Nine: Defeat
Characters: Mr. L

Explosions rocked the cockpit around him. He mashed buttons, trying to compel the giant robot to continue the fight. He hit the pilot ejector button just before a particularly big surge of electricity hit, destroying the carefully crafted control seat. He never noticed.

His mind was blank as the void of space shattered around him. He struck the cold metal floor of the Whoa Zone with a harsh yelp, knocking the breath from him and jolting his thoughts back into action. This was impossible! How could he have lost?!

With a quiet groan, he shakily stood, coughing at the singed smell of his clothing. He turned, facing the incredibly familiar, liquid blue eyes of his enemy. Where did he know him from? Why did he feel like he could trust him? This all felt so wrong, because this was someone he was supposed to protect, and right, because it was his mission to assassinate.

He sprang away from both the enemy and his fears. Later, he would convince himself it was only the shock of defeat. But he knew better, still felt the depressing feeling of living in someone's shadow.