'This world is different—no crystals like my original home, but no matter. Once I regain a body, I can make my own. It has only delayed my pulling myself together, is all. Now then, you may make a good minion with your power,' something unseen thinks, monologuing for some reason as it watches Mimic looking very skittish from above.
Mimic looks around, checking for someone as he felt like someone was watching him. It almost felt…unsettling. Like a vile spirit is near him. 'Must be my imagination and paranoia. Fuck that bastard. He has caused enough trouble,' Mimic thinks bitterly to how Kuro treated and talked down to him.
'Then why not get even?' a voice in his head asks.
Mimic immediately is on edge. He looks around, ready for an attack that will never come. 'What the fuck?' he huffs, slowly relaxing. 'Yep. Going crazy.'
'I mean, if he made you mad and a threat, then you have to get rid of him, don't you? Or are you fine with him destroying everything?' Mimic hears in his head, starting to give him ideas.
Mimic hums as he keeps looking around. He readies himself for a possible fight since this voice is reacting to what he is doing. "Who are you?" he asks, narrowing his eyes.
There is no reply as if nothing was ever there as the phantom that had been talking to him was now too tired to continue.
Mimic sighs and shakes his head. "Dammit. Fucking ghosts now," he mutters, walking away. He has to find a safe house for the night at least.
"Well, that is a determined look…Whisper," Kuro calls, looking up from the camera feeds. It had been weeks now since his talk with Sally, and he knew now was the time. If he waited any longer, he would have to abandon going after Mimic for the sake of the next operation and his team.
Whisper picks her head up from the bed and moans, rubbing at her ear. "Yes?" she mumbles, scratching at her naked chest.
"I found him. Time to deal with him while we can," Kuro informs, making her elbow the naked sleeping Tangle beside her.
Tangle moans, rolling over and slapping the arm away with her tail. "Go away. Turn off the sun."
"Get up. We have to work," Whisper says a little louder than usual, getting up.
Tangle groans as she picks herself up before looking at Kuro. "Not even a minute more?" she mutters, looking over his naked body and taking in as much as she can.
"Nope, we are going after Mimic to neutralize him," Kuro informs, already putting on his stealth suit.
Tangle yawns before climbing out of bed and grabbing her gear. "Okay," she sighs, trying to stretch at the same time.
"Iv, you're with me this time. I am expecting a fight," Kuro informs his partner wisp.
Iv sparks and seems to give some air punches with those lightning arms of his.
"Where do you want me?" Whisper asks, hoping to get up and personal with Mimic today.
"Where you are best. You are sniping anyone who gets in our way or target. We have to go in prepared for anything. We know that a bunch of new badniks has been shipped to the region along with badnik commanders," Kuro reminds.
Whisper slowly nods. Though she is disappointed by her placement, she can't deny it is an important position. "Okay."
"Whisper, catch," Kuro says, throwing her some of Tailsko's poppers that they got when they were sent Whisper's stealth suit.
Whisper hums as she looks over the devices before pocketing them into her outfit. "And how much time do we have?" she asks, wrapping her shirt on.
"Rush job," Kuro says, grabbing his wispon and finishing getting ready, and Iv flies into his capsule.
Tangle zips up her jacket as she looks at him. "You better start leading then if it's that fast."
"Let's go," Kuro says, walking to them and holding them before blinking away.
Meanwhile
"So four new hoards of badniks have been delivered, I see," Infinite says to Storm as she is the only other highest-ranking person in the region now as they watch the badniks, mainly the latest egg pawns, being offloaded. Clove and Cassia had to return to their territory to deal with an insurrection, Abyss had to get back to raiding sea supply routes as lines Soumerca and Efrika were being pressed hard by the resistance, and Mordred was still recovering from the beating Kuro had given him.
"It will never be enough," Storm warns. "If it's Kuro or the resistance, then it will be a breeze for them."
"You're right. Kuro is dangerous. Perhaps more so than even Sonica was to the empire in many ways. Sonica was at least predictable. Kuro, it's hard to tell what he is thinking, and he has a knack for hitting the empire where it hurts the most. Our production. The more he slows it, the better armed the resistance becomes and organized," Infinite analyzes the situation.
"I have heard rumblings Eggman will soon be sending Metal Sonica to aid in combating him, and he doesn't send his favorite enforcer to deal with just anyone," Storm adds, relaying what her spies had told her.
Infinite breathes in deeply. "Kuro will find a way. He always seems to have a plan."
"He also has that unknown method of disabling all of Eggman's machines. Reports are again coming in of the resistance using something similar now to disable Badnik and egg army alike," Storm says.
"That would be a problem," Infinite voices as she thinks about what it means to own gear.
"You mean it is a problem," Storm corrects.
"Master," one of Storm's subordinates shows up as if on cue. "We have tracked down Mimic as you instructed."
Storm hums as she looks at Infinite, who seems to be thinking the same thing. "And where is he right now?" she asks, watching Infinite make a few red boxes.
"He is in disguise as a brown goat. He has been moving around a suspected black market and resistance area," the shinobi informs, giving her the coordinates. "There is something else. We lost contact with a few of our agents after reporting that. One managed to get a word back before going dark. Wolf."
Infinite seems to turn a harsh glare at the two while still behind her mask. "Location. Now," she orders.
"Follow me," Storm says, looking at the coordinates.
"I just told them to clear out. You are clear now, Whisper. Only those in the black market and Mimic are here now," Kuro whispers over his communicator.
"I will be waiting. And make sure it hurts," Whisper replies back.
"You may have the first shot. Take it beautiful," Kuro says, smirking.
Kuro hears nothing for a while. Even Tangle is silent the whole time. It isn't until a loud bang rings out which causes everyone in the alley shaking in fear. "I have his hand. He moved too fast," Whisper speaks after a few seconds.
"Tangle, plan C," Kuro says before blinking to a new position to chase down Mimic.
"Got it," Tangle responds before hearing her cut off, presumably on the move already to cut Mimic off at the pass.
"Iv, let's zap a squid," Kuro says, bringing out his wispon. The moment Iv enters the weapon, Kuro swings the whip and hits someone in the leg.
A scream calls out as the mobian convulses and shifts appearances because of the pain. He then tries to stand up again before rushing down the alley again. Kuro quickly blinks in front of his path and makes the mobian skid to a stop. Tangle suddenly flies in from above and swings her tail, knocking him into the head to send him flat on the ground. Tangle grins as she skids to a stop beside Kuro, smiling at the downed form. "I think I hit him hard enough not to knock him out."
"You did. You mind making him stop playing possum?" Kuro informs Tangle before asking Whisper to do that over the coms.
Whisper stays silent before they hear a few bricks fall onto the ground before a loud bang occurs. They see the mobian try to stand before flying and smacks into a wall when his tentacles become hit by something. Kuro even pushes Tangle to lean when a bloody piece goes flying past their head.
"It's time to settle up, Mimic," Kuro informs, motioning for Whisper to move in. "So how does it feel to know your debt has come due?" Kuro asks, cracking his knuckles.
Mimic groans as he pulls himself away from the wall before glaring at the two in front of him. "So you're the asshole," he mutters to himself before spitting out blood after being smacked against the ground.
"I think you remember who you owe the debt to, correct?" Kuro asks as he gestures up as Whisper lands on the roof behind Kuro, making Mimic look up to the all-too-familiar figure.
"Fuck…" Mimic mutters loud enough that even Kuro and Whisper pick it up. Though Tangle couldn't as she watches for any movement that he might do for a hidden weapon or attack. "It's the lifting tail bitcAH!" he cries out as he takes one bloody dripping step back. He groans and looks down before his eyes stare at the three blades sticking out of his chest and shoulder, almost locking his body in place.
He can not see it, but Mimic can feel the glare from Kuro, who stands there as if he hasn't moved at all. "Oh, please continue," Kuro instructs.
Mimic grunts as he struggles to pick up his head to turn a glare at him, though he was having a terrible time doing so with all the piercing pain. "Guess a tail lifting bitch isn't going to talk and insult, too?" he snarks before crying out when something hits him and sends him flying back onto the ground. The sound of a rifle shot finally reaches their ears as a bloody hole is in his other shoulder now, killing the chance of having a feeling or movement from it.
"That's all you have left, I suppose? You're out of tricks, and after you're trying to play both sides as you did, no one is coming to help you. After all, you are the one who offered to give us access to this region's eggnet to do whatever we want, but sorry to say while some governments were willing to take this deal again. They don't get to decide what the pack does in the end," Kuro says, lying through his teeth, knowing they are being watched.
Whisper growls under her breath as Mimic struggles to stand once again but can barely move his limbs besides a few kicks of his legs. She then gasps and stops as her ears flick up, and she gulps when she hears humming and tapping noises beside her. Whisper slowly turns her head and sees Storm kneeling beside her, watching the entire scene. "You are doing a terrible job of torturing. You should have left feeling in his limbs if you want him to keep talking and confess."
As if on cue, Kuro immediately appears beside Whisper, grabbing hold before blinking them far away. "Change to plan Delta-Four. Infinite must be here as well," Kuro informs over their comms, making Tangle immediately start moving to get to the roof for this practiced maneuver.
Tangle tries to jump onto the roof using the fire escape before stopping dead cold as Infinite floats at the top of the stairs. Her helmeted eye stares down Tangle before floating towards her. Tangle gulps as she remains frozen before blinking as Infinite floats past her. "You should have used only two knives. Three is pushing their mind to where they know it's death," she informs while going down to Mimic lying on the ground and bleeding out.
"I am guessing you two are here for either him or us. So which is it? Are you here for a piece of him as well, or you get in the way of us settling grudges?" Kuro asks as soon as Tangle rejoins the two, and Whisper takes up a sniper position.
Storm suddenly appears next to him as they both stare down from the rooftop. "Mostly for him. Partially for you. You have been hiding things. And not just your thieving even before you joined the freedom fighters," Storm seems to partially scold before she brings up a finger and pushes a thin blade away from her neck.
"I reminded Abyss of the rule, so you know why, but now I have to beat both of you to get to him?" Kuro asks as Tangle jumps away, making Storm raise an eyebrow at that, noticing she is better than most resistance members and hasn't even pulled out a wispon yet.
"That's before or after we get what we need out of him?" Storm asks back, turning to look at him.
"Aka resistance secrets and information. It is not happening at this point. This debt he owes is overdue as it is. We ain't waiting any longer to cash it," Kuro informs.
"I see, well then," Storm says, snapping her fingers, and five of her shinobi jump onto the roof over them. "The hard way it is then," Infinite finishes, creating a cube in her hand.
"Tangle the ninja are yours. Iv, go to Whisper and help her stave off Infinite. I will take Storm," Kuro instructs.
"You sure?" Tangle asks, sounding concerned.
"Yes," Kuro says, sheathing his wispon, and Iv flies to Whisper to be of use.
"Oh, interesting. It seems he wants a one on one with you, Storm. I guess I can spend a few moments neutralizing his supp…wait, I know that mask. That's a Diamond Cutter," Infinite informs Storm, pointing out Whisper.
"So, there is more than one after all. We were careless. We focused too heavily on Kuro, it seems. A mistake we will correct later. How about we humor him and do as he said for now? Besides, a good sniper is a big hindrance after all," Storm says, her mechanical eyes looking to Infinite.
"I get it. I will handle her and be back to deal with Kuro as soon as I finish. He isn't about to run this time," Infinite says, floating up into the sky before putting up a cube to block a quick, explosive shot. 'This isn't going to be as easy as fighting resistance cells, it seems after all,' Infinite thinks as she grits her teeth as she tries to suppress seeing parallels between herself and Kuro and this other Diamond Cutter again.
"Now, let us have our first true fight," Storm says, jumping up to the roof where he is from the alley where Mimic is. "I have been waiting for this. Once I beat you, I will make sure you fall in line with my Eggman army," Storm informs, taking a fighting stance.
"Try it then," Kuro responds, taking a stance very similar to one she has seen before amongst the rival ninja clans of her region. While vaguely surprising, it is something that Storm has suspected for a while now, given their history and his skills.
The two then lunge at each other. Storm gets in the first strike attempting to sweep his legs, making him jump as she used the momentum to bring herself around to try to land a spinning elbow to him in the air, only for him to grab the elbow as she nears and using her as leverage to maneuver evading her altogether and attempt to launch a knee to the back of her head in response. Storm, seeing this coming, did a perfect split making his attack harmlessly go over her head, not even grazing her hat. Storm looks to counter with a punch trying to catch him midair again, only for him to maneuver his body once more out of the way. Seeing her chance, Storm moves out of her split and gets ready for another exchange. Kuro, meanwhile, lands with the grace of a shinobi, not even making a sound from the impact.
'His stance, his movements, looking back now, I truly see how far you had fallen when we first met. The doctor modified my eyes to detect technology when activated, but this shows nothing is aiding you. This is pure skill. You are showing no technology aiding you whatsoever,' Storm thinks, starting to grasp at what she believes his true capabilities are or were. The two reengages every attack either launched to block or evade. Neither can land a blow on the other as they both study one another. Both are entirely focused on each other. It is as if there is nothing else, and neither noticed Mimic escaping, not bothering to remove the knives that have been embedded into him.
As they continue, Storm reflects that no one has ever made her focus this heavily on single combat. None of those she has ever encountered from the other clans, certainly not with Sonica, who is far more reliant on speed than technique, nor any of her clan past or present. Kuro is like a wall to her at first. It is for revenge and the prize of adding his power to her army, but now she is enjoying this. She is having fun. As the two continue, a smile creeps onto her lips. Not her usual smile when she had triumphed over something, but a genuine smile. Storm and Kuro continue to fight before Kuro speaks. "You're smiling."
Storm's smile only widens as she keeps moving around him. "How can I not?" she chuckles before suddenly moving quicker than Kuro expects. Kuro tries to duck down from her next kick but is slow enough that she swipes his ear hard, which makes his ear ring before he rolls away.
"I understand the feeling of having someone who is your match and wanting to fight them with all you have and beat them," Kuro informs before matching her speed and fakes her out, going for a punch, but instead knees her side and takes an elbow to the chest as a result.
The two bodies fling out and slam into the walls of the buildings, breaking the bricks apart. Kuro groans and falls to the ground before picking himself up to see Storm doing the same, but quicker than him. "Yes. And this one, I intend to win," Storm spits, splattering blood onto the ground.
"This is also one fight I ca…dammit! Tangle, do you have a visual on Mimic?!" Kuro yells over his com, alerting Storm to Mimic's escape.
Meanwhile, Tangle uppercuts another one of the ninjas' Storm has brought, knocking him out. "No, I am a bit busy, but not much longer," Tangle informs, catching another ninja's arm when he tries to stab her with a kunai before elbowing him in the face and using her tail to smack another in the balls, making him double over in pain.
"Right. Pack, disengage. There is no point sticking around for this fight now. Also, our detection devices are showing hoards of badniks on their way—escape plan Zeta-Que. Meet at rendezvous at spot three," Kuro informs.
Whisper fires her rifle at Infinite, who blocks it before she tosses a ball down to create a smoke cloud at her feet. Infinite quickly changes to another visual view through her mask before her head is knocked back as Whisper jumps at her with a flying kick, slipping through the buildings as she goes past. Infinite groans and holds her head before trying to find Whisper but frowns as there is no sign of her anywhere.
Tangle, hearing the order, finishes off the last of the ninja and jumps down to the street and into the subway where some resistance members are waiting with a rail car that shoots off along the subway tunnels, getting her out of the area so she could disappear.
"From your frown, I can only imagine you didn't expect the badniks. Next time Storm, we will pick up where we left off," Kuro informs, blinking away, leaving a pissed off Storm who is going to have more than a few choice words for the person who deployed the badniks when she learns who they are.
Mimic pants as he keeps running. He isn't planning on staying long in this blasted city for more than the night. And those two bosses can only keep those three busy for long. Only a bit of a fix-up someplace and out of here first chance he gets. Mimic groans as he suddenly hobbles to a stop at an old building before pushing the door with his shoulder, bringing it to slide open. An old apartment building, it looks like. And the metallic marching outside coming closer isn't helping in the slightest. Because if those two were after him, then his face is marked in the scanners as a criminal or, worse, a traitor.
Mimic groans as he feels another wave of sharp agonizing and phantom pain from both of his arms before reaching a random door and bursts in, almost breaking the frame off, but luckily only gets the knob area. He starts to take slow deep breaths as he hears footsteps coming up to him before he glares at another mobian, a Persian cat, gasping in shock and freezes her in place. "Don't make a fucking sound, or I will bring those badniks in here to kill both of us," he threatens as he steps toward the cat. "Now you better fix me up as best as possible and don't complain or make a fucking sound. You got that pussy?" he spits, splattering blood on the mobian's clothes that make her even more terrified of the octopus that burst into her apartment.
"Oh, don't mind him," a voice says from the door, making Mimic freeze and start shaking in fear. "Make sure your equipment is hidden well. We don't want the badniks finding out you are a secret resistance radio operator…scratch that. Time to relocate as this guy is a traitor to both our side and the Eggman army. They will bust down your door and haul you off even without finding it."
Mimic slowly and fearfully turns as he sees Kuro walking in and giving a sideways glance at the broken doorway. "You're going to have to fix that, but I'm sure someone will pay someday. Just not you," he mocks Minic before walking up to the cat and slowly grabs her hand and leads her away. "So beautiful. Start hiding stuff. I will alert the tin cans out there of our soon-to-be evicted houseguest," he informs, pushing her along and grabs her ass as she passes by.
"Yes, sir," the cat says bravely, obviously knowing whose side Kuro is on before going off to do just that.
Kuro slowly gains an evil grin and turns towards Mimic. "You know how most robot sensors are alerted to trouble and are ingrained to any robot?" he questions before flinging a nearby knife at Mimic, stabbing him in the leg to drop him on the ass. Kuro chuckles as he kicks the couch table away and messes up the carpet as well before grabbing a chair and flinging it out the window, breaking and opening it to the outside world. "Miss, can you be a good kitty and give me an excellent cry for help?" Kuro calls out towards where the cat went, almost loving being allowed to destroy stuff on purpose.
The catgirl, appearing in the doorway, gives a toothy grin before she soon lets out a scream followed by, "HELP! Murder!" Hearing that, Kuro takes a chair and throws it out the back window, shattering it and forcing Mimic over and making him cut himself on the glass and bleed on the window seal to make it look like he had tried to jump out.
"Now, let's go for a trip," Kuro says, reaching over and grabbing the girl's tail before they blink away.
Mimic groans as he lays on the ground, staring up at the sky. "Fuck. That bastard is shit…" he spits up as he hears footsteps clanking towards him. "And the one place. One fucking place. It had to be a pussy operator," he coughs as a badnik gets into his view before it scans him over with a laser system.
"Identity: Mimic the Octopus. Priority: Terminate," the badnik says before opening fire.
'A shame. You had such potential as a pawn, but in the end, you weren't even worth that,' the specter thinks, leaving as Mimic cries out as he is shot to death.