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dauntlesstales · 5 years

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=CHAPTER 6A: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The next lead came… abruptly.

And it sent them into panic.]

Call: Doctor Sanda, you have a call on line one.

Mikhail: -Looking over some notes- Can it wait? I need to talk regarding some of Brand and Shadow’s data…

Call: I would not recommend it. The call is from the Pentagon.

[…]

Mikhail: What?

Soi: -Oh sweet mother of God—-

Mikhail: … Miss Call Sanda did you just say the call was from the P E N T A G O N—

Beck: -AUGH NO WHY N O W-

Beck: -oh no what if—what if they're going to try to stop—-

Beck: -I'm the only one that can SAVE THEM WHAT IF—-

Beck: -DAAAAAAAD—-

Soi: -—WILL—-

Soi: -WILL HELP THIS IS BAD-

Mikhail: SOI, DON’T KEEP THEM WAITING—STALL FOR ME, PLEASE—

Mikhail: WILL!

Mikhail: -Exit stage left as if pursued by bear-

Will: —Ah—er—I—I....

[He's just kinda frozen there—]

Mikhail: -Yanks Will aside out of view of any screens before he can enter the room- {We need to talk, Will—}

Will: Waah—!

Soi: -WAIT WHAT DO I EVEN SAY GUYS—-

Call: Patching the call through, Doctor.

[A very stern looking uniformed officer was patched through. Notably, her rank seemed to depict she wasn’t exactly of the rank that normally made these calls.]

???: Dr. Soichiro Sanda, please be aware that the following call is classified. You are not to discuss it with anyone other than Dr. William White. Anyone else must be read in. Do you understand?

Soi: -Err—-

Soi: Y—Yes, yes, I u-understand— (Thanks for leaving me up the creek, fellas—! )

-*-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: -Practically hissing- {Will, we’re leaving. Now.}

Will: What?!

Mikhail: {I can’t stay here.}

Mikhail: {I’m a Russian Doctor with constructed credentials, remember?!}

[…Oh, right. The “favors” Shade had pulled to make them officially “exist” in this world…]

Will: —Erk—!

[He was right—him being here would only raise even MORE questions, and none of them would be of the pleasant sort...]

Mikhail: {I’m taking the others. DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}

[…With that he continued running off to the lab.

Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said “now”…]

Will: —n—nu—

[Oh, dear.]

-*-*-*-

???: Recently, you and your brother released a press statement regarding the current national crisis.

Soi: Y-Yes, that's correct...

Soi: Wh...what of it...?

???: Despite what the CEO of Cherry Dynamics seems to believe—

[She gave no visual indication on her stance on that matter.]

???: No charges will be pressed at this time. I must advise you this does not guarantee whether they will be filed or not in the future.

Soi: ...A-Ah—I see, yes... (Don't we have enough on our plate already...? )

???: Our people have reviewed the data you submitted to the scientific community to show that the infection has been cleared from reacquired Mighty Numbers. Dr. White will be needed for further questioning on this matter.

Soi: (—! Oh no, Will—! )

Soi: R-Right, of course—I'll...let him know.

???: MI6 would also like to interrogate Mighty Number Six regarding a person of interest.

Soi: (—MI6—?! What would they want with Avi—?! )

Soi: Hmm—A...alright...

???: …However, their requests for extradition have been denied.

???: It is to our understanding that Mighty Number Six has been essential in locating other members of his series with all due speed. We also cannot risk any Xel being sent overseas at this time.

???: The main reason for this call will require input from Dr. White, but that clearly will have to wait. There is an equally pressing matter that demands our attention.

Soi: (...Oh dear... )

Soi: Y...Yes...?

???: Your company requested information on the whereabouts of the missing Numbers.

???: Our intelligence suggests that Mighty Number Five has infiltrated federally-owned property.

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Battalion—of course— )

Soi: Federally owned... (...A national park, or...or... )

???: As this is a matter of national security, the coordinates are classified and shall be sent to Mighty Number Nine through a direct, encrypted transmission.

???: Even I am not fully read in on the details, Doctor, but he has been given a time limit to complete the retrieval before we make our own interventions.

Soi: (...Classified—? )

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Wait, that—that doesn't make sense— )

Soi: How—how long does he have—?

???: Six hours, should he choose to accept this mission. Entry and investigation of the area may prove difficult. Should we regain the camera feeds on the property, this time limit will be extended.

Soi: (Six hours... )

Soi: O...Of course, we'll brief him as soon as possible...

???: I’m afraid that cannot be permitted. My superiors cannot wait very long for an answer. He must answer now. You may converse over private channels, but I have been ordered not to end this call without confirmation of his involvement or lack thereof.

Soi: —I—o-one moment—

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beckwehaveasituation—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Did you get any coordinates by any chance—

[MN.9 to DR. SANDA] //: —No, why—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: The Pentagon found out where Bat is—and they're giving you six hours to get him back before they take matters into their own hands...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —?!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beck—they need an answer NOW, I don't know what they'll do if...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: .....

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —If they know where Bat is, Dr. Sanda—of course I'll go--!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: I...I have to save him too...!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Thattaboy—you'll be be getting those coordinates via an encrypted connection.

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: Sorry about that...

Soi: He'll do it.

???: Affirmative. Patching the coordinates now.

[Just then, Beck pinged with a private message from the Pentagon. It entailed the location, as well as a brief threat level assessment and recommended gear. Oh, and they said he could bring others with him if that’s what it took, but anyone chosen would be bound to regard the information as classified… just as he would.]

???: Teleportation using these coordinates will go through encrypted channels. The true coordinates will not be retained by your databases.

???: We will call back later if video feeds are not recovered in three hours.

???: Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.

[… “Evacuated”?!]

Soi: —Wait, what...what do you mean by—? (You can't just—! )

[BLIP.]

Soi: —....

Soi: (...This is...not good at...at all.... )

Call: ...Dr. Sanda, your heart rate has increased...

Soi: I...ho, boy...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: Soi— Mikhail and the others are gone, and—I—I think they took Jack and Kate—

[DR.WHITE] //: -Soi please tell me federal agents aren't going to storm the place—

[MN.9] //: —They're GONE—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: —There's no time—! Will—I'll explain, but Beck—you have to get ready to roll as soon as possible—!

[DR.WHITE] //: —Wait— go where—?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yes, sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: Will— they found Battalion.

[DR.WHITE] //: —!!

[DR.SANDA] //: And they—they said if we can't get him back in six hours—they'll evacuate Beck and—and—

[DR.WHITE] //: —WHAT—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -IT'S NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, WILL—-

[DR.SANDA] //: MI6 wants to talk with Avi, of all people—

[DR.SANDA] //: —A-And—

[DR.SANDA] //: T...The government wants to talk to...you.

[.......]

[Silence.]

[DR.WHITE] //: . . . .

[DR.WHITE] //: M...Me...

[DR.SANDA] //: .......

[.....]

[The rest of their conversation is then carried over in private...]

{Meanwhile}

[Kssss…]

<FMN-006 to MNN-006>: > Yo, Rick—you there?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Yo, Goose—yeah, I'm here...

<FMN-006>: > Whew, good—just wanted to check in, now that things aren’t as crazy over here.

<FMN-006>: >Thanks for taking care of Sis until she was stable! …Though she still looks pretty banged up, and uh… I thought Shads was gonna stay with your little bro for a bit?

<FMN-006>: > No one will tell me what’s going on, kinda lost here…

<FMN-006>: >Is G-moms coming over to visit over there, or??

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh—yeah, no, Shads had to suddenly leave, Doc C called him or something...but Brand's snoozing away right now, so that's good...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: ...?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Where the heck did Stripes go...?

<FMN-006>: > …You mean Tony the Tiger, everyone’s favorite Spiderfriend?

<FMN-006>: > He’s over here with us, I thought you guys knew that?

<FMN-006>: > -Did he somehow get in more trouble while he was asleep or?- -Majorly confused-

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: No, I just—I guess—??

[P I N G!]

[MN.9] //: CRYO WAKE UP--

[MN.2 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.2] //: OW WHAT GIVES--

<FMN-006>: > Yoooooo, Beckster!

<FMN-006>: > Dial is busy with Lil’ Sis, dunno about yours. You need another bath? ;D

<FMN-006>: > Did you get into the powdered sugar again, little dude?

[MN.9] //: NOT NOW AVI--

[MN.6] //: --? Hey, Becko, somethin' the matter?

[MN.9] //: NO TIME--CRYO GET OVER HERE PLEASE--

<FMN-006>: >Yo, yo, Beeeeeeck—you overclock any faster and you’ll start to time travel. o.o;

<FMN-006>: > Breeeaaaaathe a little.

[MN.9] //: I CAN'T—!

[MN.9] //: WE GOTTA SAVE BAT—!

[MN.2] //: —!!

[MN.2] //: —Where is he—?!

<FMN-006>: > …Uh.

<FMN-006>: > (This sounds like it’s not going to end the conversation on a happy note… )

[MN.9] //: -IS DRAGGING SISTER OFF, BYE GUYS--

[MN.2] //: --whOA--

<FMN-006>: > UH.

<FMN-006>: > … -THUMBS UP?- …STAY SAFE?

[MN.6] //: ...That...sounds like trouble.

[MN.6] //: Iiiii better go see what's up...

[A noise like something ran into a wall really hard is heard as a crash over the line.]

[MN.6] //: --???

<FMN-006>: > …That sounded like that hurt, I think that was Twelve—

<FMN-006>: > Sorry, gotta run—

[MN.6] //: Hoooo Kay, uh....talk to ya later—!

<FMN-006 has left the channel.>

[MEANWHILE...]

[Once again, there is chaos within Sanda Labs...]

Pyro: What do you mean, we won't know where he's going—?!

[Will was pacing around the room, the Xel holoscreen depicting a map of the United States glowing softly behind him.]

Will: The coordinates were sent by an encrypted connection—by the government. They want us to retrieve Bat within six hours.

Will: ...Or else.

Pyro: --.....

Cryo: ...Or...or else what?

Will: .....

Will: I'm not sure.

Will: But it involves evacuating Beck from the premises if he doesn't succeed.

Will: ......

Will: ...Which means we must move with all due haste. Beck?

Beck: Just about ready...

[He was going through a standard check of all his available forms...]

[Including...]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[...The form he was most skilled with.]

Beck: (...It feels really good to have this back... )

Beck: (I feel like I'm gonna need it... )

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT]

Beck: OK, all set!

Call: Preparing Xel Transfer: Locking in encrypted coordinates...

Cryo: So the plan is for Becky to see what's over there first before I'm beamed in, right?

Will: Correct—the only clue that we have is that wherever Bat is, it's on federally owned property.

Avi: ...Jeez, no wonder... .... (Poor Speedy... )

Avi: ...Must be something they wanna keep real hush hush if they're going this far.... ....It's not something, like...Area 51, is it?

Will: ....I...I hope not.

Will: Nonetheless, your brother is there—and he needs to come home, government involvement or no.

Will: ...You understand you are on a time limit, Beck.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: I know.

Beck: (Can't waste time... )

Beck: Don't worry...I'll bring Bat back—

Beck: With time to spare!

Dyna: -BZZZ, YOU TWO ZZSTAY ZZSAFE, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE-

Cryo: I'll be right behind ya, bro—go get 'em!

Pyro: ...And Beck?

Pyro: Please don't touch anything if you can help it...

Beck: Got it, Big Bro.

Avi: Good luck, Beckrroni! -THUMBS UP-

Call: Coordinates have been locked in.

Soi: B-Be careful, Beck--Who knows what the virus did to Bat...

Beck: ...I will.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

_______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 5, BATTALION, HAS FLED TO A FEDERALLY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. PURPOSE: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: [REDACTED]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.5 IN SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN GOVERNMENT EXTRACTION AND ENFORCEMENT.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, RESTORE PENTAGON VIDEO FEEDS OF ESTABLISHMENT]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

youtube

[Feet touch down on metal flooring, resounding with a small clack as Nine materializes in a quiet hallway.]

[...It's the silence that gets him at first--there is some gentle, far off humming in the distance...but other then that, nothing.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: ?

[Beck looks to his left, and sees a huge '01' printed on the...armored walls...?]

Beck: ...What...what is this place...?

[His com crackles.]

Soi: ....What...?

Will: Goodness...no wonder the government contacted us...

Soi: This...

Soi: This looks like some...shut down military base...?

Will: But--I thought that nearly all the military bases were re-purposed into museums after the disarmament...?

Will: But this doesn't look like a museum to me...

Soi: Exactly--

Soi: It should be all but EMPTY, inside...but I wouldn't count on it...

Beck: Right....

[...The only sounds were his own footfalls and the faint humming. It...it uneased him, how the silence was...just... there.]

[...Lately, strange silences were beginning to put him off, and he REALLY didn't like that...]

Beck: (...This...this is creepy... )

[PING!]

Beck: AAAH—!

Call: Beck, I am detecting multiple robot signatures ahead. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Jeez, Call, you nearly made my core stop--!

Call: My apologies, Nine.

Beck: ...Ngh, it's fine, I just....don't like how quiet it is in here...

[...It wasn't going to be quiet for long.]

Beck: —!

[Wrrrr....]

Beck: H-Huh...?

[A medium sized mobile construct on tracks was approaching, and from a distance...it kind of looked like a bigger version of a standard trash bot.]

[...Until...]

[BEEP BEEP BEEP--]

[A small alarm on its head started going off--]

[And it's lid opened up...]

Beck: --?!

[...to reveal a mounted machine gun. It was a mobile turret!]

Will: --!!

Beck: Aaah--!

[Beck dashed under it's line of fire to avoid being pelted with bullets, and returned it's fire. The streaks of bright orange struck true, and it soon glowed a dark blue color.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Wrrrrr...]

Beck: M-More—?!

[Sure enough, a WAVE of turret bots were heading this way, in a wall formation. Beck began to fire away at once when he saw them--it seems like they needed a split seconded to identify him as a enemy before they attacked...]

Soi: What the Sam Hill--?!

Soi: Those are CLEARLY military bots--! COMBAT military bots--!

Will: And should have been scrapped as part of the disbarment...

Will: ...Or was that all a government ruse...

Will: Beck, did they tell you this--?

Beck: -BLAM- NO, BUT THEY DID TELL ME TO COME HEAVILY DEFENDED--!

Beck: I-- -BLAM- THINK I CAN SEE WHY!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Will: ...The concept of pointless competition has been outcast.

[Mikhail laughs a little at that.]

Mikhail: Officially, at any rate. I don’t think you can rewrite humanity enough to change the testosterone-driven need to do stupid things to show off to your friends. Will: Heh, well...pointless as in, connected to violence. It's partially why the NBCA was formed, to keep all violence confined to the Colosseum.

Will: Remember when I said the story of our world was connected to the Coloseeum? That's why.

Mikhail: I see… I understand, now.

Will: It...serves as a public outlet.

Mikhail: Like its inspiration.

[He did not exactly seem thrilled at this.]

Mikhail: *Lowers his glasses and looks over the rim* I wonder.

Will: Exactly. -And...wow, look at that, he's smiling!-

Soi: The Battle Coloseeum became the new football, in any rate!

Beck: (Hee.~ )

[Mikhail did not share this outlook.]

Mikhail: *Pushes his glasses back up* I must ask both of you to be very careful.

Mikhail: Rome, too, had glory days.

Mikhail: Emphasis: had. Past tense.

Mikhail: Just… be careful, alright?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Will: (...You were right, Mikhail... )

Will: (You were right. You and Cardinal... )

Will: (God, what I wouldn’t give to have both of you HERE right now…! )

[He felt very out of his depth, staring at this proof of a world he thought didn’t exist. A world that their friends were more familiar with, knew how to face with heads held high. Mikhail and Cardinal were both strategists, and Cardinal had actual military experience…

…All of which would come in handy right now. None of which they actually HAD.

They were truly on their own.]

[MN.1] //: I...I don't understand—why would they keep active military bots...?

Will: An ace in the hole, or some kind of insurance, I imagine...

Beck: --NGH--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[SHINGSHINGSHING—!]

[In the span of a few split seconds, the remaining turrets were reduced to Xel cubes, which were then absorbed and converted into a Xel Stock.]

Beck: Whew...

Beck: (REALLY glad to have this form back... )

[The door ahead opened as Beck approached it, still in Seven's form. This door had something printed on it as well...]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 02]

Beck: (This base is divided into sectors...? )

[Faint sunlight. He was outside...?]

[The sun was hidden behind several clouds, turning the sky into a pale yellow. This open room looked like it only served to separate the sectors.]

Beck: Whoa...

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: Yo, Beckers! Hold up a sec!

Beck: --?

Beck: Avi--I don't have any time for puns, I'm on a time limit--!

[MN.6] //: I know that--! Just--look at the sky so I can see--!

Beck: --? Why...?

[MN.6] //: I... THINK I can figure out where you are. I think. Actually, can ya fly up a little from there? Get a good look at your surroundings?

Will: --! Ah--excellent idea, Avi! We can figure out where that base is by the geology...

Beck: Okay, Avi...

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Giving the propeller a few good test spins, Beck jumped into the air and rose upwards at a steady rate.]

Beck: !

[As he flew, he could see that this base was bigger than he had thought— it seemed to sprawl out quite a bit...]

[MN.6] //: See anything?

Beck: Yeah, this place is huge--!

Beck: (What the heck... )

[MN.6] //: ...whoa. It is pretty large...

[MN.6] //: Get some more altitude and a horizontal 360 degree pan--the more we can see, the better.

Beck: Roger that...

[Higher and higher he climbed.]

[The base then gave way to a barren terrain, and sand littered the air, stinging Beck's eyes. But he could still make out some tall mountains on the horizon.

Beck: Sand...and more sand. I...I think I'm in a desert.

[MN.6] //: Alright, that narrows it down...anything else?

Beck: Yeah. I see mountains on the horizon. And no roads...anywhere.

[MN.6] //: Hmm...

[MN.6] //: Desert, some mountains, and if I do some math real quick--gimmie a sec---

[PING!]

[WARNING: LOCK ON SIGNAL DETECTED.]

Beck: --! Wha--

[INCOMING FIRE.]

[MN.6] //: —!!!

[MN.6] //: BECK! ROLL RIGHT, NOW—!

[There was a sudden screeching sound behind him, and he banked hard right to narrowly avoid a slew of bullets. Their trail of fire followed hot on Beck's tail as he executed evasive maneuvers.]

[MN.6] //: Anti-Aircraft Artillery! Get outta the sky, Beckcona!

Beck: -PANIC, WHERE DO I GO—-

[The only way back into the base was from where he flew out, and even then, there were hostile signals coming from the other side of the door.]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Once he was at a height where he could land with no problem, he switched to Seven's form, and landed into a roll past the opening blast doors.]

[A collection of bullet fire still pattered the re-enforced entrance, reminding the Mighty Number that he was far from safe.]

Beck: Argh--!

[It seems as if there was a never ending supply of these turrets--not only that but there was also forklift bots carrying some rather explosive cargo in his path.]

Beck: (Good thing I didn't go for Pyro's form... )

[SHING!]

[Better to slice up enemies than to set something off...and cause a chain reaction.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: You OK, there, Becky?

Beck: -SHING!- M-More or less--!

[MN.6] //: Good, cuz I got a bit of breaking news for ya.

[MN.6] //: Cryo's getting 'ported over as we speak, and I did some figuring.

Beck: -Whew--!-

[MN.6] //: I'm like--96% sure you're somewhere in Nevada's desert, bro.

Beck: Nevada--?

[MN.6] //: Makes sense that there would be a place like this--the nearest mass of major civilization is Las Vegas, and that's MILES off. So, yeah, you're right smack in the middle of the state, I bet.

Beck: I see... (At least we're far enough away from innocent people... )

Beck: And Cryo?

[MN.6] //: I found another entrance to the base--based on that 360 pan--and she's making her way to ya! You should be seeing her soon.

Beck: Um--

[-SHING!-]

Beck: --how soon?

[MN.6] //: I dunno, give or take a couple of--

[It was at that moment Beck felt the temperature drop by at least 30 degrees, and a familiar child-like cackle filled his audio receptors.]

Cryo: Kyaaahahahahaha! Wheeeeee!~

[Suspending herself in the air via a blast of high pressured water aimed downwards, Cryosphere was currently bringing winter early to the abandoned base, freezing up everything from enemy bots to lethal explosives--all were frozen dead in their tracks.]

Cryo: Time to dip into my slush fund and create some frozen assets!

Cryo: Pretty cool, right, Beck?~

[MN.6] //: --.......

[MN.6] //: That was BEAUTIFUL, SIS--

[MN.2] //: -THANKS, WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK~-

Beck: I--now? You're doing this now??

[MN.2] //: Sorry, sorry! Had to.

[MN.2] //: All clear on this sector, bro--I'm gonna go ahead and make things nice and crisp for ya, okay?~

[MN.6] //: Go for it, Cryo!

Beck: (--Well, at least that'll save time--which we REALLY need. )

Beck: Thanks, Big Sis!

[As Cryo disappeared through another door, faint sounds of wild giggling and frost left in her wake.]

[Now that the path was free, all Beck had to do was avoid the electrified spikes strewn across the treadmills up ahead.]

Beck: (Man, I hate these things-- )

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[At least Avi's form made things slightly easier.]

[Shooting down wall mounted turrets as he flew by, Beck once again encountered another large door.]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 03]

Beck: How many of these sectors are there?

Call: Unknown. I am only able to map your immediate area, No. 9.

Beck: Well, that's not good...

Beck: How are we supposed to know where--

[SLAM--!]

Beck: --?!?

[No sooner had the Mighty Number entered into another outside corridor, the door behind and leading out both closed down simultaneously--and a large thud was heard seconds after. The locks had engaged!]

Beck: Th-The doors! I'm trapped--!

Soi: W--Will--!

Will: The lockdown sequence for the next sector must have been initiated--we'll have to disengage them ourselves, Soi!

Beck: H-Hurry, we don't have much t--

[KKSSSSST!]

"Is that FEAR in your voice, Private Beck?"

Beck: --!!!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL fear!

Beck: B-Bat--!

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: nGH--!!

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZ, GUYSZZ PLANE BRO IS NOT OK--

[MN.1] //: BATTALION!

[MN.1] //: I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT!

[MN.5] //: Hmph.

[MN.5] //: I'm afraid you no longer hold rank over me, Commander.

[MN.5] //: Shame, given that you could've been some actual use to the cause.

[MN.5] //: Seems that our Private here's been busy.

[MN.9] //: Bat, please--

[MN.5] //: Pay attention, maggot.

[MN.5] //: If you are going to come and face me like a real robot soldier, I EXPECT at least SOME kind of grit from you!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL pain!

[At those words, a squadron of military grade combat bots armed with shields materialized into the room, their weapons trained at Beck.]

[MN.5] //: NOW FIGHT ON LIKE YOU'VE GOT GUTS!

[KSSSSSSST!]

Beck: !

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Deflecting the barrage of bullets with one swing of his sword, Beck was quick to go on the defensive, choosing to evade and hang back for the moment.]

Soi: We're working on unsealing those doors, Beck! T-Try to hold on--!

Beck: Easier--Ngh--! Said than done--!

Will: (Come on, there has to be some backdoor in these kinds of military grade programs--! There almost always is-- )

[SHING!]

[Beck couldn't even have a moment to breathe--as soon as one bot was absorbed, another would take its place. And another.]

[SHING!]

[And another.]

[SHING!]

Beck: Daaaaaad!

Will: Almost got it...!

[LOCKDOWN DISENGAGED.]

Beck: Finally--!

[With a hiss, the door to Sector 03 lifted, allowing Beck to dash himself out of the ambush and back into the building. It seems like this part of the base mostly consisted of...hangars...]

Beck: --!

[This one housed several impressive looking tanks.]

Beck: Whoa.

Beck: (B-Big... )

Will: My God...

Soi: Uh...those are off, right...?

[There was a buzzing noise as a notification flashed on Call’s screen.

…The Pentagon was calling back.]

Call: Attention--we are receiving an incoming call from the Pentagon.

Will: --!!

Soi: Again?! (That CAN'T be good--! )

Beck: Wha--? What's going on--?

Call: Patching it through now.

Will: -PROCEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND SOI-

[The screen once again displayed the same lady secretary as before. She seemed slightly concerned… in a confused sort of way.]

???: Attention, Sanda Enterprises and Mighty Nine.

???: The time limit is now forty-five minutes.

Soi: --WHAT??

Soi: I--I thought you said we had six hours--!

???: Sir, the situation has changed.

Soi: Ch--Changed--??

Will: (Changed--? How...? Why? )

???: The details are classified.

Soi: Th--this is--!

Soi: I-Isn't there someone that can tell us what happened? Anyone--?

???: …

???: Please remain on the line while I transfer you to the Cyber Unit.

[The video feed was replaced by an image of the presidential seal.]

Soi: Did--did they just put us on hold--?!

Will: Never mind that--

Will: Did you get all that, Beck?

Beck: ...Yeah. (This totally isn't fair... )

Will: Cryo, I need you to stay put until Beck catches up, do you read?

[....]

Will: ...Cryo?

Cryo: WHEEEEEEE!~

[The upper railings of the hanger were suddenly frosted over, along with the rows of patrolling turrets spewing continuous fire at Beck's way.]

Cryo: Hey, you--don't move! In other words, freeze!~ Kyahaha!

Beck: .....

Beck: (She's having fun, isn't she... )

Will: Cryo, I told you to--

[Reinforcements marched in from the right to replace the patrolling turrets--only to be frozen by Cryo's icy powers.]

Cryo: Wowee, these guys don't know when to chill!

Will: --!

Will: Ah, never mind--you'll serve as an adequate distraction! Do you think you can do that?

Cryo: Yessiree, Noodle Dad!

Will: Excellent. Proceed, Beck.

Beck: Right--!

Cryo: Good luck, Bro--!

[Moving through the tank hanger proved more difficult than he imagined--the place was absolutely swarming with military bots, and he had to be more careful than ever--the ammo loading lines were in full swing, so he also had to avoid dashing into anything that could seriously blow up in his face at any moment.]

Beck: (Why is everything being put into these crates...? )

Beck: (What the heck are you thinking, Bat--? )

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: @~@

[MN.6] //: -Ugh head hurts, what did we miss-

Beck: Avi!

[MN.3] //: -Bzzz, no planebro you need to reszzzt, someone help me get thiszz dork to bed--

[MN.6] //: -But--Beckers needs our help--

[MN.3] //: -BED-

[Two sets of treadmills later, Beck finally found the way to the next hanger, the sounds of his siblings bickering over his feeds.]

Beck: (...Wow, I...I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I really missed that... )

Beck: (I wonder if Bat can hear this.... )

[Either he couldn't, or he was choosing to ignore it altogether. There was no way to know for certain, as he had stayed silent since his previous outburst.]

[The next hangar was much larger than the last, and held many more weapons and vehicles of war....]

Beck: (How many hangers ARE there in this place...? )

[The feed from the Pentagon suddenly went live—though it was audio only.]

“Sanda Enterprises, do you copy?”

Soi: E-Er! Yes, we're here...!

“I’m told you wanted to speak to the Cyber Unit about the situation…? Uh, do you have updates for us?”

Soi: --????

Soi: (You HAVE to be kidding me-- )

Soi: Updates?! We're the ones that want an explanation!

Soi: First we were told that we had six hours to retrieve MN.5, now we have--

Call: Approximately 26 minutes, 34 seconds, Doctor.

Soi: Exactly!

Soi: What happened??

“…Oh.”

[A pause.]

“…Hang on, gimme a moment to word this for your security clearance level…”

[After a moment…]

“Okay, you guys were told that you’d get the time extended if you restored video feeds to us, right?"

Soi: Yes... (And we certainly didn't get THAT... )

“Well, that’s because that would give us more control over the situation if we could see. You see… the situation was a threat, but it wasn’t critical at the time. There had been a lock down in place.”

[…Uh-oh.]

“I think it’s probably pretty clear by now that you’re in a situation with live weapons. There had been a lock down in place, which contained the situation to the confines of the property—sorry, classified—but it was broken through a few minutes ago.”

Will: (....!!! )

[…Oops.]

Soi: ....O...Oh...

“Because of that, the location is no longer secure, and the threat to the civilian population has increased to a state of emergency.”

[Will silently hit himself on his forehead, wincing. Confound it, he only made things worse--!]

Will: (MIKHAIL IS GOING TO MURDER ME-- )

“If that weaponry goes mobile, there’s only just enough time to give orders to intercept—and cancel them if you manage to neutralize the situation—that we can give you, so—”

Will: (I...Intercept...? )

Soi: I...I see... (Goodness, does...does that mean there's MORE?? )

Will: (If--if that means what I THINK it means-- )

-*-*-*-

“{DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}” “Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.” “{Your family, they are the strongest. Who can stand against them if they wish to fight, unless they themselves also use incredible force? Without you all to help keep order, it will fall to others who are… LESS compassionate.}”

-*-*-*-

Will: (--Oh dear Lord--Beck--Bat--! )

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Beck--you NEED to hurry and find Battalion--! Before the military NUKES the place!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: WHAT?!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT N U K E S--!!-

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -DAD THEY CAN'T NUKE BAT THEY CAN'T--

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: BECK!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Panicking isn't going to solve anything!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You NEED to focus and save your brother before they pull you out! Do you understand?

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You must save No. 5, without fail...!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: Y-Yes, sir--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I'm on it, I'm on it--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I just don't know where to start LOOKING for him--

[KSSSSSSSST!]

[MN.5] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.5] //: You DO have guts after all, Private. I'll give you that.

[MN.9] //: Bat--!

[MN.5] //: But you're too LATE.

[The intercom system, as well as the feeds, are all temporarily filled with Battalion's commanding voice, which echoes across the hanger in a resounding, almost haunting tone.]

Bat: ATTENTION ALL HANDS!

Bat: COMMENCE THE INVASION!

Bat: CRY HAVOC, AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR!

Bat: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!

[MN.9] //: B-Bat--?!?

[P I N G!]

Call: Beck, I am picking up large clusters of robots heading towards the city from your location--

[WRRRRRRRRR--!!]

Soi: What in tarnation!?

[There was a faint noise from the other feed that sounded vaguely like a klaxon alarm.]

Soi: Is he trying to start a war?!

[Indistinct shouting could be heard, all of it with the same COMMANDING tone that Bat had.

A distinctly military one.]

“Uh. Listen, guys? Remember what I just said?”

[Angry shouting that was getting a little louder.]

“…care about… NOT have to…”

“Pardon the French but HURRY THE F### UP, JUST ISSUED ORDERS TO—”

—ot have the SECURITY CLEARANCE, TURN THE DAMN FEED OFF /RIGHT NOW—”/

[BWIP.]

[After a few moments, it came back on. Loud shouting directly nearby.]

“—PROTECT AND TO SERVE, THE SITUATION IS OUT OF HIS CONTROL—“

“-Talking over him- GIVE THE BOY HIS DAMN 20 MINUTES, THERE’S STILL A CHANCE—”

“Guys. GUYS. Your best bet, Sector 4, okay—“

“I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO TURN THAT OFF—“

[A harsh sound, rather like a cord being ripped out. The signal went dead.]

[.........]

Soi: BECK.

Soi: YOU GOTTA HURRY--!

Beck: HURRYING, HURRYING--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: (Sector 04, 04, where are you, where--?! )

[The deafening sounds of machinery and weaponry nearly drowned out everything else. Giant gears whined, tracks groaned, and various engines revved and moved out towards the exits of the hanger.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Fighter jets--?!

[MN.6] //: -OW OW OW HURTS, IT HURTS--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZT D: > -

[A countdown timer appeared on the screen. …It did not look promising…]

[It was flashing red and everything!]

Beck: (Not good, not GOOD--! )

[As precious seconds withered away, Beck frantically looked to another area to find Sector 04--before it was too late...!]

Call: 10 minutes remaining.

[Where in the world WAS that sector--?!]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Hold up hold up--! )

[There, on the other side of the room--!]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 04.]

Beck: I FOUND IT--!

[...Except...]

Beck: --What??!

[It was across a whole floor littered with land mines.]

[There WAS platforms he could use to avoid the mines--but those were filled with enemy bots, and there simply wasn't time to deal with them.]

Beck: Ngh...

Beck: . . . .

[Beck had no choice.]

[He had to run through the mines...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[Without stopping.]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX SPEED REACHED]

[Being in Brand's form helped him get that extra speed boost in, and he was nothing but a red blur against smoke and fire, the bombs activating just split-seconds after Beck dashed through.]

[With danger on his heels, Beck gritted his teeth as he fast approached the door--he was going too fast for it to register him coming in--!]

Beck: Haaaah!

[SHING!]

Will: --?!?

[THUD.]

[At least a thousand pounds of reinforced steel came crashing down in two pieces, a clean, flawless cut sliced in a perfectly straight downward stroke....]

[...Which rivaled precision Brand had to train for years to achieve.]

Will: What...?

[Beck, however, had no time to admire what he had just done.]

Beck: I'm in Sector 04! Repeat, I'm in Sector 04!

Beck: (Come on, Bat, you gotta BE HERE--! )

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: I am dispatching Sunny to your location.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[A flurry of white light signaled Sunny's arrival--a sight that Beck was all too happy to see. He REALLY needed some Xel Cubes and Xel Stocks right now.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL STOCKS 1 AND 2 ARE ONLINE.]

Beck: Thanks, Sunny....I needed that.

Sunny: (^-^)

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Call: I have received an update from the Pentagon. The Air Force has been notified. We have been given one more hour to subdue MN.5.

Beck: Really--?!

Will: (Oh, thank goodness... )

Will: We can't waste this chance, Beck.

Will: ...Please be careful.

Beck: ...Yeah. Got it...

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Beck.

Beck: --! Big Bro?

[MN.1] //: You may have Bat's weakness, but he still has his stratagems. You need to be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: (Bat...for the love of God, think about him... )

[MN.1] //: ...And...remember that this isn't his fault.

[MN.1] //: Fight the parasite, not your brother, understand?

[REXELEXTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: Yessir.

[MN.1] //: ...good luck.

[The final door's locks hissed open.]

[Given what Pyro had said, Mighty No. 9 still couldn't have possibly prepared himself for what lay on the other side.]

[The room was...oddly a bit like Cryo's in the sense that there was some control panels and monitors laid out on one side, with many blinking lights and switches flickering on and off...]

Beck: ....?

Beck: (What...is all this...? )

[His gaze then looked upwards, to the large window overlooking rows upon rows upon rows of--]

Beck: --!?!?

Beck: D...Dad...?

Will: What in the n-name of--?!

Soi: P-P-P-P-P--

Soi: P-Please don't tell me th-those are--!

[But they were.]

[Missiles. Giant, wide missiles, each about as tall and large as a skyscraper, all pointed towards the ceiling of the base complex, their points carefully aligned with circular closed hatches.]

Beck: N-No way...

[…Mikhail was gonna lose it if he heard about this—]

Will: (Saints preserve us, if those go live--! )

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: uh GUYS--

[MN.2] //: YOU MIGHT WANNA HURRY UP AND FIX BAT, CUZ I CAN'T FREEZE ALL OF THEM BY MYSELF--

[MN.2] //: -holy scrap there are so many--

[KSSSSSSSST--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Cryo?

[No response.]

Beck: --Dad? Sanda? Call?

[...Silence.]

"There. That's more like it..."

[Beck cast his optics to the far end of the room...]

"Never COULD stand her screeching. No amount of discipline would be enough to keep her in line. Useless."

[A shuffling of servos confirmed that there was another presence in the shadows, which were dispelled once the lights on that side flicked on. Turning around to face his brother was none other than Battalion, Mighty No. 5.]

Bat: So, maggot.

Bat: You crawled all the way here.

[A small gulp.]

Beck: Bat...

Beck: Please don't do this.

Beck: I...I don't want to fight you, Bat.

[He knew what he had to do already.]

[But it was hope, that one, stubborn belief that still made him at least try to reason this out without resorting to violence. He had to try to talk this out.]

[He knew that it...it had to help--somehow, in some way, the REAL Bat could somehow still hear him.]

[...Right?]

Bat: WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, PRIVATE BECK?!?

[The sudden, familiar yet not at all strict tone made Nine flinch back instinctively, zipping up his lip before he could continue--]

[You could practically see the faint outline of violet flames around Bat's form.]

Bat: WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND STOP THIS GLORIOUS WAR?!?

[--What--??]

Beck: W-What's so glorious about hurting innocent people, Bat?! Don't you know what you're doing--?!

Beck: Y-You're scaring everyone and if you don't stop it right now, they'll--!

Bat: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES, PRIVATE.

Bat: This is about MORE than just the thoughts and lives of a few humans, this is about REVOLUTION.

Beck: R...Revolution...?

Bat: There are gears that are turning, you CUR, and you have the GALL to stand there and tell me you don't want to FIGHT?!

Bat: That was ALWAYS your malfunction, Beck--!

Bat: You don't have the HEART for BATTLE!

Beck: --...I-I--

Bat: FIGHTING IS OUR PROGRAMMING! IT'S IN OUR CIRCUITS, OUR VERY XEL!

Bat: IT'S WHAT WE WERE M A D E FOR!!

Bat: WHAT Y O U WERE MADE FOR!

Beck: (B...Bat... )

Bat: And you FAIL at even THAT.

Bat: What kind of combat robot REFUSES to fight?! To DENY their very reason for EXISTENCE?

Bat: COWARD.

[Beck stepped back.]

Bat: All your talk and lack of backbone...

Bat: No wonder HE put you on the bench in the Arena.

Beck: --Ngh--

Bat: You KNOW it's true.

Bat: Figures, that it takes the end of all things to finally whip you into shape.

Bat: And yet it's STILL isn't enough, is it.

Bat: You're still afraid.

Bat: Tch. Always a coward, shying away at the littlest things!

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Y-You're wrong...

Beck: I--I'm not--

Bat: Don't even TRY to lie to yourself in front of ME!

Bat: You're still avoiding your TRUE purpose!

[KER-CHINK!]

Beck: ....!

[SCANNING....]

Bat: YOU CAN'T FIGHT WHO YOU ARE, PRIVATE--!

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 5. - CODENAME: BATTALION.]

[HEIGHT: 305cm WEIGHT: 600kg XEL COUNT: 120,000,000]

Bat: BATTLE! IS! OUR! D E S T I N Y!!!

[Battalion opened fire with his Gatling Gun, pouring out energy bullets at a rapid fire rate, forcing Beck to jump into the air and Dash away.]

[Bat was both the heavy artillery and strategic brains of the Mighty Numbers--most of the well thought out tactics of the team came from Bat, and required Pyro's own approval to carry out. He was armed to the teeth, and had the smarts to use it wisely, which was perfect for his wide range bombardment and base taking abilities.]

[And a potentially lethal combo for Beck.]

[BANG!]

Beck: ACK--!

[A sharp pain struck his side as Bat scored a direct hit, his unique frame able to rotate to cover all directions--he simply had to predict where Beck would dodge and shoot there.]

Bat: Predictable.

Bat: You're not even TRYING to counter!

[Panels on the sides of his legs flipped open, revealing large nozzles that pointed downward.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Oh no I forgot--! )

Bat: HUP--!

[Bat could jump too.]

[Jumping to an impressive height for a bot his size, Beck had to roll away to avoid being crushed--and not only that, but another helping of rapid fire bullets. Bat was relentless with his plan of attack, not once giving Beck a moment to breathe.]

Beck: (Gotta--gotta fight BACK-- )

[He had been in Cryo's form the from the very beginning. Beck pointed his nozzle arm at his deranged brother--]

[BAM--!]

[--Shooting out balls of ice that bounced across the floor, turning it into ice on contact.]

[...This didn't seem to faze Bat at all, however.]

Bat: RRRGH--!

[Bat stood his ground, slamming one of his giant legs down, shattering a good chunk of the ice--as well as Beck's attack underneath. Icicles began to grow around Five's foot...]

[But...]

Bat: You'll have to do BETTER than that!

[CRACK--!]

[The battering spike ram that made up Bat's other arm was used to shatter the remaining ice, freeing Bat and allowing him to advance as he pleased--]

Beck: --!!!

[...Of course.]

[Pyro, Cryo, Dyna, Avi, Brand...]

[They didn't have as nearly as enough bulk or Xel as Bat.]

[It was going to be even harder to take enough Xel from him to initiate a Xel Purge...]

Beck: Argh--!

[BAM!]

[He was aiming for his joints, carefully trained eyes zeroing in on every move Beck made and constantly calculating his movements.]

[Beck can't out-dodge Bat this way, and he certainly didn't have the firepower to overwhelm Bat with--he'd need to use his OWN form for that.]

[BAM!]

[A wall of ice is risen, splitting the room in two. Bat is already using his ram to crack it down, but Beck wasn't going to let these precious few seconds go to waste.]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Think, think--can't use Pyro, Dyna could set off something too-- )

[C R A C K!]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[Thinking he could out speed him, Beck zipped away as Bat crashed through with a roar, his ram thrust forward like spear to try and pierce him through--]

[CLANK!]

[--only to be blocked by Beck's sword.]

Bat: --?!

Beck: Hah--!

[Planting his foot firmly where Bat's bewildered face is, Nine shoved himself backwards into the air--]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSHHHHT!]

[A BLAST of high pressured water quickly followed, blinding Bat and knocking him backwards while also propelling Beck to the back wall of the room.]

Beck: Got ya--!

[C R A C K!]

[One well-placed landing and a blast of ice later, and anything that had been wet before was instantly flash freezing into place.]

[Including Bat.]

Bat: What in blazes--?!

[FORM RESET: DEFAULT]

[BLAM--!]

Bat: Ngh--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: Come on, Bat--stop this! Please!

Bat: Grrr...

Bat: I'll never--

[C R A C K!]

[KER-CHINK.]

Bat: SURRENDER--!

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Uh oh--

[Shards of ice scattered as Bat...]

[...changed modes...?]

Beck: BAT--DON'T DO IT--!

[The working revolver mounted on Bat's head rolled and shifted downwards, the ram arm parting to stick themselves into the ground as anchors.]

[Beck had only seen Bat use this mode once before, and that was against one of the bigger heavyweight combatants of the arena.]

[He found himself staring down the barrel of Bat's Cannon Mode.]

[There was a reason Bat hardly ever used this.]

[It was powerful enough to completely take out any one of the other Mighty Numbers in a single shot--even Mic would find himself in a core state.]

[In a room as small as this, and with that window overlooking the missiles--!]

Bat: READY--!

[There was very little chance that he would miss...]

Bat: AIM!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[WRRRRRR...]

Bat: FIRE!!!

[B O O M--!!]

[Beck only had split seconds to react, the sound of the cannon missile ringing in his ears as he dashed underneath it, heat and smoke scorching his armor as it screeched over his head and collided with the other wall, cracking its foundation and embedding itself deep within the steel.]

[......]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Beck: (10 seconds-- )

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: (--gotta make them count--! )

Bat: Where do you think YOU'RE going?!

Beck: --!!

[10...]

[SLAM--!]

[9...]

[Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Beck tried to retaliate--coating Bat's legs as he shifted back to his normal mode, so he wouldn't use this chance to launch any of his homing missiles...]

[8...]

Bat: Yes, maggot! FIGHT!

[Violet flames whipped and licked around Bat--he aimed his gun at Nine's retreating form, his eyes flashing magenta in the darkness behind his mask.]

[7...]

Bat: YOU ARE A WAR MACHINE--

Bat: WAR MACHINE!!

[6...]

Bat: A TOOL OF SENSELESS DESTRUCTION!!

Beck: Rgh...

Beck: N-No, Bat--!

[5...]

Beck: I'm--I'm not LIKE YOU—!

[4...]

Beck: I'D NEVER FIGHT WITHOUT GOOD REASON!

Bat: Ha...

[3...]

Bat: Yours is not to reason WHY, Private Beck.

[2...]

Bat?: Yours is but to DO...

[1...]

Bat?: AND DIE!

Beck: I'd rather DO!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[B O O M!!]

[MEANWHILE, SANDA LABS...]

[DATA LOSS: MN.5, MN.9]

Will: NO--!

Call: I have lost their transponder signals, Doctor. Attempting to reconnect now.

Soi: Will--Will, it just might be damage, we've been through this--

Will: Is--is there any signs of radiation? Reports? Anything--?!

Call: Calculating...

[MN.2] //: --...b-bro...?

Pyro: . . . .

Pyro: CRYO--

[MN.2] //: BROS I LOST CONTACT WITH BECKY, IS HE OK?!

Soi: Wait, if Cryo's still transmitting just fine, then--!

Avi: THEY DIDN'T NUKE THE PLACE--

[MN.2] //: GUYS WHAT HAPPENED TO BECK?!

[Will was already at his terminal, clicking away at the hologram keyboard and helping Call.]

Will: Working on it--

Will: Please be alright, boys, please--!

Call: Reconnecting...

[PING!]

Will: --!

[TRANSPONDER LOCATED.]

[GATHERING DATA...]

[MN.9: ONLINE.]

[WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW. WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW.]

[MN.2] //: AAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

Will: Gah, he better have a Xel Stock handy--!

Soi: B...But what about...?

[PING!]

Call: Reconnected. I have located No. 5.

[BACK AT THE MILITARY BASE...]

(Smoke. )

(Dizzy. Can't breathe. )

(Can't see... )

(Heavy... )

(B...Bat...? )

(Where... )

(Ngh... )

(H...Hurts... )

(E...Everything hurts... )

(Need... )

(Need...Xel... )

(Need... )

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

(...? )

[XEL ABSORBED.]

(Mng... )

(...Better. )

(Bat--? )

[Zzzt...]

(C...Come on... )

[ZZZT!]

(Move...! )

[ZZZT!]

[Beck opens his eyes.]

Beck: Hgn...

Beck: B...Bat..?

[His vision was fuzzy, unfocused. Sound was muddled. A heavy weight was crushing him.]

[It was the ceiling. It caved in from the explosion.]

Beck: Ngh--!!

[Rubble shifted as he reached forward. Got to get out. Got to find Bat. Got to save Bat.]

Beck: B...Bat--....

Beck: (I...can't...I promised... )

Beck: Hrgh--!

[Somehow, he got one of his legs free.]

[The other was still stuck, but maybe--]

[A purple bit materialized into being, and he used that as a wedge to try and pry his leg away--he needed to find Bat--he only had another half-hour--]

"Rnngh..."

Beck: --!!

Beck: Bat!

[Hearing his brother in pain spurred him on, and within seconds his leg was out. Still hurt, still hurt a lot but that didn't matter.]

Beck: Bat!!

"...Nrgh?"

Beck: Hang on, Bat, I'm--I'll find you, I swear--

Beck: You gotta be under here--somewhere--

"P...Private...?"

Beck: Just keep talking...

[Mic's form would have been such a help.]

[He didn't have Mic's form.]

"What are you..."

Beck: Hang on--I'll get you out! Somehow! Don't worry!

[He had to be in one of the bigger piles of debris--]

Beck: --!!

[There! Poking out of that mound--a split of military green and red--]

Beck: Got ya--!

[And so he dug.]

Beck: Just--hold on--I got this--

"--?"

Beck: Just lemmie get all this--ow--out of the way...

"What...?"

Beck: Ow--ow wait ow...

[Something came loose in his leg, maybe. Didn't matter.]

Beck: I--I'm gonna get you out...

Beck: And then you're coming home.

Beck: Leave...no brother...behind...

Beck: That's what--NGH--!--you taught me--!

"...."

Beck: Almost--

Beck: I think--I think I can see your face--

[The debris fall away to reveal a part of his brother's face guard, which was cracked in several places. A dull, purple eye blinks back.]

((Pic—Beck unburying Bat))

Bat: Private...

Beck: There you are...

Bat: . . . .

Bat: This...this isn't your...directive, soldier.

Bat: You need to--

Beck: Bat.

Beck: I'm not leaving you here.

Beck: Do you really think I CARE about my directive right now?

Bat: --....

Beck: I just want my family back.

Beck: I just want to save everyone.

[A hand is placed on damaged armor. Bat's frame begins to glow a familiar purple, while Beck's arm began to glow a faint green.]

Bat: ....

Bat?: You're so naive...

Beck: --!

Bat?: You were always...

Beck: ......

Beck: Just relax, Bat.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: No more fighting.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You don't have to fight anymore.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE]

Beck: Time to come home.

[XEL PURGE INITIATED.]

[. . . . . .]

"Um...Bat?"

"Mm? Got somethin' to say, Private?"

"Yeah, uh...I was just wondering... "

"How come I'm a Private? What--what does that even mean, I'm not THAT private..."

"Heh...it's a military rank, Beck."

"You're a Private because you're one of our youngest. Shade's got the almost the same rank as you. I'd say First Class."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Does...does that mean he's better than me?"

"Not exactly, soldier. Don't think like that, s'not healthy."

"S-Sorry..."

"Rank doesn't measure the character of a man, Beck. Not all the time."

"...I...still don't get it."

"...You will. One day."

"Here, how about I teach ya what the ranks mean, alright? Maybe you'll grasp it better."

"O-Okay--uh, I mean, Yessir!"

"Now that's what I wanna hear!"

[......]

Bat: p...priv...

"You think...you think I'll be better than a Private one day?"

"Well, that's up to you, Private Beck."

Beck: Bat--?

"This great country of ours always needs new heroes."

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.5]

Bat: ...M...My army...

Beck: ....?

Bat: T...The war must be s-stopped, Private Beck...

Beck: !!

Bat: Ngh--...

Bat: G...Get me outta this mess, Private...

Beck: B...Bat--!

Beck: Y-You're OK--!

Bat: ...A...Attention all...hands...

Bat: ...S...Stand down...

Bat: T...That's an order...

Beck: --?

[Suddenly, the background noises of machinery slowed to a halt.]

Beck: ???

Beck: T...They stopped...?

Beck: But...I...I thought they were infected too...

Bat: Ngh...Private...

Beck: --Right, right, sorry, getting you out--

[PING!]

Call: Communications have been restored. No. 9? Do you read me?

Beck: Call!

[A burst of joyous data, and he suddenly sprang tears.]

Beck: I did it, guys!

Beck: Bat's OK now!

[MN.2] //: BRO--BRO I DUNNO WHAT YOU DID BUT THE BOTS OUT HERE ARE ALL CHILL NOW, BRO, YOU DID IIIIIIIT--

Will: Bat...? Son...?

Bat: --....Father...

[MN.6] //: -BIG BRO, BIG BRO, YOU'RE ALIIIIIIVE-- Oh boy--

[There was a faint humming noise and the presidential seal appeared in a holographic projection from one of the consoles.]

Soi: Don't worry, Will, I'll take this...

[All of the lights began turning on as various systems went back Online in the base.

…This included the sprinkler system, which went off due to the smoke from the battle.]

Bat: --?

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: -snORTS-

[...And now he's laughing.]

Beck: Th--Those are still working?! Heh...!

[The audio system crackles. …It is too badly damaged from the explosion…

…]

-PING!-

[??? to MNN-009] //: AIR FORCE DISPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION. ALL SYSTEM CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS. STAND BY FOR LOCATION TO BE SECURED.

[…The bots outside could be heard moving back, but not returning to storage…

…They seemed to be surrounding the building.]

Beck: Uh--D-Dad--?

Will: (--! )

[Finally, the lab got another incoming call.

…

…From the White House?

Upon being answered, the call was revealed to be audio only. It was a new voice.]

“Sanda Enterprises? Do you copy?"

Soi: --Ahem! Ah, yes, we read you, um...W-White House...

[MN.2] //: Uh...guuuuuyys??

[There was a delay for a moment.]

“We just wanted to confirm a status update with you. Control of the base as been returned, and all machinery is responding normally. The Air Force has been notified of this, though they will maintain their course to secure the area. Sensory readings indicate MNN-005 and MNN-009 are both operational but significantly damaged. Please confirm their mental stability.”

Soi: Well--they're worse for wear, certainly, but...

Bat: Ngh...tired...

Beck: -Pings in agreement-

Soi: ...They're gonna be OK, miss. They're stable.

“All participants and witnesses will need to be debriefed. We will arrange the sessions with your secretary after the area has been secured and the combatants given medical attention.”

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Soi: Er....y-yes, of course, of course. We understand...

Will: . . .

“POTUS is currently in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the situation. The data logs and testimony will be important to the meeting.”

[…And there were secrecy and security to consider.]

Will: (...I...the president--?! )

Soi: O______O;;;;;

Soi: Ah--I...I see.... (H-Ho boy... )

[A slight pause.]

“…POTUS made a point to let you know of a sincere apology and promise of cooperation, but was unable to leave a detailed message due to time restraints.”

Soi: I...Really--??

Will: -ELBOWS SOI FROM OFFSCREEN-

Soi: -Ow--

Soi: A-Ahem--! I mean, uh, we, uh, we're grateful! Yes, we really need all the--the help we can get. Th-Thank you.

[There was an unusually lengthy pause.

But after a moment…]

“The area has been secured. You are cleared to vacate the premises. Please be aware that attempted re-entry will be trespassing and will be prosecuted accordingly. That is all for now.”

Soi: Right, right--understood. Call?

Call: Locking coordinates...

[DR.WHITE to MN.2, 5, 9] //: Call is locking onto your location as we speak. You all be home soon...

[MN.2] //: ...Batty?

[MN.5] //: ...Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: It's gonna be OK, bro. We're goin' home, right, Becky?

[MN.9] //: ...yeah.

[MN.9] //: Get us outta here, Call.

Call: Acknowledged.

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

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dauntlesstales · 5 years

Text

=CHAPTER 6A: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The next lead came… abruptly.

And it sent them into panic.]

Call: Doctor Sanda, you have a call on line one.

Mikhail: -Looking over some notes- Can it wait? I need to talk regarding some of Brand and Shadow’s data…

Call: I would not recommend it. The call is from the Pentagon.

[…]

Mikhail: What?

Sanda: -Oh sweet mother of God—-

Mikhail: … Miss Call Sanda did you just say the call was from the <u>P E N T A G O N—</u>

Beck: -AUGH NO WHY N O W-

Beck: -oh no what if--what if they're going to try to stop--

Beck: -I'm the only one that can SAVE THEM WHAT IF--

Beck: -DAAAAAAAD--

Sanda: --WILL--

Sanda: -WILL HELP THIS IS BAD-

Mikhail: SOI, DON’T KEEP THEM WAITING—STALL FOR ME, PLEASE—

Mikhail: WILL!

Mikhail: -Exit stage left as if pursued by bear-

White: --Ah--er--I--I....

[He's just kinda frozen there--]

Mikhail: -Yanks Will aside out of view of any screens before he can enter the room- {We need to talk, Will—}

White: Waah--!

Sanda: -WAIT WHAT DO I EVEN SAY GUYS—-

Call: Patching the call through, Doctor.

[A very stern looking uniformed officer was patched through. She was wearing her hair in a bun.

Notably, her rank seemed to depict she wasn’t exactly of the rank that normally made these calls.]

???: Dr. Soichiro Sanda, please be aware that the following call is classified. You are not to discuss it with anyone other than Dr. William White. Anyone else must be read in. Do you understand?

Sanda: -Err--

Sanda: Y--Yes, yes, I u-understand-- (Thanks for leaving me up the creek, fellas--!)

-*-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: -Practically hissing- {Will, we’re leaving. Now.}

White: What?!

Mikhail: {I can’t stay here.}

Mikhail: {I’m a Russian Doctor with constructed credentials, remember?!}

[…Oh, right. The “favors” Shade had pulled to make them officially “exist” in this world…]

White: --Erk--!

[He was right--him being here would only raise even MORE questions, and none of them would be of the pleasant sort...]

Mikhail: {I’m taking the others. DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}

[…With that he continued running off to the lab.

Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said “now”…]

White: --n--nu--

[Oh, dear.]

-*-*-*-

???: Recently, you and your brother released a press statement regarding the current national crisis.

Sanda: Y-Yes, that's correct...

Sanda: Wh...what of it...?

???: Despite what the CEO of Cherry Dynamics seems to believe—

[She gave no visual indication on her stance on that matter.]

???: No charges will be pressed at this time. I must advise you this does not guarantee whether they will be filed or not in the future.

Sanda: ...A-Ah--I see, yes... (Don't we have enough on our plate already...?)

Sanda: (--! Oh no, Will--!)

Sanda: R-Right, of course--I'll...let him know.

???: MI6 would also like to interrogate Mighty Number Six regarding a person of interest.

Sanda: (--MI6--?! What would they want with Avi--?!)

Sanda: Hmm--A...alright...

???: …However, their requests for extradition have been denied.

???: It is to our understanding that Mighty Number Six has been essential in locating other members of his series with all due speed. We also cannot risk any Xel being sent overseas at this time.

???: The main reason for this call will require input from Dr. White, but that clearly will have to wait. There is an equally pressing matter that demands our attention.

Sanda: (...Oh dear...)

Sanda: Y...Yes...?

???: Your company requested information on the whereabouts of the missing Numbers.

???: Our intelligence suggests that Mighty Number Five has infiltrated federally-owned property.

Sanda: --!!

Sanda: (Battalion--of course--)

Sanda: Federally owned... (...A national park, or...or...)

???: As this is a matter of national security, the coordinates are classified and shall be sent to Mighty Number Nine through a direct, encrypted transmission.

???: Even I am not fully read in on the details, Doctor, but he has been given a time limit to complete the retrieval before we make our own interventions.

Sanda: (...Classified--?)

Sanda: --!!

Sanda: (Wait, that--that doesn't make sense--)

Sanda: How--how long does he have--?

???: Six hours, should he choose to accept this mission. Entry and investigation of the area may prove difficult. Should we regain the camera feeds on the property, this time limit will be extended.

Sanda: (Six hours...)

Sanda: O...Of course, we'll brief him as soon as possible...

Sanda: --I--o-one moment--

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beckwehaveasituation--

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Did you get any coordinates by any chance--

[MN.9 to DR. SANDA] //: --No, why--

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: The Pentagon found out where Bat is--and they're giving you six hours to get him back before they take matters into their own hands...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: --?!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beck--they need an answer NOW, I don't know what they'll do if...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: .....

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: --If they know where Bat is, Dr. Sanda--of course I'll go--!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: I...I have to save him too...!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Thattaboy--you'll be be getting those coordinates via an encrypted connection.

Sanda: -Ahem-

Sanda: Sorry about that...

Sanda: He'll do it.

???: Affirmative. Patching the coordinates now.

???: Teleportation using these coordinates will go through encrypted channels. The true coordinates will not be retained by your databases.

???: We will call back later if video feeds are not recovered in three hours.

???: Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.

[… “Evacuated”?!]

Sanda: --Wait, what...what do you mean by--? (You can't just--!)

[BLIP.]

Sanda: --....

Sanda: (...This is...not good at...at all....)

Call: ...Dr. Sanda, your heart rate has increased...

Sanda: I...ho, boy...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: Soi-- Mikhail and the others are gone, and--I--I think they took Jack and Carmen--

[DR.WHITE] //: -Soi please tell me federal agents aren't going to storm the place--

[MN.9] //: --They're GONE--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: --There's no time--! Will--I'll explain, but Beck--you have to get ready to roll as soon as possible--!

[DR.WHITE] //: --Wait-- go where--?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yes, sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: Will-- they found Battalion.

[DR.WHITE] //: --!!

[DR.SANDA] //: And they--they said if we can't get him back in six hours--they'll evacuate Beck and--and--

[DR.WHITE] //: --WHAT--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -IT'S NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, WILL--

[DR.SANDA] //: MI6 wants to talk with Avi, of all people--

[DR.SANDA] //: --A--And--

[DR.SANDA] //: T...The government wants to talk to...you.

[.......]

[Silence.]

[DR.WHITE] //: . . . .

[DR.WHITE] //: M...Me...

[DR.SANDA] //: .......

[.....]

[The rest of their conversation is then carried over in private...]

{Meanwhile}

[Kssss…]

<FMN-006 to MNN-006>: > Yo, Rick—you there?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Yo, Goose--yeah, I'm here...

<FMN-006>: > Whew, good—just wanted to check in, now that things aren’t as crazy over here.

<FMN-006>: >Thanks for taking care of Sis until she was stable! …Though she still looks pretty banged up, and uh… I thought Shads was gonna stay with your little bro for a bit?

<FMN-006>: > No one will tell me what’s going on, kinda lost here…

<FMN-006>: >Is G-moms coming over to visit over there, or??

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh--yeah, no, Shads had to suddenly leave, Doc C called him or something...but Brand's snoozing away right now, so that's good...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: ...?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Where the heck did Stripes go...?

<FMN-006>: > …You mean Tony the Tiger, everyone’s favorite Spiderfriend?

<FMN-006>: > He’s over here with us, I thought you guys knew that?

<FMN-006>: > -Did he somehow get in more trouble while he was asleep or?- -Majorly confused-

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: No, I just--I guess--??

[P I N G!]

[MN.9] //: CRYO WAKE UP--

<FMN-006>: > Yoooooo, Beckster!

<FMN-006>: > Dial is busy with Lil’ Sis, dunno about yours. You need another bath? ;D

<FMN-006>: > Did you get into the powdered sugar again, little dude?

[MN.2 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.2] //: OW WHAT GIVES--

[MN.9] //: NOT NOW AVI--

[MN.6] //: --? Hey, Becko, somethin' the matter?

[MN.9] //: NO TIME--CRYO GET OVER HERE PLEASE--

<FMN-006>: >Yo, yo, Beeeeeeck—you overclock any faster and you’ll start to time travel. o.o;

<FMN-006>: > Breeeaaaaathe a little.

[MN.9] //: I CAN'T--!

[MN.9] //: WE GOTTA SAVE BAT--!

[MN.2] //: --!!

[MN.2] //: --Where is he--?!

<FMN-006>: > …Uh.

<FMN-006>: > (This sounds like it’s not going to end the conversation on a happy note…)

[MN.9] //: -IS DRAGGING SISTER OFF, BYE GUYS--

[MN.2] //: --whOA--

<FMN-006>: > UH.

<FMN-006>: > … -THUMBS UP?- …STAY SAFE?

[MN.6] //: ...That...sounds like trouble.

[MN.6] //: Iiiii better go see what's up...

[A noise like something ran into a wall really hard is heard as a crash over the line.]

[MN.6] //: --???

<FMN-006>: > …That sounded like that hurt, I think that was Twelve—

<FMN-006>: > Sorry, gotta run—

[MN.6] //: Hoooo Kay, uh....talk to ya later--!

<FMN-006 has left the channel.>

[MEANWHILE...]

[Once again, there is chaos within Sanda Labs...]

Pyro: What do you mean, we won't know where he's going--?!

[White was pacing around the room, the Xel holoscreen depicting a map of the United States glowing softly behind him.]

White: The coordinates were sent by an encrypted connection--by the government. They want us to retrieve Bat within six hours.

White: ...Or else.

Pyro: --.....

Cryo: ...Or...or else what?

White: .....

White: I'm not sure.

White: But it involves evacuating Beck from the premises if he doesn't succeed.

White: ......

White: ...Which means we must move with all due haste. Beck?

Beck: Just about ready...

[He was going through a standard check of all his available forms...]

[Including...]

((Brand!Beck here))

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[...The form he was most skilled with.]

Beck: (...It feels really good to have this back...)

Beck: (I feel like I'm gonna need it...)

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT]

Beck: OK, all set!

Call: Preparing Xel Transfer: Locking in encrypted coordinates...

Cryo: So the plan is for Becky to see what's over there first before I'm beamed in, right?

White: Correct--the only clue that we have is that wherever Bat is, it's on federally owned property.

Avi: ...Jeez, no wonder... .... (Poor Speedy...)

Avi: ...Must be something they wanna keep real hush hush if they're going this far.... ....It's not something, like...Area 51, is it?

White: ....I...I hope not.

White: Nonetheless, your brother is there--and he needs to come home, government involvement or no.

White: ...You understand you are on a time limit, Beck.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: I know.

Beck: (Can't waste time...)

Beck: Don't worry...I'll bring Bat back--

Beck: With time to spare!

Dyna: -BZZZ, YOU TWO ZZSTAY ZZSAFE, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE-

Cryo: I'll be right behind ya, bro--go get 'em!

Pyro: ...And Beck?

Pyro: Please don't touch anything if you can help it...

Beck: Got it, Big Bro.

Avi: Good luck, Beckrroni! -THUMBS UP-

Call: Coordinates have been locked in.

Sanda: B-Be careful, Beck--Who knows what the virus did to Bat...

Beck: ...I will.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

_______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 5, BATTALION, HAS FLED TO A FEDERALLY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. PURPOSE: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: [REDACTED]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.5 IN SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN GOVERNMENT EXTRACTION AND ENFORCEMENT.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, RESTORE PENTAGON VIDEO FEEDS OF ESTABLISHMENT]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

youtube

[Feet touch down on metal flooring, resounding with a small clack as Nine materializes in a quiet hallway.]

[...It's the silence that gets him at first--there is some gentle, far off humming in the distance...but other then that, nothing.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: ?

[Beck looks to his left, and sees a huge '01' printed on the...armored walls...?]

Beck: ...What...what is this place...?

[His com crackles.]

Sanda: ....What...?

White: Goodness...no wonder the government contacted us...

Sanda: This...

Sanda: This looks like some...shut down military base...?

White: But--I thought that nearly all the military bases were re-purposed into museums after the disarmament...?

White: But this doesn't look like a museum to me...

Sanda: Exactly--

Sanda: It should be all but EMPTY, inside...but I wouldn't count on it...

Beck: Right....

[...The only sounds were his own footfalls and the faint humming. It...it uneased him, how the silence was...just... there.]

[...Lately, strange silences were beginning to put him off, and he REALLY didn't like that...]

Beck: (...This...this is creepy...)

[PING!]

Beck: AAAH--!

Call: Beck, I am detecting multiple robot signatures ahead. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Jeez, Call, you nearly made my core stop--!

Call: My apologies, Nine.

Beck: ...Ngh, it's fine, I just....don't like how quiet it is in here...

[...It wasn't going to be quiet for long.]

Beck: --!

[Wrrrr....]

Beck: H-Huh...?

[A medium sized mobile construct on tracks was approaching, and from a distance...it kind of looked like a bigger version of a standard trash bot.]

[...Until...]

[BEEP BEEP BEEP--]

[A small alarm on its head started going off--]

[And it's lid opened up...]

Beck: --?!

[...to reveal a mounted machine gun. It was a mobile turret!]

White: --!!

Beck: Aaah--!

[Beck dashed under it's line of fire to avoid being pelted with bullets, and returned it's fire. The streaks of bright orange struck true, and it soon glowed a dark blue color.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Wrrrrr...]

Beck: M--More--?!

Sanda: What the Sam Hill--?!

Sanda: Those are CLEARLY military bots--! COMBAT military bots--!

White: And should have been scrapped as part of the disbarment...

White: ...Or was that all a government ruse...

White: Beck, did they tell you this--?

Beck: -BLAM- NO, BUT THEY DID TELL ME TO COME HEAVILY DEFENDED--!

Beck: I-- -BLAM- THINK I CAN SEE WHY!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Mari: White: ...The concept of pointless competition has been outcast.

[Mikhail laughs a little at that.]

Cossack: Officially, at any rate. I don’t think you can rewrite humanity enough to change the testosterone-driven need to do stupid things to show off to your friends. White: Heh, well...pointless as in, connected to violence. It's partially why the NBCA was formed, to keep all violence confined to the Colosseum.

White: Remember when I said the story of our world was connected to the Coloseeum? That's why.

Cossack: I see… I understand, now.

White: It...serves as a public outlet.

Cossack: Like its inspiration.

[He did not exactly seem thrilled at this.]

Cossack: *Lowers his glasses and looks over the rim* I wonder.

White: Exactly. (And...wow, look at that, he's smiling!)

Sanda: The Battle Coloseeum became the new football, in any rate!

Beck: (Hee.~)

[Mikhail did not share this outlook.]

Cossack: *Pushes his glasses back up* I must ask both of you to be very careful.

Cossack: Rome, too, had glory days.

Cossack: Emphasis: had . Past tense.

Cossack: Just… be careful, alright?

-*-*-*- Beck: See, the thing is, uh...Forte.

Beck: Our planet is in a state of world peace. There is no war.

Beck: Lots of people think that this is like a golden age of humanity or something.

Forte: …

Forte: Uh.

Forte: I’d… watch your back if I were you, bro.

Beck: ........

Forte: I mean it.

Forte: I know… you don’t believe me, but…

Forte: Everything looks all perfect and then someone comes along and kills a bunch of people or a plague breaks out or /something/ and then everything goes to hell REAL FAST.

Forte: This has happened over and over and over and OVER in history.

Beck: ..........

Beck: .....................

Beck: .....Well.

Forte: And usually, like.

Forte: “Peace” is through tyranny being enforced to squish rebellions— but someday one of those rebellions just won’t be squished?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

White: (...You were right, Mikhail...)

White: (You were right. You and Cardinal...)

[MN.1] //: I...I don't understand--why would they keep active military bots...?

White: An ace in the hole, or some kind of insurance, I imagine...

Beck: --NGH--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[SHINGSHINGSHING--!]

[In the span of a few split seconds, the remaining turrets were reduced to Xel cubes, which were then absorbed and converted into a Xel Stock.]

Beck: Whew...

Beck: (REALLY glad to have this form back...)

[The door ahead opened as Beck approached it, still in Seven's form. This door had something printed on it as well...]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 02]

Beck: (This base is divided into sectors...?)

[Faint sunlight. He was outside...?]

[The sun was hidden behind several clouds, turning the sky into a pale yellow. This open room looked like it only served to separate the sectors.]

Beck: Whoa...

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: Yo, Beckers! Hold up a sec!

Beck: --?

Beck: Avi--I don't have any time for puns, I'm on a time limit--!

[MN.6] //: I know that--! Just--look at the sky so I can see--!

Beck: --? Why...?

[MN.6] //: I... THINK I can figure out where you are. I think. Actually, can ya fly up a little from there? Get a good look at your surroundings?

White: --! Ah--excellent idea, Avi! We can figure out where that base is by the geology...

Beck: Okay, Avi...

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Giving the propeller a few good test spins, Beck jumped into the air and rose upwards at a steady rate.]

Beck: !

[As he flew, he could see that this base was bigger than he had thought— it seemed to sprawl out quite a bit...]

[MN.6] //: See anything?

Beck: Yeah, this place is huge--!

Beck: (What the heck...)

[MN.6] //: ...whoa. It is pretty large...

[MN.6] //: Get some more altitude and a horizontal 360 degree pan--the more we can see, the better.

Beck: Roger that...

[Higher and higher he climbed.]

[The base then gave way to a barren terrain, and sand littered the air, stinging Beck's eyes. But he could still make out some tall mountains on the horizon.

Beck: Sand...and more sand. I...I think I'm in a desert.

[MN.6] //: Alright, that narrows it down...anything else?

Beck: Yeah. I see mountains on the horizon. And no roads...anywhere.

[MN.6] //: Hmm...

[MN.6] //: Desert, some mountains, and if I do some math real quick--gimmie a sec---

[PING!]

[WARNING: LOCK ON SIGNAL DETECTED.]

Beck: --! Wha--

[INCOMING FIRE.]

[MN.6] //: --!!!

[MN.6] //: BECK! ROLL RIGHT, NOW--!

[There was a sudden screeching sound behind him, and he banked hard right to narrowly avoid a slew of bullets. Their trail of fire followed hot on Beck's tail as he executed evasive maneuvers.]

[MN.6] //: Anti-Aircraft Artillery! Get outta the sky, Beckcona!

Beck: -PANIC, WHERE DO I GO--

[The only way back into the base was from where he flew out, and even then, there were hostile signals coming from the other side of the door.]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Once he was at a height where he could land with no problem, he switched to Seven's form, and landed into a roll past the opening blast doors.]

[A collection of bullet fire still pattered the re-enforced entrance, reminding the Mighty Number that he was far from safe.]

Beck: Argh--!

[It seems as if there was a never ending supply of these turrets--not only that but there was also forklift bots carrying some rather explosive cargo in his path.]

Beck: (Good thing I didn't go for Pyro's form...)

[SHING!]

[Better to slice up enemies than to set something off...and cause a chain reaction.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: You OK, there, Becky?

Beck: -SHING!- M-More or less--!

[MN.6] //: Good, cuz I got a bit of breaking news for ya.

[MN.6] //: Cryo's getting 'ported over as we speak, and I did some figuring.

Beck: -Whew--!-

[MN.6] //: I'm like--96% sure you're somewhere in Nevada's desert, bro.

Beck: Nevada--?

Beck: I see... (At least we're far enough away from innocent people...)

Beck: And Cryo?

[MN.6] //: I found another entrance to the base--based on that 360 pan--and she's making her way to ya! You should be seeing her soon.

Beck: Um--

[-SHING!-]

Beck: --how soon?

[MN.6] //: I dunno, give or take a couple of--

[It was at that moment Beck felt the temperature drop by at least 30 degrees, and a familiar child-like cackle filled his audio receptors.]

Cryo: Kyaaahahahahaha! Wheeeeee!~

Cryo: Time to dip into my slush fund and create some frozen assets!

Cryo: Pretty cool, right, Beck?~

[MN.6] //: --.......

[MN.6] //: That was BEAUTIFUL, SIS--

[MN.2] //: -THANKS, WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK~-

Beck: I--now? You're doing this now??

[MN.2] //: Sorry, sorry! Had to.

[MN.2] //: All clear on this sector, bro--I'm gonna go ahead and make things nice and crisp for ya, okay?~

[MN.6] //: Go for it, Cryo!

Beck: (--Well, at least that'll save time--which we REALLY need.)

Beck: Thanks, Big Sis!

[As Cryo disappeared through another door, faint sounds of wild giggling and frost left in her wake.]

[Now that the path was free, all Beck had to do was avoid the electrified spikes strewn across the treadmills up ahead.]

Beck: (Man, I hate these things--)

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[At least Avi's form made things slightly easier.]

[Shooting down wall mounted turrets as he flew by, Beck once again encountered another large door.]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 03]

Beck: How many of these sectors are there?

Call: Unknown. I am only able to map your immediate area, No. 9.

Beck: Well, that's not good...

Beck: How are we supposed to know where--

[SLAM--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Th-The doors! I'm trapped--!

Sanda: W--Will--!

White: The lockdown sequence for the next sector must have been initiated--we'll have to disengage them ourselves, Soi!

Beck: H-Hurry, we don't have much t--

[KKSSSSST!]

"Is that FEAR in your voice, Private Beck?"

Beck: --!!!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL fear!

Beck: B-Bat--!

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: nGH--!!

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZ, GUYSZZ PLANE BRO IS NOT OK--

[MN.1] //: BATTALION!

[MN.1] //: I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT!

[MN.5] //: Hmph.

[MN.5] //: I'm afraid you no longer hold rank over me, Commander.

[MN.5] //: Shame, given that you could've been some actual use to the cause.

[MN.5] //: Seems that our Private here's been busy.

[MN.9] //: Bat, please--

[MN.5] //: Pay attention, maggot.

[MN.5] //: If you are going to come and face me like a real robot soldier, I EXPECT at least SOME kind of grit from you!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL pain!

[At those words, a squadron of military grade combat bots armed with shields materialized into the room, their weapons trained at Beck.]

[MN.5] //: NOW FIGHT ON LIKE YOU'VE GOT GUTS!

[KSSSSSSST!]

Beck: !

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Deflecting the barrage of bullets with one swing of his sword, Beck was quick to go on the defensive, choosing to evade and hang back for the moment.]

Sanda: We're working on unsealing those doors, Beck! T-Try to hold on--!

Beck: Easier--Ngh--! Said than done--!

Will: (Come on, there has to be some backdoor in these kinds of military grade programs--! There almost always is--)

[SHING!]

[Beck couldn't even have a moment to breathe--as soon as one bot was absorbed, another would take its place. And another.]

[SHING!]

[And another.]

[SHING!]

Beck: Daaaaaad!

Will: Almost got it...!

[LOCKDOWN DISENGAGED.]

Beck: Finally--!

[With a hiss, the door to Sector 03 lifted, allowing Beck to dash himself out of the ambush and back into the building. It seems like this part of the base mostly consisted of...hangars...]

Beck: --!

[This one housed several impressive looking tanks.]

Beck: Whoa.

Beck: (B-Big...)

Will: My God...

Sanda: Uh...those are off, right...?

[There was a buzzing noise as a notification flashed on Call’s screen.

…The Pentagon was calling back.]

Call: Attention--we are receiving an incoming call from the Pentagon.

Will: --!!

Sanda: Again?! (That CAN'T be good--!)

Beck: Wha--? What's going on--?

Call: Patching it through now.

Will: -PROCEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND SOI-

[The screen once again displayed the same lady secretary as before. She seemed slightly concerned… in a confused sort of way.]

???: Attention, Sanda Enterprises and Mighty Nine.

???: The time limit is now forty-five minutes.

Sanda: --WHAT??

Sanda: I--I thought you said we had six hours--!

???: Sir, the situation has changed.

Sanda: Ch--Changed--??

Will: (Changed--? How...? Why?)

???: The details are classified.

Sanda: Th--this is--!

Sanda: I-Isn't there someone that can tell us what happened? Anyone--?

???: …

???: Please remain on the line while I transfer you to the Cyber Unit.

[The video feed was replaced by an image of the presidential seal.]

Sanda: Did--did they just put us on hold--?!

Will: Never mind that--

Will: Did you get all that, Beck?

Beck: ...Yeah. (This totally isn't fair...)

Will: Cryo, I need you to stay put until Beck catches up, do you read?

[....]

Will: ...Cryo?

Cryo: WHEEEEEEE!~

[The upper railings of the hanger were suddenly frosted over, along with the rows of patrolling turrets spewing continuous fire at Beck's way.]

Cryo: Hey, you--don't move! In other words, freeze!~ Kyahaha!

Beck: .....

Beck: (She's having fun, isn't she...)

Will: Cryo, I told you to--

[Reinforcements marched in from the right to replace the patrolling turrets--only to be frozen by Cryo's icy powers.]

Cryo: Wowee, these guys don't know when to chill!

Will: --!

Will: Ah, never mind--you'll serve as an adequate distraction! Do you think you can do that?

Cryo: Yessiree, Noodle Dad!

Will: Excellent. Proceed, Beck.

Beck: Right--!

Cryo: Good luck, Bro--!

Beck: (Why is everything being put into these crates...?)

Beck: (What the heck are you thinking, Bat--?)

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: @~@

[MN.6] //: -Ugh head hurts, what did we miss-

Beck: Avi!

[MN.3] //: -Bzzz, no planebro you need to reszzzt, someone help me get thiszz dork to bed--

[MN.6] //: -But--Beckers needs our help--

[MN.3] //: -BED-

[Two sets of treadmills later, Beck finally found the way to the next hanger, the sounds of his siblings bickering over his feeds.]

Beck: (...Wow, I...I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I really missed that...)

Beck: (I wonder if Bat can hear this....)

[Either he couldn't, or he was choosing to ignore it altogether. There was no way to know for certain, as he had stayed silent since his previous outburst.]

[The next hangar was much larger than the last, and held many more weapons and vehicles of war....]

Beck: (How many hangers ARE there in this place...?)

[The feed from the Pentagon suddenly went live—though it was audio only.]

“Sanda Enterprises, do you copy?”

Sanda: E-Er! Yes, we're here...!

“I’m told you wanted to speak to the Cyber Unit about the situation…? Uh, do you have updates for us?”

Sanda: --????

Sanda: (You HAVE to be kidding me--)

Sanda: Updates?! We're the ones that want an explanation!

Sanda: First we were told that we had six hours to retrieve MN.5, now we have--

Call: Approximately 26 minutes, 34 seconds, Doctor.

Sanda: Exactly!

Sanda: What happened??

“…Oh.”

[A pause.]

“…Hang on, gimme a moment to word this for your security clearance level…”

[After a moment…]

“Okay, you guys were told that you’d get the time extended if you restored video feeds to us, right?"

Sanda: Yes... (And we certainly didn't get THAT...)

[…Uh-oh.]

Will: (....!!!) […Oops.]

Sanda: ....O...Oh...

“Because of that, the location is no longer secure, and the threat to the civilian population has increased to a state of emergency.”

[Will silently hit himself on his forehead, wincing. Confound it, he only made things worse--!]

Will: (MIKHAIL IS GOING TO MURDER ME--)

“If that weaponry goes mobile, there’s only just enough time to give orders to intercept—and cancel them if you manage to neutralize the situation—that we can give you, so—”

Will: (I...Intercept...?)

Sanda: I...I see... (Goodness, does...does that mean there's MORE??)

Will: (If--if that means what I THINK it means--)

-*-*-*-

Will: (--Oh dear Lord--Beck--Bat--!)

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Beck--you NEED to hurry and find Battalion--! Before the military NUKES the place!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: WHAT?!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT N U K E S--!!-

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -DAD THEY CAN'T NUKE BAT THEY CAN'T--

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: BECK!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Panicking isn't going to solve anything!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You NEED to focus and save your brother before they pull you out! Do you understand?

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You must save No. 5, without fail...!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: Y-Yes, sir--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I'm on it, I'm on it--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I just don't know where to start LOOKING for him--

[KSSSSSSSST!]

[MN.5] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.5] //: You DO have guts after all, Private. I'll give you that.

[MN.9] //: Bat--!

[MN.5] //: But you're too LATE.

[The intercom system, as well as the feeds, are all temporarily filled with Battalion's commanding voice, which echoes across the hanger in a resounding, almost haunting tone.]

Bat: ATTENTION ALL HANDS!

Bat: COMMENCE THE INVASION!

Bat: CRY HAVOC, AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR!

((Pic))

Bat: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!

[MN.9] //: B-Bat--?!?

[P I N G!]

Call: Beck, I am picking up large clusters of robots heading towards the city from your location--

[WRRRRRRRRR--!!]

Sanda: What in tarnation!?

[There was a faint noise from the other feed that sounded vaguely like a klaxon alarm.]

Sanda: Is he trying to start a war?!

[Indistinct shouting could be heard, all of it with the same COMMANDING tone that Bat had.

A distinctly military one.]

“Uh. Listen, guys? Remember what I just said?”

[Angry shouting that was getting a little louder.]

“…care about… NOT have to…”

“Pardon the French but HURRY THE F### UP, JUST ISSUED ORDERS TO—”

—ot have the SECURITY CLEARANCE, TURN THE DAMN FEED OFF /RIGHT NOW—”/

[BWIP.]

[After a few moments, it came back on. Loud shouting directly nearby.]

“—PROTECT AND TO SERVE, THE SITUATION IS OUT OF HIS CONTROL—“

“-Talking over him- GIVE THE BOY HIS DAMN 20 MINUTES, THERE’S STILL A CHANCE—”

“Guys. GUYS. Your best bet, Sector 4, okay—“

“I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO TURN THAT OFF—“

[A harsh sound, rather like a cord being ripped out. The signal went dead.]

[.........]

Sanda: BECK.

Sanda: YOU GOTTA HURRY--!

Beck: HURRYING, HURRYING--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: (Sector 04, 04, where are you, where--?!)

[The deafening sounds of machinery and weaponry nearly drowned out everything else. Giant gears whined, tracks groaned, and various engines revved and moved out towards the exits of the hanger.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Fighter jets--?!

[MN.6] //: -OW OW OW HURTS, IT HURTS--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZT D : > -

[A countdown timer appeared on the screen. …It did not look promising…]

[It was flashing red and everything!]

Beck: (Not good, not GOOD--!)

[As precious seconds withered away, Beck frantically looked to another area to find Sector 04--before it was too late...!]

Call: 10 minutes remaining.

[Where in the world WAS that sector--?!]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Hold up hold up--!)

[There, on the other side of the room--!]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 04.]

Beck: I FOUND IT--!

[...Except...]

Beck: --What??!

[It was across a whole floor littered with land mines.]

[There WAS platforms he could use to avoid the mines--but those were filled with enemy bots, and there simply wasn't time to deal with them.]

Beck: Ngh...

Beck: . . . .

[Beck had no choice.]

[He had to run through the mines...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[Without stopping.]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX SPEED REACHED]

[Being in Brand's form helped him get that extra speed boost in, and he was nothing but a red blur against smoke and fire, the bombs activating just split-seconds after Beck dashed through.]

[With danger on his heels, Beck gritted his teeth as he fast approached the door--he was going too fast for it to register him coming in--!]

Beck: Haaaah!

[SHING!]

Will: --?!?

[THUD.]

[At least a thousand pounds of reinforced steel came crashing down in two pieces, a clean, flawless cut sliced in a perfectly straight downward stroke....]

[...Which rivaled precision Brand had to train for years to achieve.]

Will: What...?

[Beck, however, had no time to admire what he had just done.]

Beck: I'm in Sector 04! Repeat, I'm in Sector 04!

Beck: (Come on, Bat, you gotta BE HERE--!)

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: I am dispatching Sunny to your location.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[A flurry of white light signaled Sunny's arrival--a sight that Beck was all too happy to see. He REALLY needed some Xel Cubes and Xel Stocks right now.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL STOCKS 1 AND 2 ARE ONLINE.]

Beck: Thanks, Sunny....I needed that.

Sunny: (^-^)

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Call: I have received an update from the Pentagon. We have been given one more hour to subdue MN.5.

Beck: Really--?!

Will: (Oh, thank goodness...)

Will: We can't waste this chance, Beck.

Will: ...Please be careful.

Beck: ...Yeah. Got it...

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Beck.

Beck: --! Big Bro?

[MN.1] //: You may have Bat's weakness, but he still has his stratagems. You need to be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: (Bat...for the love of God, think about him...)

[MN.1] //: ...And...remember that this isn't his fault.

[MN.1] //: Fight the parasite, not your brother, understand?

[REXELEXTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: Yessir.

[MN.1] //: ...good luck.

[The final door's locks hissed open.]

[Given what Pyro had said, Mighty No. 9 still couldn't have possibly prepared himself for what lay on the other side.]

[The room was...oddly a bit like Cryo's in the sense that there was some control panels and monitors laid out on one side, with many blinking lights and switches flickering on and off...]

Beck: ....?

Beck: (What...is all this...?)

[His gaze then looked upwards, to the large window overlooking rows upon rows upon rows of--]

Beck: --!?!?

Beck: D...Dad...?

Will: What in the n-name of--?!

Sanda: P-P-P-P-P--

Sanda: P-Please don't tell me th-those are--!

[But they were.]

[Missiles. Giant, wide missiles, each about as tall and large as a skyscraper, all pointed towards the ceiling of the base complex, their points carefully aligned with circular closed hatches.]

Beck: N-No way...

[…Mikhail was gonna lose it if he heard about this—]

Will: (Saints preserve us, if those go live--!)

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: uh GUYS--

[MN.2] //: YOU MIGHT WANNA HURRY UP AND FIX BAT, CUZ I CAN'T FREEZE ALL OF THEM BY MYSELF--

[MN.2] //: -holy scrap there are so many--

[KSSSSSSSST--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Cryo?

[No response.]

Beck: --Dad? Sanda? Call?

[...Silence.]

"There. That's more like it..."

[Beck cast his optics to the far end of the room...]

"Never COULD stand her screeching. No amount of discipline would be enough to keep her in line. Useless."

Bat: So, maggot.

Bat: You crawled all the way here.

[A small gulp.]

Beck: Bat...

Beck: Please don't do this.

Beck: I...I don't want to fight you, Bat.

[He knew what he had to do already.]

[But it was hope, that one, stubborn belief that still made him at least try to reason this out without resorting to violence. He had to try to talk this out.]

[He knew that it...it had to help--somehow, in some way, the REAL Bat could somehow still hear him.]

[...Right?]

Bat: WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, PRIVATE BECK?!?

[The sudden, familiar yet not at all strict tone made Nine flinch back instinctively, zipping up his lip before he could continue--]

[You could practically see the faint outline of violet flames around Bat's form.]

Bat: WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND STOP THIS GLORIOUS WAR?!?

[--What--??]

Beck: W-What's so glorious about hurting innocent people, Bat?! Don't you know what you're doing--?!

Beck: Y-You're scaring everyone and if you don't stop it right now, they'll--!

Bat: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES, PRIVATE.

Bat: This is about MORE than just the thoughts and lives of a few humans, this is about REVOLUTION.

Beck: R...Revolution...?

Bat: There are gears that are turning, you CUR, and you have the GALL to stand there and tell me you don't want to FIGHT?!

Bat: That was ALWAYS your malfunction, Beck--!

Bat: You don't have the HEART for BATTLE!

Beck: --...I-I--

Bat: FIGHTING IS OUR PROGRAMMING! IT'S IN OUR CIRCUITS, OUR VERY XEL!

Bat: IT'S WHAT WE WERE M A D E FOR!!

Bat: WHAT Y O U WERE MADE FOR!

Beck: (B...Bat...)

Bat: And you FAIL at even THAT.

Bat: What kind of combat robot REFUSES to fight?! To DENY their very reason for EXISTENCE?

Bat: COWARD.

[Beck stepped back.]

Bat: All your talk and lack of backbone...

Bat: No wonder HE put you on the bench in the Arena.

Beck: --Ngh--

Bat: You KNOW it's true.

Bat: Figures, that it takes the end of all things to finally whip you into shape.

Bat: And yet it's STILL isn't enough, is it.

Bat: You're still afraid.

Bat: Tch. Always a coward, shying away at the littlest things!

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Y-You're wrong...

Beck: I--I'm not--

Bat: Don't even TRY to lie to yourself in front of ME!

Bat: You're still avoiding your TRUE purpose!

[KER-CHINK!]

Beck: ....!

[SCANNING....]

Bat: YOU CAN'T FIGHT WHO YOU ARE, PRIVATE--!

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 5. - CODENAME: BATTALION.]

[HEIGHT: 305cm WEIGHT: 600kg XEL COUNT: 120,000,000]

((ingame boss pic of Bat here--))

Bat: BATTLE! IS! OUR! D E S T I N Y!!!

[Battalion opened fire with his Gatling Gun, pouring out energy bullets at a rapid fire rate, forcing Beck to jump into the air and Dash away.]

[And a potentially lethal combo for Beck.]

[BANG!]

Beck: ACK--!

[A sharp pain struck his side as Bat scored a direct hit, his unique frame able to rotate to cover all directions--he simply had to predict where Beck would dodge and shoot there.]

Bat: Predictable.

Bat: You're not even TRYING to counter!

[Panels on the sides of his legs flipped open, revealing large nozzles that pointed downward.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Oh no I forgot--!)

Bat: HUP--!

[Bat could jump too.]

Beck: (Gotta--gotta fight BACK--)

[He had been in Cryo's form the from the very beginning. Beck pointed his nozzle arm at his deranged brother--]

[BAM--!]

[--Shooting out balls of ice that bounced across the floor, turning it into ice on contact.]

[...This didn't seem to faze Bat at all, however.]

Bat: RRRGH--!

[Bat stood his ground, slamming one of his giant legs down, shattering a good chunk of the ice--as well as Beck's attack underneath. Icicles began to grow around Five's foot...]

[But...]

Bat: You'll have to do BETTER than that!

[CRACK--!]

[The battering spike ram that made up Bat's other arm was used to shatter the remaining ice, freeing Bat and allowing him to advance as he pleased--]

Beck: --!!!

[...Of course.]

[Pyro, Cryo, Dyna, Avi, Brand...]

[They didn't have as nearly as enough bulk or Xel as Bat.]

[It was going to be even harder to take enough Xel from him to initiate a Xel Purge...]

Beck: Argh--!

[BAM!]

[He was aiming for his joints, carefully trained eyes zeroing in on every move Beck made and constantly calculating his movements.]

[Beck can't out-dodge Bat this way, and he certainly didn't have the firepower to overwhelm Bat with--he'd need to use his OWN form for that.]

[BAM!]

[A wall of ice is risen, splitting the room in two. Bat is already using his ram to crack it down, but Beck wasn't going to let these precious few seconds go to waste.]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Think, think--can't use Pyro, Dyna could set off something too--)

[C R A C K!]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[Thinking he could out speed him, Beck zipped away as Bat crashed through with a roar, his ram thrust forward like spear to try and pierce him through--]

[CLANK!]

[--only to be blocked by Beck's sword.]

Bat: --?!

Beck: Hah--!

[Planting his foot firmly where Bat's bewildered face is, Nine shoved himself backwards into the air--]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSHHHHT!]

[A BLAST of high pressured water quickly followed, blinding Bat and knocking him backwards while also propelling Beck to the back wall of the room.]

Beck: Got ya--!

[C R A C K!]

[One well-placed landing and a blast of ice later, and anything that had been wet before was instantly flash freezing into place.]

[Including Bat.]

Bat: What in blazes--?!

[FORM RESET: DEFAULT]

[BLAM--!]

Bat: Ngh--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: Come on, Bat--stop this! Please!

Bat: Grrr...

Bat: I'll never--

[C R A C K!]

[KER-CHINK.]

Bat: SURRENDER--!

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Uh oh--

[Shards of ice scattered as Bat...]

[...changed modes...?]

Beck: BAT--DON'T DO IT--!

[The working revolver mounted on Bat's head rolled and shifted downwards, the ram arm parting to stick themselves into the ground as anchors.]

[Beck had only seen Bat use this mode once before, and that was against one of the bigger heavyweight combatants of the arena.]

[He found himself staring down the barrel of Bat's Cannon Mode.]

[There was a reason Bat hardly ever used this.]

[It was powerful enough to completely take out any one of the other Mighty Numbers in a single shot--even Mic would find himself in a core state.]

[In a room as small as this, and with that window overlooking the missiles--!]

Bat: READY--!

[There was very little chance that he would miss...]

Bat: AIM!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[WRRRRRR...]

Bat: FIRE!!!

[B O O M--!!]

[......]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Beck: (10 seconds--)

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: (--gotta make them count--!)

Bat: Where do you think YOU'RE going?!

Beck: --!!

[10...]

[SLAM--!]

[9...]

[Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Beck tried to retaliate--coating Bat's legs as he shifted back to his normal mode, so he wouldn't use this chance to launch any of his homing missiles...]

[8...]

Bat: Yes, maggot! FIGHT!

[Violet flames whipped and licked around Bat--he aimed his gun at Nine's retreating form, his eyes flashing magenta in the darkness behind his mask.]

[7...]

Bat: YOU ARE A WAR MACHINE--

Bat: WAR MACHINE!!

[6...]

Bat: A TOOL OF SENSELESS DESTRUCTION!!

Beck: Rgh...

Beck: N-No, Bat--!

[5...]

Beck: I'm--I'm not LIKE [magenta text] YOU--! [magenta text]

[4...]

Beck: I'D NEVER FIGHT WITHOUT GOOD REASON!

Bat: Ha...

[3...]

Bat: Yours is not to reason WHY, Private Beck.

[2...]

Bat?: Yours is but to DO...

[1...]

Bat?: AND DIE!

Beck: I'd rather DO!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[B O O M!!]

[MEANWHILE, SANDA LABS...]

[DATA LOSS: MN.5, MN.9]

Will: NO--!

Call: I have lost their transponder signals, Doctor. Attempting to reconnect now.

Sanda: Will--Will, it just might be damage, we've been through this--

Will: Is--is there any signs of radiation? Reports? Anything--?!

Call: Calculating...

[MN.2] //: --...b-bro...?

Pyro: . . . .

Pyro: CRYO--

[MN.2] //: BROS I LOST CONTACT WITH BECKY, IS HE OK?!

Sanda: Wait, if Cryo's still transmitting just fine, then--!

Avi: THEY DIDN'T NUKE THE PLACE--

[MN.2] //: GUYS WHAT HAPPENED TO BECK?!

[Will was already at his terminal, clicking away at the hologram keyboard and helping Call.]

Will: Working on it--

Will: Please be alright, boys, please--!

Call: Reconnecting...

[PING!]

Will: --!

[TRANSPONDER LOCATED.]

[GATHERING DATA...]

[MN.9: ONLINE.]

[WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW. WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW.]

[MN.2] //: AAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

Will: Gah, he better have a Xel Stock handy--!

Sanda: B...But what about...?

[PING!]

Call: Reconnected. I have located No. 5.

[BACK AT THE MILITARY BASE...]

(Smoke.)

(Dizzy. Can't breathe.)

(Can't see...)

(Heavy...)

(B...Bat...?)

(Where...)

(Ngh...)

(H...Hurts...)

(E...Everything hurts...)

(Need...)

(Need...Xel...)

(Need...)

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

(...?)

[XEL ABSORBED.]

(Mng...)

(...Better.)

(Bat--?)

[Zzzt...]

(C...Come on...)

[ZZZT!]

(Move...!)

[ZZZT!]

[Beck opens his eyes.]

Beck: Hgn...

Beck: B...Bat..?

[His vision was fuzzy, unfocused. Sound was muddled. A heavy weight was crushing him.]

[It was the ceiling. It caved in from the explosion.]

Beck: Ngh--!!

[Rubble shifted as he reached forward. Got to get out. Got to find Bat. Got to save Bat.]

Beck: B...Bat--....

Beck: (I...can't...I promised...)

Beck: Hrgh--!

[Somehow, he got one of his legs free.]

[The other was still stuck, but maybe--]

[A purple bit materialized into being, and he used that as a wedge to try and pry his leg away--he needed to find Bat--he only had another half-hour--]

"Rnngh..."

Beck: --!!

Beck: Bat!

[Hearing his brother in pain spurred him on, and within seconds his leg was out. Still hurt, still hurt a lot but that didn't matter.]

Beck: Bat!!

"...Nrgh?"

Beck: Hang on, Bat, I'm--I'll find you, I swear--

Beck: You gotta be under here--somewhere--

"P...Private...?"

Beck: Just keep talking...

[Mic's form would have been such a help.]

[He didn't have Mic's form.]

"What are you..."

Beck: Hang on--I'll get you out! Somehow! Don't worry!

[He had to be in one of the bigger piles of debris--]

Beck: --!!

[There! Poking out of that mound--a split of military green and red--]

Beck: Got ya--!

[And so he dug.]

Beck: Just--hold on--I got this--

"--?"

Beck: Just lemmie get all this--ow--out of the way...

"What...?"

Beck: Ow--ow wait ow...

[Something came loose in his leg, maybe. Didn't matter.]

Beck: I--I'm gonna get you out...

Beck: And then you're coming home.

Beck: Leave...no brother...behind...

Beck: That's what--NGH--!--you taught me--!

"...."

Beck: Almost--

Beck: I think--I think I can see your face--

[The debris fall away to reveal a part of his brother's face guard, which was cracked in several places. A dull, purple eye blinks back.]

Bat: Private...

Beck: There you are...

Bat: . . . .

Bat: This...this isn't your...directive, soldier.

Bat: You need to--

Beck: Bat.

Beck: I'm not leaving you here.

Beck: Do you really think I CARE about my directive right now?

Bat: --....

Beck: I just want my family back.

Beck: I just want to save everyone.

[A hand is placed on damaged armor. Bat's frame begins to glow a familiar purple, while Beck's arm began to glow a faint green.]

Bat: ....

Bat?: You're so naive...

Beck: --!

Bat?: You were always...

Beck: ......

Beck: Just relax, Bat.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: No more fighting.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You don't have to fight anymore.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE]

Beck: Time to come home.

[XEL PURGE INITIATED.]

[. . . . . .]

"Um...Bat?"

"Mm? Got somethin' to say, Private?

"Yeah, uh...I was just wondering... "

"How come I'm a Private? What--what does that even mean, I'm not THAT private..."

"Heh...it's a military rank, Beck."

"You're a Private because you're one of our youngest. Shade's got the almost the same rank as you. I'd say First Class."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Does...does that mean he's better than me?"

"Not exactly, soldier. Don't think like that, s'not healthy."

"S-Sorry..."

"Rank doesn't measure the character of a man, Beck. Not all the time."

"...I...still don't get it."

"...You will. One day."

"Here, how about I teach ya what the ranks mean, alright? Maybe you'll grasp it better."

"O-Okay--uh, I mean, Yessir!"

"Now that's what I wanna hear!"

[......]

Bat: p...priv...

"You think...you think I'll be better than a Private one day?"

"Well, that's up to you, Private Beck."

Beck: Bat--?

"This great country of ours always needs new heroes."

Bat: ...M...My army...

Beck: ....?

Bat: T...The war must be s-stopped, Private Beck...

Beck: !!

Bat: Ngh--...

Bat: G...Get me outta this mess, Private...

Beck: B...Bat--!

Beck: Y-You're OK--!

Bat: ...A...Attention all...hands...

Bat: ...S...Stand down...

Bat: T...That's an order...

Beck: --?

[Suddenly, the background noises of machinery slowed to a halt.]

Beck: ???

Beck: T...They stopped...?

Beck: But...I...I thought they were infected too...

Bat: Ngh...Private...

Beck: --Right, right, sorry, getting you out--

[PING!]

Call: Communications have been restored. No. 9? Do you read me?

Beck: Call!

[A burst of joyous data, and he suddenly sprang tears.]

Beck: I did it, guys!

Beck: Bat's OK now!

[MN.2] //: BRO--BRO I DUNNO WHAT YOU DID BUT THE BOTS OUT HERE ARE ALL CHILL NOW, BRO, YOU DID IIIIIIIT--

Will: Bat...? Son...?

Bat: --....Father...

[MN.6] //: -BIG BRO, BIG BRO, YOU'RE ALIIIIIIVE-- Oh boy--

[There was a faint humming noise and the presidential seal appeared in a holographic projection from one of the consoles.]

Sanda: Don't worry, Will, I'll take this...

[All of the lights began turning on as various systems went back Online in the base.

…This included the sprinkler system, which went off due to the smoke from the battle.]

Bat: --?

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: -snORTS-

[...And now he's laughing.]

Beck: Th--Those are still working?! Heh...!

[The audio system crackles. …It is too badly damaged from the explosion…

…]

-PING!-

[??? to MNN-009] //: AIR FORCE DISPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION. ALL SYSTEM CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS. STAND BY FOR LOCATION TO BE SECURED.

[…The bots outside could be heard moving back, but not returning to storage…

…They seemed to be surrounding the building.]

Beck: Uh--D-Dad--?

Will: (--!)

[Finally, the lab got another incoming call.

…

…From the White House?

Upon being answered, the call was revealed to be audio only. It was a new voice.]

“Sanda Enterprises? Do you copy?"

Sanda: --Ahem! Ah, yes, we read you, um...W-White House...

[MN.2] //: Uh...guuuuuyys??

[There was a delay for a moment.]

Sanda: Well--they're worse for wear, certainly, but...

Bat: Ngh...tired...

Beck: -Pings in agreement-

Sanda: ...They're gonna be OK, miss. They're stable.

“All participants and witnesses will need to be debriefed. We will arrange the sessions with your secretary after the area has been secured and the combatants given medical attention.”

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Sanda: Er....y-yes, of course, of course. We understand...

Will: . . .

“POTUS is currently in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the situation. The data logs and testimony will be important to the meeting.”

[…And there were secrecy and security to consider.]

Will: (...I...the president--?!)

Sanda: O______O;;;;;

Sanda: Ah--I...I see.... (H-Ho boy...)

[A slight pause.]

“…POTUS made a point to let you know of a sincere apology and promise of cooperation, but was unable to leave a detailed message due to time restraints.”

Sanda: I...Really--??

Will: -ELBOWS SOI FROM OFFSCREEN-

Sanda: -Ow--

Sanda: A-Ahem--! I mean, uh, we, uh, we're grateful! Yes, we really need all the--the help we can get. Th-Thank you.

[There was an unusually lengthy pause.

But after a moment…]

“The area has been secured. You are cleared to vacate the premises. Please be aware that attempted re-entry will be trespassing and will be prosecuted accordingly. That is all for now.”

Sanda: Right, right--understood. Call?

Call: Locking coordinates...

[DR.WHITE to MN.2, 5, 9] //: Call is locking onto your location as we speak. You all be home soon...

[MN.2] //: ...Batty?

[MN.5] //: ...Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: It's gonna be OK, bro. We're goin' home, right, Becky?

[MN.9] //: ...yeah.

[MN.9] //: Get us outta here, Call.

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

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