Requested by: Gamer Katie
Request: Cryptor/Kozu
Warnings: Implied yaoi
"Cryptor!" the Overlord's raspy voice hissed through the loudspeaker of the tower. "Come to me at once!"
The general groaned, turning to face the Nindroids sitting at the computer monitors. "Do not stop searching for the Ninja while I am gone," he ordered. "Understood?" He felt a rush of satisfaction, if he could even call it that, when they nodded in unison.
He quickly made his way to the main room on the top floor, going to stand in front of the monitor where the Overlord's "eyes" glared at him. "What is it that you need?" Cryptor demanded. "My Nindroids and I are busy searching for the Ninja, as you are well aware."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," the Overlord said. "Your Nindroids are not efficient enough. At this rate, I will never escape from this prison. I need more allies to destroy the Ninja and capture Lloyd, and you are the only one I can trust with this task."
Cryptor's glowing red eyes glared at this screen. "Let's say we do find more allies. What will happen to the Nindroids? Are we to be cast aside for your new recruits?"
"No, you idiot!" he snapped. "I need both your Nindroids and new allies. The Ninja have shown themselves to be adaptable to you lot, loath as I am to admit it, and I need new enemies for them, a new way to destroy them once and for all!"
Cryptor clenched his fists at his sides, trying to prevent himself from punching the monitor right then. How could the Overlord scold them for being unable to stop the Ninja when all he did was mope around in Borg's systems? He shook his head before he spoke again.
"Understood. But where do you believe we will find these new allies?"
"Search underground, below the tower," he commanded. "I am sensing a familiar life force there. It is fading slowly, however. You'd best make haste."
Cryptor nodded, hurrying out of the room and back to where the other Nindroids were assembled. He ordered for a small group to follow him as they made their way to the base of the tower outside.
"Search for a way underground," he instructed. "If there is something there, the entrance to wherever it is will not be in..." He trailed off when he noticed an odd symbol etched into the ground. "...plain sight." He scuffed at it with his foot, noticing it was a stone panel of some sort.
Cryptor lifted his foot and brought it down forcefully, causing the panel to break into several pieces. He steadied himself when he realized that beneath the panel was a deep pit, the shards of stone clattering to the ground. He tried to see what was at the bottom, but it was far too dark, even for his night vision setting.
He let his intense gaze travel across the Nindroids. "All of you!" he barked. "I have found a passage into the underground. We will use this to find our possible new allies. Now, follow me!" When none of the Nindroids moved, instead exchanging somewhat nervous glances, he snarled, "That was an order."
He went up to the nearest Nindroid, dragging them towards the pit and shoving them in. Its electronic scream echoed from inside. Realizing they had no choice but to enter the hole, the Nindroids leapt in one by one, Cryptor being the last to follow, landing heavily on the stone floor.
From the light filtering in from the surface, he could just barely make out the outlines of human-like creatures. The other Nindroids wandered around the underground cave, wondering just what they were.
One in particular caught Cryptor's attention, and he walked up to them, activating his night vision again, hoping it would work. Strangely enough, they had four arms, and their face was completely white, with the exception of several red marks stretching across their face. Upon closer inspection, he saw that they were made entirely out of stone. They stood upright, their eyes closed, but their face otherwise tight with focus.
"You," he stated. "I know that you are alive. Now speak."
The eyes that were once shut snapped open with an audible crack, the irises a bright, eerie green. The figure adjusted their helmet, and slowly moved their stiff limbs, coming forward to stand eye-to-eye with Cryptor. At first, they spoke to him with an odd-sounding language that clearly wasn't English.
"I cannot understand a word you're saying," Cryptor growled. "Now, speak in a language I can understand, or you'll be destroyed where you stand."
The figure narrowed their eyes. "I am General Kozu, leader of the Stone Army," they finally said, their voice distinctly masculine. "You cannot destroy me, even if you tried with all your might. The Overlord created us to be invincible."
Hearing that only made his interest grow. "The Overlord created you?" When he nodded, Cryptor continued, "My Nindroids and I both currently work under the Overlord. He has ordered us to search for new allies to fight the Ninja, and now we have found you."
"If you are asking us to join with you, the answer would be no," Kozu said. "My army is in shambles as it is, after the Overlord was defeated." He looked around at the remains of the Stone Army warriors, who were also beginning to wake up. "But you say that you're going to stop the Ninja..."
"You will not be alone," Cryptor insisted. "My Nindroids will assist your warriors, and with our knowledge, and your strength, the Ninja will not stand a chance."
Kozu looked away momentarily, his eyes thoughtful. He finally looked up, nodding confidently. "I will assist you. From here on, we are allies." As he began to walk away from Cryptor, he added, "Incidentally, you have not given me your name. What is it?"
"I am General Cryptor," he replied, coming up to stand beside Kozu as the Stone Army general barked orders to his warriors in his native language. "And I have a feeling this is the start of a great companionship."
Thank you, Gamer Katie, for the first request! Stay tuned for the next oneshot!