Chapter 17

Knuckle was just about to leave, until he felt someone holding him back. His body aglow once more as he was forced back around. Suddenly, he was pinned to the wall as Tatsumaki was staring him in the eyes. "You owe me lunch, you owe me a fancy dinner… and breakfast" she said and smirked.

"Babe, I'll be more than happy to do that for you, but I got to go take care of something first. Serious matter okay?" he said gently.

"Oh? Can I help?" she asked with a coy grin.

Knuckle smiled. "Actually, I'm gonna go raid the Neo Heroes. I think it would be best if you stayed here for now. Or people are going think we are attacking them on purpose."

"What! Why are you the only one going!" she protested. "What's so important anyways?!"

"Short stack… ahem… Metal Bat, maybe in danger. His sister is worried sick about him and the Neo Heroes are trying to get her to 'visit' him despite the fact he ain't hurt or sick."

She paused to the news, her body began to glow a little brighter. "Let me at least watch your back!" she demanded. "I won't be seen, but I won't let you do this alone!"

He nodded in agreement. "Okay babe, you got my back, we get Metal Bat the hell out of there!"

#

Knuckle arrived at the Neo Heroes HQ.

He didn't have to wait to be allowed in, he saw two young guys waiting for him. But instantly sensed their cyborg parts. 'Shit, and they thought Boros went overboard with bro and I' he thought.

There were these shit eating grins they possessed. "Knuckle Brawler, it's an honor and pleasure to finally meet you!"

Their hands went out, but he held off on the handshake. "I know you guys ain't stupid, nor am I. You wanted his little sis to come here for a reason, but I came in her place. You still accepted to allow me to come. So, with that in mind, let's get to the point."

The two paused but their smiles didn't vanish. "Of course, right this way."

He was led through a whole different entrance, all the while Destro and Erimin were giving their speel as to what they wished to do and accomplish. "You have been such an inspiration to us Knuckle Brawler, your brother Street as well. You two are worthy of the rumors we hear and the legends you have created in your short time as neo heroes…" said Destro.

"I do admit, the quality of this work done on you, I couldn't imagine us forging such a body to suit your needs…" said Erimin.

"So, why did you guys welcome me with open arms here. If you know why I am here…"

"Well, to convince you sir."

The passage they took led to an elevator, that brought them to a higher elevation. "This here is an area where people can't really get to, not unless they have the proper modifications…"

He was already registering the air to be thin, but this is done unnaturally. They weren't too far off the ground, perhaps this was a little security detail to ensure whatever they were doing was kept a secret.

"We wish to study you, Knuckle, please, permit us to do so. That way we can perfect the process…" explained Destro

This made Knuckle pause in his steps. "What process?" he demanded.

"We will show you, but please, don't do anything brash, you will kill someone if you do." Warned Erimin.

'Kill someone huh?' he thought. They didn't have to tell him twice, he was already picking up the pulses of the people on the other side, attached to some oddly highly sophisticated machinery.

The elevator opened, and revealed nothing more than a massive lab with tubes. Knuckle froze as he saw people within them, yet, they were covered in robotic parts. "What the hell is this?" he demanded.

"The future of all heroes." Destro said with great pride. "We have been taking care of the Neo Heroes who return to us with fatal injuries. We replace the parts injured and loss to make them stronger!"

"You got their permission to do this?" Knuckle demanded.

"Were you asked for permission to become what you are?" asked Erimin.

He paused. "Well you got me there. Despite not being asked though, I know why this was done to me. Not to mention, I got to decide what I wanted to do with this body of mine… what about them?" he asked pointing to the tubes.

"I am certain that anyone on the brink of death would wish for a miracle, wouldn't they?" asked Erimin.

"Miracles depend on the situation." Knuckle did his tour, yet his scanners were going into overdrive. Something was not right. "You know, you guys claim to be doing everything for the sake of the hero. Yet, if that's the case, why go through the hassle of training them? Why put all this effort into suits if you are going to do this to them?" he asked.

"We knew you would understand that aspect. At the moment we are merely gauge the Neo heroes on their strength in the suits and make adjustments accordingly. However, compared to the likes of you, they are nothing more than mere humans with robot parts."

"Isn't that what a cyborg is?" he asked. "I still consider myself human, despite becoming this. Yet with the way you are talking, you want to make humans more machine like…"

Those smiles grew again.

"Imagine a hero that will never stop, never tire and never lose against another monster…" explained Destro.

"Imagine people no longer being people. I see what you are trying to do here, but I ain't going to help you to say the least."

"What a pity, considering we are having difficulty with one…" sighed Erimin.

Suddenly a sidewall opened up. A larger tube was revealed, yet Knuckle froze at the sight. At first he couldn't believe his eyes, but his scanners were not wrong. All over he looked the tube and barely saw anything that appeared remotely close to his original state.

"Short Stack?" he whispered.

He was drawn to it, inside was indeed Metal Bat, but he has seen better days. "Bad… BAD!" he called as he smacked the glass tube to get him to open his eyes, but got no reaction.

"Bad is in a very critical state… we don't have the parts needed for him to survive." Explained Destro. "We may have gone a little too zealous with him."

Knuckle shook his head to it all. "You sons of bitches… You are forcing this!"

They merely shrugged their shoulders to it all. "Forced or not… there is no going back. Metal Bat has been rather… difficult to say the least. He has been rejecting most of his parts. In doing so, he risks his own life. What a shame, he had such potential." Sighed Destro. "If only his sister came to visit him… we know for a fact that if she were here… this would be a success…"

"Still, it was a great learning experience," chimed Erimin. "We are aware that the stronger the hero the more sedative is needed, not to mention stronger materials to forge their new bodies…"

Knuckle was shaking with rage, but this is the reason why he came. Zenko was right to stay away from them. They were going to use her to get Bad to cooperate. "I'm leaving… and I am taking him with me" he said in a warning tone.

"Oh? You do know, if you remove him from the life support system he is hooked up to, you will kill him," Erimin said rather carelessly. "Such a shame you wouldn't cooperate with us, we could have made the ultimate hero with your assistance."

"Since he won't cooperate, why do we even need Metal bat?" asked Destro. "For that matter, he refuses to cooperate, I say let us cut our losses now." Destro reached for a control panel, suddenly, the liquid Bad was floating in began to empty! The wires that kept him alive withdrew as he collapsed in the tube.

"BAD!" Knuckle wasted little time as he shattered the tube. He retracted the slime on his upper body as he hoisted Bad up onto his back. From there, his body took over. Metal fibers began to come off his back and started connecting into the same spots the life support system was in. Knuckle then saw before his eyes a system update to allow him to become a life support system for Bad. With everything connected, Knuckle knew he could get him out safely and to Alley. "Hang on bud, I am getting you the fuck out of here…"

Yet as Knuckle got ready to leave, they woke the other cyborgs test subjects.

They emerged from their tubes and their eyes set on Knuckle.

"You are free to leave… as long as you get pass them…" Erimin said with a grin.

Knuckle smirked. "Well, I hope you boys like puzzles… Since I just got an upgrade, watch this!"

He took a deep breath, he smirked and then shouted at the top of his lungs. "BALLS!"

The room was blown out! The cyborgs lost most of their parts as Destro and Erimin were saved by those before them. Knuckle smirked as he rushed towards the window and made a dead leap out of it! Tatsumaki was quick to catch him as he made a desperate call. "Alley, I need the lab ready a.s.a.p.! It's Bad, he needs help, you gotta help him!" he pleaded.