A/N: Hello, fellow fanfics! I have returned and with a new chapter of the second part, no less. I want to apologize if it took too long for this chapter to get uploaded. I have been very busy with the thing called life, not to mention writer's block, so with that out of the way. I took the liberty of finishing this chapter. Without further ado, enjoy.

Disclaimer: Check out my sign from the previous chapter.

Thunder and Aganos continued their quests as they trekked across a desert. Harsh, intense light from the sun bore on the land, with no clouds in the sky. With the temperatures rising, they found a cave and stopped to rest. A jet-black crow joined them to escape the sweltering heat.

Thunder removed a wooden bowl and a bottle of water from his bag. He poured the water into the container and set it on the ground; the crow perched on the brim, tilting its head. The hesitation was brief before it accepted the offering. After drinking its fill, the crow cawed.

"That bird likes you," Aganos said.

"The crow is a symbol of my weyekin—spirit guides of my people. When one reaches a specific age, they go on a vision quest to find one," Thunder said. "The tradition never falters, even as technology rules the planet. This Kan-Ra, you mentioned that he tried to kill your king for power, but what's his goal?"

"To claim dominion and rule it as his own. That's why my king sent me: to rid the world of his influence. Why did Ultratech make your brother into a machine?"

"Their product needed a 'human influence.' When they chose Eagle, my hatred for the firm grew. They claim to do good for humanity, but it's a mask to hide their true intentions."

The crow hopped on Thunder's arm, its beady eyes blending with its frame, but a hint of light glistened.

"Help us find the nearest Ultratech building," Thunder spoke in his native language.

The bird gazed into Thunder's eyes and flew out of the cave.

The sun traveled across the sky until descending to the mountains, allowing the land to recover. Thunder and Aganos prepared to leave when the crow returned and perched on the golem.

"Our friend is back," Aganos said.

The crow flapped towards Thunder and rested on his arm. Thunder stared into the bird's eyes until he said, "I understand." The bird cawed and flew towards the sky. "My weyekin told me of an Ultratech factory nearby. We should go there."

Thunder and Aganos resumed their trek until they spotted a factory on the base of a hill. Barbed wire fences with "Restricted: Keep Out" signs surrounded the worn-out building. They trodded with care, even as Aganos tore the wall in half to create an entrance. Approaching a double door wrapped in chains, Thunder rattled the lock.

"Allow me." Aganos signaled Thunder to stand back. The golem ripped off the chains and punched the doors, sending them flying from the hinges. Darkness and silence lingered in the hallway, leading to the unknown.

Thunder and Aganos invaded the building, gripping his weapons as he scanned for danger until they arrived at a Control Room shrouded in blackness. He flipped on the switch as the lights showed a room with a desk equipped with monitors lined together and a gigantic screen on the wall.

"What are we searching for here?" Aganos asked.

"Most buildings come with a map."

Thunder found the map attached to the wall, far from the desk. His finger traced a path from the current "You Are Here" marker to a lab around a few bends.

"Thunder, can you come here?" Aganos called. Thunder spotted the golem fiddling with a computer. "I was playing with this strange box, and I must've clicked something because this appeared."

Thunder glanced at the screen of a girl with gloom in her grayish-blue eyes and wispy blonde hair mixed in red linings. "Carrietta N. White…" A YouTube video planted itself on the left corner. He moved the mouse towards the YouTube video and clicked play.

A reporter informed the world of an incident until the screen shifted to Carrie and her date covered in blood. Soon after, a metal bucket hitting the boy. Carrie faced the audience. As she raised her arms, her eyes changed a pitch-black.

Pictures flashed in Aganos's mind of a woman with similar eyes. Without hesitation, the golem destroyed the screen with its stony fist.

Thunder jumped back and stared at the golem, noting its trembling stone arm. "Aganos?"

"Forgive me, Thunder, I…when I was still under Ultratech's control, I was at a temple and fought a man named Jago. I guess to Ultratech, Jago was one of those 'enemies.'"

Thunder's eyes widened. He remembered the warrior-monk from the Killer Instinct tournament. "You didn't…"

"I'm sure he's fine, but…the device…it wanted me to kill him until a girl defended him. She had her arms stretched towards me, and her eyes were black. I have fought magi in the past, and though their powers are a force of their own, I did not fear them."

"But this girl when you met her…"

"I rather not think about it. After a moment, the girl pushed me, perhaps to Devil's Landing."

Thunder folded his arms across his chest. The way Aganos described the situation was frightful, but what intrigued him was the girl the golem encountered. "What did this girl look like?"

"She looks like Carrie in the video report, without the blood. Though the encounter was brief, I never forget a face."

Thunder furrowed his brows. How could this be? This girl died two months ago, yet Aganos claimed to have seen her. Either she has a long-lost twin…or she survived… "When did this happen?"

"A month ago. There was something else, too, called Project Carrie. I clicked on the folder, but it vanished."

"Why would Ultratech…? Oh, no. Come. We'll do a quick search here. After that, we must find Jago. He was the last person to have seen this girl. If she's staying with him, then we must warn them of the danger."

Thunder and Aganos continued their exploration inside the factory until they reached the smelting chambers. Flames emitted reddish-brown hues as they sprouted from the moving machinery, and loud whirs echoed across the room.

"This must be where they create these Fulgore machines. I'm surprised at how this place is active with everyone absent," Thunder said.

"It reminds me of those from ancient times who created my brethren and me." Aganos glanced at the dead vines withering from his body. "Oh, no. My vines. Cinder must have burned them during our fight. I need them to keep my body together."

"Since we're here, there should be supplies to replace the burned vines. I'll meet you at the lab; it should be on the other side."

"Will you be okay?"

"Of course, but you'll know where to find me if trouble comes."

Contented with that answer, Aganos searched for supplies.

Thunder spotted a bridge and headed for higher ground. He scanned the smelting chamber until he found metal double doors at the far end of the room.

"I predicted this conflict might occur." Thunder faced the owner of the voice: ARIA. She had two drones next to her and had attached herself with a third drone resembling wings. "The cost-value study of the Fulgore MK-03 suggested it'd be worth the expense. Do you not agree?"

Thunder tightened his grip on his weapons. "I refuse to speak to a soulless body! I haven't forgotten what you've done to my brother. For your crimes, I will tear you asunder!"

He charged towards ARIA, which hovered and summoned one of her drones, shooting sonic blasts to keep him at bay. Thunder leaped into the air, striking ARIA until she tackled him and fired shotgun blasts from her knees. Though the pellets didn't pierce the skin, they still hurt.

With Thunder pushed into a corner, ARIA attacked until he head-butted her. He summoned a lightning bolt, surrounding his body with electric streaks. With each motion, Thunder changed to a murder of crows. He was ready to strike until one of ARIA's drones hit him.

ARIA discharged more shotgun blasts, annoying him. She sent her drones to attack Thunder, but he evaded them and struck her with his tomahawks. He flung ARIA to the ground and crushed her head.

Sparks flew from the first destroyed body, but a second body emerged, equipping her with a blade. ARIA swung her weapon several times, but Thunder blocked with his tomahawks. He sliced ARIA many times until he destroyed it, but the last drone body emerged. ARIA jumped away and launched a sonic blast, forcing him back. She followed with her assault until Thunder rammed her and summoned a bolt.

The CEO darted towards him, but Thunder dodged and latched on her. He slammed and stomped on her, destroying the last body.

"You may have a grudge now…but in time, you will…align with us," ARIA said as sparks hovered, and she vanished.

Thunder glared at the spot where ARIA lay until he sensed a disturbance. An invisible object dropped into the walkway; it remained for a while until it arose with small whirs. The figure lowered its cloaking ability, revealing itself as a Fulgore unit. The cyborg opened its chest plates, charging its power to full strength.

Thunder couldn't explain why, but he sensed his brother's essence from his new opponent. Will destroying this atrocity of my brother's memories bring me solace? I can't be sure until it's done. He swung his tomahawks, but Fulgore dodged and kicked his stomach, almost taking the breath out of him.

Fulgore fired its eye lasers until Thunder leaped and tackled. Before falling, Fulgore teleported to a safe distance. As Thunder landed, the cyborg teleported to attack until Thunder struck, eliminating the element of surprise. While receiving and blocking hits from Thunder, Fulgore planted its metal fist against his opponent's chest, hoisting themselves through a short jump.

The cyborg tried to repeat the process, but Thunder dodged and countered with his aerial attack. Both fighters exchanged and blocked blows until Thunder found a small opening and struck with his weapons.

He continued with his assault until Fulgore struck with a light rising uppercut. Once again, they traded and barred strikes, eager to get an opening. Though Thunder did so and attacked, Fulgore countered with the rising uppercut.

The cyborg opened a panel in its left arm and pressed a few buttons, creating an energy surge. After that, it started its assault on Thunder, though he blocked most of them. Without warning, Fulgore teleported behind its opponent and landed some hits until Thunder countered.

Thunder swung his tomahawks, but Fulgore blocked and responded with its own attack, from its plasma blades to its eye lasers. However, he sent the cyborg flying with his attack. He then summoned lightning bolts, surrounding himself and his weapons. As Fulgore launched its assault, Thunder evaded while cloaking himself within the crows while landing his own hits. Predicting where Thunder would attack next, Fulgore teleported behind and struck with its plasma blades. Once again, Thunder countered back, although the effect of his ability faded.

They returned on opposite sides, glaring at each other. Thunder panted slowly as blood leaked from the cuts on his body, still gripping the handles of his weapons. Fulgore shifted itself as small sparks leaped from the slashes. Blood painted on its plasma blades, dripping slowly. This next bout could determine who would win.

Thunder dashed to attack, his tomahawks swinging, but Fulgore reacted with its rising uppercut. Before it could launch its assault, Thunder pushed the cyborg back and went with a low ankle slicer.

Fulgore dodged, and once again, surged itself with an energy aura. It blocked most of Thunder's relentless attacks until it countered with its blades. It continued with its attack until Thunder tackled.

Thunder tapped into his ability and stormed Fulgore with one attack after another, ending it with a flying stomp. With adrenaline still coursing through his bloodstream and his ability gone, he approached the cyborg with caution and kneeled beside it. "Eagle? Tipyeléhne?"

No response. Thunder lowered his head but cried as something pushed its way inside him. He coughed blood and peered at the plasma blades piercing his body; Fulgore was still alive as it lifted Thunder and tossed him. Fulgore approached Thunder and prepared to land a deadly blow until it stopped.

The cyborg remained still, its glaring eyes flickering from red to blue until a tremor shook the bridge. It stepped back to discover the source.

Aganos arrived, and the first thing it spotted was an unconscious and bleeding Thunder.

"How dare you hurt my friend!" Aganos punched the cyborg, sending it flying until it crashed on the ground. The golem scooped Thunder in its arms and fled.

Fulgore laid on the ground with its arms and legs sprawled, twitching. Before it shut down, Fulgore spoke its last words. "Damage...report...Who is Eagle?"

A/N: Well, that latest raid didn't work out, and what is the secret behind "Project Carrie"? Well, time to let my brain rest, so I'll see you later.