Chapter 9: MORTE

Come on. What's taking so long...!?

Nicole beat her head against the monitor as the download bar remained at a static 85%, not wanting to budge an inch. Swiping through numerous logs and data screens soon afterwards, a curious pattern began to emerge in a series of ones and zeros. Reading the binary within, she was able to decipher one last code that needed to be entered. "Of course, it had to be that." She said aloud, as the self-inflicted headache prevented her from doing little else.

"MORTE. Password accepted. Prepare for the final partition."

The Holo-Lynx pondered this turn of events, before she was once again forced to her knees, clawing at the ground frantically, as a much larger data cache robbed her of any other thought! The only thing she could do was keep herself from losing consciousness...


Sally's agility was being put to the test, as she dodged the relentless barrage of tentacles, darting between the "safe zones" she had prepared prior. That didn't stop this Nicole from attacking with multiple, goo-encrusted limbs that jutted out of her torso, with her main arms crossed in a dominant gesture. Skillful parries with her palms kept those strikes from her torso and head, but exhaustion was finally beginning to set in.

"Sally, Sally, Sally... This struggle is useless." The AI twin mocked the chipmunk with a waggle of her right finger as she slowly walked toward her. "Although, I have to commend you on one thing."

"What...could you...possibly give me credit for?" Sally was caught off guard, given that woman's previous proclamation of wanting to "end it quick". Still—this could be used to her advantage.

I have to get out of here while I still have an opening. Thanks for having a massive ego...

She turned to run toward the bridge, before another tendril caught her left leg, twisting it to the point of breaking, as she was hoisted in the air. She wanted to scream, but quickly clutched at her muzzle. Her and Nicole, the one currently stuck in the core, were still connected. The last thing she wanted to do was break the Holo-Lynx's concentration. "Rude. As I was saying...placing those pesky insects around the steel door was a masterful move. Here is my rebuttal."

CRUNCH

That...was her leg. The adrenaline quickly shot through Sally's body, and she knew she was on a strict time limit now. She needed to get back to her friend before she went into shock! Grasping at her pockets, she fished out a blue implement, similar to an icicle. Stabbing it into the tendril, she watched at the nitrogen from the tip shot directly into it. Another leg frantically slammed against it, and it shattered just as she felt the cold liquid touch her fur! "Oh. Someone has been watching some good movies lately!"

Sally tucked in and attempted to control her landing as she aimed for that ledge. She felt the grating tear at her skin with the impact, and the world turned and spun as she soon came to a stop. It was too late. The pain began to surge through that leg, only slightly dulled by the chill of the nitrogen. However, that was the least of her worries, as she saw the form of Nicole rise before, back-lit eyes glowing as she crawled up with her liquid limbs. The last thing she saw was one of them rocketing towards her!


"Download at 98%..."

Nicole barely heard the voice, as the sensory overload she experienced had nearly driven her mad. This madwoman had placed the bulk of all her memories and endless plans at the tail end... The rest was just piles of junk data, designed to catch out would be saboteurs and spies. That was before she felt the vibrations of...something, impacting the ground near her. Looking upward in silent terror, she saw the limp body of Sally Acorn, with one of her legs twisted at an unnatural angle and her exposed fur, a slight tinge of blue.

"Sally...!" She wanted desperately to rush toward her! All impulses cried out to just wrench herself away from the connection, and run! But...that would mean everything they went through, would have been for nothing.

"Download at 99%."


The desperate girl slowly wrenched herself to her feet before the horrified gaze of her friend. The one she trusted with this final plan of hers. Whether that would mean death or an early retirement remained to be seen. She raised a single hand toward Nicole, and shook her head desperately. "No...! Stay...there. Don't...worry about me!" A burning sensation took over her entire body now, as her leg throbbed and stabbed. Hot tears ran down her face as she screamed for the lynx to do anything but rush to save her.

"Download complete."

Nicole, once prone a second ago, leapt to her feet and ran towards the chipmunk, but the movements seemed to be in slow motion. She heard another scream, and felt a curious numbness in her torso. Closing her eyes, her hands traveled down her body coming to rest on a spike that pierced her torso. She felt the slickness of warm liquid down the solid mass, along with something hard, which seemed to pulse at her touch, almost burning her hands. Suddenly, the implement that skewered her body multiplied and branched out, as she felt her torso being torn apart. Darkness enveloped her vision as she felt herself being let go...


The Holo-Lynx saw her for a brief moment, although it seemed to last for an eternity. The grinning visage of her tormentor, silently fading back into the darkness... The body of Sally in her arms, fully slack with a horrid hole carved through her sternum... "What's wrong? I brought you a gift this time." NICOLE's words could barely be heard, as instincts kicked in.

Have to get away. Have to get away. We have to get away.

A blink was all it took, and when Nicole opened her eyes she found herself and Sally in the vents above the central core. Turning around, she was surprised to find that she had subconsciously twisted the metal leading away from the supercomputer. It was unbearably hot, as she quickly threw her hands over the girl's bloodstained body. Her eyes were shut tight as the air slowly cooled from the cut off ventilation, and she felt pieces of her body tear away as she concentrated on a singular point. Going on feeling alone, she slowly pieced her internal organs together, stitched with her own nanites. The haggard breathing she heard afterwards filled her with hope, however faint.

"Sally. Can you hear me Sally...? We're safe. I did it. We did it." She was only met with horrible exhalations from the chipmunk as she thrashed in place, and Nicole gripped her right hand with both, as the shock traveled through her friends body. "Hold on..."

She didn't open her eyes, but spoke carefully and slowly. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her mouth. "Why...? I'm...a nobody."

"What are you talking about? You're my best friend..." Nicole's tears ran freely now as she continued to hold Sally's hand as that grip began to weaken.

"I...lied to you. I'm...just a girl. I..." Blood erupted from her lips as a shaking cough overtook the chipmunk. She placed her other hand over the lynx's, opening her eyes to stare directly into hers. "I made...you. To...fight her."

Nicole barely took in the revelation, as her ears pulled back to the sides of her head. "Sally, this changes nothing. You're still my friend!" That exclamation forced its way out of her, in spite of herself, as quivering and wavering as the one she saw dying before her. Her eyes darted to and fro between those blue eyes and the numerous wounds...searching for everything and nothing at once.

"You know...don't you?" She smiled, pointing to the flecks of purple rock that stabbed through her vest. "The...Anarchy Beryl...is the only thing keeping me...alive. Once it goes...I...go..." More coughs, as spurts of crimson landed on Nicole's dress.

"Sally! Tell me what to do! Command me. Comfort me... Tell me it will be all right... Please..." She felt the chipmunk's body rise up and grip her tightly, more than ever before. A familiar gray block was forced into one of the lynx's hands, as she turned to face her friend one last time.

"It'll...be okay. You know...what you have to do..." Nicole could see the light fading from her eyes. "I...love—" One final gasp, then silence; as her body at long last went fully still. The dull glow of the beryl extinguished itself at last...