"Ready," Michiru said cheerfully, raising her hands up into the defensive position that Silouette had been showing her. Silouette stood there for a moment, then unleashed a quick jab at her ribs, which Michiru easily knocked aside. It was followed up by three quick jabs at her starting with the stomach, then the chest, then the face. Michiru quickly knocked them all aside, maintaining her balance.
"Good," Silouette acknowledged neutrally. There was no real congratulations or satisfaction in her voice. Michiru lowered her arms when she suddenly found herself falling onto her back. Silouette kneeled there, having tripped her feet out from underneath her. "But you have more to learn, 'Lunar Girl'."
The second guard glanced at him. "You know what I heard? I heard that there are some intruders in here right this very moment - here to rescue this guy."
"No shit? Really? You think we'll see some action down here?" the first guard asked, glancing around. "How many of them are there? A hundred?"
"From what I heard there's only three of them," the second guard said.
"Only three? Man, now we'll never see any action. They'll get picked off before they get anywhere near this area of the base," the first guard said sadly. He sighed. "Just our luck."
Suddenly the door down the hallway smashed inward and a strange looking reploid with sunglasses and a black leather trench coat stepped through. He glanced up at the two of them and smiled. "Your luck has run out," he told them. Both of the guards glanced at each other, then went running toward the reploid. The first guard threw his stun rod at the intruder's head, but the intruder ducked low, produced his katana, and then slashed upward, removing the guard's hand. Standing back up, the intruder backhanded the one-handed guard away and turned to face the second one, who was bringing a gun to bare on him. The intruder spinkicked the gun out of his hand, letting it smash against the wall, then reached out and grabbed the guard by the throat. "How do I open the cell?" he asked. The guard winced, but didn't answer. The intruder crushed his hand tighter around his throat. "I won't ask again," he warned.
"M-My key," the guard managed to say. The intruder glanced down at the guard and reached over, removing the keys from him.
"Thank you for your help," the intruder said and smashed the guard's face into the wall, letting him drop to the ground. He walked confidentally across the hallway and unlocked the cell, opening it up to look in at a human male in a business suit, who appeared to be in his late twenties. "Are you the president?" he asked the man.
"I am," President McCabe responded, getting to his feet and staring at the reploid. "Who are you?"
"Wiendigo. Slasher sends his regards," the reploid answered. "If you don't have anything to pack, lets go."
"Certainly," McCabe said, stepping past Wiendigo into the hallway. "Just lead the way and we can get out of here."
Wiendigo grabbed the two reploids and slid them into the cell, then closed it back up and locked it. "Follow quickly," he warned McCabe, then began to move down the hallway. Stepping past the smashed door, Wiendigo glanced around the hallway and began to march down it at a steady pace.
After they had traveled some distance, moving back through the science lab on their way to the main hallway and from there the hanger, they were finally ambushed by a squad of Death Star's reploids. "Stay back," Wiendigo ordered, shoving McCabe behind some science equipment. He eyed the reploids, then pulled out his katana. "Bring it."
The reploids opened fire, choosing the safest tactic by staying away from Wiendigo. Spinning the katana, Wiendigo deflected some of the shots, then jumped over onto a table. Grabbing a vial of some liquid, he tossed it into the pile of reploids, letting it splash on their faces.
They responded by fiing at him, forcing Wiendigo to jump off the table. Kicking the table up, he used it as a shield, pushing against it and running toward the reploids - smashing the table straight into the group of them. They fired into the table as they were knocked back, tearing right through it - but having already been prepared for it, Wiendigo stabbed at them through the holes in the table.
With the table being useless, Wiendigo knocked it aside and dropped low, cutting out with katana to take out a few of their legs. One of the reploids shot him in the back, causing him to wince. He returned the favor with punch through the reploid's head, then used the body to throw into some of his friends.
The remaining reploids began to retreat back, realizing that Wiendigo was no ordinary reploid. One of them grabbed a grenade, tossing it at Wiendigo, then they all dived out of the science lab. Stepping forward, he grabbed the grenade out of the air and threw it back at the reploids. As he stood there, the explosion blew the reploids to bits.
"It's clear," he said outloud, glancing in the direction where McCabe was hiding.
McCabe moved out from behind the science equipment, glancing around the room. "You're effective...Wiendigo," he stated blandly.
"This was just a warm-up," Wiendigo told him. "I can cause some real damage if I set my mind to it."
McCabe looked him over. "I can imagine," he agreed.
The two of them began to exit the science labs when they ran into two reploids. McCabe stepped back, preparing for another fight, but Wiendigo just looked both of them with an annoyed look. "Where have you been?" he asked them.
The reploid rat swished his tail. "What? No hi? Are we below that now?" he asked.
"Move it," Wiendigo said. The four of them began to move through the hallway and back into the hanger where all the reploid bodies were still laying from Wiendigo's first encounter with them.
"Have a party here, boss-man?" Ratshoot asked.
"I was the life of it," Wiendigo said, waving them in the direction of the exit. "This tunnel leads to an emergency exit. You two get him out of here," he told Ratshoot and Roadkill, thumbing back at McCabe. "And work your way six miles to the east."
The two reploids nodded, then began to lead McCabe into the tunnel. McCabe turned once to look at Wiendigo already heading back the way they went, then turned to follow them through the tunnel.
Once the three of them reached the ladder, Roadkill climbed up first, with Ratshoot riding on his shoulder, making sure it was clear. Then McCabe climbed up after them. "Well, at least that's over," McCabe muttered.
"Right. Okay," Ratshoot said, glancing around. "Which way is east?" he asked.
"Duh ..." Roadkill paused, then pointed straight up. "That way?"
"You idiot," Ratshoot told him, slapping his tail against Roadkills face. "That's north."
McCabe sighed. "It's this way..." he told them, walking eastward.
Cole stood there, eyeing Death Star warily. "If I have to fight," he answered.
Death Star grinned, his one eye shining with excitement. "You do. I'm not letting you pass to get McCabe."
Cole shrugged. "Then I guess we fight."
"Think you can take me?" Death Star asked.
"We'll see," Cole said. Death Star rushed forward and threw a punch straight into Cole's face, sending him stumbling back. As he stepped up to punch again at Cole's head, Cole quickly kicked him in the stomach, sending him falling back on the catwalk. Running forward, Cole kicked him in the face hard enough to drop him. Hoping to get another hit in, Cole reared back to kick him again when Death Star reached up and grabbed his leg, throwing him back onto the catwalk ground.
Both of them stood up, eyeing the other, then rushed forward. Cole punched Death Star in the face, only to have a return punch to the stomach. Then Death Star punched him hard in the right cheek, only to have Cole punch him back in the right temple. They stepped back, then rushed forward, both of them punching outward at the other - and Cole hit Death Star before he could be hit. This sent Death Star sliding back, but as Cole rushed forward to take advantage of the situation, Death Star ducked low under Cole's punched and gave him two quick punches into the armor.
Cole cupped his hands together and slammed them down on Death Star's back, cracking his armor slightly and sending Death Star hitting the catwalk floor again. He then tried to step on him, but Death Star rolled back, got to his feet, and kicked out, nailing Cole in the head and send him him falling backwards.
Recovering his balance, Cole didn't fall down and ducked a wild punch from Death Star, returning a punch to his stomach. Wincing, Death Star kneed Cole in the face, sending him stumbling back, then punched him across the face, slamming him into the metal railing of the catwalk. Cole pushed himself up and swung at Death Star's head, but the reploid ducked low to avoid it - then punched back at Cole, who grabbed his fist and punched him in the face. Death Star slammed his fist into Cole's throat, forcing him to let go of his other hand, then punched him again in the nose.
Cole slid back, then ran forward and punched Death Star in the face once ... then twice ... then a third time. Falling to one knee, Death Star coughed up some battery fluid as a fourth punch hit him in the head and sent him reeling backwards to the ground. Using one hand to hold onto the railing of the catwalk, Death Star looked back up at Cole. "You're strong ... maybe stronger than me," he said. Ripping some of the metal railing clear from the catwalk, he stood up and slammed it straight into Cole's face, knocking him straight up into the air and watching him land back on the catwalk. "But it won't do you any good."
Stepping forward, Death Star raised the railing and slammed it down against Cole's head again. Then as he reared back to it again, Cole kicked up at his chest and knocked him back. Standing up, Cole eyed Death Star, who was twirling the rail in his hand. Swinging the rail at Cole's head, Death Star missed when Cole ducked low and punched him in the chin, tilting his head back with a snap. Cole then quickly shoved Death Star away from him, getting some distance between the two of them.
Death Star quickly rushed forward again, swinging the railing into Cole's side, causing the other reploid to fall over a little. He raised it back and hit Cole clear across the face, knocking fluid out of his mouth and bashing the side of his jaw up. Reaching down to grab Cole, he lifted him up and then slammed him down into the catwalk face first.
Cole then kicked out Death Star's feet from underneath him, letting the other reploid hit the catwalk hard. He jumped to his feet and activated his plasma weapons, aiming them at Death Star and firing, hitting him clear in the chest and sliding him across the catwalk. Laying there with smoke rising from his armor, Death Star winced in pain.
He's not as strong as Ariel ... but he's doing a number on me... Death Star thought as he stood up. Yet...I feel like I'm getting stronger the longer I fight... Clenching his fist, he saw a fate glow. ... yes ... that's why. I have to hurry up and end this before it's too late.
Cole fired his mini-guns at Death Star, forcing the other reploid to grab the side of the catwalk and jump off, swinging out of sight. Confused, Cole walked gingerly across the catwalk, looking over the side for him. Death Star then swung up behind Cole, perching on the side of the railing and fired his blaster straight into Cole's back, knocking him off the catwalk and onto a broken assembly line below.
As Cole impacted against the belt, he looked up as Death Star dived off the catwalk, coming down and landing on him with all his weight. Cole's armor cracked a little underneath him, causing Cole to cough up battery fluid and cry out in pain. He raised his plasma gun and hit Death Star at point blank range, knocking him off of him and sending him flying into an assembly machine.
Standing up, Cole ran down the belt toward Death Star, firing with his mini-gun at Death Star, nailing him over and over. Death Star's armor began to crack and break under the rapid bullets and a few hit his face, causing battery fluid to leak out. He grabbed the side of the machine and flipped himself over, firing right at Cole's arm and hitting the gun. The gun blew up on Cole, knocking him back on the belt and onto the floor. Laying on the ground. Cole winced as he held his arm in pain, then glanced around to try to find Death Star.
After nothing happened, Cole got to his feet, trying to find where Death Star went when suddenly a blast hit him in the back, slamming him against the belt. Turning around, he saw Death Star running behind some equipment, trying to keep it between the two of them. As Cole rushed along the side, switching over to his plasma weapon, he spotted Death Star once more. Both of them took aim and fired their shots - but Death Star more easily moved behind the machine while Cole was stuck in the open. The shot hit Cole in the chest, knocking him back.
As soon as Cole recovered, he saw another shot coming in at him, so he jumped over and ducked behind some pressing machines. Taking a deep breath, Cole listened and waited for a sign of Death Star. It happened rather quickly - from above. Death Star jumped on top of the pressing machine and fired down at Cole, hitting him in the shoulder. Cole rolled to the side and fired back at Death Star, hitting him in the shoulder and knocking him off the machine. As Death Star hit the floor, Cole fired another shot at him, but the reploid rolled and was only hit in the arm.
Death Star run around the pressing machine, coming up behind Cole and firing at his back. Twisting around, Cole knocked the blast aside with his hand, wincing in pain from the damage. He aimed at Death Star and fired, nailing him straight in the stomach and sending him flying back into some crates. Smashing into the crates, Death Star laid their dazed for a second, but then raised his blaster and fired at Cole right as Cole was firing at him. Their shots passed each other, Death Star's smashing into the plasma gun and damaging it - the impact knocking Cole backwards, while Cole's shot hit Death Star in the blaster, causing it to flicker from damage.
Both of them eyed each other for a moment, then Death Star let his blaster morph back into his regular hand. He rushed forward even as Cole was moving forward and they both punched each other in the faces, causing them to knock each other back a few steps. Recovering first, Cole rushed forward and hit upward into Death Star's face, knocking him up and against a support pillar. He then turned and kicked outward as Death Star was sliding down, hitting him right in the chest and knocking him further against the pillar.
Taking deep breaths and having battery fluid run out of his mouth, Death Star eyes Cole. "Your fighting style is familiar..." he managed to say.
"Snipe taught me everything I know," Cole told him.
"Damn," Death Star responded, then punched Cole in the face once, then hit him again on the the side of the face, sending him stumbling back the other way.
He's...hitting harder and harder ... why?!!?!? Cole thought to himself as he ducked Death Star's next swing, kicking upward into his chin and knocking his opponent backwards. The two of them stood there again, needing another break as they both panted and tried to recover.
Death Star grabbed the DS sabre finally and activated it. "Alright. It's time for my form of combat," he said.
Cole brought out his katar. "Fine by me," he said with a bloodied grin.
Swinging down at Cole, Death Star was parried by Cole's katar. Stepping back, Death Star swung again, testing his defenses as Cole parried once more, but then he moved quickly to the side and jabbed forward, stabbed Cole through the left side of the chest. Cole grabbed Death Star's hand before he could drive it in further and ripped the sabre out by shoving Death Star away.
Death Star moved backwards, then kicked off the support pillar and landed behind Cole, slashing backwards and cutting him along the back. Falling forward, Cole whipped around, trying to hit Death Star again, but his sabre was already in place, blocking the attack. He kicked Cole in the face, then swung again, cutting him deep into the arm - not enough to remove it, but leaving his left arm completely inoperable.
"You don't seem to understand, Cole," Death Star began as he walked around him. "Sword fighting is my speciality. You can't beat me." He slashed again, cutting Cole's cheek open and letting battery fluid flow down it.
"I can...try...," Cole said, swining out at Death Star. Stepping back, Death Star parried the attack and moved to the side, slashing in an arc for Cole's face. Cole ducked the attack as he stumbled backwards. Moving forward, Death Star brought his sabre down at Cole's head again, but Cole quickly dived to the side and rolled away.
Death Star rushed forward, slashing out at Cole, but Cole ducked it and slashed back at Death Star, cutting him along the armor and damaging it. Spinning away, Death Star held the sabre between him and Cole as they both circled each other. Cole moved forward, trying to stab Death Star through the gut, but he parried Cole's katar downward, then brought his sabre around to cut Cole along the side of the neck. Stumbling backwards, Cole grabbed his throat as he stood there, trying to maintain his balance.
"You know, Cole ... you've lost so much since this war began," Death Star told him as he walked toward. "It doesn't have to end like this."
Cole stood there, eyeing him suspiciously. "Oh yeah?" he asked.
Death Star spread his arms. "Just leave," he offered. "I don't want to kill you."
Cole straightned up, removing his hand from his neck, letting the battery fluid run down it. "No."
"No?" Death Star repeated. He sighed. "Alright. I'll end this quickly." Death Star stepped forward several times, slashing outward at Cole, who ducked, then punched his fist into Death Star's gut, turned and slammed it upward into his chin, knocking him up and away. As Death Star hit the floor, he rolled over to look at Cole.
Rushing forward, Cole deactivated the katar and kicked Death Star in the face once, then kicked him again, then kicked for a third time when his hand caught the foot. Death Star grimaced, then brought his elbow down on the extended leg, cracking and smashing the wires inside it. He then shoved Cole backwards against the support pillar.
Death Star rushed forward with his sabre extended, preparing to stab it through Cole when a hand appeared out of the shadows and stopped him. "Enough," came Wiendigo's face as he stepped out of the shadows.
Staring at him, Death Star shook his hand free. "I agree," he told him. He held the sabre in Wiendigo's direction.
Wiendigo glanced at Cole. "Go get Katrina and get out of here. We're done," he told him.
Cole coughed on some battery fluid. "What about you?" he asked Wiendigo. "You'll need help defeating him.
"I'll be along shortly. Now go," Wiendigo ordered him. Cole nodded, limping off toward the catwalk stairs.
Death Star stood there calmly, not moving to stop Cole from leaving. "So you rescued the President already? It took you longer than I expected."
"Somehow I'm not surprised that you expected it," Wiendigo told him.
"That you would be the one to do it? That wasn't hard to expect. Pretending to be decoy while you were really the real threat? Original, I must say," Death Star said.
"I'd thank you if I cared about your opinion," Wiendigo returned.
"Well, I guess there's nothing more to be said. You have to distract me long enough for them to get out, so lets begin the fight," Death Star said.
"Good. Talking with you gets boring," Wiendigo responded.
"Do I want to what?" Ariel returned.
"You know ..." Wind said, trailing off.
"Have kids?" Ariel guessed.
"Yes. Do you want to have kids?" Wind asked, rubbing the side of his face.
"Maybe one day," Ariel said, giving him a faint smile. "Definitely one day. But right now we have a lot to work through."
"Yes we do," Wind agreed.
"Do you ... want kids?" Ariel asked him.
Wind sighed. "I think I do. I love Kat dearly, but I wasn't there for a lot of her growing up years. I want to be a grandfather and a father. And I want to be your husband. I want it all."
"Grandfather? You expect Kat to get pregnant soon?" Ariel teased.
"I can hope," Wind said. Slasher came walking by with a cup of coffee and sat down next to them. "You look exhausted Slasher. When's the last time you slept?"
"A few days I think," Slasher responsed off-handedly, sipping his coffee. "Did you know X1 actually had a sandwich inside his body?"
"A sandwich?" Wind repeated. "I always thought he was joking when he said he dropped that inside himself."
Slasher shook his head. "I can't find a connection between any of you that would explain a presence of a soul or how life was given," he said. "You're all radically different."
"Even Wiendigo and X1 are different? They're both reploids," Ariel said.
"Yes, they are. But X1 is lacking several key components that make up a reploid. In fact, he's missing half the material and has several unnecessary materials in him," Slasher told her.
"Such as sandwiches," Wind interjected.
"I think it's ham. But so far, nothing. I'm stumped," Slasher said.
"So you're giving up?" Wind asked.
"Never!" Slasher told him. "I'm absolutely loving this mystery!" He got up and walked off while whistling.
"He's a weird one," Ariel commented.
"Tell me about it," Wind muttered.
X1 popped up from behind Wind. "Well, chief, it all began when Slasher first learned..."
The next reploid fired his weapon at Cole. Forced to jump back, Cole avoided the shot, then activated his katar and slashed outward, cutting into the reploid and using the force of the swing to send him off the catwalk next. He then ran forward and kicked outward at the next reploid before he could set up his attack, sending him crashing backwards into the other two.
The three reploids recovered and charged Cole all at once. Cole rushed forward and kicked the lead reploid into the other two, then grabbed one as they were stumbling and tossed them off the catwalk. The other two got to their feet and tried to punch Cole in the face. Ducking their punches, he slammed his fist into one's face, then grabbed him and slammed him into the next guy, sending them both off the catwalk.
Stumbling into the training area, Cole walked down the steps and saw Blue standing there. "Blue..." he mumbled as he finished walking down the steps. "You're okay."
Blue smiled, looking at Cole. "You look like hell, Cole. Did you take a beating?" she asked him.
"Death Star..." Cole said, looking around warily. "Where's Katrina?" he asked her.
Blue walked up, putting a finger to his lips. "Forget about her, Cole. Lets talk about us," she told him. "Do you really love me?"
"Yes..." Cole responded. "I do."
Blue wrapped her arms around him. "Good... That's good... Then join us, please. I don't want to be enemies, Cole. If you love me .... quit," she asked.
Cole's eyes scanned the room as he listened, spotting a figure in the corner. He looked down at Blue, then grabbed her arms and pushed her away at arm's length. "What did you do?" he asked her frantically, running over to the body.
Katrina laid there, her mouth open with some blood running out of the corner of mouth. Her stomach had been slashed open and blood was pouring out of it at an alarming rate. Her chest was moving up and down rapidly and her eyes focused on him. She tried to mouth something to him.
"Oh my God... Kat..." Cole said, turning back to Blue. "What did you do?" he asked her.
Blue crossed her arms, scowling a little as he looked at Cole standing over Kat. "I stabbed her in the gut. Even in the end she kept talking about how you loved me and that I should join your side. She didn't say that anymore when I stabbed her in the gut."
"... did...you do this while...fighting?" Cole asked, looking back at Kat, then at Blue.
"No. The fight had ended. Does that surprise you?" Blue countered, raising her eyebrow. "I stabbed her after the fight had ended and she gave her hand of friendship to me. This bitch used you and threw you away. And look at her now ... fawning over you. If you really love me, then stop protecting the humans. Stop protecting her!"
Cole began to shake as he closed his eyes. "I.. can't believe this ... I..." he struggled to say. He reached over and picked Katrina up in his arms, who gasped in pain and winced.
"She's going to die anyway. I know where to aim. She's going to bleed to death in your arms," Blue informed him nastily.
Cole turned to look at Blue. "This can't be you, Blue ..."
"It is. I hate humans. Face it," Blue said to him. "They used us and then threw us away."
"Not all humans are bad, Blue. I hope you understand that one day. And you better pray Katrina lives," Cole told her coldly. He then quickly ran past her and out of the room, leaving her standing behind in the training room.
"You were always a pathetic fighter, Star," Wiendigo snarled.
Death Star growled and punched Wiendigo straight in the face, shattering the glasses and knocking him off. He flipped to his feet and kicked Wiendigo back a few feet, rushing forward at him. Wiendigo reached out and grabbed Death Star, using his momentum to twirl around and throw him into some equipment.
Smashing through the equipment like a speeding bullet, Death Star went completely through it and then hit the floor, sliding along until he hit the belt. As he got to his feet, Wiendigo rose from the shadows in front of him and punched Death Star backwards on top of the belt.
Leaping onto the belt, Wiendigo brandished his katana and stabbed downwards at Death Star, who rolled to the side and brought out his sabre. The two locked blades as they struggled against each other. Suddenly the conveyer built shook and began to move, causing both of them to look around in confusion. Across the room Blue watched them, her hand on the lever.
Grinning, Death Star took the brief moment's confusion to shove forward, knocking Wiendigo onto the belt as it moved them along toward one of the machines. He grabbed his sabre and stabbed down at Wiendigo, but his opponent grabbed his arm, stopping the sabre inches from his face.
Struggling against each other, Wiendigo planted a boot against Death Star and flipped him over himself and onto the belt behind him. Getting to his feet, Wiendigo whirled the katana around and tried to impale Death Star with it, who rolled away and got back. Both of them were being moved along the belt and getting closer to one of the pressing machines.
Death Star stepped forward and slashed, connecting blades with Wiendigo as both of them struggled against each other. Wiendigo used his free hand and punched Death Star in the face, who then returned the favor by kicking Wiendigo in the stomach and knocking him back closer to the pressing machine.
Rushing forward, his strength increasing and his anger rising, Death Star smashed into Wiendigo, knocking him flat down on the belt. Resting on top of Wiendigo, he began to smash his fist into Wiendigo's face over and over. Suddenly Wiendigo pressed his hand against Death Star's face and unleashed an energy blast, knocking him up and off the belt. Glancing behind him, Wiendigo saw he was about to pressed, so he rolled off the belt next.
Strange laughter filled the room and suddenly Death Star jumped on him from behind, knocking them both to the floor. Wrapping his hands around Wiendigo's throat, Death Star began to choke him, a strange grin on his face as his eyes flared purple. "I'llkillyouI'llkillyou," he muttered.
Wiendigo growled and brought both of his hands smashing against both of Death Star's ears, causing him to howl and pain. Stumbling backwards, Death Star shook his head as the purple aura faded. "... damn ... it ... too much damage taken...losing ... focus..." he muttered.
Studying him, Wiendigo's eyes narrowed. "You're infected!" he said, stepping backwards.
Death Star straightned up and looked at Wiendigo, then spit some battery fluid to the floor. "Yes I am. But I can control it just like enough to beat you!" he shouted, rushing at Wiendigo. He stopped short of Wiendigo's reach and grabbed the rail he had from the catwalk earlier, which had fallen to the floor. Taking it he smashed it into Wiendigo's face, then twirled around to hit him again when Wiendigo grabbed the pipe and ripped it from him. Wiendigo then stepped forward and smashed it into Death Star, knocking him across the room into a wall.
"You need to stop now, Death Star," Wiendigo said as he walked forward. "And get treated."
Death Star stood up, panting as he eyed Wiendigo. "There is no cure for this. You know it. The only time someone managed to do it, they were under the control of Sigma in the end. And every time someone says they have a cure, it just comes back even stronger than before."
"How?" Wiendigo asked.
Death Star rushed forward and punched Wiendigo in the face, sending him flying back into a belt. He rushed forward and picked up Wiendigo, tossing him into the air. "The only way you can get it! He infected me when he threw me into hyperspace!"
Wiendigo twisted in the air and landed gracefully on the ground. "Then you're a real Maverick."
"Not yet. Not nearly yet. I can control the virus," Death Star informed him as he walked up. He uppercutted Wiendigo, sending him flying back some. "I can control the maverick virus in me!"
Recovering, Wiendigo rushed forward and stabbed Death Star in the shoulder. "You're a deluded moron. You'll be overtaken sooner or later!" he snarled, shoving him against the wall, pinning him with his katana.
Leaning forward so he was a few inches from Wiendigo, Death Star grinned. "Says you of all people," he grinned. "'Adam'." He headbutted Wiendigo, then ripped the katana out of his shoulder while he stumbled back. He tossed the katana away onto the conveyer belt, then rushed forward and punched Wiendigo in the chest.
Wiendigo slapped Death Star hard, sending him stumbling back. He then leapd over to the belt and retrieved his katana. Turning around, he melted into the shadows. Standing there alone, Death Star stepped forward, trying to locate where Wiendigo was at. Suddenly, Wiendigo appeared to the left and slashed Death Star across the chest, then melted back into the shadows.
Twisting around, Death Star was again stabbed by Wiendigo - this time in the leg. Wincing, Death Star fell down. "Damn...you..." he muttered. Wiendigo twisted the katana, ripped it out, then punched Death Star back through the air as he melted into the shadows. Appearing behind Death Star, Wiendigo held out the katana and let Death Star get impaled in the back.
"You never were good enough," Wiendigo whispered in his ear. Death Star growled, his eye flaring purple, and he rammed his head back into Wiendigo, then kicked off and slid off the katana, landing on the floor.
Wiendigo melted into the shadows and then appeared behind Death Star, wrapping him in a bear hug and squeezing him tightly, letting battery fluid leak out of the wounds. Growling, Wiendigo tilted backwards and smashed Death Star into the floor behind him. Rolling away from Death Star, Wiendigo stood up only to have a powerful energy blast hit him in the chest - sending him smashing through a support pillar and onto the floor.
Death Star lowered his hand. "I'm not out yet." He teleported in front of Wiendigo and blasted him again the chest, sending him smashing further into the floor. "NOT DONE YET!" he shouted, blasting Wiendigo further into the ground. "NOT DONE YET!!!!" he raged, the purple aura surrounding him.
Suddenly Wiendigo's katana came flying up out of the hole and slammed through Death Star's hand. Wiendigo jumped out of the hole, reached out, and ripped the katana out of his hand, letting battery fluid splatter everywhere. He stood there, eyeing Death Star, then wiped some of his own battery fluid from his own lips. "You're beyond done."
Death Star jumped at Wiendigo, bringing his sabre to bare on him as he slashed downward. Wiendigo stabbed back and parried the blade, pushing against him. The two stood there, locking their sabres together as they tried to get the upperhand. "You're stronger than me..." Death Star noted.
"I always ways. You just now noticed," Wiendigo said.
Suddenly, Death Star's strength jumped up more as the virus began to take further root in him. He shoved Wiendigo back, then punched him into the wall. "Not now. Not ever," Death Star told him.
Wiendigo straightened up as he leaned against the wall. "The real Death Star would never kill little children. You're nothing compared to him," Wiendigo said.
Death Star paused, his strength fading as he fought the virus' control. "The children...?" he asked. "What..are you talking about?"
Wiendigo sneered. "I saw their bodies. Hacked to bits."
Caught off guard, Death Star didn't even see Wiendigo's fist flying at his face until it was too late, sending him flying backwards into the conveyer belt. Smashing through it and leaving a gaping hole, Death Star came to a stop as he pushed himself up. "You bastard!" he shouted, letting his energy increase again.
Wiendigo paused, then put up the katana. "I'm done here," he told Death Star, then melted into the shadows.
Death Star rushed forward, his eye flaring purple. "I'LL GET YOU, WIENDIGO! I'LL GET YOU!!!!!"
Cole climbed out of the emergency hatch, cradling Katrina in his arms. She coughed up some blood and her body was getting cool. Her breathing was no longer rapid - it was slowing dangerously down now.
"Hang in there, Kat..." Cole whispered to her. "Please, hang in there."
Katrina strained to lift her head to Cole's face. He leaned his head down so that his ear was only a few spaces away from her mouth. "I'm..sorry...Cole.." she apologized, then fell back and winced more.
"Don't be sorry, Katrina. I'm going to get you help," Cole said and started to teleport when a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't. They'll trace you and then kill you both," Wiendigo said from behind him.
"But if we don't hurry, she'll die!" Cole told him.
"Give her to me. I'll use my shadow porting to get to town faster. You go to the car and drive Ratshoot and Roadkill back," Wiendigo ordered.
Cole hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But I'm going to speed all the way," he said, then ran in the direction of the car.
Wiendigo glanced down at Katrina, his eyes studying her as she was dying. He then melted into the shadows with her.
Blue stood there. "Death Star..." she began, stepping forward to reach out to him.
Knocking her hand away from him, Death Star eyed her. "STAY.. away...fROm..me...you'LL..bE.. INfecTed..." he strained to say, closing his eye. "It...HUR..ts...hahaha....HAHa..."
"Fight it!" Blue shouted at him. "It's trying to take over your mind! DON'T LET IT. We need you to lead us!"
Death Star grabbed his head and screamed in pain, then fell over, shaking. He then twitched and stood up, bringing his hands smashing down on the table and breaking it in half. His strength was unnatural.
He began to take deep breaths, then screamed again, felling to one knee. The purple aura began to fade away and then it completely vanished. He continued to pant as he kneeled there.
"Is it... over?" Blue asked him.
Death Star glanced at her, his eye back to normal. "Yes ... I beat it's influence..." he told her.
"So you got rid of the maverick virus?" Blue questioned.
"No. I used my willpower to seal it away in me. It'll stay sealed for now as long as I can keep focused on it," Death Star told her, standing up. He wobbled some, leaning against the wall.
"Amazing," Blue whispered. "You managed to beat it."
Death Star looked over at her. "Did you kill those children?" he asked, his voice harsh.
Blue stiffened. "What?"
"Those kids! Did you KILL them?" he shouted at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Blue yelled back.
Death Star stepped forward and pushed her against the wall. "I think you did. I think you killed them just like you killed Ariel's daughter just now."
"You saw that?" Blue asked.
"Of course I know! This place has cameras!" Death Star yelled.
"... You're the one who says he's going to kill every human!" Blue shouted, stepping up to Death Star. "You have the Ragnorak to do it! Isn't that your goal, Death Star?"
He paused, then stepped back. "Of course...." he muttered. He flexed his hand. "Get our army ready. Get everyone here. We're about to fight our last battle now that they have McCabe back."
"You planned on letting them get McCabe back?" Blue asked. Death Star only smiled.
Wind made a face. "You look like you're begging to be caught and arrested, Slasher," he told him.
X1 titled his head. "I kind of think he wants to go the beach," he said.
"A lake, actually," Cheryl told him.
"He lives in a lake?" X1 asked.
Wind shook his head and looked back at Slasher. "Are you sure you want to go back to your house for equipment? This could be dangerous..." he told him.
"I know. But I really need to pick up a few things before I continue my research. I'll be fine," Slasher assured him.
"I doubt it. I want Terra and Strife to go with you," Wind said.
"Really, I can---" Slasher began when Wind held up a hand.
"You take them or you take X1 with you," Wind told him firmly.
"Terra and Strife will do fine," Slasher muttered. "You coming, Cheryl?" he asked her.
"I might as well. I'm bored enough," Cheryl said.
X1 held up a cup of coffee to Terra. "Want some? I made it!" he said proudly.
"Thanks," Terra said, reaching for the coffee when Strife knocked it out of her hand. "Hey!" she exclaimed, turning to look at Strife.
"Clumsy hands," Strife said apologetically.
"That's okay," X1 told them, pulling out another cup. "I have more!" Strife reached out and knocked that one to the floor. "Hey!" X1 exclaimed.
"Really clumsy hands," Strife said to him.
"Time for a road trip," Slasher called out. He opened the wall and stepped out into the sewers with Cheryl. Strife and Terra quickly hurried over to join him.
"Becareful," Ariel told them.
"I'll keep them out of trouble, 'sis," Cheryl said with a wink. The wall closed back down between the two of them.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Ariel said under her breath.
Gravedigger walked over to them. "Don't you think we should have heard from Wiendigo and the others by now?" he asked them.
Wind leaned back in his seat. "I'm sure they're fine. And it would be dangerous to try to make contact with them if they are in the base."
"I know that," Gravedigger told him. "I just have a bad feeling, that's all."
Suddenly Wiendigo appeared out of the shadows, falling to one knee. In his arms was Katrina, who was dangling almost lifelessly from them. Blood splattered on the white floor with an eerie sound effect attached to it. Everyone stared in horror for a second before the picture sunk in.
Ariel rushed over and grabbed Katrina from Wiendigo. "Katrina!" she shouted, staring at her. She immediately tried to apply her holy healing tot he wound. "Oh God, Wind, this is bad..." she whispered.
Wind rolled over to Katrina. "Katrina? Can you hear me? Katrina?" he asked her, then turned to the bruised Wiendigo. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure yet," Wiendigo said. "But she passed out on the way here."
Wind turned his chair around to look at Gravedigger. "Go get X2!" he shouted. Gravedigger nodded and hurried off into the back of the lab.
Ariel ran her hand along Katrina's face. "She's so cold, Wind," she told him.
Wind rolled back around to look at her. "She's still breathing. We have a chance to save her still," he assured Ariel.
Wiendigo leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. "I had to shadow port here all the way here. It took a lot out of my systems," he told him.
"You rest for now. You can tell me what happened afterwards," Wind told him. By that time X2 has come rushing in. "Thank God, X2. We need you to help her."
X2 kneeled down beside him, glancing at X1. "Dad, go get me some bandages," X2 told him, then turned back to look at Katrina. He studied this wound, his face looking a little pale. "We need to get her to the back on a table."
"Will she be okay?" Wind asked him.
"You have to let me work on her for now," X2 told him. "Just give me some time," he said. He then picked up Katrina from Ariel and hurried off to the back room.
Wind sucked in his breath and let it out, wrapping his arms around Ariel, who buried her face in his shoulder. "It'll be alright," he told her, running his hand through her hair.
"When they find out what happened," McCabe spoke finally as they drove along, "you will never be forgiven."
Cole looked at McCabe. "Stay out of this," he told him.
McCabe gave a faint smile. "Look at you, Cole. You jump from one situation to the next without thinking about the consequences. You wear your heart on your sleeve for the world to see."
"And that's bad?" Cole asked sarcastically.
"Yes," McCabe said gravely. "Because you're manipulated easily and you make the wrong choices. You do what you think is right, but it ends up blowing up in your face. And when they see what happened to Katrina, do you think they're going to take it lightly? It's going to be you against them again."
"Why?" Cole whispered.
"Because they're going to kill Blue. They will tear your girlfriend up when they can. And of course, you're not going to let that happen, are you?" he asked Cole. When Cole said nothing, McCabe went on anyway. "Of course you will. You'll fight to protect her and then what? You'll be alone."
"I'm always alone," Cole told him.
McCabe nodded at the highway. "You see this highway? How your headlights shine on it?" he pointed out. "That's you. You're this little light in the darkness. You can't see ahead and you can't see behind you. And when you reach the end of the line, you aren't going to be able to stop in time. You don't even know where your road leads." McCabe finally turned to look at him. "And in the end, you'll go down it all by yourself. Because no one is ever going to be there for you in the end."
Cole glared at him. "I can live with that," he told him coldly.
McCabe glanced at him for a moment, then turned to look back out the window. "You might want to hurry. The night's still young and Katrina might not make it through it."
"Why do you care about Katrina?" Cole asked him.
"Because she's the only one who thinks with her head and heart," McCabe told him. "I watched that girl grow up when I worked under Slasher when he was president. She might wear her heart on her sleeve, but she's smart enough to keep it from being hurt."
McCabe glanced at Cole. "Until you, maybe," he added.
He walked over to them, sitting down. He reached into his coat pocket and tossed Wind a bottle. Catching the bottle on reflex, Wind glanced down at it. "What is this?" he asked slowly.
"Implants that Death Star has been taking. It's to surpress a virus," Wiendigo told him.
"A virus?" Wind repeated, looking down at the vial.
"The Maverick Virus. Death Star is infected with the virus," Wiendigo informed him.<
Wind sucked in his breath. "Well, he's infected. I think that explains his behavior then..." he said.
"I don't think so. I think he's actually holding off the effects of the virus," Wiendigo corrected him. "But I can't say for how long. I think he's losing."
"If he loses to the virus, then we could have an army of real life Mavericks on our hands," Wind muttered.
"Exactly. We need to make a cure to the virus now," Wiendigo said. "And defeat it before it spreads to the other reploids."
"But how? The last time I heard of a cure it was from Dr. Doppler and that was just a false plan by Sigma to lure us into a trap," Wind said. "There is no cure to the Maverick Virus."
Wiendigo shook his head and leaned forward. "I use to have the cure in me, back when Dr. Phaeton created me."
Wind stared at him. "You had the cure?" he repeated.
"Yes. Or so I was told. I didn't know how it worked. Or if it worked," Wiendigo said, leaning back. "If only we could somehow find my old plans, we could possibly figure out a cure to the Maverick Virus."
"Why not just look at you?" Wind asked.
"This isn't my old body. It was destroy a few yeas ago," Wiendigo told him.
"Actuuuuually," X1 said as he popped up from behind Wiendigo. "I still got parts of you!"
Wind stared at X1. "Why did you keep parts of him?" he asked slowly.
"I was using them as a doorstop and a coffee holder," X1 told him. Wind shook his head and looked away.
Wiendigo stared at X1. "Then we give the parts to Slasher so he can figure out the cure to the virus."
Wind shook his head. "He has enough on his hands trying to solve the soul problem. He wouldn't have time," he said off-handedly, glancing at Ariel, then at the door.
"I'll do it!" X1 volunteered.
"You..." Wiendigo repeated.
"Yes! Me! I'm smarter than all of you combined!" X1 told them. He paused as the microwave exploded across the room. "I guess putting a fork in there was a bad idea."
Wiendigo shook his head. "Fine. I leave it up to you," he said under his breath. "I just hope you don't blow us all up."
X1 clapped his hands together. "Yay!" he said and ran off.
Just then the door began to open and X2 walked into the room. He took off his bloody gloves and tossed them onto Terra's jacket which she had left behind. "I have bad news..." he began, glancing at all fo them.
Just then the door opened and Colephanatus, Ratshoot, Roadkill, and President McCabe walked in. Cole looked around, then saw X2 and Wind. "Is she okay? Is Katrina okay?" he asked them.
X2 bowed his head a little. "Well..."
Ariel stood up. "Just. Tell. Me. Now," she spit out.
"She's alive, but the damage she took was too severe. I don't have the equipment needed to save her here. And even if I did, I couldn't say if she would live or not," X2 told them. "What she needs is a real hospital."
Wind shook his head. "We can't take her to a real hospital. Not with the military and mob out there," he said.
Ariel's eyes flared. "Then we stop them all if they get in our way," she said.
Wind held up his hand to her, then looked at X2. "If we can get the equipment here... is there a chance we can save her?" he asked.
X2 sighed. "There's a slim chance. I wouldn't put faith on it, though."
"Never tell me the odds," Wind said. "Write down whatever you need." He then turned to look at Gravedigger while X2 got a pen. "I want you to get the equipment for us and bring it back here. I know it's dangerous, especially with the city gone mad. But you're the only one who can do it. Wiendigo needs time to recover his energy."
Gravedigger nodded his head. "Count on me," he told Wind.
"I'll help, too," Cole said, stepping up.
Wind glanced at his slashed open cheek, his damaged body, and then shook his head. "You are not leaving here."
"But..." Cole began.
"You are not leaving here!" Wind shouted, slamming his hand down on his wheelchair's armrest. Cole shut up immediately.
X2 handed Gravedigger the list of materials. "This is very precise equipment I need and you have to handle it with extreme care," he told him.
"I understand," Gravedigger told him. He nodded to everyone and then walked out of the room into the sewers.
McCabe stood there, then looked at Wind. "I could go back to the military and try to shut them down from patrolling tonight," he offered.
"You and I need to have a long talk, McCabe, about how to end this war. But first I want X2 to examine you to see if Death Star did anything to you. The last thing we need is a surprise or two. For now, you stay here," Wind told him. He nodded to X2 to take care of McCabe.
"Come on, Mr. President," X2 said, taking ahold of McCabe's arm and leading him out of the room.
The only people left were Wind, Ariel, Cole, Ratshoot, Roadkill, and Wiendigo. Wind tilted his head to look at Wiendigo. "Could you take Roadkill and Ratshoot to the others so they can get some rest?" he asked.
Wiendigo paused, then stood up. "You two - follow me," he said gruffly, walking to where the rooms are. The two followed him quietly.
Wind turned to look at Cole. "Who did it, Cole?" he asked quietly.
Cole shifted, not looking at Wind. "I ... can't say," he told him.
Ariel's eyes flared with anger and she walked up to Cole. "WHO DID IT?" she shouted. "That's my little girl in there bleeding to death. And I want to know who did it!"
Cole jerked back, looking at Ariel, then at Wind. He bowed his head. "Blue did it. After Katrina tried to help her," he told them, closing his eyes.
Wind let out his breath and stared at Cole.
After they were finished, Silouette stepped back. "You need some real experience," she said flatly.
"We're going out?" Michiru asked in excitement.
"Yes." Silouette pointed at Ire's old office. "Go in there and change."
Michiru blinked. "Change into what?" she asked, but Silouette said nothing. Sighing, she walked into the room and found an outfit laying on the desk. There was a black mask to cover her eyes, much like the headband did, a black shirt with a tiny catgon symbol in the right hand corner, and black pants.
Taking off her current clothes, Michiru changed into the outfit and put it all on. She then adjusted the headband onto her face. Stepping out into the rest the offices. "I'm ready," she told Silouette.
"Good."
Standing on a branch above them was a figure in the darkness. He leaned forward and grinned. "Boom," Kio said softly.
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I’m the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a…
My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
‘Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I’m walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What’s fucked up and everything’s alright
Check my vital signs
To know I’m still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a…
My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
‘Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a…
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I’m the only one and I walk a…
My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
‘Til then I walk alone..