I'm late as usual…but it's NOT my fault!
School has smoldered my muse, and I can't find any matchsticks!
Disclaimer *whining*: MISSsweety63 didn't, doesn't and will never own anything!
Note: She actually owns the profile picture, but not the character :'(
That was the very 1st picture that I've ever colored on Gimp!
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DEMOLISH MY WALLS
Chapter 5: CONNECTING THE DOTS
Otto, shrieking in terror, backed away from the repaired screen. Normally he would've capered around in Gibson's laboratory in sheer exultation, and got him to relinquish his researches and see how cunningly he had fixed the screen under duress. Nevertheless, his disconcerting shrill had the same influence on the scientist. His two comrades almost vaulted into the command center, where his tremulous body lay in one corner. Droplets of sweat trickled down his forehead while he endeavored to tighten his grip around his guttering knees. Upon seeing Gibson and Nova, he jabbed his index finger towards the screen or, to be precise, Skeleton King's face that appeared on it…
Gibson rushed to examine the screen, while Nova supported Otto to get up and tried to reassure him. Otto, swearing never to repair the main screen again, said, "I just wanted to switch it on…when…when his face appeared!"
"Nothing to be afraid of," Gibson began to explain, "Apparently there is some glitch in your repairs. Unfortunately, it began to display the data it had stored before it was sabotaged. It's a mere coincidence." Then, he said the lie that brought fake security in their hearts, "Skeleton King is a mere memory of the past, you may encounter his face in a history book or perhaps in your memories. But, in reality, he doesn't exist."
"Gibson, it could be the Super Robot trying to warn us!" Nova squalled at him, "What's making him so sure?" she thought. "Maybe our biggest fault is that we keep convincing ourselves that he's gone." Her tone dwindled into a whisper.
"We scanned the entire cosmos for his presence," He retorted, "and even if he were alive, he wouldn't be able to survive a year on his own. Don't fret; I've assumed every probability, no matter how meager it was. Even if he somehow managed to survive and considered besieging the city, one of your attacks is sufficient to cease his threat permanently. Nonetheless, the highest probability is that he's gone…gone forever."
Gibson is right. His strength is plummeting day by day. But, wouldn't a vulnerable villain try to gain power? Wouldn't he try to become stronger, no, invincible?
Nova neither wanted to answer these questions, nor wanted the argument to reach its climax. So, letting the matter drop temporary, she suggested Otto should drink some water to calm down and began to depart.
"The researches are in my laboratory, if you aren't convinced." Gibson said as his two comrades left, thinking, "I suppose Chiro should've brought his beloved hover burgers by now. What's taking him so long? I assume I ought to contact him." And, ignoring the blackened screen, he contacted him…
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Yes, he would, even if he were breathing his last breath.
Soaring in her yellow tube, she found the answer so intimidating that the few seconds she spent in that tube seemed to be ages. It stopped in a sudden, revealing a dark narrow hall that led to a metallic door that was left ajar. If it wasn't for Otto who leaped at the switch, she would've had to grope for it by herself in the darkness. He hastened towards the door, as though he was being pursued by some monster.
Nova drowned in her own trance of thought. She could somehow foresee his return, but didn't have any proof. Still, wasn't it the same chill that ran through her spine when she encountered Sprx's state? Wasn't it the same surge of terror that pulsed through her veins?
Yes, it was.
Then connect the dots!
There aren't any!
Frustrated, she rushed behind her comrade, who began pouring cold water for himself. She crossed her arms to conceal her bewilderment and scolded Otto, "You'll catch a cold!"
"I saw him…" The mechanic started, droplets of water accumulating in his glass, "He didn't look as powerful as the last time we saw him…" he trailed off then stared at the wall in a daze, recounting the spectacle he came across, "He was gaunt, very gaunt, helpless and powerless." The glass quivered in his hand, at the brink of shattering into pieces while he continued tremulously, "But he was laughing victoriously; he never stopped laughing...he'll never stop!" Now the glass was replete with water and started dripping down his metallic fists, but he never bothered. "I wanted to tell you guys, b-but Antauri and Gibson reassured me that nothing is wrong and I-I didn't want to be a burden!"
Her bubblegum pink eyes widened in terror as she gathered the concentration to inquire, "Where did you see him?"
"In my nightmare…yesterday. Normally, every night I dreamt of drowning before an underwater cache but Gibson and Antauri told me that I'm just too worried…and I believed them, until today, to say the least…" He stuttered, neglecting the narrow streams of water that descended from his fist to the ground. "That…that's why I was horrified when I saw his picture." With that, he thrust the dripping glass on the counter and groped for the entrance with quivering steps, where she stood as a barrier.
"Otto, next time you have anything to say, don't hesitate. It's all gonna be alright" Nova embraced him in a brotherly hug.
"Are you sure?" He questioned her, still tremulous.
No, I'm just trying to calm you down...no, I'm just trying to fool myself!
She wore a smiling façade before she retorted, "Yes, I'm more than sure!" and waited as he vanished in the narrow hall. At that moment the only thing she actually wanted was to cry, as though the tears the sky had already shed on them weren't enough.
Don't you see the dots?
Are those a coincidence?
After contemplating whether to inform Gibson or not, she deduced that Otto would've told Gibson if he had wanted to. Was that an indirect way of saying, "You're right, while Gibson's logic is wrong."
She would never decipher why Otto had chosen to tell her his dream. However, she was sure it wasn't a coincidence.
Nothing was a coincidence!
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"Monkey team to Chiro…Where are you?" Gibson squalled anxiously after five futile attempts to reach the teenager. "What is wrong with him? The signal is not even jammed! Oh dear…I suppose I should locate him." He thought, his eyes darting between a red button and a blue one, only to settle on a green one. Just as his index finger stretched to press the button, the fact that the main screen has some issues crossed his mind. If it weren't for his predilection of courteous words, he would've spewed some curses on a certain comrade of his.
He strode to the laboratory in search of his scanner, scoffing at the fact that it's quite inaccurate. Once he found it, he discovered that he is on the top of the Super Robot and let the matter drop. "He is probably playing in the rain. How irresponsible!"
His eyes fell on a queer remedy that was engulfed with dust in the cupboard where he found his scanner. He grabbed it enthusiastically and, dusting it off, deduced the next step:
It's quite likely that Sprx wakes up after receiving this dose. Nevertheless, on the supposition that he doesn't, then his issue is beyond my field. In fact, it will surpass all the boundaries of logic! Still, I mustn't be pessimistic, must I?
A swift movement of his hand was all he took to suck out the fluid into a syringe that was enclosed within his grasp.
Perhaps it would be wiser if I considered all the possibilities.
I suppose so…
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I guess that chap was reasonable… D-:
I'll sue the school for what they've done to me!
FYI, I've set a deadline for the next chapter!
It's 6/15…
Aurevoir!