Back at the Hideout…
"Nice going, Chai." Hilda said sarcastically.
"For… getting the job done?" Chai asked, ignorant of HIlda's sarcasm.
"No, for exposing Peppermint. She wasn't even supposed to be on Vandelay's radar." Connor said.
"Now they know me, know you're not acting alone! It would've been fine if it was just Connor, Lysithea and Hilda with you, but with me out in the open, secrecy is blown! I have to rethink my whole plan!" Peppermint said.
"There was a plan?" Chai asked.
"You weren't even paying attention before we went into Production at all, were you?" Lysithea asked.
"OK, I…might…have been on a power trip. I'm SORRY! But you got your data, right? SPECTRA?" Chai asked.
"The data that basically said Vandelay can mind control you?!" Peppermint asked.
"I wasn't really listening…" Chai said.
"Let's keep it simple then. SPECTRA is a mind-controlling AI program, synched up to everything Project Armstrong related. That includes your arm there." Connor said as 808 handed him a usb cable and plugged it into Chai's arm. "Basically, once it turns on, Vandelay has total control over anybody with Armstrong enhancements."
"And with just a simple command…" Peppermint said, typing on her keyboard.
"Cmon, don't you think-" Chai started before Peppermint entered the command as Chai suddenly went stiff and robotic. "-you guys were right all this time, and I'm a stubborn loser. Also, Peppermint is WAY cooler than me." 808 unplugged Chai as he returned to normal. "Oooh, yo, what the!?"
"Still doubting?" Peppermint asked.
"But you made me say that. Couldn't Vandelay have designed this for, you know, research or something?" Chai asked.
"It's not for research. Kale's up to something, and he doesn't know what he's messing with, putting that bracelet inside his big machine." Connor said.
"What even is that thing you showed him anyway?" Chai asked.
"It's a vambrace, containing the spirit and power of a 5000-year-old self-proclaimed deity." Connor said.
"Say what now?" Chai asked.
Connor sighed. "Look. that brace? In the wrong hands, it's bad news. Especially if Kale's planning to hook it up to SPECTRA." Connor said.
"You got an idea what happens when Kale powers SPECTRA on with it?" Peppermint asked.
"Uh, yeah… the world ends." Connor answered. "And not just this one, I'm talking about the entire Future Universe."
Peppermint nodded, more or less understanding the situation. "All the more reason to put a stop to it."
"Well, I wish you all good luck-" Chai said about to leave before the lights went off.
"Chai…" Peppermint grumbled as Chai looked back and saw her slowly creak her head towards him with an evil glare.
"But… I have no idea how to get off this island, aaaand i feel a little responsible for messing things up." Chai said as the lights turned back on.
"Great!" Peppermint smiled, returning to normal. "You're hereby a member of my organization!"
"Great, our own indie six-piece…" Chai said.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side…" Connor said, a little freaked out by Peppermint's personality shift.
"You guys haven't yet, don't worry." Peppermint assured. "So, I'm guessing all that casing you did on Vandelay wasn't for nothing now that you know what Kale's been up to."
"Totally." Hilda said.
"Connor's growing suspicions about Kale were confirmed the minute we discovered what SPECTRA can do. If those results we saw with one person were bad, imagine what he could do to everyone on the island, or beyond."
"Hey, how come you didn't test it on yourself? I mean, you have a robot leg." Hilda said.
"This isn't Armstrong tech." Peppermint explained, tapping her prosthetic.
"Oh." Hilda nodded. "So, what's the plan now? SPECTRA and this goddess bracelet cant be linked together, or else its bye bye Future universe when it goes live, right?"
"Exactly HIlda. We cant reach the bracelet because Kale has it with him, probably. So… we have to take SPECTRA out at the source."
"Then, Mission Report!" Peppermint said. "According to the files I stole, SPECTRA is a Multifaced cognitive AI."
"I see…" Chai tried to understand.
"Y'know what? Lets keep tech talk to a minimum." Peppermint decided.
"So if SPETCRA's an Artificial Intelligence, then the best place for it to be found is in a lab where they're designed." Lysithea deduced.
"Bingo! AI Development happens in the R&D branch. And the R&D branch is deep below the island, using magma as a natural power source for development experiments." Peppermint said.
"That doesnt sound like a good thing…" HIlda said.
"Actually, it is. Being underground lets us potentially avoid security. Plus, the lava is actually a naturally and environmentally friendly source of energy." Peppermint said.
"Sure. Anyway, who's this guy?" Chai asked, referring to a profile picture of the man known as Zanzo. He was a tall man with a green goatee and spiky, green hair that is always slanted to one side. His hair also exists only on the center of his head, as the rest of it is taken up by six different green cables. Additionally, he wore a white lab coat with gold accents that end at his shins, sporting a grey collar and gold belt additionally. On his back, he wears two black-gold sheaths he stores his swords. The sheaths are both facing in opposite directions, one with the handle at his shoulder and the other with the handle at his hip. His arms and legs are replaced with blue robotic implants, with cables also being implemented on his head to further increase the capacities of his job.
"That's the head of R&D, Zanzo. He runs the whole branch from the AI labs." Peppermint explained.
"Which means we'll probably run into him… He looks insane." Chai said.
"Reviews from workers aren't too hot on this guy. He's a perfectionist. Scrap and build until it's right. You build it, he scraps it." Peppermint said.
"Massive creator complex from this guy, huh?" Connor noted. "What's up with that hairdo?" he noted the green cables on his head.
"Neural interface. His ideas are everything, so he modded himself to directly input his concepts into the work pipeline. Anyway, we sneak in, hack his computer, download and destroy SPECTRA, and get out." Peppermint said.
A bit later…
In the underground area of the company.
"Chai, you guys get there yet?" Peppermint asked as clanging was heard before Chai was seen falling flat on his back out of the ventilation system while Connor and the girls landed around him.
(Cue: Heatwave - Hi-Fi Rush OST)
"Oww… Yeah, I think we found it." Chai said as he stood up. The group got moving, immediatly feeling the heat of the underground caverns.
"Ugh, it's so hot down here…" Hilda said.
"Par for the course for a lab being built this far underground and filled with magma." Lysithea said. "I question Vandelays locale and design choices."
"Blame the current heads for this one." Peppermint said. "I probably don't need to tell you guys this, but… don't step in the lava."
"Ugh, give us some credit here." Chai replied.
"Didn't want to take any chances, especially with you." Peppermint fired back smugly.
"So Peppermint, where's our way in?" Connor asked as they got moving across the roads of rock and lava.
"They've been planning some R&D expansion in that area. Should be your ticket in." Peppermint said.
Meanwhile, Korsica appeared on one of the monitors being held by a flying drone.
"We're on the lookout for any suspicious individuals. Four humans, different hairstyles. No need to panic…but if encountered, please run away and contact security." Korsica said.
"Let's hope we can avoid too many fights this time," Hilda said.
"HEY, YOU!" a voice called as the group looked up to see a blue-colored version of the ES-101 holding a hammer before it turned into a rather large sword, causing it to stumble a bit before falling over as it landed in front of them flat on its face. "You all ain't part of my crew!"
"Brilliant deduction, metalhead," Connor said as the group engaged.
This robot was designated the BES-102, and like its BA-B00 counterpart, could produce a barrier. But it was no match for Peppermint's blasters as the group easily junked it afterward, followed by some reinforcements.
After the battle, the foursome continued on through the magma chamber, avoiding lava geysers, junking security bots, and even dealing with an underground volcano. Eventually, the group finally made it to the entrance to the R&D Branch's labs.
"Here we ARE… & D!" Chai joked.
"That was terrible." Lysithea said.
"Just get in there with the others, Chai." Peppermint added.
Just before they did, two monitors turned on, making the group catch wind of a call between Zanzo and Vandelay's Head of Finance, Roquefort.
"Since you continue to avoid my emails, Zanzo, I'm making this PUBLIC." Roquefort said. "No more budget approvals until this defect fiasco is done with! FULL STOP!"
"Bah! You dare interrupt my creative process, Roquefort? The gears are turning in my mind with passion!" Zanzo said.
"I don't care about passion. I care about PROFITS." Roquefort replied.
"Hah! Spoken like a true moneyman!" Zanzo said.
"Enough! Just help security with their orders." Roquefort ordered.
"Looks like the Department heads arent exactly buddy-buddy with each other." Hilda said.
"When are they ever? Let's just keep focused." Peppermint said.
The group continued on, passing by cutouts of Zanzo as they soon reached the R&D department.
"Just get those security tests done, now!" Zanzo said.
"Transferring magma power to Lab 44." a robot at a nearby stand said. "Access to AI labs restricted until testing complete."
"What? How are we supposed to get in there now?" Hilda asked.
"They're not taking visitors… but they didn't say anything about test subjects." Connor said.
"Are you saying we're going to willingly sign up for some madman's experiments just to get inside the labs?" Lysithea asked.
"Don't see any better option, do you guys?" Connor asked.
"I hoped I wouldn't have to go through something like this again." Lysithea said.
"C'mon Lysithea, compared to what they did to you, this probably won't be that bad." Connor replied.
"They? Who are you guys talking about?" Chai asked.
"Nothing that's important to talk about, long story," Hilda said.
"But I hope you're right regardless, Connor." Lysithea said.
The group made their way inside the labs after that.
(Music Shift: Test Chamber- Hi-Fi Rush OST)
"Alright, design and prototype constructed to spec. YAWN." Zanzo said.
"Looks like some volunteers have entered the lab." a worker bot informed.
"Ugh, about time. Test volunteers, ahem, please enter the chamber. With haste!" the Head of R&D instructed.
The group then approached the desk headed by a female robot.
"Oh, you must be the test subjects Mr. Zanzo mentioned. Please proceed. And don't worry. All insurance paperwork will be handled after the tests." the robot said as the group entered the chamber a green laser grid moved over them before going back as a siren went off for a moment and the lights flashed red.
"Test subjects…unidentified." a robot said.
"Why is the image scrambled?" Zanzo asked.
"Something's overriding our cameras to 480p. Its unviewable." the robot said.
"Ah! Just get this over with! Activate the security lasers!" Zanzo said as one of the room's lasers activated.
"Oh, great," Hilda said.
"Just call me in. I can help-" Peppermint started.
"No, wait. I got an IDEA." Chai interrupted. "If we can block the lasers at just the right time, we might be able to send them right back to where they came from!"
"Parrying lasers? That's the craziest idea I've ever heard!" Hilda said.
"We've heard crazier, Hilda." Connor said. "It's worth a try at least."
Chai gave it a try first, seeing security laser blaster charge up its attack to a beat, before perfectly blocking both its shots, sending them back to the turret and destroying it.
"Uhh. It exploded. That's…not the design." the robot said.
"I added it in. Failure is so embarrassing it self-destructs. Heehee! Try again." Zanzo said as the second turret activated.
"You OK?" Peppermint asked.
"Getting the hang of this!" Chai assured as he soon destroyed the second one.
"My accuracy code was…flawless!" the robot said.
"Apparently not! Hey, subjects, well done. Your gift baskets are in the next room!" Zanzo said as the chamber doors opened.
"Sounds like a trap." Peppermint said.
"But what if it really IS a gift basket?" Chai asked.
As the group pressed on, Zanzo was heard over the intercom.
"Fix the image. I want to see who our test subjects are." Zanzo said.
"I'm locked out. It's a hack!" the robot said.
"So un-hack it!" Zanzo ordered.
"Peppermint? Is that you?" Chai asked.
"For once, I'm not hacking anything!" Peppermint said.
The group soon reached the next chamber as Zanzo's voice was heard once more.
"Please step into the center of the room for your prize." Zanzo said, referring to a clearly drawn x that said 'It's SAFE HERE' on the floor.
"This is obviously a trap." Lysithea said. "But it's also part of the test."
Chai stepped onto the x as he became trapped in place.
"Oh man, they fell for it! Hahahaha! This subject is an idiot!" Zanzo said.
"Very perceptive, Zanzo." Peppermint deadpanned.
"Those laser drones were Korsica's design, but NO ONE messes with my experiments. You'll be a nice punching bag for MY babies." Zanzo said as two robots popped out of hatches on the floor.
"Let's protect Chai by parrying these guys' attacks first!" Hilda said.
"Let's hope we don't kill ourselves doing this.." Connor said as he stood in front of the SBR unit and fully blocked its attack. Meanwhile, Chai deflected the blast shot by the GNR.
"DEFECTIVE. Blow these up and send more in." Zanzo said as an ES-101 and a BA-B00 were called in.
Hilda blocked the attack from the ES-101, tanking each of its two swings, meanwhile, the BA-B00 was blocked by Chai.
"Nice, guys!" Peppermint complimented as the two robots were junked.
"Hmph! I'm actually impressed. Now I want to see how far this goes…" Zanzo said as the chamber doors opened.
The group proceeded before an alarm went off as the next set of doors began acting up.
"What the…?!" Connor asked.
"Hacks everywhere! IT WON'T LET ME OPEN THE DOOR!" the technician bot said.
"Maybe we should find this hacker and give THEM your job!" Zanzo said.
"Uh, guys? A private mail just came to me. 'Use the side route'?" Peppermint said as the door next to the group slid open.
"What is going on here?" Chai asked
"It appears someone in this department is trying to help us." Lysithea said.
"Who would want to deliberately mess up their own department's process?" Hilda asked.
"Maybe it's Peppermints man on the inside. The R&D department must be where they work." Connor said. "We'll probably run into them down here if that's the case. Can't wait to shake their hand."
The group then proceeded to the third test chamber.
"You've done well when focusing, but how about a REAL throwdown?" Zanzo asked.
"This is all pretty expensive… Sir, do we-" the technician bot tried to say.
"I want this! SO DO IT!" Zanzo ordered.
On Zanzo's command, a wave of security bots were sent into the chamber. Mixing combos with parries, the group was swiftly able to scrap the first wave.
"Reroute those security lasers here!" Zanzo ordered as a laser drone was activated before being destroyed. "How are we not winning?!"
"Because you keep changing what you want-" the technician bot started.
"Enough questions! More enemies!" Zanzo interrupted as more bots were sent in.
"Actually, they're not 'enemies' if they're on our side-" the technician bot started again.
"Shut up!" Zanzo silenced.
"Wow, I can see why everybody under this guy hates his guts." Hilda said as she bashed some GNRs.
"That much creativity and ego is not a good combination." Connor said, shooting at the BES-102 and giving Lysithea a change to blast it with her magic. Chai then parried some laser turrets, destroying them. "Is that all you got?!"
"Oh, not even close! Send in the BRUT-1L!" Zanzo ordered.
"We haven't done field testing-" the technical bot tried to warn.
"THIS is the test!" Zanzo corrected.
That was when a new type of robot was dropped into the chamber. This was the "BRUT-1L" model in question. It was a few feet taller than the Elite units sent in, with long legs and a proportionally large chest with a small head. Its paint job was white, orange, and gold, and its main feature was its two thin, long arms, with blue circles at the end that spawned twin deadly plasma buzzsaws.
"Here's one of my new ones, and it's hiding a little secret." Zanzo said.
"This model looks stronger than the others… be careful, everyone!" Lysithea said.
Despite its size, the BRUT-1L was incredibly fast. It dashed all over the test area, sometimes on all fours and attempted to rip at the group with its plasma saws with spinning attacks and long-armed thrusts.
"This thing is fast for a big guy!" Hilda said.
"It's fighting like Shirabe, but more savage. Did Vandelay collect data on her?" Lysithea asked.
"Probably not the best time to wonder about it!" Connor said.
Against a bot this fast and strong, the group could only parry its attacks and strike at openings. After it took some damage, it got really mad and roared, blowing Connor back and forcing him into a standoff as it roared.
SPINNING SLASH
"It's going to try and hit you with something big, Connor!" Hilda said.
The BRUT-1L coiled its arms around itself and wound up for an attack, giving tells that it was going to strike 5 times. Connor rhythmically parried each strike as it was stunned.
"You're done!" Connor said, pulling out his Magnum and shooting the BRUT-1L straight through the chest, taking it down in one shot.
"ALRIGHT! Enough testing. You've earned my respect. Whoever you are…" Zanzo said.
"We've actually got some good data-" The technician bot started.
"Is that all you programmers care about? Let's go. We're done here." Zanzo said as the chamber door opened.
"Well, I don't know how, but you guys survived that." Peppermint said.
"If THIS doesn't get us in the lab, I'm quitting." Chai remarked.
"Yeah… But I'm still wondering, who was helping us out with all that hacking back there?" Peppermint asked.
"That didn't feel like help. More like someone was just messing with Zanzo." Chai said.
"It seems like Connor's theory is becoming more and more solid, if that's the case." Lysithea said.
"So, that Zanzo, huh? Sure is something." Chai said.
"Yeah, he got promoted to head of R&D after Kale took over the company." Peppermint said.
"Doesn't quite echo the Vandelay image I've had up till now." Chai said.
"The company switched gears under him. Going from helping the world, to protecting their bottom line." Peppermint said.
The group proceeded to a set of large doors as they went inside, but they found out too late that it was another trap, as they slammed behind them and alarms went off.
"So these were our pesky test subjects!" A voice said as up above, there was Zanzo in person, posing as if he was from a certain world. "Mister Chai, and the trio of mercenaries from Team Revival, was it?"
"In the flesh," Connor said. "But that's Connor, Hilda, and Lysithea to you."
"Very nice to meet the self-titled Strongest Underworld Gunman and his associates. I, am Zan-!"
"Yeah yeah yeah, we know. Zanzo, Head of R&D." CHai said, dumbfounding the department head. "Look dude, we're not gonna serenade you."
"Yeah, what is it you want from us if you're coming out here to see us in person?" Hilda asked.
"They call you defects, but I find your enhancements and powers enticing. I must learn more about them." Zanzo said.
"We've tested enough, don't you think?" Chai asked.
"I saw your reflexes, but how about your endurance? Let's give it a GO GO GO!" Zanzo said, dramatically posing at each GO. "But enough talk… Have at you!" he said before snapping his fingers as security bots appeared. One of them was a barrier-type robot they saw on the way over. Its lower body was practically a motorcycle, and its weapon was a laser lance that doubled as an umbrella for deploying multiple barriers.
Connor destroyed the barrier umbrella first, then the group ganged up on the wave of robots, scrapping them as Chai and Hilda junked the ground units, while Connor shot the bombers out of the air.
"A bit quicker than expected, but no matter. How about a brand-new Zanzo original?!" Zanzo asked as a new type robot popped out of the center hatch. It was a quadrupedal type robot with a large cylindrical body and cylinder head, with a dark green paint job, and arm and shoulder cannons. What was its most singular feature was that it was heavily armored with some sort of new plating that had red cracks. "Presenting the HG-0G, equipped with my new Z-Shielding! Patent pending! Doubt even any of YOU can put a dent in this!"
The HG-0G started attacking, using its cannon arm and shoulder launched grenades to try and do some damage. Connor called in Peppermint as the two shot at it from differnet sides, but Connor's bullets and peppermints plasma shots didn't do anything.
"I'm useless!" Peppermint said.
"You said it, not me!" Chai replied.
"Hades Omega!" Lysithea called, engulfing the robot in a pillar of fire and darkness, but it had no effect. "Magic is useless too?!"
Chai went in for a strike, but his guitar just bounced off the armor.
"I can't even ding it!" Chai said.
"Hahahahahahaha! Just as I expected! Impervious!" Zanzo gloated.
"Oh grow up!" Hilda said.
Chai ran across the room to avoid the robot's incoming grenades before trying to hit it again, only to be bounced back as the robot confidently tapped its chest.
"Nothings working, that armor's too tough!" Connor said.
"Chai! We need a different approach!" Peppermint said.
"Yeah…" Chai said before shaking the metal scrap off his grabber.
"What are you doing?!" Lysithea asked.
"I'm gonna reason with it." Chai said, wa;king forward to the HG-0G.
"Goodnight Chai." Hilda said, facepalming.
"Look man, I think we have more in common than we do apart. How about-" Chai began to say before the HG-0G socked him right in the face, sending him through the glass window and several walls.
"Chai!" Connor called.
"Ow! Agh! Such! A! Bad! I! Dea!" Chai said through each wall he hit before landing on a glass floor as it cracked before breaking as he soon fell through that, the others soon catching up.
"How are you not dead after all that?" Hilda asked.
"I have absolutely no idea." Chai said before he saw a set of red eyes flashing as the others took notice as it began approaching.
"W-What is that?" Lysithea asked a bit scared.
"I've been looking for you all." it said.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Lysithea screamed as she and Hilda held onto each other.