A/N -

I'm really sorry this chapter took so long! I wanted to really make sure this one was PERFECT…

And then I ruined it by splitting it off into two chapters. Sigh. I'm sorry. At least the next one shouldn't be long until release. Probably will come out later today… Pretend the first three are all one chapter and it'll be better.

ADHD. I repeat this a ton.

"Ohohoho, they want to mount one last stand! How quaint." Doctor Starline cackled, throwing his head back and holding a finger in front of his lip for that extra little bit of emphasis. Something as weak as a barrier made from a static ring of fire would be absolutely trivial to bypass. With one vague hand gesture, it was immediately extinguished by a jet of water coming shooting from a figure standing at the side of the doctor.

The Freedom Fighters were plunged into darkness, and collectively their hearts began racing. Starline took advantage of the chaos, clearing his throat and taunting - "I hope you're aware that you don't stand a snowball's chance in a lava reef of survival." His voice got louder and louder, but under it seemed to be a trio of footsteps. He wasn't alone. "Now, I consider myself a benevolent dictator, and I have more important tasks to attend to. How about you all just surrender quietly? I promise, the Roboticization process will be painless."

But, as he expected, the group that called themselves the 'Freedom Fighters' refused to go down without a final battle. To give them the ability to actually see what was happening, Blaze held her left hand in the air - a ball of flame quickly growing from her hand and causing her to act as a beacon. Only Starline's encroaching visage was revealed, his entourage purposely stepped back to stay in the shadows until it was the time to strike. Predators toying with their prey.

Now, if you only saw Dr. Starline's on his own, he wouldn't exactly be very imposing. He was a rather scrawny white platypus with a few black highlights, disguising his lack of muscle mass with a large maroon overcoat. But, his true strength was in his mind! He'd spent every waking moment he could during his upbringing learning as much about the world as he could, and as a result now he had the ability to artificially engineer power. Stronger than any warrior or mystical artifact.

Silver took a deep breath, trying to swallow back his fears. At this point, he's most likely to die of pure fright before any attack even touches him - prophecy be damned! No, no, he- he had to be brave, like everyone else. In fact, Antoine was the first to step up to the doctor - Gritting his teeth and bearing them in a snarl not unlike one from a rabid beast. Reaching over his shoulder, gripping his Sabre's handle and whipping it out from its scabbard all in one quick motion. He was well aware the odds of him surviving were next to zero, he didn't care. It didn't stop him for a second. This was the type of situation he'd been preparing for his entire life - if his sacrifice bought even a moment more time for his fellow freedom fighters, it wouldn't be in vain.

He momentarily wound up, before launching himself up into the air - thrusting his blade in an attempt to land a decisive blow before anyone had a chance to fight back. Unfortunately, it wasn't successful - Doctor Starline managed to dodge just in time. Not unharmed, though - his torso was grazed with the blade, causing a large cut in his coat and a good bit of bleeding. The 'good' doctor grit his teeth as he fell onto one knee, clutching his fresh wound and grimacing.

Antoine kept the pressure up, momentarily backing up and attempting another slash. But, mid-swing, the clouds seemed to part and a sudden bolt of lightning struck his blade - in one mere moment reducing it from a precision instrument to take a life into just a pile of molten metal and scorched wood. Thankfully the wooden handle protected its wielder from the shock, but it still left him completely defenseless and without the one tool that made him useful.

At this sight, sounded a horrid but all-too-familiar cackle. The perpetrator, the doctor's second in command, finally stepped out of the darkness. Her name is Surge, Surge the Tenrec. With that blazing green fur, it was as if nature itself was screaming 'stay away.' Complementing the rather abrasive look she had was several earrings and a few rings on her fingers, but they held a functional purpose - it helped her harness her electrical powers. She rubbed her hands together, her rings clacking and making a heavy spark, anticipating the fun she was about to have.

At the same time, the third in command - bottom of the hierarchy also stepped forward to tend to the Doctor. He preferred staying hidden, unless it was absolutely necessary. His name was Kitsunami, he was a blue and white Fennec Fox. He had the ability to control water, which- along with Surge was quite the deadly combination. Not useful at the moment, but still quite powerful.

The two of them were the product of what Starline called 'Project Remaster.' They would go through a process he called 'Roboticization', Taking formerly ordinary civilians and putting them through a process that blended the mechanical and organic into one being. A supercomputer instead of a brain, a titanium-coated skeleton impervious to fractures or breaks, and potentially - powers beyond the wildest imagination. And, it worked, it worked better than he could ever imagine! So well, that he was able to completely automate the process! Against the doctor's might, the world fell like flies. These computers were programmed to be completely and totally subservient to the doctor. As a result - he had an army of slaves with which to do as he pleased.