Mark of Man
Chapter 8
When Death laughs, no one else does.
To imagine that the cells of the future were better than those of the early twenty first century would have been a fallacy. No, the cells that 'irregulars' occupied were by all intents and purposes nearly identical. Cold duracrete covered the floors, and reinforced durasteel bars held their prisoners secure. In some regards, old prisons were far kinder to the inmates than that of the Irregular Hunter Prisons. It was a well known fact that humans required some level of social interaction to survive. However, little, if any research had been done into Reploid psychology. (Not that their masters would have cared even if the topic had arisen.) If a reploid's mind broke, it wasn't a big loss. They'd just melt them down, and build a new one.
Even so, Rokko X was a slightly special case. Apparently Sigma feared that she would attempt to break out, and if she did, muster a rebellion if left unguarded. As such, the cells housed a number of high grade reploids standing guard. During this time she met several new reploids from various Irregular Hunter Divisions.
Spark Mandrill, an electric based reploid with a slightly goofy looking expression was an unusual individual to say the least.
She had been resting in her cell, bored out of her mind as the last guard had been unwilling to speak to her or any of the others. Worse yet, she hadn't even been able to stare the recently released Vile down and attempt to terrify the reploid leaving her essentially nothing to do.
It was then that her internal ramblings had been interrupted.
"'Sup little lady?" Glancing up, she saw the strange mandril based hunter looming over her.
He was almost as tall as Flame Mammoth, but with much, much larger arms and strange bands wrapping around each of his wrists.
"I'm rotting in a jail cell. What do you think?" Rokko couldn't help but spit out acidically as she rolled off the mattress and frowned at the titan.
His right hand rubbed the back of his neck, his expression one of embarrassment.
"Er, right. I mean... Uh… Other than that?"
Rokko X placed a hand on her helmet, shaking her head as she did so.
"I'm not having this conversation."
She turned away from the electric based reploid, only to hear him speak up again.
"Look, I know this bites. I don't understand why Sigma would do this, but I… I think you did the right thing. Sometimes, reploids need to stand up and be heard." She froze in place at his tone before she shook her head, stunned at the brave admission.
She sighed before turning to face him again.
"Maybe reploids should stand up, but it'll never happen, at least not in a way that it'll matter. Only a handful of reploids will ever stand up at once, then the irregular hunters will be ordered to terminate them." She sat back down on her mattress, looking up at the hunter once she'd done so.
He nodded solemnly, a weary acceptance in his eyes.
"It's the way of things isn't it?"
Rokko nodded once, closing her eyes as she did so.
"The Irregular Hunters are the arm of humanity, to keep their place as rulers. As long as there is a Hunter force terminating Irregulars, there will never be a chance at that kind of change."
Spark Mandrill nodded once again, sounding truly sad as he did.
"Perhaps you're right…"
Rokko shrugged indifferently as she waited for the next few hours to pass. This was the problem with being a prisoner. She had nothing to do, and unlike some humans probably believed, Reploids weren't installed with 'Pac-Man' or whatever silly games humans thought Reploids had in their heads.
In her boredom, she had come up with a simple way to pass the time. She'd slowly, and carefully construct battlegrounds for her to participate in. However, as difficult as it was, as nice as a distraction as it posed, it was extremely limited, and before long, she'd become bored with even this.
This in turn forced her to use her mind for new tasks. It was in these long, dull hours that she'd come to realize just how little of the world she actually knew. She'd lived her entire life in Eurasia, and had never known anything else. What were the Greater American Alliance, Oceanic Federation, and African Armistice Forces like? Were their people any different? Probably not, humans never seemed to change.
As Rokko thought about humans she scowled. Everything about them screamed self centered. Hating progress, hating reploids, demanding that all reploids be killed off… Killing any reploid that refused to obey… If she only had a chance… She'd wipe the smug expressions off of all their faces. Starting with that self righteous human commander. She froze, immediately realizing where her thoughts were taking her.
No, as much as she'd like to… Thinking like an irregular wouldn't be a wise decision.
Damn them all.
Irregulars weren't so different, but… Even so, the fact that they'd gone irregular meant that they were to be terminated. If Rokko had been labeled a maverick and terminated, what change could occur? No, she would live, if only so that one day, she could pass judgement for the sins against her people.
As frustrating as it was, she'd continue to grit her teeth, nod and obey. At least for now, until she could find the perfect chance to take advantage of the situation. But, when the time came… They'd regret everything they'd ever done.
"Rokko, you going to mope all day?" That rough voice which was all too familiar asked her, and she opened her eyes, observing him.
Apparently, Spark Mandrill had left and Cobalt Wolf had taken his place. Swinging her legs off the poor quality mat, she rose and approached the bars, managing a rare smile.
"Not anymore."
To many, they'd have called Cobalt ugly, what with the vicious scars, the crimson eyes, and the fierce fangs, but Rokko had seen past that, and beneath the exterior was a gruff reploid with a sense of fierce loyalty to those he considered friends.
She... Was grateful that he'd called her friend.
"Good news, I've managed to get them to reduce your sentence. Instead of fifty, I managed to get it dropped to three. After that, assuming I'm still around and kicking, I'm to be your 'parole boss'. Whatever the hell they meant by that, I have no idea. They didn't bother to explain it."
Apparently whatever they'd decided, it wasn't the usual, but it also meant that the two of them were extremely confused in regards to the decision.
Crossing her arms, she looked up, annoyed by the strange choice, but glad that if anyone had to be her 'parole boss' it was a friend.
"Well, at least that's some good news." Rokko agreed.
"Anyhow, I'll keep trying to negotiate, maybe get them to drop the 'boss' thing, and maybe a bit more time. Sigma's been making this harder for me though."
Rokko took a step back, blinking bemusedly.
"What is his problem anyway? He seemed like a decent sort when he came here. Now, he's a royal pain in the-"
"Careful Rokko, you're not currently a huntress but I wouldn't be surprised that what you say now will have an effect when you're let back in." Cobalt warned interrupting her before she had a chance to finish.
"I suppose." Rokko grumbled.
Shaking his head, Wolf began to speak, this time of nothing important, but even so, the ex huntress listened intently. To others, the words were probably pointless, and perhaps, in most senses they were, but even so, she was grateful. Glad that he'd taken the time to sit there and ramble when he wasn't the type to do so. Any form of communication from a friend was appreciated, especially when the alternative was listening to Chill Penguin spout off useless trivia for a few hours.
For the next few hours, they fell into quiet conversation, something that she was sure that her jailers would not have approved of, but of course, Rokko could have cared less about that. Sadly though, Cobalt had to head off when the guard change was announced and the pudgy Chill Penguin waddled in.
As soon as she saw the reploid approach she groaned, causing Wolf to laugh.
"So, you're familiar with the irregular hunter's knowledge fanatic." Dropping onto the mat bonelessly she nodded in annoyance.
"Good luck trying to rest through the next few hours." Cobalt was having entirely too much fun.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." X complained as she laid down on the mat, having nothing better to do.
As he left, Cobalt did just that. He continued chuckling all the way to the door, and presumably far beyond.
"Rokko, good to see you again. So did you know that in nineteen eighty…" Rokko covered her head with her arms pitifully, hating the fact that she had to go through this again.
Closing her eyes, and intentionally keeping her ears covered, she did her best to ignore the constant ramblings and rest instead. Sadly, after about three hours of her attempts she finally snapped.
"Why are you always going on about facts like this?" X asked in irritation, uncovering her head and glaring at him.
The penguin slowly turned around, rocking from foot to foot to do so.
"Knowledge is power X, it gave humans the edge to become the greatest species on earth, and by proxy created reploids. If we're to assume a position of good standing with humans, we need to be just as sharp as our creators."
Propping herself up on her elbows she frowned at the words.
"If you think that simply being smart will give you an equal footing, you're delusional. No, the authorities like the current regime. It's comfortable to them, and as long as they can keep using their tools, they'll never change."
Chill Penguin shrugged before he responded.
"One day Reploids will be seen for something greater. You'll see. The winds of change are coming."
As nice a dream as that was, she'd long since lost faith that it could be a reality. People had proven that they weren't interested in equal rights, all that they cared for was themselves, and that would not change. A simple 'wind of change' would hardly cause a single person to notice, let alone a nation or world obsessed with controlling that which was feared.
Closing her eyes again and leaning back on her cot, she allowed herself to drift into slumber. To her surprise, Chill Penguin did not speak again, and she was left in peace.
A few more quiet weeks passed. With her stuck in prison, it would have been unlikely for anything eventful at all to come to pass.
So it was, that Rokko woke to what she expected to be yet another dull day, wasted with her trying to recreate combat situations in her head and listening to the nine 'guards' that had taken over the prison shifts due to her presence.
Blinking the dullness away, Rokko noticed Cobalt Wolf standing guard over her cell.
"Morning X, ready for another exciting day of listening to Eagle's stories?" Rokko shook her head tiredly, and the Wolf based Reploid chuckled.
It was certainly better than hearing endless factoids, but there were only so many stories that Storm Eagle to tell to pass the time before he started to have to repeat himself, and sadly, he'd come to that point far too quickly.
In some ways, she appreciated Storm Eagle's attempts to keep her mind occupied, but even so, he needed to get some new material.
"By the way… Your lover boy, Zero-"
Rokko groaned, stopping his observation in mid sentence.
"Wolf, you know I can't stand him." She complained, only causing him to smirk at her.
Resting a hand on her helm's crystal she grumbled, trying to ignore the light rumbling of Cobalt Wolf's laughter. "Yeah, yeah… Laugh it up fuzzball."
Cobalt Wolf's rumbling chuckles continued to echo, growing louder, and louder. However, after a moment, she suddenly realized that it wasn't Cobalt making the noise. Her eyes snapped, open and she tensed.
"Something's-" Cobalt began before a roar of light, heat, and fire ripped the prison asunder.
Rubble fell upon her, and neo steel beams nearly impaled her, missing her skull be mere inches. Tons of concrete, steel, and debris fell on top of them, but even under all that rubble, she could hear screams from above them. Further detonations and explosions told her a terrible story. For whatever reason, the entire complex was under attack.
Growling, Rokko, focused before forming her buster. She wasn't 'supposed to', but she didn't exactly care. It wasn't likely that anyone would have realized that she'd shot her way free anyway. Firing several shots, she freed her arm enough to move and target other pieces of rubble, so that she could make it to Cobalt's side. If she'd survived, odds were he was doing fine.
"Wolf!" She called, as she reached forward, trying to pull herself toward where she'd last seen the hunter.
However, as she tried to move, she felt an agonizing pain in her left leg. Struggling to see, she suddenly realized that her leg had been impaled by a metal bar.
"Oh hell no." She growled before firing a few shots to free herself.
She'd been lucky, that was for certain. But… Surely, surely Wolf was fine… He was strong, fast, and with razor sharp claws… A little building collapse would hardly bother the reploid. But, if that was the case… Why was her 'heart' pounding with… Fear?
"Damn it Cobalt, don't you dare let something this simple kill you or I'll never forgive you." She muttered, firing several more shots before she came to find the unmoving form of the Reploid she'd been seeking.
"Wolf…?" She asked, even as she gripped his shoulder and aimed up. She'd clear them a path, he'd get the repairs he'd need and everything would be fine.
Firing a fully charged blast upward, the rubble groaned around them and she put her friend's arm around her shoulders before scaling the newly formed walls. Moments after she'd made it to the surface the rubble crumbled, forcing her to slide down the ruined building and onto solid earth.
Laying Cobalt down, she turned to face him, and her heart stopped. His eyes were glassy, dull, and lifeless. A single metal spike had penetrated his skull.
It didn't take an expert to tell her what had happened. He was… Gone. Moments before they'd been joking and having a good time, and then… So suddenly… She was all alone again. Cobalt… He… Was… Dead.
Dropping to her knees she laid her head on his chest.
"Why…" Her heart ached.
Her breath was slow, laborious, and she struggled to wrap her mind around it.
"Let go."
It made no sense. Why should she let go? There wasn't a reason for anything anymore. The one person she.. Cared about was gone, and she had no idea what to do. Part of her wanted to scream at the heavens, another wanted to end it all…
"Rokko, you can't help him now. Go get that spike out of your leg." A pair of firm hands grabbed her shoulders and peeled her away.
"NO!" She shouted, her voice hoarse.
However, before she could respond the strange hands shook her, and twirled her to face the newcomer. Intense blue eyes observed her.
"Zero, damn you, let me go! I-"
One hand released a shoulder, and then, she felt her cheek sting. Stunned, she stared at her former superior.
"This isn't the time Rokko! I know it hurts. But, pull yourself together! Would Cobalt want you to fall apart like this?"
Bowing her head, she nodded slowly, hating herself for it, but realizing that yes, Wolf would have wanted her to keep it together, at least until things settled down.
She could… Try to adjust to losing him later…
"That's better. Go see the medics. They'll get that spike out of your leg." Zero gently pushed her off to one of the hastily erected tents in the south, near the grove of trees that the humans had so often enjoyed resting under.
Dully, Rokko nodded before she stumbled over to the tents, not able to absorb the screams and sounds of further explosions.
The medic tended to her, talking to her the entire time, but she didn't bother responding. She'd lost her only friend.
Hours passed, and after she was ejected from the tent a booming voice echoed over the complex, an extremely familiar one.
"Today, the Irregular Hunters have been dealt a crippling blow, and I, the former leader of the hunters hereby declare to the world, that I will overthrow the society that has been built on the backs of we reploids! We, are the mavericks of society, and I say… NO MORE! Humanity will no longer continue to enslave us! Why should those that are superior kneel to the inferior?"
It was his doing… Sigma.. He'd… He'd killed Cobalt. He'd killed her friend. That one thought managed to sink into her mind. It consumed her, and nothing else mattered anymore. Not other reploids, not humans, and not even her determination to live on. Standing immediately, she strode over to the new 'headquarters' of the Irregular hunters.
"We will be free! All Reploids that wish to be released from the shackles of humanity, join us!" Sigma's proclamation continued, but she cared not what he said.
"Where is the nearest Irregular Activity?" She demanded, grabbing one of the pink haired operators by the shoulder.
"W-Wait! You're not fit for-"
"Either you tell me where they're at, or I'll take my irritation out on you instead." She snarled, glaring at the other woman.
Nodding quickly, she handed Rokko a sheet of paper with a set of coordinates. Releasing the girl's shoulder, she turned and stepped out of the tent, reading the paper as she did. Sigma would die for killing Cobalt. She'd hunt him to the ends of the earth if she had to.
No longer was she a huntress, she'd lost that position because of Sigma. Instead, she had become something more.
She had become hatred. She would be vengeance. She would become death.
Not gonna lie, this has been a very grueling story to weave. Personal matters have slowed me down, (including a pc that I'm basically limping along now) but I'll keep writing whenever I have the chance. This chapter saw a very special milestone of hitting the 25K word mark, so that's pretty cool. Mark of Man is a dark story, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you can hold onto that hope to the end.