Silence.
The rolling giants of puffy gray clouds shielded the light of the early morning, leaving the glade in a perpetual darkness under a brooding, dead sky. The Dark Tree was just a shadowy silhouette, dominating the center of the jungle as its twisted lambs swung eerily in the tropical wind. All around, blades of grass and fragile twigs bent and staggered violently in the draft as if nature itself was disrupted by Fuse's presence. The trees hunched over, their branches being pushed away from the direction of the Forsaken Valley, battling the coastal breeze.
Just beyond the fractured boundary of the abandoned Infection Zone walls, a lone warrior revealed himself from a dense patch of rainforest grass. His stride was tranquil and methodical, arms resting calmly at his sides. Unmoved by the violent gusts or the abominable infection killing the land around him, he pressed forward. His sandals trudged through the grime and mud, his heels tugging at the back of them to keep from sticking.
He approached the entrance to the bridge leading to the center of the glade, pausing at its edge. In one fluid motion, his hand reached for the grip of his katana hooked at his side, his fingers curling around it with an intense purpose. The leather-wrapped hilt felt all too familiar in his grasp, a warm welcome before every horrendous obstacle in his way.
The world around him held its breath, the deafening breeze growing louder as if in anticipation of the coming storm. His expression was both determined and intense, quietly preparing himself for a rapidly approaching challenge.
Samurai Jack smoothed out his rigid lines, the tension rising in his muscles. His breath was steady with a stern face, holding an unwavering gaze at the insidious heart of the glade. The wind tugged at the edges of his robe, yet he remained absolutely still. A loose strand of hair whipped across his forehead while his man bun held itself together tightly.
With another steady hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small earpiece. Without taking his eyes off the foreboding darkness before him, he hooked it around his ear and set the device in with a slight click. He held his breath for a few moments, then exhaled slowly as he pressed a finger up to the side.
"I am in position."
On the other side of the glade, the second team approached a different bridge that stretched over the same ominous chasm. Numbuh One led the way, hell-bent and straight as he scanned the area. His combat armor clung onto his frame, being a sleek, dark suit designed much similar to Cree's armor. The suit was designed for protection and mobility from neck to toe, complete with a neon orange visor (rather than his sunglasses) that glowed faintly in the dim light. His lighthearted personality was gone, his hard expression for leadership pressing the team onward. Clutched tightly in his hands was one of Dexlabs' finest collabs with the Plumbers, a piece of modified alien weaponry called a PM-1 Energy Rifle. A band of batteries meant to be charges for the weapon were strapped to his belt, including a sheathed space-age sword on his back. The blade itself was made from a lightweight metal, and the tip and grip of the weapon were coated in a bright orange. These commonly produced weapons were called Aerial Swords, mass-produced and efficient in fusion territory.
Numbuh Two was close behind, moving with surprising grace given his bigger build. Over the goggles on his helmet, the visor he wore over them flickered with readouts through a heat sensor as he checked his surroundings. His upbeat demeanor was replaced with quiet concentration on the field ahead, his heavy armor clattering with each step. He retained his confidence, the overclocked S.C.A.M.P.P. rifle in his arms boosting his confidence ever so slightly. Strapped to his hip was a rare weapon constructed just for him, an intricately grey and puffy orange pistol called a Vaporizer. Black war paint was smeared across both of his rosy cheeks and over his large belly were two strips of weapon magazines. He had his war face on, alert and eager for battle.
Numbuh Five was up next, moving as the lightest one of the three. Her armor was slim cut, fit for her agile approach. Both of her upgraded pop guns were drawn, pointed up while her eyes searched for any sign of fusion creatures nearby, observant thanks to her visor too. Not a single step of hers made noise in those boots, the only sound coming from her being her hands clutching too tightly on the grips of her pistols. She wasn't trigger-happy but felt like she could burst open the moment a fusion got too close. Her hair was tied in two strict ring braids rather than her usual long one so it didn't become a distraction
Finally in the back, Niles was the loudest one of the bunch. He kept his distance a few feet away from the group, encased in his usually heavy, lumbering armor. The plating on his suit clanked with each step, his cape flapping obnoxiously. The rifle he had constructed yesterday was snug in both of his hands, the gauntlets of his armor not quite that different from training. He had fired a gun hundreds of times, and a clunky but amazing suit like this was no different. His pistol had been wrapped in a strap over his armor, magazines wrapped over his chest like Hoagie's. His mind focused on the oncoming battle, his scarred eyes hidden behind his superhero mask. His thoughts were with the team–and especially with Buttercup, fearing defeat.
As the four made it to the edge of the ridge, the three hid in a set of bushes while Niles pushed himself up the side of a tree. Numbuh One pressed a finger up against his earpiece and looked out to the other side of the glade, "Understood, Jack. We see you."
"Man, so that's the glade, huh?" Five whispered, pushing a gun through the bush. She took in the gruesome sight of the infection zone, trying not to let it get to her head.
Two lowered his gun to the ground, squatting beside her as a trail of sweat ran down his face. "Yeah, and a part of me is making me worry about the tree. If we set off the control center, won't the tree go down with it?"
Niles peered in a little bit, curling his fingers around the pump of his shattergun, "The Dark Tree has been infected by Fuse's forces. So long as we place the gum explosives right, he'll be mostly unharmed and have a little bit more time. If we ever reclaim this territory again, you need to find a doctor named Doctor J. C. She'll know what to do."
"First we gotta finish this operation-" Five hissed, gritting her teeth in tense annoyance.
Numbuh One remained vigilant as he silently called from the earpiece, "Buttercup, are you in position?"
In a disclosed location toward Jack's stance, the Powerpuff girl was leaning on one of the swaying palm trees. Her iconic green suit had been washed and shined, her hair done and fingerless gloves worn over her bandaged knuckles. From a certain perspective, she could see the white samurai standing at the entrance of the bridge, hidden within plain sight. Her two fingers pressed up against her earpiece as she replied smugly, "Keep your pants on, Nigel. I'm right here."
In a concealed location near Jack's presence, Buttercup leaned casually against one of the swaying palm trees. Her iconic green suit had been meticulously cleaned and shined, her dark hair neatly styled, and her fingerless gloves snug over her bandaged knuckles. From her vantage point, she could see the white-robed samurai standing at the entrance of the bridge. With a smirk, she pressed two fingers to her earpiece, confident like usual in these scenarios. "Keep your pants on, Nigel. I'm right here."
"Numbuh Three, Numbuh Four, report," Numbuh One followed up immediately, cutting to the other members.
Not far behind Buttercup, tucked away inside a cleverly concealed pit were the two operatives huddled together. Dug in the ground, the top of their stowaway trench was expertly camouflaged with leaves and shrubs found all around them. They blended in seamlessly with the environment around them, laser-focused on the task while cramped in their quarters.
Numbuh Three was crouched over an armored laptop, her hands over the keyboard. The connection to the network of explosives they had was secure, the screen flickering with digital outputs. The interface hummed to life thanks to Hoagie's two-by-four technology, a lifesaver like always. The girl herself had a black body suit on, covered head to toe in the same armor everyone else was wearing like a full-on ninja.
Beside her, Numbuh Four held the active detonator, a tangle of wires bundled together with a little threat. Although he volunteered to take the duty of defending Kuki from any monsters lurking, he couldn't help but feel slightly irritated by it. He was forced to stay calm with the gravity of the situation, though the glint in his eye indicated he would pop off at any given moment.
"We're good over here, Numbuh One," Numbuh Three squeaked in her earpiece. "Everything's all set!"
Numbuh Four spoke afterward impatiently, "Ready and waiting."
"Alright. Stay sharp, everyone. We've got one shot at this and I aim to go home with no casualties," Numbuh One continued, casting a firm glare on the Dark Tree. "Jack, the moment you make your move, we will initiate phase two. We're on your call."
The tension in the air was felt by everybody, as each person was perfectly marked in their spot. They all had their eyes on the Dark Glade as the moments ticked by, and the anticipation to start grew heavier. They all braced themselves for the calamity that was about to begin.
"Understood."
Samurai Jack shut his eyes and lifted his head, feeling the breeze. The air was cool, brushing past him like a whisper of fate, carrying the weight of what was to come with it. When he was finally ready, pushing past all of those distracting thoughts and excess weights holding him down, he pressed onward. His hand tightened around the hilt of his blade as he stepped with deliberate precision. His wooden sandals hooved against the rickety bridge, each plank creaking step after step. The wind picked up, blowing against him with an almost ominous force. Yet he remained steady like a wall of iron, unmoved by the elements.
The faint moans of the bridge seemed to fall into the hushed silence as he advanced, his keen eyes stiffly looking ahead. With each step, he was calm and controlled. His mind was now fully clear, disregarding the high stakes around him to maintain his unwavering resolve.
Amid the stillness, a phantom emerged from the foggy gloom on the other side. A figure stepped out from the dusk, mimicking each movement.
Jack's gaze hyper-fixated, his hand slightly tugging the katana an inch open from its scabbard. The silhouette moved with an identical grace and purpose, the wind catching its form as it too stepped onto the bridge.
Jack came to a full halt, planting his feet firmly onto one plank. The wind whipped around them both, the bridge swaying from it. Though neither warrior flinched. They were at a silent standstill, their presence alone enough to disrupt a storm itself.
When the figure came closer, its features became clear in the dim morning light. It was him, a reflection of himself. Fusion Samurai Jack imitated his every pose with a horrifying precision. A dark, malevolent mirror blocked his path, staring him down with a pair of unforgiving orbs.
Neither spoke, not a single word exchanged. Time itself had paused, the world reduced to this one narrow passage with two warriors facing each other. The only sound was the whispering wind and the rustling of leaves.
Samurai Jack's eyes narrowed, focused intently on the view in front of him. Fusion Jack mirrored his intensity, etched with the same stoic expression. The two stood there, suspended in a moment that felt eternal, like a cinematic of an ancient samurai duel. The battle was yet to start, both of their bodies felt the boiling tension between one another. It was a promise that the battle was about to begin.
The wind howled between them as if urging one of them to take the first step. Yet, neither of them obeyed. They stood on their separate grounds on the edge of their fate, studying one another to prepare for the first strike.
Fusion Jack's hiss fought through the draft as he was the first one to speak, "I have anticipated your arrival."
"As have I," Jack's eyes narrowed. "I give you one last chance to retreat to the pit of tar from whence you came, foul creature, or I will be forced to strike you down!"
The fusion formed a wide smile, as little floating bits of plaque formed a row of ingrown, stained teeth from inside his head. "I'm not going anywhere, samurai. This is where you meet your end."
Samurai Jack hummed, shutting his eyes and tilting his head down. "We shall see about that."
He took a deep breath, his hand drawing the blade with one deliberate, fluid motion. The sound of steel cut through the air.
Bling!
The very tip of the blade flashed a brilliant white light, as from out of nowhere came a beacon of holy purity in this endless night. His other hand joined the grip as he lowered the sword, getting into a stance.
On the opposite side, Fusion Jack mirrored the motion. Drawing from his scabbard came his near-identical golden weapon, though less powerful. He too settled into a stance, his posture disciplined yet eager with Fuse's malevolence.
The two warriors faced each other on the swaying bridge. Both figures locked in their final poses, eyes meeting one last time in the silence. Two sides of the same coin, and only one flip would determine which side it would land on.
Numbuh One's team watched on the edge, waiting for any second now to start their charge. Two and Five were ready to break into a full-fledged sprint, while Niles hunkered himself down to sprocket into the air.
By now, Buttercup had sat up from the tree and was completely on alert. She could feel a fiery urge to join in, yet held herself back for the sake of the mission.
Numbuh Three sat bored in the trench, letting out a sigh while she waited for the proper moment. Four had watched the interaction with his binoculars, mouth agape and breath held. "Holy.. smokes.."
"HYAAAAAA!"
"AAAAAAAH!"
Both samurai lunged at one another and met at the center of the bridge, the first strike clashing. Metal rang out in the crater as their katanas parried one another, falling back. They met full-on with a fury of blows, showcasing their intensity with horrifying prowess.
"Alright team, let's move out!" Numbuh One ordered, breaking into a hard dash. His energy rifle was hugged tightly to his chest as he nearly leaped forward, pushing himself tightly over the other bridge.
Numbuh Two and Five followed behind him in a line together, hurling themselves at their own high speeds. The bridge buckled and shimmied underneath their combined weight as they booked it for the middle.
Niles was the last one as he double-kicked his heels, letting off his rocket boots. In a trail of smoke, he billowed into the air, holding his gun in one hand and adjusting his posture with the other. The wind hurled in his face until the suit's helmet closed over him, the piercing neon eyes being the only light in the dark.
The fusion swung his blade toward Jack's neck, following up with a dirty leg kick.
Jack barely ducked just in time, the end of the blade nicking the tip of his nose. He lost his posture, suddenly falling to a kneel and grabbing onto the rail.
CLASH!
The bridge shuttered violently under their combined force, swaying cautiously as Jack parried another blow. He grit his teeth, pushing himself off of his knee and back toward his enemy with three quick strikes in succession. The fusion met him strike for strike, glaring the entire time.
The sheer noise of their impacts indicated just how strong they were, the fight able to be heard from even the other side of the crater. With the bridge beginning to loosely sway left and right, the two of them briefly stopped to catch their balance while they looked at each other.
"If you guys get overwhelmed and need some heat, I'm here," Buttercup ushered through the mic, her fingers curling over the bark as she cheered Jack on from the sidelines. Through a subliminal plea, she spoke empathetically. "Don't die in there."
As the other four reached the center of the glade, the Dark Tree came into view. They could hear another low, anguished groan coming from the core of this beast of nature, the sight alone enough to send a shiver down their spines.
Niles stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the suffering tree. A part of him had grown numb to the feeling of pain, though it was evident that this tree's suffering could be felt on a whole other level. He spoke up quickly, firm yet gentle, "We're here to help. Hold on for just a bit longer and we'll send a doctor, alright? We're gonna blow these guys outta your branches. "
The tree groaned again, its eyes dragging to look down at the Iron Warrior. He studied him carefully, though the presence of the young people together was enough to bring some color back to his face. It emitted revelation and understanding as it weakly replied, " Ahh.. so the Magic Tree was right. You have arrived, as the prophecy foretold…"
"Let's move quickly! We don't have much time," Numbuh One glanced at the Dark Tree, then at Niles. "We have to solve this later!"
Niles nodded rapidly giving the tree a little wave and clomped after the other three.
The group steeled themselves, ready for whatever awaited them in the heart of the Dark Glade. As all four of them double-checked their weapons, they stood at the control center entrance and shot each other looks.
"Hey juggernaut, would you like to-"
Before Numbuh Five could finish, Niles was the first one to push forward and jump into the tendrils. " Already on it!"
Fusion slime coated over his armor and cape as he sunk in, disappearing through the floor.
Numbuh Two was the second one to follow right behind him, dropping in instantly like a cookie in a glass of milk. He cringed as the cold, slithering sensation of the portal wrapped over his body, yet pushed through it.
Numbuh Five charged forward in third, leaping in and going for a literal swan dive. Puncturing her guns in first, she was scooped up into the bowl immediately.
With Numbuh One last, he turned to look over at the battle between the two samurai. He took a deep breath, testing his resolve, and cowabunga'd in.
Back on the bridge, Jack had pushed his fusion back closer to the tree. Neither one of them had given in yet, their movement stiff and lethal. They traded swings with each other, the blades clashing over and over again. Their muscles and fusion vibrated from the intensity, their gazes still locked on to each other.
RIP!
Jack closely dodged another strike yet again, the fabric of his robe cut open on his arm. He looked down at it in shock, pushing himself forward cutting down on the fusion.
Fusion Jack's glare now faded into a serious look, fully focusing on the fight in front of him. He jumped backward towards the foot end of the bridge, continuously striking hit after hit with his counterpart.
Suddenly from up above, a rustling sound echoed across the glade. It grew louder and louder as the seconds went on until it turned into a horrendous shrieking. From the limbs atop the tree, a horde of Fusionflies zipped outward. Their wings beating against the sky emitted a deafening buzz together, a sound so intense that the branches shook.
The samurai looked up, his jaw dropping at the sight of the approaching swarm. The sheer number of flies was overwhelming, like a plague falling right on top of him. While he continued to block more attacks, he grew frantic looking for an opening.
ZIP!
Before the horde could overwhelm him, a trail of bright green shot through the air like a bolt of lightning. Buttercup thrusted herself right in the middle of the swarm, her eyes kindling an elemental green. At the first sign of trouble, she unleashed her scorching wrath on the dozens. Her laser vision cut through several of them instantly like a knife on butter, ferocious green rays crackling with an unstoppable intensity.
Several of them disintegrated mid-flight, but she wasn't finished. She launched herself forward with her flaming fists, tearing through the horde punch after punch. She grunted and roared through each swerve, burning fly after fly into a waterfall of cooked fusion crisp immediately.
The swarm abruptly came to a halt as they now circled her, taking turns trying to shoot her down only to be crushed one by one.
Back on the bridge, Buttercup's presence gave Jack the upper hand. He pushed his fusion counterpart back, inching closer to the tree with every strike. Together they were like a pair of ballet dancers, fighting between the winning and losing side through each swing.
Fusion Jack's fusion blubber was straining, every fiber of his being focused on parrying and blocking. That was when he had the brilliant idea to make things interesting.
The fusion raised his sword once more, but this time, instead of aiming at the samurai, he dropped to one knee and drove it into the bridge's railing. The sword drove through the wood and vine instantly, cutting it in half.
The entire bridge fumbled beneath the two of them, the sudden shift in balance making it sway precariously. Seizing this window, Fusion Jack lunged forward, slamming his body into Jack's chest with a forceful tackle.
"Gah!" Jack grunted as the impact sent him sprawling onto his back. The wood smacked flatly against his back, giving him no time to recover.
Fusion Jack smiled cruelly, raspily chuckling to himself. He reached the other rail, his blade gleaming in the green light.
SNAP!
With another quick motion, his blade tore through the other rail, severing it. The bridge gave way with a loud, splintering crack. The support ropes snapped, and the entire structure began to collapse.
The fusion curled his hand around the wooden plank, his fusion hand merging with the wood itself to stick on tightly.
Jack, still disoriented from his fall, reached out and grabbed onto one of the loose ropes as his world turned completely sideways.
The remnants of the bridge hurtled downward, crashing into the crater's jagged rim. The force of the collision sent shockwaves to both Jacks as they held on for dear life, momentarily disoriented.
Jack's fingers ached from the sudden jolt, gritting his teeth in pain. Yet he still held on, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
Fusion Jack's gelatinous hand oozed into the wooden plank, anchoring him securely as he snarled in frustration. His entire body jiggled though refused to give in. His horrifying determination ascended him up the vertical bridge, locking on with his enemy. It no longer became just a fight between him and his clone, but a fight against gravity as well.
Jack, still clinging onto a loose rope, steadied himself and began his climb. The blade in his hand was a reassuring weight, though his grip on the rope never faltered. His focus was unparalleled and every muscle tense from the altercation.
CLANG!
Jack's reflexes were lightning-fast. He jumped off from the planks and swung on the rope, parrying a blow to his feet just in time. The force of the impact made him tremble, landing back onto the side of the crater and continuing to scale up.
The two continued their race, Fusion Jack quickly catching up.
The wind continued to blow down the crater, the ropes viciously whipping. Step after step, Jack kept on going. His heart pounded in his chest, though his resolve was indomitable.
Fusion Jack swung again, letting out a shriek in frustration. His blade came within an inch of the samurai's foot.
It got parried, again. Jack huffed in frustration at how cheap it was, moving up from the crumbling structure.
Both of them were quickly running out of bridge to climb.
Inside the dimly lit control center, the group burst through the entrance (in their own unique way) with Niles leading the charge. The sound of heavy boots, clunking armor, and rapid gunfire echoed through the metallic corridors as the four stormed the first layer together. Much like when he was a teenager, Niles moved through with a serious look. Pump after pump he unleashed a storm of bullets on wandering creatures with his rifle.
The towering infected trees were just walls to be torn down, collapsing under the relentless onslaught. The Iron Warrior switched through his weapons fluidly, briefly stopping to raise his hand cannon and fire off a rippling laser.
Warped trees hissed as the power of the sun tore them asunder, falling onto their knees and being burned away into hunks of expired firewood and leaves. They became ash within seconds, crackling and hissing.
Beside him, the three others provided covering fire. That armor of his worked wonders, making him the prime target as the front line of defense. They booked it down the halls, their skills put to the test after years of working for the Kids Next Door. Any fusion that dared cross their path was met with a lost limb or a quick end, precise shots hitting either the head or legs. The team advanced efficiently, terrifically guided by the efforts of Numbuh One.
The sea of bushes and trees on the upper level was no match for the four. They were already making their way towards the second layer.
Rapidly flicking between security cams on a monitor, Fusion Mandark watched the scene unfold. His anxious eyes darted across the screen, his hands rubbing together nervously. He sucked in every piece of detail he could get with the resolution, eyes twitching. The sight of the team tearing through an entire horde like that disrupted his goo. He remained composed, though his body was bubbling anxiously underneath.
"It seems I misplaced my judgment about you," he murmured, lowly hissing to the fusion beside him. "He not only has arrived, but brought his friends also."
Fusion Niles grunted, his hands behind his back as he stood up straight. His red eyes narrowed as he twitched, "Let them come. When they do, they won't last long. They never do."
"We shall see," the fusion scientist whispered. His fingers tightened over the arms of his chair, nearly tearing into the fabric from stress.
"Numbuh One!" Five screamed through the gunfire, double-tapping a fusion scientist into the ground. "When do you wanna start hookin' charges?!"
The calculated leader looked down the barrel of his rifle, blasting another fusion into the wall. Its innards sprayed across like out of a spray bottle, slowly tumbling into a pile of goop on the floor. "The main control room should be on the third layer! Once this next floor is cleared, we can begin the process!"
"RELOADING!" Two screamed, dropping to one knee and popping the magazine out of his rifle. He reached for another one when he suddenly noticed a tattered fusion Providence soldier approach.
It lifted its arm, aiming to hurl a fat lob of fusion matter at the young man.
BANG!
Its body fell completely sideways and tumbled onto the ground as Niles played protector, pumping his rifle and looking down at Hoagie. "I gotcha! "
Numbuh Two's hands deftly worked like clockwork, shoving the magazine in and went right back to shooting. He playfully laughed out loud as he screamed, "Thanks, metal man!"
Room after room was cleared as they pushed forward, each laboratory they entered more chaotic than the last. Glass was shattered, lab tables were overturned and remnants of experiments gone horribly wrong were spread out on the ground. The further they continued, the more resistance they were met with.
In the near middle of the second layer, the group of four were cornered in a narrow hallway. They were surrounded by the sheer numbers of workers combined into a wall of fusion flesh. Fallen brothers, S.A.C.T. members and Kids Next Door lunged forward like undead messes, all of their eyes sharing the same red glare. They shuffled forward, bodies constructed from both metal and fusion. They shambled, moving in an unnerving automation.
The group was forced to retreat as they all reloaded, pressing their backs against the infested walls. Despite their trigger-fingers and steady discipline, the number of shots was outmatched by their sheer numbers. Gunfire rang out in their confined space as both bullets and laser beams tore through any oncoming fusion to hold their ground.
Numbuh One continued firing off shot after shot, taking down a fusion after each one. Behind his visor, his eyes rapidly calculated which one was the next one to take down and quietly cursed to himself. Taking a deep breath he shouted an order, "Alright, metal man! We're gonna need some support!"
Niles obeyed, stepping forward and raised both of his hands in the air. His fingers outstretched as his palms began heating up, "Stay behind me!"
FHOOM!
The fusion scientists were in his direct line of fire, and unleashing from both hands came two torrents of hot energy. The beams carved through dozens of them within an instant, melting and dissolving their bodies into puddles of sludge and charred remains.
Numbuh Five peered from behind his armored back and unloaded two full magazines into the remnants of each one who fell, double-tapping every single one as she shouted, "Eat fire and ice, suckas!"
The hallway was filled with the hissing sounds of sizzling flesh and the nose-raising smell of burning matter. Dozens of diligent workers were torn to shreds by his work, flooding the lab's floors with an inch-thick pool of fusion matter.
Numbuh Two took the rear, spinning around and taking out another four coming towards them. He gave a two-finger salute to their fallen allies with a frown, "Sorry guys. We'll never forget you!"
Security cameras sparked and shattered as Numbuh One shot them out, blinding the control center as they advanced. He remained in the middle of the four, pushing deeper into the second layer.
Outside in the dense underbrush, Numbuh Three and Four had gotten quite comfortable. The two of them laid low, their small trench untouched by the chaos going on around them. The distant sounds of explosions and gunfire echoed across the jungle, making Numbuh Four fidget restlessly.
He huffed, crossing his arms while peeking out from a little slit on the top of their hiding spot. He was barely able to see the action going on in the distance as he griped, "Just when I wanted to go in with them, I changed my mind last minute. I knew I should've gone in, and now I'm stuck here doing nothing!"
Three glanced over at him, not as cheery as she usually was. She was about to offer some words of comfort to him until an ominous rumble shook them both up. The girl lifted her head up and subtly reached for the pistol hooked on the holster on her back, slowly turning her head over.
Four froze, and then both of their instincts kicked in as they ducked lower into the trench. The growl grew louder, reverberating through the jungle, accompanied by the sound of heavy, thudding footsteps. The ground seemed to tremble slightly with each step, leaves shaking and twigs snapping under the weight of whatever big creature was coming.
Carefully, Four peeked out again, his eyes widening at the sight of an enormous creature tromping through the rainforest. A colossal fusion creature pushed forward on all fours, the most prominent thing being its chubby weight and protruding jagged horns. Its eyes glowed a menacing red as it slugged forward toward the action. Its body was mended from armor-plated parts, including a patchwork of slime and reused animal flesh. Underneath its heavy bundle of fur, the thin layer of latex-like skin covered over its fizzing fusion body. This was a Bully Behemoth, a reshapened mammoth commonly used as meatshields for fusion enhancement.
The Behemoth snorted, its nostrils flaring as it trampled through trees and bushes in its path. The frequent sharp jabs between Jacks drew its attention, guiding itself through its hearing and excellent sight.
Three peaked up and away from the laptop, watching it slowly tumble closer toward the crater edge. She whispered, "Lemmie see! Lemmie see!"
"Oh, damn," Four whispered as his heart drummed a little faster. He reached into his side, drawing a new rifle and aiming down its sights. "This is getting bad-"
His hand carefully dragged against the side of the weapon and loaded it, holding a trigger finger just up and out of the side to not shoot yet. The rugged and extrinsically put-together design screamed two-by-four, affiliated and known by the Kids Next Door. In the magazine was a whole bundle of electric razors waiting to be fired off under his command. It was a S.H.A.V.E.R.A.M.A., deadly in both short and long distances.
Three nodded silently, her eyes wide with fear as a thumb dragged across the grip of the gun. She held her breath, hoping the massive creature wouldn't notice them. It was a miracle that it somehow missed their trench in the ground, as otherwise they'd be caught in big trouble. She pressed a finger up to her earpiece and whispered, "Jack, a big guy is coming your way from over here! Look out!"
CHOOM!
Without a second warning, the leaves and twigs atop their trench caved it. Mud and dirt spewed everywhere like a wet burst as a massive, hairy elephant leg jammed its way inside. A hulking bit of weight suddenly barged itself into the middle of the trench as it let out a shriek, pushing itself to get back up in frustration.
Four lunged forward and covered his hand over Three's mouth, kicking the laptop and detonator away from where it ended up.
She placed a hand over him as she let out a muffled shriek, scurrying herself backward and farther toward the wall as they possibly could.
The first Behemoth wasn't the only one. An entire herd of them were steadily closing in on Samurai Jack's position. Though they weren't charging or hostile just yet, their enormous, armored bodies moved in coordination toward him. As the battle continued raging near the Dark Tree, none of them even had yet to notice the two hidden operatives, their focus entirely ahead.
Three and Four continued to freeze like horrified statues, watching the one Bully Behemoth push itself back out of the tattered trench and follow its brethren like nothing happened. It seemed nothing was going to stop these big guys from getting towards the middle.
Samurai Jack had finally reached the top of the crater wall, huffing from such a climb. He held onto the vine rope tightly as he pushed himself up with one last heave, kneeling to rest for a moment. His muscles burned terribly as he winced from the pain, salty sweat dripping down his forehead as a couple of loose hairs shot out from his bun. He reached up to his earpiece and replied breathlessly, "Understood."
The plan to keep Fusion Jack at bay was getting harder than he thought, the advancing wall of fusions presenting a new obstacle. He assessed the situation, looking for any new openings. It would either have to be a wild goose chase around the rim of the crater, or to keep him at bay down below. Either or, he had to keep him away from the control center.
His eyes caught the various floating rocks down at the bubbling pool, precariously drifting in their own directions. The choice was clear, though a brazen one.
Without any hesitation, he made his next decision. Clutching at the rope tightly, he broke into a sprint. His sandals slapped against the rocky ground, approaching the cliff's edge. Just as the first of the Bully Behemoths was about to reach him, he leaped off the edge, swinging wildly into the void. The gale screamed in his ears as he descended rapidly, his singular arm strength keeping him up while the blade balanced himself out in his other hand. He used himself as a projectile, aiming for one of the floating rocks, fixated on landing in just the right spot.
He collapsed onto one with a grunt, his feet sliding on the smooth surface with the rough landing. The rock wobbled under his weight, coming to find out that it was extremely unbalanced. With the tip of the blade, he jammed it into the ground, adjusting to his bearings. The landing knocked the wind out of him, yanking the blade back out and looking straight up to see where Fusion Jack was going.
Just as he predicted, Fusion Jack was not far behind. He smirked coyly as he saw his counterpart make the daring leap also, launching himself off the cliff's edge with an insane speed. He soared through the air, briefly transforming himself into a swirling green blob to get the landing right.
SLAP!
His body cartoonishly flattened on the rock's surface then reformed itself back within two seconds. The forceful thud kicked Jack up and him down, thrusting the two of them at each other within an instant. Their katanas struck wildly again in a flash of sparks and steel as they went right back to fighting for dominance on their narrow platform.
The rock tilted dangerously like a seesaw after each hit, swaying back and forth as they took turns aiming for each other. The limited space challenged their skill; neither one of them could afford to miss in this moment, as otherwise, they'd meet a quick end. The warriors kept their eyes locked on each other, subtly acknowledging to one another that one misstep could mean a fall into the fusion below.
Neither of them failed, despite all odds.
A stray Fusionfly aiming towards Jack quickly got vaporized, its body quickly spraying into a lukewarm fusion shower. Buttercup's hand fiercely gripped a fly's stinger, using it as a baseball bat to beat several others trying to get out of her grasp. Her entire body had begun heating up as slight trickles of sweat fell down her face, taking on so many small foes at the same time. A faint aura of green flame curled over her through each hit, reaching a level of heat she'd never thought she'd reach. Even as a single girl against this perhaps hundred, nearly most of them had been turned to mush or evaporated.
The herd of Behemoths that were unharmed lowered their heads, going into a charge. Their entire section of the forest rumbled as they formed a charging line, heading straight for the girl at an impressive speed.
The first one reached her, ready to impale, but she was much faster. With a ferocious cry, she leaped into the air, dodging the tusks by just a few inches. She slammed her fist down on the creature's skull right then and there. Its head caved in under the force, its body collapsing into a lifeless heap. Before it hit the ground, she grabbed hold of its massive horns, lifting the dead weight easily.
She spun the Behemoth around, bulk swinging like a ragdoll in her hands, and chucked it with all her might into the oncoming herd. The quickly dissolving body mashed into another Behemoth, the force sending them both tumbling into a line of trees. Buttercup landed on the ground right where Jack was, her eyes nearly set on fire as she gestured with a hand. From below she screamed, "COME ON! I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!"
The oncoming group of fusion monsters hesitated at her primal fury, but their dedication to the charge didn't stop. The girl didn't wait for them, either. She launched herself at the nearest one in a blinding limelight, driving her fists into its armored hide. The thick layers of armor on its body crumbled like tin foil and the legs buckled from her relentless pummeling.
Once it gave in, she gripped onto its tusks and wretched its head sideways with a satisfying crack. She hurled it off the edge, watching its massive body collapse into the abyss below, swallowed by the highly acidic fusion matter.
One by one, she tore through the herd. Each time a creature would go down, she'd grab onto its horns and chuck them into the pit like a chore. She was consumed in the battle, lost in the rage. The last Behemoth, larger and more resilient than the others, stumbled back under her training. All she saw was another punching bag, pounding it mercilessly with left and right hooks of green fire. Each punch cracked a new bone in its blubber, sending ripples of shock across its body.
The Bully Behemoth fell, dying as the last one of the wave had been pummeled. Buttercup's breath turned into dramatic gasps of air, the gloves on her hands having been melted away. She looked down at both of them, seeing the fusion matter eat away through the bandages over her knuckles. She let out a frustrated gasp, her face turning red as the green flames around her burned brighter. Out of disrespectful anger, she kicked the last Behemoth's head further into the ground and outstretched her hands into the air. Both the gloves and knuckles burst into flames from her aura, leaving her hot red and peeling knuckles exposed as the fight continued.
She pushed through the pain, letting out grunts as she spoke angrily into the earpiece, "Got 'em!"
The group down below continued their assault. They fought their way through several hordes of scientists and abominations, and the straining was beginning to show on some of them. Niles led the charge, his rifle pumping through shot after shot as he cleared each room with scary accuracy. To the other three, it was a mission, but to him it was homework. As they neared the end of the second floor, he turned to the group and lifted his gun. "On my last magazine!"
As he started loading shell after shell of electric slugs into the rifle, he swept the next room with his rifle. Every shot was rewarded by his incredible accuracy, the last fusions falling like dominos. He moved with the mix of military discipline and superhero agility, though he came to a shocking realization that he had no Hardnose shells left.
The last round was fired off, and the room fell silent. Niles paused, taking a moment to catch his breath and listen to the sound of the machinery around him. While the other three were in other rooms, the distant sounds of their gunfire echoing in the halls, he stowed his rifle on his back when something caught his eye.
Centered in the back end of the room, his eyes widened behind the superhero mask as he moved in closer.
The journal was here, untouched in its fusion bubble. Another page was being flipped, the bubble quickly absorbing as much information as it could.
He didn't hesitate, nonconsensually jamming his whole arm into it. His hand trembled as his fingers fought through the gooey texture within, wrapping around the edge of the book and pulling it back.
The bubble didn't resist, and the book was yanked out just like that.
He held it closer to his face as he saw the green slop it was covered in, the pages stained slightly green as ooze dripped onto the floor. With a disgusted look, he shook it dry a little bit before popping his chest compartment open and jamming it inside. His gauntlet fingers pressed up against his earpiece as he spoke enthusiastically, "Buttercup, you were right! The book is here! I got it!"
He made a mental note of his find, glancing back toward the doorway. The rest of the group had stopped, their eyes on him, waiting.
"I got it!" Niles said enthusiastically, hunkering over toward them.
One nodded his head, "Excellent. Now to sweep the final floor and place the charges. Numbuh Two?"
"I got 'em!" Two reassured, patting his heavy backpack. "Let's go!"
They didn't waste any more time as they descended another flight of stairs, making their way down to the third floor. It was the next and possibly final stage of their mission, a long and unforgiving road from this point onward. Each one of them held their breath as they fought through the darkness, arriving on the long and narrow bridge to the central room itself.
The four of them charged their way across the narrow bridge, their footsteps echoing in the vast cavern. Two and Five looked up to see the inner turmoil between fusion and Dark Tree alike, swirling and snapping at each other like white blood cells fighting diseases. The cavern below was a void of darkness, likely a place where Nergal would reside on a humorous thought.
Their running quickly came to an end, upon noticing the single figure standing in the middle of the overpass.
His posture was calm, almost unnervingly so, with his hands clutched at his sides and his feet planted firmly in the ground. A tattered cape drifted lazily in the faint breeze of the cavern, humming across everyone's ears. His wavy hair, unbrushed and wild, swayed with the same eerie calm, partially obscuring his face marked with a cold determination.
Fusion Niles blocked the path forward, his eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light. He was a quiet menace, the air making its effort to move out of the way for him. The remnants of the fusions they had destroyed seemed trivial compared to the presence before them.
Numbuh Five hummed, puffing out a lower lip. She seemed far from impressed with this dramatic display, knowing it was wasting their precious time. Without a word, she nonchalantly took one step forward, raising one of her pistols with casual precision. The first bullet of a new magazine rang out, the thunderous crack reverberating as it sped toward its new target.
The fusion didn't flinch. He raised a slow hand, almost lethargic like he had all the time in the world. The bullet struck against the veiny, black ink palm with a muffled thud.
Tik!
The icy metal flattened against his skin, absorbing into it the palm of his hand.
Fusion Niles lowered his hand afterward, still unphased. His aura radiated a silent malevolence that laid within, the flattering of his cape being the only sound coming from him.
"I'm not here for you," he voiced in a slowly deliberate drawl to the Kids Next Door. "I'm here for him."
Niles clicked his tongue, his expression hardening as his helmet retracted. He figured this was going to happen. "You're not with Mandark?"
The fusion shook his head slowly, his gaze narrowing intensely.
Niles turned to the others, his decision made. Carrying the weight of the moment he spoke, "You three go ahead."
"Agent Arachnid?" Numbuh One questioned, mixed between reluctance and trust.
He just nodded to the leader, shooting him a familiar, determined look. "I have to handle this. Go on without me."
Fusion Niles shifted slightly to the left, making a gesture that was more of a command than a permission. They were nothing to him. "Go."
The Kids Next Door operatives hesitated for a split second, exchanging glances with the hero. Then, they all burst urgently across the bridge. Niles stood up straight bracing for his betrayal that never came.
Fusion Niles remained still, never letting his human equivalent out of his sight like the others never existed.
As the last of the operatives crossed, he stepped back into place. His fists were clutched at his sides, trembling with a murderous fury.
"I was surprised you let them pass," Niles admitted, his voice low. He took a deep breath, the weight of their pasts pressing down on him. "I thought you were working with the fusions here."
The fusion's eyes burned into his, hissing lowly, "I could give a damn about some lessers in another world. The only thing holding me back from the sweet release of death is you."
He raised a hand, pointing at Niles. Even without a proper mouth, his voice rose violently. "I never fully realized how cowardly I was until I met you. You took my life away from me!"
"What are you talking about?" Niles asked, mixed between a tense defense and confusion.
His fusion groaned, tightening the grip on his hand as his frustration grew. "Did it ever cross your mind why you couldn't find your alternate self when you traveled to the past?"
Then it hit him. A chill ran down the back of his neck as he stared at the man in front of him.
"That was ME! YOU killed ME!" Fusion Niles snarled, jabbing his finger between himself and Niles.
Niles slowly removed his superhero mask, his eyes meeting his own in the mirror image. He stowed it away, clouded by guilt and regret. "I… I didn't know."
"Didn't know?" Fusion Niles mocked bitterly. "Didn't know?! How the hell did you not know?! You're so wrapped up in your own trauma, always looking for sympathy, you never stopped to think about the consequences!"
Niles took a step forward, reaching out as if to bridge the gap between them, his voice failing. "I never meant for this. When I jumped, I thought it was just a one-way trip. It crossed my mind, but… I never imagined it would lead to this."
The fusion narrowed his eyes, replying in a cold and unforgiving tone, "Ignorance isn't an excuse, Niles. Of all soldiers, we should know that. Fuse created me for one purpose and that purpose is to end you."
As things grew tense, from a flash of light came Nano Alien X. He materialized beside him, his ethereal form shimmering in cosmic energy. He turned to look down at Niles, then scanned Fusion Niles, assessing the threat in his calm nature like always.
Fusion Niles scoffed at the sudden arrival, his face sneering. "Trying to play the hero again, Niles? You think bringing a nano with you will help you forge a life you don't even deserve?"
Niles didn't flinch at the accusation. He frowned, reaching up and unhooking his cape. The fabric fluttered underneath him as he stepped forward, shedding the burden. Blossom was right; capes were redundant. With a regretful look, he replied, "I'm sorry I doomed you. I promise I'll make it up, somehow."
Nano Alien X floated closer to the Iron Warrior, speaking up in a deep and thoughtful tone. "There are several methods to save him, Niles. I am certain there is redemption for this."
Fusion Niles growled, waving off the suggestion with a dismissive gesture. "Spare me pity. You're not saving anyone. You'll be taking your promise to the grave."
With a fluid motion, he reached up and began unhooking his own tattered cloak. It fell and slipped off the bridge, falling into the shadowy void down below. He mirrored Niles' stance, keeping his hating and determined glare.
The two were now locked in, ready for their inevitable clash.
Up ahead, the doors were busted open with a resounding crash. The three operatives charged in with guns blazing, erupting the room in an instant chaos. Their well-trained and coordinated movements easily began tearing down one fusion scientist after another, barely giving them any time to react. Within a matter of moments, the once busy lab full of rapid journal research had suddenly come to a resounding stop.
Smoke piped from the barrels of their weapons as the trios advanced, forming a line at the end of the door. The floor underneath them was covered in puddling fusion matter, straining to reform. Their lab coats were left lying around like loose cloth, now piling up. Numbuh One, Two, and Five locked onto the high chair at the top of the room, where Fusion Mandark sat hunched, twitching with panic.
One stepped forward with a cocky smirk on his lips. He leveled his gun toward the chair as he spoke out with confidence, "Looks like you're about to get shut down Mandark, permanently!"
The fusion's eyes darted wildly around the room, his fingers gripping an identical gun to his human counterpart in his hand. He crouched lowly behind it, a single hand placed on the arm to help give him balance. His mind raced, desperately trying to compose a get-away plan before this went from bad to worse. He could barely imagine the rage Lord Fuse would have after this, seeing everything go from so well to so bad quickly. These people were crazy, wild enough to think they could just show up here and tear everything down not too far from Fuse's home base.
He glanced back at the three operatives standing before him at the end of the stairs, the outline of four separate gun barrels aimed at him. His head fizzed and bubbled from stress as he raised his own gun with a trembling hand, feeling the weight of the situation come crashing down on him. His confidence dwindled, no matter how much he tried to get it back. He was losing, and he knew it.
"Damn it!" he hissed, smacking his jelly forehead with a hand. "I should've known that parasite was going to leave me for you!"
Two snorted, adjusting his angle and looking down at the sight. "I don't know what's going on about that, but we would've gotten him anyway. It's just a matter of time, buddy."
"Will you quit stallin' and get out here so we can finish this mess?!" Five griped, glaring. "I wanna go home!"
The fusion foamed, growing vicious, "You want me to come out, huh? You smug dogs think you've won!"
He jolted up, kicking the chair forward with one foot. It came tumbling down the stairs at them, clattering noisily. He leveled his gun and fired wildly, his other arm morphing into a hurling mass of acid.
All three of them sprang into action instantly. Numbuh One rolled to the left as he narrowly avoided a glob.
Five darted to the right, steering herself left and right to avoid the shots.
Numbuh Two backed up and huddled behind the chair, narrowly avoiding a shot that whizzed over his head.
In perfect timing, they all returned fire. The alien tyrant violently shook against the relentless assault, lighting him up with dozens of shots. His body struggled to maintain its shape as bits and pieces of his oozing body fell apart into puddles around him, tearing through him like paper. With the combination of his now ripped clothes and missing parts, they turned him into a slice of swiss cheese.
Fusion Mandark's body fizzed in watery ragged gasps as he stumbled backward, dramatically placing a hand over his chest. He looked down at the operatives one last time, mixed between hate and disbelief.
"B-Blast you…" he choked out nasally.
As he took his last step, violently jolting, his body crumbled and splattered all over the ground. Like dropping a bottle of water, he spilled out everywhere on the stairs, leaving the remnants of his clothes behind. His gun clattered onto the floor beside his cape, melting away along with him.
Numbuh One lowered his ground with a hard gaze, then turned to Numbuh Two. "Two, extract all data they've got on the computers. We need every scrap of intel we can get."
"Yes sir!" he nodded sharply, quickly moving to a central workstation. Reaching into one of his pockets, he pulled out a haphazardly constructed device (more two-by-four tech) and jammed it onto a computer brain. He quickly went to work, allowing his malware to throw hands with the fusion technology.
"Five, set up the first explosive charge. We're doing it by the book."
The girl flashed a grin and then got to work. Unzipping her backpack from behind, she pulled out the first charge and got down on her knees. With the metal box in hand, she pulled out a small slot, chucking a large piece of gum in her mouth. Her cheeks puffed widely as she gnashed on it, then spat it out and smacked the wet piece onto a terminal. She jammed the explosive right on her freshly acquired gummy adhesive, giving a thumbs up.
Back outside, the clash between both samurai was getting tiresome. Each swing of their katanas was now slower and methodical with less force and more precision, aiming to at least put someone down. The rock beneath them tilted with each impact, threatening to toss the both of them into the pit below.
After a final, forceful swing, Jack caught his opponent off guard for a second. He spotted a small patch of dirt on the edge of the pool and seized his opportunity. He left him behind, leaping off the rock and landing on the narrow strip of solid ground left. He balanced both of his arms, making a face as he adjusted to the surface below.
Fusion Jack followed yet again, landing with a heavy thud on the opposite side. His weary fingers, slightly melting, curled tightly around the grip of his katana. Both warriors now stood surrounded by a sea of fusion matter with no escape in sight for either of them.
The fusion snickered as he took the power in, shrugging nonchalantly. "It seems you've backed yourself into a corner. Ironic, isn't it? The great Samurai Jack has fled more than he fought."
"Best samurai in the world or not," a daunting voice spoke behind him. The sound of cracked knuckles could be heard as she replied with disdain, "He's not gonna wipe the floor with ya. I am."
Slowly he tilted his head to look at who arrived, getting into a defensive stance.
Buttercup descended slowly, her arms crossed over her chest. Her entire body swirled in a violent green, her eyes unable to be seen by the bright light. She hovered just above the surface of the toxic sludge, crackling like lightning and gritting her teeth.
Samurai Jack panted, maintaining his position. He shot her a smile, then eyed his fusion counterpart with newfound confidence. Once more he lifted the blade into the air, rolling his shoulders and dragging his foot onto the ground.
The fusion's expression faltered, caught off guard by the sudden appearance. His surprise quickly turned to anger as he realized that he was outnumbered and outmatched.
ZAP!
Buttercup's laser vision fried the fusion's hands, blowing the katana up and away. The blade soared through the air, swirling rapidly before landing right into the pool below. The last of it seen was the handle as it slowly sunk below on its tip before finally getting eaten away and lost.
"You fought well," Jack acknowledged respectfully. "But this is where it ends."
Fusion Jack turned around and gave a weary smile, nodding slightly as if accepting the inevitable. The matter in his body bubbled ominously, the energy holding him together beginning to collapse in on itself. "I will not fall without honor."
With a final, respectful bow towards only Jack, he turned and began taking his first few steps toward the vat of fusion matter. Step after step his body dissolved almost instantly, being absorbed into the mass. He paused as he reached his torso, turning to look back at the two of them. He simply stared, then slowly sunk in fully.
As the last remnants of the fusion vanished, Buttercup hovered silently. She immediately turned to look at Jack, who remained still. He also watched as the fusion samurai gave in right away, at least respecting the fact that a fusion was able to retain his dignity.
"That's a bummer," she sighed. "I was totally wanting that fight."
Samurai Jack huffed as he took a moment to catch his breath, shaking his head. "To think a fusion could fall with such honor is… a surprise."
"Eh, whatever. He was gonna get pummeled anyways," Buttercup replied, shrugging. "Come on, let's go help the other two!"
Immediately she zipped up to him and grabbed onto him by his robes. With ease she hurled him up into the sky, following up behind him and shot out of the glade like a shooting star.
Up on top of the glade, Three and Four neared the edge. Their running had been barely heard by the tumult of growls and shrieks coming from behind them, having no time to fire back as their arms carried both the laptop and detonator. Behind them, an enormous horde of fusion monsters had manifested from across the Darklands, coming for them rapidly.
The both of them stopped as they almost slid off the edge, grabbing each other and turning to look back at the creatures approaching.
In a flash, Buttercup descended from the sky, dropping Jack off like a care package. She landed on the ground beside them with a thud, turning to face the oncoming threat.
The two of them narrowed their eyes, trying to make a rough count of how many were coming all at once.
"We're overrun!" Numbuh Four shouted, aiming his rifle and getting down on one knee. "They found our position fast after the first wave!"
Numbuh Three frowned, "Sorry guys! We tried to stay quiet!"
Both of the heroes turned at each other, not saying a word.
Buttercup smirked, having recovered quickly from her fatigue in the fight against the waves prior. "Let's see how good those swordfighting skills are after your warmup."
Jack drew his blade once again and took a stance, before shooting her a curious look. Quietly he replied with a playful grin, "Try and keep up."
Together they both stood their ground, the two agents assisting them as they took on the oncoming assault. The creatures roared as they closed in, the collective rage of Lord Fuse sprawled out on nearly hundreds of creatures. They came crashing in like a tidal wave of death, though Jack and Buttercup easily stood as the two holding back mere hundreds. The battlefield was theirs, and they were just treating it like a playground.
Niles and Fusion Niles squared off on the narrow overpass alone, launching themselves at each other. Niles threw a right hook first, only to be blocked and counterattacked. He blocked the rib jab, trading blows with one another like seasoned boxers. Their fists blurred at high speeds as they blocked and countered each other, fighting for control over the narrow space they had.
The fusion ducked under a swing and delivered a powerful uppercut to his chest, the armor clattering and rippling from the sheer force. Sensing an opening, he lashed out and kicked him in the chest with his whole leg, sending him flying backward.
Niles skidded to a halt, gasping for breath as he struggled to gain his footing.
"You coward! You left Hoagie to die!" Fusion Niles screamed as strode confidently, his feet stomping against the ground ominously.
Niles barely had time to react before he landed right on top of him, trading punches and kicks. He fought fiercely, though the fusion's strength was just too much. The fusion scooped him up into the air, curling his hands around his neck with ease.
The young man struggled and squirmed, X unable to do anything but usher him in the moment. "Come on, sir! Break free!"
Before he could recover, Fusion Niles yanked him down face-first into the ground. He groaned from the impact as his entire body raddled, his head straining from the impact. The fusion let go of his neck, grabbing onto the back of his collar and squatting down.
"You killed Blossom too!" Fusion Niles roared, hauling him up and slamming his face into the ground again. "What a way to treat the only woman who cared so much about you!"
Niles choked, a trickle of red pouring out from his nose as he sniffled. His eyes rolled back from the intensity of the hit, reaching for the button to retract his helmet.
His hand was grabbed before he could reach it, violently tugging at his back. The fusion tried to dislocate his arm right then and there, his entire body fizzing as he strained himself. His words hit like a truck as he shouted, "And let's not forget about Buttercup! She'd never fall for someone like you! You really think you stand a chance? GET REAL!"
Niles forced himself up, gripping onto the fusion's face and letting off a violent blast. Part of his face and hair exploded as a beam of sunlight blasted his head open, fusion muck falling into the abyss. Both his heart and head ached from such intensity, falling back to get his bearings.
Fusion Niles fell back as he screamed in pain, his parasitic head trying to pull itself off from the body like string cheese. He violently grabbed it, smacking it back in place and reforming his head.
X zipped over to Niles, holding up a hand as if ready to act. "Sir, are you in need of-"
"N-No," he stammered, wiping some of the snotty blood from his nose. "Not yet."
The supersoldier chuckled sadistically as he ran a hand through his rapidly reforming face, his head and features reappearing like normal. A small portion of his hand grew smaller, but it didn't matter. He watched with a sick satisfaction seeing that Niles was bleeding. He tilted his head and formed a gooey smile, slowly making steps forward. "Ahh.. there's that pathetic survivor in you. Always aiming low, just to scrape by for one more day!"
From behind Niles came Numbuh One, Two, and Five. They took in the sight of the two of them grappling with one another yet continued onward, reloading their weapons as they darted from the other side of the bridge.
"We're heading to the second layer!" One shouted, lining up Fusion Niles in his sight.
The fusion saw an opportunity, shifting his focus and raising his palm towards him. His palm lit up in a sickening, necrotic green as he fired off a deadly fusion beam, aimed straight at the agent's face.
"Look out!" Niles yelled, throwing himself as a shield between him and his friends. The blast struck Niles hard in the chest, burning through some of his armor and leather. He managed to absorb most of the impact, gritting his teeth from that burning sensation over his naked skin.
Fueled by rage and adrenaline, he rushed forward and tackled the fusion onto the ground. Fist after fist he began pummeling and beating him into the ground, drooling and blood dripping on him as they clashed.
Fusion Niles struggled underneath him, yet Niles kept going mercilessly. He was determined to end this whole mess once and for all.
As both Niles grappled each other on the ground, One seized his moment. He gestured for the other two to follow along as he barked, "We'll handle the explosives! Just get rid of that fusion before more of them show up!"
They dashed past the struggling pair, their weight pounding against the passage as they made their way back across. One took one last look at Niles, reaching up to his earpiece as he panted. "Thank you for protecting us, agent. Finish that fusion and let's get out of here!"
As Niles took one last blurry glimpse, all three operatives disappeared into the control center, leaving him to settle the score.
THWACK!
Fusion Niles headbutted him, sending him to the side and climbed up for dominance. The sound of fists meeting flesh and grunts of exertion filled the air, both of them putting their weight into every punch. Still, Niles didn't give in. His mind got lost in the violence as he snarled, refusing to give in. He couldn't lose this fight, not now.
As they both scrambled to their feet, Fusion Niles cocked his head to the side in an eerie, animalistic fashion. His arms suddenly outstretched and morphed, liquefying and reshaping into two long, smooth arm blades. They gleamed under the dim cave light, a twisted grin forming on his face. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed as he dragged his newly formed weapons across the surface, sinisterly inching closer toward him.
Niles tensed, barely able to block as he defended himself. The fusion lunged forward brutally, slashing at him with his hands wildly. They whizzed by as Niles dodged narrowly, avoiding dicy cuts.
Cut after cut, Niles could feel the pressure mounting. His fusion counterpart was relentless and he knew he needed to find an opening. It wasn't good enough as Fusion Niles lunged wildly again, aiming to lumberjack him down.
This time, the fusion aimed low. An arm blade went from knee to up, slicing through the air toward Niles' hand.
He couldn't block. He couldn't duck. He was too slow. The blade made contact, slicing through the exposed leather opening on his wrist. Blood spewed out like a dragon's breath, coating the ground beneath him as the severed hand fell with a dull thud.
Niles stared at his gory stump where his hand had been, unable to fully comprehend what just happened. His vision blurred as the pain intensified, ribbons of red coursing down the side of his arm.
He screamed bloody murder, stumbling back haphazardly from the shock. His entire arm trembled from the pain as tears began streaking down the corners of his face. He collapsed on his butt, his eyes slightly rolling back as he could feel himself fading from consciousness.
Fusion Niles slowly walked toward him, savoring the moment as he watched Niles crumble under the weight of his agony. He reached out toward one of his arm blades, extending a fusion tongue and licking the crimson off its jagged edge. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction as his body reacted to the contact of new DNA, solidifying and healing itself.
He crouched down, looking down at the soldier before him. Reforming one of his arms quickly, he snatched the earpiece from Niles and held it up against his own. His voice mimicked Niles' perfectly as he desperately mocked into it, "I'm almost done! Finish the job! I'm gonna be a bit late!"
Then, with a sneer, his hand crushed it. His hand discarded the broken pieces, letting them fall into the pit below. He stood up, raising one of his arm blades high above his head. He was determined to finish this, to play executioner and finally get what he wanted. With a horrifying seriousness he spoke, "It's time to say goodbye, Niles. Goodbye to your second chance, goodbye to this world, goodbye to the ones you love."
Nano Alien X watched from the sidelines, seeing Niles losing it. The fusion stood above as his hair drifted in the breeze, ready to take him down. He furrowed his nonexistent brow, his eyes fixating on the sight before him. Now was the perfect time; He was so close, victory just within reach. He knew what he had to do, and stepped in fist.
Zipping in between the fusion and his master, his voice boomed throughout the cave as he shouted,
"CELESTIAL LIGHT!"
A burst of light erupted from inside, brightening the entire cavern in a radiant, astral glow. His small form beamed with an intense power as his hands outstretched, channeling a powerful beam of alien light. Niles was enveloped, protected by a nearly impenetrable shield of ethereal, healing energy.
Fusion Niles backed up, holding a blade arm up over his eyes. He let out a slight shriek as his form burned from the intensity of the light, stumbling back as if dazed. It didn't harm him, though the celestial energy forced him at bay. The fusion snarled in frustration, unable to get closer as he was warded off from the flare.
The healing light swelled Niles in a rejuvenating wave, the searing pain in his body fading. The bloody stump on his arm sealed over, leaving a faint scar of fresh skin where the hand had been severed. The agony and exhaustion transformed into intense, primal rage.
His eyes snapped open as he climbed to his feet, burning with hateful determination. The power ignited his fire, and the pain repurposed. The weight of war, the loss, the betrayals, and relentless battles–all of it came crashing down on him, turning him into an animal.
"YOU BASTARD! I'M GONNA RIP YOU IN HALF!" he roared, lunging at him with a desperate rage. His movements were uncoordinated and wild, driven by raw emotion as he tore into the fusion with renewed vigor. Every swing with his fist and blast from his hand cannon came tumbling into the dazed alien, tearing him apart.
Fusion Niles blocked a couple of his attacks but remained no match, stumbling and falling back. Each hit ruptured his very core, though he couldn't help but laugh. A humored chuckle from Niles' pain turned into a cacophony of laughter as he just smiled with perverted satisfaction, getting hit back to back like that. "Ahahaha! That's it! There's that monster! Die like a hero, Niles! Die like you always wanted to!"
As the fight clashed down below, Sector V worked fast to set up the charges. One coordinated their efforts, taking out his own explosives and placing them in the most optimal spots according to the map. His jaw was getting tired from the constant chewing, though he couldn't give out. The labs were horrifyingly quiet, bits of fusion matter trying to reform itself only to be quickly shot down or disposed of.
"We're running out of charges fast!" Numbuh Two shouted, looking worried as they started on their way towards the stairs to the first floor.
Five spat out a hunk of gum onto the wall, slapping another explosive against the corner. She huffed, rubbing her jaw as she replied, "We're almost there, just gotta cover the rest!"
Niles' voice crackled through their earpieces. "I'm almost done! Finish the job! I'm gonna be a bit late!"
Numbuh One clenched his teeth in frustration, forcefully pressing against his earpiece. "Agent Arachnid! What are you doing? That's not part of the plan!"
"Should we… go back? What if he's in trouble?" Hoagie glanced nervously between the other two.
Five picked up the last charge from her backpack, zipping it up. She wearily walked forward as she asked, "Yo, Numbuh One, is this the right call? We can't just leave him like that."
Nigel paused, feeling the weight of his decision. They were so close, yet Niles' unexpected decision threw everything into disarray. That wasn't him to do that, or was it a special case? He stared down at the dark hall back towards the stairs to the third floor, torn between success and the safety of their teammate.
"Damn," One muttered under his breath, then reached up to his earpiece. He made a gesture for the two of them to keep moving as he spoke passionately into the mic. "Niles, we're going to need you to get up here! We're starting the timer!"
Two exchanged a weary glance at Five, gulping loudly.
"You heard him, c'mon! Let's go!" Abby ushered, giving one last look at the corridor before heading up.
SLASH!
Samurai Jack moved like an angel of death, his katana swinging viciously through the air. Another creature was cut in half vertically, collapsing into fusion goop and parts. Monsters poured in relentlessly, each one eager to tear him into pieces. His breath was uneven, feeling the heat and strain in his hand from the onslaught.
One creature charged, clamping down its jaws and tearing into his shoulder. Jack shouted in pain as its teeth tore through his clothing, ripping into his flesh. A warm trickle of blood poured down his shoulder as he struck back with unrelenting power, the blade cutting the beast's head off in one fell swoop.
He moved forward, letting out a shriek of fury and cutting wildly. His sweat-soaked hair stuck to his brow as he cut down five more creatures, jumping between openings and slicing through limbs with precision.
From five, to ten, to fifteen down, monster after monster erupted and exploded into spare parts and goop. The ground underneath all four of them had now suddenly turned into a puddle of fusion matter, waterfalling off the edge.
Beside him, Buttercup continued to be unstoppable. With a fierce scream, she grabbed onto a monstrous fusion by its tail and hurled it like a bowling ball at a herd of others. The impact sent all of them crashing into a writhing heap of limbs and shrieks, struggling to try and get back up. Trying to win her wager with Jack, she unleashed another barrage of laser beams, vaporizing another ten more that came her way. Breathing hurt, and her nails dug so sharply into her palms that she could feel the blood. Sweat came running down her forehead, residue of faint fusion matter burning her skin.
Through the battle, she reached up to her earpiece, screaming in rage, "Niles, stop being a hero you damn idiot! Get the hell out of there! The other armies are about to show up!"
Behind the two-man line, Numbuh Three and Four gave each other worried looks hearing Buttercup's rage. Four aimed down the sight of his weapon and let out his war cry, firing off rapid bursts at the oncoming creatures. He wasn't head-on like he usually was, in fact the opposite. Each shot was careful, holding the line to protect one of the people he cared about the most. Beside him, Kuki started the timer just like One announced. She glanced at Wally, looking concentrated yet worried at the same time.
"Timer is set for three minutes!" she announced, feeling uncertain about this whole thing.
Four panted, reaching for another magazine as he shakily began to reload. "This is going sideways REAL fast!"
In the caverns down below became a true battle between survival and honor. Another hand cannon blast struck Fusion Niles, the layer of armor tearing open with a searing crack. Dark metal splintered off, exposing the wriggling, precious skin from underneath. Niles didn't hold back, his attack relentless as he continued pummeling his fist nonstop into his fusion. Nano Alien X stayed close by, visibly expended from so much energy to keep him going. His cosmic light flickered weakly, slumped, and on the verge of retreating into the NanoComm at any moment.
He didn't even see his nano, consumed by rage, eager to take down the twisted reflection in front of him. Every scarring moment on the battlefield led up to this moment, the clock ticking on his own life now.
Fusion Niles brutally slammed his fist into his chest, rattling Niles' ribs and knocking the wind out of him. Before Niles could recover, he followed up with a vicious knee to the chin, hurling his head back and sending him crashing on the other side of the bridge. The metal groaned from the impact, parts of the narrow foundation cracking and beginning to give way. Steel beams and chunks of rubble tumbled into the pit, vanishing in darkness.
Both of them scrambled, their hands grasping at each other in a violent struggle to maintain their footing as the bridge tilted backward. They pushed and shoved, each straining on each other to keep from plummeting over the edge. The sounds of snapping cables echoed as it was on its last leg.
Still, despite it all, Fusion Niles continued laughing. His fake mouth reached the edges of his cheeks, his eyes filled with a sick pleasure. Through the torment he shouted, "This is it! You wanna live like a hero, you'll DIE like a hero!"
Niles, bloodied and tear-stricken, glared furiously at him. His whole body shaking, exhausted from the rage. Tears in his eyes streamed down his face, unable to process the unbearable weight. Anguish and wrath blended in, the fire in his eyes damnable. The sound of his fusion's mocking laughter finally sent him over the edge, driving him to one last desperate attempt.
The rocket in his boot pushed his leg up, his mind racing to imagine the impact. Then, with a clean strike, the bottom of his boot slammed into his opponent. It sent him reeling backward, letting go and tumbling violently down onto the ground. He barrel-rolled before hitting the edge of the crumbling bridge, grabbing onto it with his hands and straining to get back up. The bubbly muscles on his body reformed into his fingers to help pull him up.
Niles' hand immediately clung to his side, reaching for the one last tool he had in his arsenal.
A cherry red pop gun, icy fresh and delicious.
The fusion clawed his way back up, struggling to balance himself. His limbs trembled with each strained step, fusion matter leaking from his wounds. His smug look turned into visible pain, his eyes still burning with hatred. He staggered, pulling himself upright, cradling his side in an attempt to steady himself.
His arm aimed steadily as he caught his breath, locking Fusion Niles in on his sights while biting his tongue. With a strained voice, he declared, "That promise… it'll be after you die. Now get in your grave-"
Niles squeezed the trigger, the first shot ringing out with a sharp crack. It staggered him in the chest, piercing through his armor. Another shot followed, and then another, another, and another. Fusion Niles reeled, jerking through each shot as the bullets tore through his now thinning armor and exposed skin. He tried to push himself forward, though couldn't make it past one step.
With one final, flawless shot, Niles took careful aim and fired. The bullet sored from out of the barrel, striking Fusion Niles square in the forehead. His fusion skin froze over, splitting his head in two like a saw to a log. His face and body began to dissolve into green matter, glancing at Niles one last time, a strange mix of regret and acceptance.
"Heh," he muttered, speaking with a begrudging respect. "Maybe you weren't as soft as I thought."
The fusion clutched at his disintegrating form, slowly leaning backward. Like a man trying to hold sand, his body slipped through his fingers; all he could do was just fully give in now, tilting his head to caress it as it began detaching.
"Enjoy your life of lies... See how far it gets you."
With one final, defeated step, Fusion Niles tilted fully and fell behind into the chasm below. His body went limp as his red eyes rolled back, disappearing into the darkness. The last remnants of his form splashed into the void, leaving only a faint echo from his fall.
Niles slowly lowered his gun, struggling to catch his breath. He watched the fusion vanish without a trace, his face expressionless, no triumph or victory. There wasn't any relief, either. Just a numb emptiness that settled in his gut. He killed himself. He won over himself. That feeling of failure lingered, though those last words hung in the air as he stood alone on that teetering bridge. The reward was clear, there was no doubting that. He was surrounded by the destruction he caused on himself.
"S-Sir.." Nano Alien X weakly tugged on his shoulder, barely able to hold on. "We need to leave."
Niles ached from the suffering, feeling his ghost hand. He reached down to scoop up the severed one, seeing the pitiful and mangled sight. He was strangely calm, unassociated even. He shoved it into his chest compartment without a second thought, closing the door with a faint click. Next came his cape as he hung it loosely from his shoulders, dirty and tattered from the brutal fight. Hastily he threw it back on, every movement sluggish but urgent.
The bridge underneath him finally gave way, cracks appearing as the support collapsed. Niles let out a grunt as he leaped off just in time, his rocket boots propelling him forward. The structure crumbled in the cavern below, soaring through the air and focusing fully on getting the hell out of there.
BOOOM!
The first blast echoed ominously behind him, shaking the entire control center room. Shards of debris and burnt fusion went flying everywhere, collapsing into the cavern below. Niles pushed forward as the third layer completely fell in, the entire facility trembling from the force. His helmet slid down over his face, sealing shut with a quiet hiss. The HUD flickered over his face, including that familiar chibi of X as everything looked alarming. His suit's battery was low, and the energy gauge was nearly depleted.
He let out a groan in frustration, dismissing it for now to keep the suit going. Each curve and wind between the halls was hard and fast, fighting the suit's systems to get out of there. Another explosion went off as the second explosive activated, how visible behind him. Torn gum flung everywhere, the already damaged walls falling in on themselves.
Blast after blast took away what little time he had left, able to feel the heat get hotter and hotter as it began chasing up after him. Like time in a bottle, he only had so much left before all of the first-floor charges went off. He had come too far to let it end here, too many promises made and battles fought to be buried underneath the weight of a dying control center.
As the ground quaked, Niles' focus narrowed down to just getting out of the last layer alive. He honed in every sense capable for the task, pushing his suit to its most extreme limits.
The other three operatives burst out of the center's lair entrance, propelling up into the air and collapsing on one another in a heap. Numbuh One landed awkwardly, letting out a groan as Numbuh Two collided with him, followed closely by Five upside down.
"Ugh, you're heavier than you look-" Two muttered, trying to untangle himself.
"Is dat a compliment or an insult-" Numbuh Five spoke venomously, pushing herself up.
One got back onto his feet, dusting himself off with a scowl. He looked down toward the dark glade, where the ground slightly quaked from the explosions on the deepest level already going off. The first layer of charges were moments away from detonating, and there was no time to lose.
"Everybody get across a bridge!" One shouted with his strained voice.
They all scrambled together, choosing a bridge and forcing themselves as hard as they could. Numbuh Two struggled to breathe, heaving all of his fat and grabbing onto his belly. Numbuh Five kept pushing behind him, forcing him to go quicker so they could reach it. One didn't let up, breathing out of his nose and mouth for the next breath.
The Dark Tree watched them leave, its bark face creaking with a mournful sigh. It could feel the destruction taking place within its depths, a sacrifice it was willing to accept if it meant his well-being.
Samurai Jack continued onwards, his robes stained in fusion matter. Through the tears and rips, his skin burned with a searing sting. His hair had hung wild and matted, the manbun lost. Each swing of his sword was heavy, his movement slurred from exhaustion. He refused to give in, slashing through the oncoming wave of creatures. More surged forward, even if the lines were thinning, but Jack made his stance.
He leaped into the air with another fierce cry, crashing down like a nature of torment. His blade cleaved through three more fusion monsters in a single stroke, watching their parts tear open and fusion matter arc into the air. The alien slime ate away at his wounds, constantly wearing him down as the fight progressed.
Nearby, Buttercup continued. Her fists were now raw, bloodied, and worn down almost to the bone. She still pressed on, each punch fueled by hate and determination. The exertion shot through her arms with each blow, yet she gritted her teeth, unleashing fury.
Spontaneously she soared high above the battlefield, her eyes blazing in fiery green light. She dove straight into the heart of the horde, spinning like a cyclone and unleashing a fiery tornado. Flames erupted around her, engulfing the last dozens of creatures in a swirling death cone. Her ears were pierced by their cries and shrieks of incineration, giving the group a moment to catch themselves.
Numbuh Four spotted the other three operatives rushing towards him, providing cover fire for the two upfront. By the time they reached him, he quickly turned back and raised an eyebrow.
"Where's the tin man?!"
Numbuh One shook his head, glaring back at the glade. In a hateful tone, he snapped, "I don't know! He's defied orders and hasn't responded!"
After the last abomination was cut down, Jack held his side as he dashed toward the group. It was clear he was frustrated, weakened by his relentless onslaught. "We cannot wait for him any longer! Fuse's other generals are going to be here any moment!"
"That's it!" Buttercup shrieked, zipping forward toward the group. "I'm gonna go in there and grab his dead body if I have to! I'll-"
A sleek, dark figure zipped through the morning clouds, leaving a streak behind it. The first rays of sunlight reached the horizon, the light in the sky finally warming up at the right time. The group skidded to a stop, looking up to see the outline of Niles' suit racing towards them at a breakneck speed. The rocket boots were spouting and spewing, a clear sign it was out of control.
From down below, the ground erupted as more explosions went off. The entire control center lair underground erupted, its innards and entrance bursting into flames and smoke. A shockwave rippled outward, sending a few chunks of debris flying through the air.
Niles shot through the air, out of control. The suit's power flickered in and out, plummeting and crashing into the dirt just past the group. A swirl of dust blew out from the impact as he laid sprawled out at the bottom of a fresh crater, twitching and barely able to move.
The operatives, briefly stunned by this sudden entrance, exchanged glances at one another.
"They've all gone off! Mission success!" Numbuh Three shouted, relieved.
"How could you do that!" Buttercup screamed in rage, charging forward as she pulled on her burnt sleeves. "I seriously can't believe how much of a prideful jerk you have to be to jeopardize everything like that!"
Samurai Jack jogged beside her, flicking the matter off of his katana and sheathing it. Though he had a lot to say about the matter, he had a fear that Buttercup would blow up. He remained silent, brushing some of his hair past his face and aiming to remain calm.
As they drew closer, the suit began to give way. The helmet slid back to reveal a face streaked with dirt and blood. His armor was cracked and scorched, his breaths shallow, his body swaying as he struggled to stand upright.
Numbuh Two approached with them, widening his eyes in horror. With a hand, he pointed, "N-Niles! Your hand is gone!"
Buttercup looked down at the wound, her anger suddenly changing to shock and guilt. She clenched her jaw, covering her mouth with her hands. She was torn, specifically between yelling at Niles for risking everything, and the sight of him mangled and on the verge of collapse. Her frustration changed into protective instincts, fighting to keep her emotions in check.
"You reckless idiot!" she choked out, trembling with both anger and fear. Effortlessly she lifted him, cradling him in her arms and sniffling.
The rest of the group didn't need further prompting. Three and Four scooped up the kit and made a run for it, followed by the other three. Jack led the way from out of the vicinity with Buttercup carrying Niles safely in her burning arms. The whole group darted towards the sunrise, blinded by the light yet eager to run. Their legs were sore, and their heads and hearts hurt. All that mattered was getting back to the Forsaken Valley safely now, no matter what.
When the group found for a moment to catch their breaths, they were out of sight from the Dark Glade. Two other hordes had swarmed the pile of ruin, leaving them to hide in the tree line for a bit.
Buttercup gently sat Niles down, kneeling beside him to look at the full extent of his injuries. He was just like the rest of them, bruised and covered in grime. His right arm ended in a jagged, smoothed-over stump. But what caught her attention was the absence of his earpiece, the small device keeping them connected.
"What the hell happened in there?" Buttercup spouted, glaring. She tried to keep her voice steady, turning to look at the other three. She expected an answer from him, but he seemed to have fallen unconscious. "Just get to the point!"
"We got slowed down by a fusion of him," Numbuh One admitted, gesturing towards the Iron Warrior with a thumb. "It was quite the fight. It had us tripping for a second, but everything else went smoothly. The charges were set and the center has been destroyed, though I'm not sure what the history between those two were."
Numbuh Two nodded, looking down at the armor. He cringed, thinking about how long it would take to repair it. "That fusion was relentless. It didn't let up like a bad headache, likely keeping him busy the whole time."
"Yeah, but that don't explain why he chose to go solo like that," Five crossed her arms. "Plain dumb, if you ask me."
Samurai Jack looked at One, raising an eyebrow. "A fusion… of him? What did he look like?"
"Just like him, with black armor and a cape," One summarized it up. "What you'd expect from Fuse, no doubt."
He took in his words, scratching his chin while squatting down to rest. "I believe I have encountered this fusion before. We will discuss this further back on Mandark's Ship."
A soft light flickered from the suit, revealing X. His normal glow was faint and weak, hovering unsteadily in the air. He looked like he could fizzle out any moment, though pushed himself to speak up on behalf of his master.
"I am relieved to see you all have survived," he began, bowing. "The good sir Niles has pushed himself to his limits. We were busy, battling to destroy… himself. The loss of his hand, as well as the stress of his past, has resulted in a shock-induced faint. He will need medical attention and a psychoanalysis as soon as possible."
Five huffed, "Don't we all?"
"You guys might be rough, but I'm fine," Four replied bluntly, shrugging.
She jammed her finger into his side, "That's 'cause not all of us got watchin' duty, dummy."
"We barely made it," Three frowned. "That was rough, guys."
"You stubborn dork," Buttercup muttered, brushing a stray hair from Niles' face. "We're gonna chat when you wake up. Count on it."
Numbuh One turned to X, "Were you able to beat him?"
"Yes, with great difficulty," Nano Alien X turned to the operative. "Without my intervention, the good sir Niles would not have survived. I have fulfilled my duty."
Buttercup reached out, giving X some gentle scratches on his cheek. "Thanks, X. You played your part. I owe you one for keeping an eye on him."
"It is what Blossom programmed me for," X bowed stiffly. "Though I thank you. I must retire, for now, to rest."
Jack poignantly interrupted, "We must leave the Darklands before we are spotted. We may talk once we are safe."
The group exchanged determined nods, rallying one another as they began to move out. Each step brought them closer to safety away from the wreckage of the fight, closer towards the rising sun.
9/1/24
This is it, this is the best I can write currently. Everything has led up to this specific chapter, and it was intriguing how this whole thing turned out. It was just a long and winding maze of 'I think they would do this' followed by 'but no, this has to happen'.
This would've gone several other ways, but I decided on this because this was the most optimal I could come up with. A lot of really big things happened in this and I'm proud of it.
In the game, it's mentioned that Fusion Samurai Jack is at the base of the Dark Tree. Fusion Mandark's lair is a control center, though I decided to double down on him being the main operator. Fusion Niles ended up becoming a third party as he was always meant to. He left his damage, there's no denying that.
I find it oddly poetic how Fusion Jack was the first fusion to arrive in the first fight, and then be one of the last ones in the final fight. I didn't think it would come full circle like that, but it did.
If you felt a little scrambled through the first read, that's okay. A lot of the formatting was lining pivotal moments up together, switching between teams while they worked together.
I'm happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to get started on the next one.
