you guys too... I mean couldn't she be with the Select Corps. with that power?" Something so small could do so much? It was a hard concept to accept, and to understand. But the comforting fact came to face Ikki. Foxfire didn't Robattle, and Foxy played fairly. They would've never fought against Medabots so violently.

"Ikki... Foxfire's capable of killing humans just as easily. You realize that?" The ten-year-old furrowed his brow.

"W-what? How?" Another sigh.

"Think of what we're made up of Ikki. The biggest percentage of our bodies is water. We know Foxfire WOULD never kill a human, but it's the fact that she COULD that scares people. If public knew that the Medabot Corporation had created such a thing, there'd be riots in the street. They'd think we were making weapons of mass destruction. And THAT's what Foxfire is. She's a weapon that could cause MASS destruction."

He stirred around the contents in his cup before shoveling in a few vegetables. The empty cafeteria filled with nothing but the beginning aromas of breakfast just starting to be made. Ikki sat across from Dr. Aki, taking in what had just been filled into his head. Foxfire could've never been. Something so small and innocent could've been look upon as nothing but a powerful tool. Ikki could agree with Dr. Aki on most of his points. But...

"But then-- why's Foxfire still alive?" Dr. Aki slurped up some of his noodles, nodding in acknowledgement before answering.

"Well... slurrp... slrp. Like I said, when she was first created, we first thought she was only able to use the basic elements. Then when we were about to market her, she was stolen. Yukienata's daughter, Akura, found her and claimed her as her own Medabot. Dr. Yukienata decided it'd be okay and she stayed with the Yukienatas. Instead of working for the Select Corps, Dr. Yukienata wanted to see how Foxfire functioned in a family setting."

"A few months later, Dr. Yukienata found Foxfire actually moving around the Medabots in her Robattles. We realized what she was capable and the first suggestion was scrapping the body. The Medal would be saved so there would be no real harm. But Yukienata refused it, she'd became to close with her to sen her to the garbage."

"After debate, we figured Foxfire was a safe Medabot. She knew what she was doing wrong and promised to never use her 'deadly' elements. We referred to them as the elements she could kill living things with themselves. We wouldn't make another, she'd stay under supervision of Yukienata and the public would never find out about her. It was a fool proof plan."

"Today... today was just too close to breaching that plan." Dr. Aki finished off his soup, and Ikki ran his hands through his ragged, bed head hair.

"What happens now?" He asked. The doctor shook his head.

"It's hard to say. The Rubber Robos could make more and more of those stupid gadgets to mess with her head and she could wreak complete mayhem. This is too big to just not mention to anyone. But we managed to stop anything from happening thanks to your quick thinking."

Ikki blinked, before reddening. "Aww, well." He grinned sheepishly with a sweat drop. "It was nothing'." Dr. Aki smiled, rising up from his seat.

"We should go see how the others are doing."

Foxfire stepped out from her room, her vision still staticky with sleep. She peered down a hallway, then turned her head to the next. Sitting on a small bench, looking down at the floor was a yellow KBT. His green optics half-lidded with exhaustion.

The FOX had woken up in a strange and unfamiliar room. Her first thoughts had been 'Where am I?'. Then suddenly, 'Oh Aki.'
The memories of her battle flooded through her head. White Sword, the Rubber Robos, Ikki frozen, Dr. Aki yelling, Foxy fighting her, Rokusho on the floor, then Metabee taking something from her back.

Everything seemed to come at her all at once. Rokusho, poor Rokusho. The sight of his defeat scared her. He had... with White Sword... they'd... Foxfire wanted to cry. Was he okay? Was he safe now? And what about Foxy? Foxfire had gone way too far. She'd nearly destroyed her. Would they be able to repair her?
It was Foxfire's fault. It was all her fault. If only she'd been stronger, she would've been able to stop this. No one would have gotten hurt.

Eventually, she decided to look herself over in a conveniently placed mirror across from her bed. Traces of the device and the battle were gone. Instead, her armor looked cleaner than it had in a long time.

What would she do now? She'd forbidden the rules, she'd nearly destroyed Foxy and White Sword. What would THEY do now? Would her body be destroyed now? Or maybe her medal too, considering she'd disobeyed their wishes. Would they destroy her body and medal?

Foxfire had paced around the room for almost ten minutes. All that got her was a very worried expression and frayed nerve systems.
She had no choice. She had to be brave... brave just like White Sword had said. 'I can't be a coward anymore.' She thought to herself. She would face the music, no matter how threatening it was.

Metabee looked up at her, his eyes widening.

"Hey, you're alright!" He slid off the bench and trotted up to her. She gave a nod, inwardly smiling. He seemed happy enough, or maybe he didn't know?

"Mhmm, I just woke up." She lied. He nodded in acknowledgement, nodding his head to the door beside her.

"Foxy and Rokusho are still restin' up." There was BIG breath of relief let out from Foxfire. They were okay.

"Are you okay?" She asked, suddenly looking him up and down. No injuries. No signs that he'd even been in a battle. "Did that thing do anything to you?"

"Eeh? Oh--no! No, no I turned out fine. Just gave the thing a good ol' yank and it came right off. You uh, you passed out though. Sorry." Metabee sweat dropped, arching his eyes and rubbing the back of his head apologetically. Foxfire mentally smiled.

"S'alright. So you didn't get hurt?" The KBT seemed bitter about that.

"Phht, NO. Stupid Ikki wouldn't even let me Robattle. I coulda taken that White Sword guy on." Foxfire laughed, but it was a short one. She paused, her optics dimming.

"I'm... I'm sorry. About everything I did." Metabee quirked an optic.

"What?"

"Back... back there. I did terrible, terrible things and I-- I'm really sorry." Her voice strained, soon following up with a bow. Metabee blinked a few times before putting his hands to her shoulders to bring her back up.

"Wait wait-- it's not your fault. Stupid Rubber Robos and that device thing messed you up. Took your memory so you couldn--"

"But they didn't." She cut in, her audio transmission wavered. If she were able, she'd be crying by now. Her optics brightened up, but only in sadness. " They didn't take my memory. I knew what was going on the entire time! I had complete control but- but I wanted to do all these bad things. Even if it was that little machine I should've controlled myself. I-- I let you guys down."

Metabee watched her through wide optics as she explained what happened. White Sword kidnapping her, the Rubber Robos wanting Foxy, then White Sword taking her down so they could attach the device. The story came apart as the KBT listened.

"I'm sorry." Came at the end, even if it had started at the beginning. She bowed her head, her arms folded. "I almost killed Foxy, what happens if they try again and I end up hurting you?" He shook his head.

"We wouldn't let it happen. We stopped you today, we'll--"

"But what if you can't?" She pressed, her voice sobbed. Her cheeks tinged with red oil. "What if something goes wrong?"

"You..." Metabee paused, searching for some kind of answer. How did he come up with one to compete with that kind of question? "You... can't ask stuff like that." Foxfire furrowed her optics. "You might as well be askin' 'what if the sky falls?' or 'what if I sprout wings?'. Anything can happen but... but you can't expect them to. It just happens. And we've just gotta deal with it when it does."

Foxfire stood before him in surprise. What he had just said, had to be about the wisest thing to have ever come from that hot-headed medal of his. She blinked a couple times in reaction. The FOX type had nothing to complain or argue with. And really, she didn't want to.

She sighed, before giving a nod.

"You're right."

"Phht, course I am!" Foxfire laughed and things didn't seem to matter anymore. It was all over. She was back with her friends, Rokusho would be healed up and whatever happened next they would have to deal with.

Miles away, in Riverview City. In the hospital, near the top floor, in a room belonging to a certain red-head; a hand twitched.

----

Oh that's right. I better see some pies on my doorstep :p