Lena jolts awake the next morning to the sound of the meeting hall opening. Once more the space fills, and Lena blinks blearily at the indistinct figure sihouetted against the pale light of morning.
The only shadow she recognizes is Lex, his shoulders and gait unique from the others in the way he strides forward with purpose and authority.
It's his hands that release the buckles binding her, his arms that receive her when she lurches unsteadily to her feet, and bestow the customary embrace of forgiveness. Lena's arms hang by her sides, limp from their confinement.
"May your period of contemplation be of service to the community," Lex says as he pulls away, turning to address the crowd. "Let Lena's punishment serve not only as a warning against temptation, but also as an example of humility. Lena has fulfilled her punishment-- embrace her, and thank her for her penance."
Jack is the first to meet her, wrapping her in a hug that squeezes strength back into her muscles. He remains at her side as she makes her way on trembling legs through the congregation, whose soft touches and murmurs of reassurance slide across her consciousness like oil, murky and viscous.
He walks her to her dormitory. At the door, he hesitates. "Lena..."
Lena turns back, blinking dully at him.
"Maybe... maybe this is a bad idea."
She stares at him for a long moment before pushing into the room and wordlessly closing the door behind her. Making her way to her bed, she collapses upon it, and falls into an exhausted slumber too swiftly to even think about Kara.
---
The next few days pass quietly. Lena keeps to herself, and though she resumes her efficiency projects, her heart isn't in them. She feels eyes on her everywhere she goes, even from the elders, and unease coils low in her belly as she wonders if Jack's warning has come too late.
She's been found out, somehow. The next time, she knows the punishment will be far more severe.
So when the community is called to another impromptu assembly, fear locks around the nape of Lena's neck. Jack slips his hand in Lena's as they move with the exodus. Dread curls in her belly when Lawrence falls in alongside them, gently moving Lena towards the raised dais until they were among the first few rows of people. Lena's only reassurance is that James comes with her, and Lawrence doesn't seem to mind.
Still, her uneasiness grows when Lex takes the stage, and doesn't meet her eye.
"Esteemed members of the LuthorCorp family!" he calls, deep and magnanimous. "None of us are strangers to adversity. It drives us to create, to dream and to strive. It shows us our deficiencies, so that we may improve upon them. But so too can it show us our mettle-- the strength and responsibility to lead the entire community into a new future... as an Elder."
The crowd erupts into murmurs of shock and anticipation. A new elder hasn't been named since before Lionel died. Elders spend lifetimes in the organization before being trusted with the title and the responsibilities that come with it. Lena herself can scarcely remember the last time one was named.
"Lena Luthor," Lex calls, finally allowing their gazes to meet. "Please join me on stage."
Uncomprehending, Lena doesn't move until Lawrence gently guides her forward. Her fingers clutch and Jack's even as they part, and she walks on wooden legs to the steps leading up to the platform.
When she's in reach, Lex turns her to face the silent audience.
"When accused of possessing contraband, you denied it," he reminds her. Lena glances at him, then across the crowd watching silently. No one gives her a single reaction.
She braces herself for the accusation of uttering falsehoods, of avoiding culpability, of the prideful attempt to escape with her good name in tact.
"I commend you for your honesty."
Surprise traces down Lena's spine, and ripples out across the crowd. Something like humor warms Lex's gaze.
"I was the one who placed it in your dormitory."
The crowd's dismay matches Lena's. Shock and hurt and rage all surge in her chest as she blinks and struggles to remain calm. Her punishment-- that damned, horrible chair unearthed deliberately to torture her-- had been some kind of sick joke?
Lex lifts his hand for quiet, and gets it almost immediately.
"For years LuthorCorp has waited to see where your potential would take you. Your potential has always shone bright, and your devotion to the community was unrivaled among your peers. But there were concerns that your undisciplined curiosity would lead you astray.
"It wasn't until your abduction and safe return that your potential took on the kind of focus of and purpose we've been waiting for. And when you accepted responsibility for a transgression that wasn't yours, but for the systemic failure you recognized as its root, *that* is the character, and the heart of an Elder."
Lex extends a hand towards her. Through the ringing in her ears, Lena hears a faint smattering of applause that builds to a roar when her hand settles in his. In Lex's other hand is the silver wristband worn by all Elders, the only outward marker of their position.
As he clasps it around her wrist, Lena spies the telltale shadow of circuitry along the inside before it seals around her wrist.
Suddenly Lex's arms are around her, words of pride and congratulation in her ear before he's replaced with every other elder, welcoming her to their ranks. Slowly, her shock gives way to warmth, as member after member embraces her. For a moment, the honor almost carries her away, but even then a small voice reminds her that she hasn't come by it honestly.
Shes engjneered it, for the sole purpose of giving the FBI the evidence they need to tear LuthorCorp apart. Even if Lex isn't involved, her fellow Elders are, and their arrest will gut the community. The lives of the people congratulating her will be destroyed. Their children, their brothers and sisters, their work... Lena's choice will alter everything they've ever known and accomplished with LuthorCorp.
Lena forces a smile until she and Jack return to the dormitory. Only then does she let the cheer bleed away, leaving only her devastation behind.
Jack offers her a thin smile. "Congratulations, elder."
"I can't do it," Lena whispers. Emotion tightens in her chest, squeezing her lungs until she can't breathe. "I can't, I can't--"
"Hey," Jack says, swallowing her in a hug. "It's okay, Lena. It's okay. Just breathe..."
"I can't do this..."
"You can."
"I'll destroy *everything*--"
"If what the FBI told you is true, it was never real enough to *be* destroyed. The Elders are the ones who ruined it, not you. None of us want to be a part of that-- things might change, but better that than living a lie."
"But what if-- what if it's not true?"
"Then this is what will let you find out for sure. As an Elder you'll have the access you need to find whatever it is the FBI is looking for. If you find it, you'll know the truth-- if there's nothing to find, you'll know that too."
Sniffling, Lena nods.
"This is a good thing, Lena," Jack tells her, squeezing her hands. "And I know what else you might be thinking okay, and I can tell you right now that you deserve this honor. Whether you choose to keep it or not, you've earned it. Yes--" he insists when Lena shakes her head, "you have! You heard Lex-- they've been waiting for you to be ready. You are the smartest, kindest person anyone here has ever met. It was only a matter of time."
He smiles at her, a gesture Lena can't bring herself to return.
"And whatever else happens... *I'm* proud of you. Your brother's test was a bit of a dick move, but I can think of no other person who deserves this more than you. Even now, when faced with an impossible situation-- you're worried more for us than yourself."
Lena finally meets his gaze, and finds nothing but warmth in his eyes.
"You're the kindest person *I* know," she whispers. Jack's grin turns devilish.
"Does that mean you missed me during your holiday?"
When Jack preens, Lena coughs a laugh, wiping her face. "Of course I did."
"I'd've gone with you, you know," he says quietly, so low even Lena has to strain to hear it. She nods-- she never doubted that for a second.
"I know."
"Still will," he vows. "I'll follow my new elder anywhere--"
"Jacky--" Lena scoffs, trying to shove him away. But it works. She laughs, and suddenly she can breathe again.
"Through rain or shine or gloom of night--"
"Dork!"
"Elder."
When Lena finally curls up to sleep that night, she feels better than she has in weeks. She still doesn't know what her future holds, but...
Some funny things have happened on the way to the Brexit.
I’d expected the final week before the original deadline was going to be a horror-fest of grinding existential fear. Instead, it’s suddenly no longer the final week (the EU-27 put the deadline back to April the 12th), and also, uh, the whole project appears to be going off the rails. In fact, so far, it’s been unexpectedly-fun. And those are words I never expected to write in a Brexit context.
What on Earth happened?
Well, the key event has been a certain petition, which it’s fair to say absolutely no-one (myself included) saw coming...
It’s been a dizzying few days, and I am having a little trouble keeping the timeline straight in my head. So any errors of chronology are mine and mine alone, and I apologise for them in advance!
I personally became aware of the existence of the petition on the 21st. At that point it was on about 60K signatures. Petitions that get over 100K are eligible for a debate in Parliament, so I figured I may as well sign it. I didn’t really expect anything more - like most people, I think, I assumed it would plateau at something like 100-150K. Basically it would be a place for dead-end Remainers to act out our grief.
I retweeted the links on my Twitter and on here (sorry, non-UK followers - you’re probably quite sick of this now).
And then it turned out that lots of other signatories, independently and unco-ordinated, had gone and done the same thing. The petition went viral. It topped a million signatures within 24 hours. Parliament’s servers crashed - apparently the peak rate was something like 2,000 signatures per minute.
And then it somehow carried on growing.
As of the time of writing, it’s over 4,151,000 people, and it’s still growing. The UK electorate only numbers about 45 million, so it’s already close to 10% of that figure. This is quite extraordinary - I’m not aware of anything quite like that having happened before. (There was the other petition, immediately after the 2016 referendum, but as I recall the growth there was less explosive, and it tailed off quite sharply at 3 million or so.)
What’s interesting about this is two things - one is the wording. “Revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU” - a clear, unambiguous and finite objective. I think in a way, this is more attractive than another referendum (the campaign could go off the rails again, the BBC could drop into “different views on shape of planet” mode again, Facebook could fill up with lies aimed at gullible pensioners, and history might just repeat itself). The second thing is the spontaneity - the Revoke campaign has no organising committee or any figures behind the curtain. It seems to be a genuine, bottom-up social movement. (The lack of organisation may actually be helping Revoke - look at the crap tactics and inept strategy of the Peoples’ Vote group, who have accomplished pretty much nothing in 2.5 years. Many of us privately suspect that PV is more about letting a collection of dead-end Westminster centrists feel relevant, and less about actually averting Brexit.)
The other thing that’s happened is that apparently revocation is now on the political agenda. Even as recently as last week, just calling off Brexit was political badthink. No-one in Westminster was even willing to consider it - and now apparently various MPs are openly talking about it as an option.
And, uh, it hasn’t stopped growing yet (no, Note To Self, absolutely do not tempt fate...)
Another thing is the absence of any effective response. So far, Leave haven’t had any obvious counter to any of this. It turns out that they’ve had their own pro-No Deal petition lurking out there for months, and it’s only attracted about 370,000 signatures. Granted that’s larger for most petitions, but it’s been going for months and it’s still less than 10% the size of the pro-Revoke one. So far, all Leave have done is throw shade about supposed Russian bots - I remember People’s Vote have been trying that same line, on and off, since about November 2016, and it’s gained no traction at all. So it’s not obvious that it will help Leave here either.
It does seem that we’ve managed to catch Leave on the hop with this one.
Meanwhile, Theresa May has had an awful week. Earlier, she gave a bizarre speech outside Downing Street where she insulted MPs as traitors(!!) and claimed that her deal represents the sole will of the people. (By the way, as far as I know, there is no pro-TM Deal petition. Make of that factoid what you will!) I think she thought she could enrage public opinion in her favour. Instead, what seems to have happened is that people were either appalled or confused by her remarks, and she seems to have made Parliament angry at her. (Funnily enough, if you need people’s votes, insulting them doesn’t tend to help.)
Oh also - she turned up half an hour late to her own speech, which is rather Brexit in of itself.
And then the EU-27 threw a curve-ball with their unilateral extension. This will mean chaos in the House on Monday, because the current Withdrawal Act is very specific about the Brexit end-date, and this will need changing - or, come next Saturday, we’ll be both out of and inside of the EU at the same time. (You know all the jokes about Schrodinger’s Brexit? Well they might actually be about to happen.) The Tory Party is in a deep shambles and the whipping operation appears near-ineffective, and they’re struggling to get business through the House, so the odds of Monday going to plan seem low.
Oh but there’s even more.
Yesterday, a sitting Tory MP was found guilty of expenses fraud, relating to the 2015 general election. If he gets a custodial sentence, it might result in a by-election, and apparently the seat in question is (in principle) winnable for the Opposition. Given how slender Theresa May’s working majority is getting (currently about 4 votes, IIRC), this won’t help her!
So in summary, everything’s gone non-linear again, and I’m crunching away on the popcorn.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Following is a work in progress and is subject to change. This is the [Berkana Stage 1] section from my current movie script of MMXtreme 2. I hope you enjoy!
Sigma walks into the room; his muscles freshly toned from a workout. Isoc looks up from his work table and stops rebuilding the mushroom-based Reploid, for a moment.
ISOC:
Ah, there you are. Ready for battle, I presume?
Sigma smiles and clenches his fist.
SIGMA:
More than ready. Yes!
ISOC:
Perfect, because now is the time to strike, if ever.
SIGMA:
(curious, interested)
What’s going on?
ISOC:
X and Zero have successfully defeated all of the Mavericks and are enroute to Berkana's lab as we speak. If you were to surprise attack her now, we would have the ample opportunity to take control of the lab. Then you will be able to enact your revenge on X and Zero.
Sigma nods with an evil grin.
SIGMA:
Sounds good… Lets set a point for translocation.
ISOC:
Lucky for you, I have backstage access. I used to share an office with her on the top floor. Naturally, I have the coordinates memorized! I can beam you in to her private chamber at any time.
Sigma bares his fanged teeth, as he lets out an amused bellow.
Berkana lounges on her throne, with her legs crossed deep in thought.
BERKANA:
(V.o, thinking)
Hmm. The Legendary Maverick Hunters are on their way. Soon all of their power will be mine!!
Just then, Sigma teleports into the room, making her gasp and rise from her chair.
BERKANA:
(gasping)
Intruder!
SIGMA:
(grinning)
Hello!
He unleashes his claws and dives after her. She guards herself with magical auras from her hands.
BERKANA:
You're.. Sigma!
He raises his right hand ready to strike.
SIGMA:
And you must be Berkana!!
She blocks two of his slashes with well-placed walls from her magical hands. Then, she throws them against him as she summons a staff.
SIGMA:
Urgh.
Sigma backs away as he readies himself for another attack.
She holds out her scepter and seems to lock him in place with her power.
BERKANA:
Stop.
SIGMA:
Grr.. What the..?
He struggles to move and finds that he is stuck. His feet are seemingly planted in the ground.
BERKANA:
Hahahahahaha!!!
SIGMA:
What did you do to me!?
BERKANA:
Hmph. You fool! I used my power to put you in your place, that’s all…
She throws him against the floor with her power. Then she levitates him with her staff and places him on the ground once again.
BERKANA:
I have the ability to manipulate manner.
With him frozen in place, she walks around him with a sinister smile on her face. She seems to be studying him as if he were a new experiment.
BERKANA:
Hmm. Yes.. I like this… Isoc must've put you up to this, no doubt.. But no matter.
SIGMA:
(stunned)
H-how did you-
BERKANA:
Oh please. I’m 3 steps ahead of that fool… But my goodness! He outdid himself this time. What a wonderful Specimen of a Reploid you are…
She sensually grabs his muscles and smacks him across the cheek, like a piece of meat.
SIGMA:
AGH! How DARE YOU!!!?
BERKANA:
Oh no. How dare YOU! You dared enter my chamber, hoping to catch me unawares. And what would you do then, hm?? Kill me? Have your way with me!? …No. I have a much better idea.
Sigma looks at her warily as she inches closer.
BERKANA:
(quieter, whispering)
I'm going to make you.. My.. Little.. Pet.
With her face against his, she could practically kiss him.
BERKANA:
AND YOU WILL BE TREATED AS SUCH!!
She shoves him to the ground, while his feet are still stuck in place.
Then she forms a purple cage around him from her power.
BERKANA:
You will serve as my personal attack dog against the Maverick Hunters once they get here.
SIGMA:
Grrrr. Damn you!! I never asked for this. It’s Isoc that you want!
BERKANA:
Hmph. You came to me. You put this on yourself. Now I'm using you.. And Isoc will get his, later. Count yourself lucky…
Sigma looks at her with eyes of disbelief.
BERKANA:
Also… Don’t think too ill of me yet. I am not without my humility.
SIGMA:
Hm?
She forms a purple aura of power into the shape of a sharp, pointy eared, mechanical dog. She grabs a DNA Soul from a canister and places it inside the creature.
Sigma gasps as the machination comes to life.
SIGMA:
(warm, shocked)
Velguader…
The mechaniloid recognizes it’s former owner and howls. It quickly scurries over to him and attempts to lick him through the bars of the cage.
BERKANA:
He will keep you company until you are needed.
Sigma looks at her with a disheartened frown as he holds his long lost dog, through the space of two of the bars.
She makes an evil grin and turns away from both of them.
Berkana swiftly enters the room to find her loyal knight, Gareth dilligently working on a gigantic Pyramid Tank. It has a prominent drill at the base, just above it's tank treads, as well as two distinct sphinx-like faces carved into the top of the Pyramid.
BERKANA:
Gareth, what the Hell is this?
GARETH:
This is our new Security System! I've been working on it for the past month.
BERKANA:
Well while you’ve been tinkering with this… thing, I was just attacked!
Gareth gasps.
GARETH:
Oh my goodness!! My Queen, I am so sorry. I have failed you…
He immediately runs over to her, gets down on one knee and grovels at her hands.
BERKANA:
Oh shut up, I’m fine… Get up…
She pats him on the head twice and he does as she commands.
GARETH:
What happened?
BERKANA:
..Never mind that. Show me what you’ve been working on.
She looks at the two plain, lifeless faces, with a mixture of disgust and confusion. One head is stacked above the other amidst the front angle of the Pyramid.
GARETH:
Well, I don’t have a name for it yet, but I’m working on a Dual A.I Mechaniloid, who can stop the Hunters in their tracks when they arrive. At the very least, it will weaken them.
BERKANA:
Hm, interesting. Why bother with a Dual A.I?
GARETH:
Well, my Lady, I thought about their battle with Skull Head. Had he been armed with two minds, and extra sets of weaponry, there would have been a distinct difference in reaction time and strategic maneuvers against both of the Maverick Hunters. It could have focused on both of their weaknesses at the same time. Two heads are better than one after all.
BERKANA:
Ah.. Huh. And, whyy.. the Pyramid design??
GARETH:
The way I see it, you want to stun your opponent with an imposing figure. Not only is the drill tank at the bottom an intimidating sight to behold, but the Pyramid structure makes this Mechaniloid larger than life!!
Berkana eyes the design with even more skepticism.
BERKANA:
Okaay..
GARETH:
If they even dare attempt to scale this Pyramid, they will meet certain doom by the Sphinxes, who will exploit both of their weaknesses…
BERKANA:
Hm. And how do you suppose they will accomplish that?
GARETH:
They will be equipped with the power sets of fire and ice. I was just getting to that when you walked in.
Berkana smiles as she looks up at the Pyramid Tank.
BERKANA:
(laughing, condescending)
Hah! Fire and Ice… HAHAHA!! …You will need a lot more than that to defeat them, you fool! But so be it!
She holds up her staff.
GARETH:
Hmm?
BERKANA:
Gate, you are not, my dear Knight, but I do forgive you for trying! Hehehee!!
In a small humble laboratory practice, Gate sits at a table with Alia and his creations, Commander Yammark, Blaze Phoenix, Infinity Flea and Blizzard Wolfang.
In front of him, the head of the practice, DR. LAYE, adjusts her glasses. She is a small waifish, petite, blonde reploid with a tightly knotted ponytail, who wears a pencil-skirt business lab outfit.
A crew of other Research Reploids, both local and new mingle with each other in the area as the main door opens up to reveal Tidal Whale escorting Rainy Turtloid into the building. He has been frozen in a giant block of ice!
Gate stands up and gasps as he looks at his frozen creation.
GATE:
Turtloid! Oh no!!
Dr. Laye looks angry as she sets her eyes on the Whale, who brought him in.
DR. LAYE:
McWhalen! What is the meaning of this?
Tidal Whale salutes Dr. Laye with a smile.
TIDAL WHALE:
Lana, always a pleasure…
GATE:
(upset)
What have you done!?
TIDAL WHALE:
He be contaminated by Toxic Seahorse. I had no other choice!! Who knows what kind o’ scurvy lies deep in his pores? He was pollutin’ the ocean by the second, so I put him on ice and brought him here. Now he’s yer problem.
GATE:
Hmph!
DR. LAYE:
Thank you for the drop off Duffy. We’ll be in touch.
TIDAL WHALE:
(saluting)
Of course. I wish all of ye well, this evening and I hope that yer mate gets his sea legs back, soon.
With that, he takes his leave, while Dr. Laye takes a look at the huge chunk of ice and her new recruits.
DR. LAYE:
Andrew, have this Reploid thawed out and then send him to Decontamination please.
ANDREW:
Yes ma’am.
A blonde lanky reploid leads a small crew of scientists to the giant block of ice containing Rainy Turtloid. Four people enter fork lifts as they are directed by Andrew to complete their designated task.
Dr. Laye adjusts her glasses once again as she looks at her new recruits.
DR. LAYE:
So… This is all that’s left of Berkana’s branch?
ALIA:
Yes, ma’am.
DR. LAYE:
Well. Let me be the first to say, Welcome to the Team. I know that it’s been a very hard day for everyone so we can figure out the logistics of our transitioning process later.
GATE:
(relieved, grateful)
Oh, gosh. I can’t thank you enough for doing this, again, Dr. Laye!
DR. LAYE:
Of course! Please. Take the evening to relax. Mingle. Get acquainted with your new co-workers! We can continue to catch up in the morning. It looks like we have work to do on this new Reploid! Gate, please follow me.
He smiles as he gets up from his chair. As he walks with her she lightly small-talks with him about his creation.
DR. LAYE:
So. He’s a big one, eh??
GATE:
Heheh, yeeah, I…
The sound of Gate’s voice trails off into the distance as Alia stares at the table and frowns.
ALIA:
(v.o, thinking)
Here we go again… Another transition in progress.
She looks around at her own crew and the new people she will be working with.
ALIA:
(v.o, thinking)
I’m afraid that we’re starting to get a bad reputation. We’re starting to become those transfers on the list that people never want to work with.
She looks at Gate and Dr. Laye walk away together and laugh as they turn the corner of a hallway.
ALIA:
(v.o, thinking)
Please don’t mess this one up for us, Gate. I don’t think I can go through all of this again.
With her scepter, Berkana conducts purple energy and directs it to the two Sphinx faces. A purple beam of power splinters off like lightning in two directions as one beam lands on the bottom face and the other lands on the top face. Within moments, both faces are carved with great detail to look like that of Sigma.
BERKANA:
There… Now your creation stands a fighting chance.
GARETH:
Huh?
BERKANA:
Introducing, Isaz and Sowilo…
She smiles at her contribution to the creation.
GARETH:
What are those names?
BERKANA:
They’re Runic… Isaz is the runic letter for I, which is rooted to depict the element of ice. While Sowilo, is derived from Sol – the power of the Sun.
Gareth stares at her improvement upon his creation in awe.
GARETH:
Wow!
BERKANA:
These two beings will breathe much needed life into your design. I’ve also given them a portion of my own power, to increase their chances of success.
Gareth gasps.
GARETH:
Thank you. What an honor!
BERKANA:
We just need one more thing to put the finishing touches on your design.
GARETH:
Hm?
She puts out her staff again and fires a beam of dark purple energy toward the right side of the Pyramid. Within moments, Sigma's Maverick logo is stamped on it’s side. As the rest of it's body is draped in purple, both sets of eyes light up in ice blue and sun orange.
GARETH:
Whoa…
ISAZ:
All systems online.
SOWILO:
I function to serve the will of Gareth, Berkana and Sigma, our Lord and Master!
Gareth turns to Berkana with a slight look of bewilderment.
GARETH:
Who's Sigma?
Berkana smiles and lets out an amused, witchy laugh.
BERKANA:
HAHAHAHAHA. Sometimes I forget how much you still have to learn… Lets just say that I was inspired by the most powerful Maverick in History. And now we have him in our midst!!
GARETH:
(surprised, shocked)
WHAT!? How??
BERKANA:
He was the one who attempted to overthrow me in my Private Chamber… No thanks to you! But I've captured him for my own. And now we will use him against the Maverick Hunters, by force if necessary.
GARETH:
(scared, nervous)
Wha- My Lady, you mean to tell me, that he is here against his will?
BERKANA:
Things are changing very quickly my dear, Loyal Knight. Soon there will be a King to join this Queen in our Maverick Kingdom! Once I bend him to my will…
GARETH:
With all due respect Ms. Berkana, this is a very dangerous game you’re playing.
BERKANA:
Do not question me. The decision has been made. He will learn to like it here, or die by my hand. But in the mean time, we have to prepare for some very powerful company. And we need all the help we can get.
Gareth looks at her and resigns himself to a bow.
GARETH:
…As you wish my Lady. I understand. Please forgive me.
BERKANA:
You are forgiven. Now come… I can feel their presence. They are almost here.
X and Zero charge through the front corridor. A beautiful view of the night sky can be seen through the glass on their left.
X:
Finally, we made it.
A short distance away, X notices a long pitfall trap, where only a series of small platform tracks can allow them to advance further ahead.
X:
Hey.. Does this place look familiar to you…?
ZERO:
Hmm… We're in the Laboratory of a Mad Scientist… littered with Mechaniloids.. Nope! Can't say that it does!
X smirks as he focuses on the platforms and finds an opening.
X:
Heh. After a while, it all starts to look the same, I guess…
X hops onto the first platform carefully. Then, he air-dashes to the next 2 platforms gracefully.
ZERO:
Lets just hope that we finish this, before Gareth causes any more trouble!
Zero follows suit as X leads the way with a dash.
Once on the other side, both Hunters quickly run through the corridor as they make their way to a ladder.
ZERO:
Going up!
X and Zero climb up two short sets of ladders before they encounter a small wave of Hoganmer Clones.
ZERO:
Oohoo, this is too good. Allow me.
Zero charges a brown fist and sets off an Earth Crush Giga Attack, which eliminates every Clone in the room, above them. The surrounding wall’s become rusty and weathered as well.
X:
(annoyed)
Damn Zero! Lets try to keep this place standing, okay??
As X and Zero reach the significantly higher 2nd story of the Laboratory, once again they are able to witness a perfect view of the Island amidst the twilight sky from the surrounding glass windows.
Just ahead of them, a revived Alpha Soldier stands before them in the Rabbit Ride Armor.
X pulls out his Buster.
X:
I'll handle this one.
He switches to Tri-Thunder power and sets off a triangular shot of electricity, which obliterates the Maverick and the Mech completely.
Along the course of a long corridor, X and Zero destroy 6 Batton Bones in their path with level 1 buster shots and quick saber slashes.
At the far end of the hallway, they spot a deadly spike trap, in which they notice a split wall directs them to the next floor up. Both are filled with Mechaniloids and defense systems.
X:
Huh?
ZERO:
Which way should we take?
A hovering platform heads in their direction and X does not hesitate to take it.
X:
I'll go this way.
IRIS:
(o.s, filtered)
Both routes lead to the next floor.
ZERO:
Hah! Race you to the top then!!
X looks back at Zero with a smirk as he jumps over to his side of the wall. When he scales up the walls, he faces challenging streams of waterfalls, which threaten to push him down into the spikes. Beyond that, two spike wheels, also barrel down towards X, along the streams of water.
On Zero’s side of the wall, two flamers on platforms and a gun turret await him. He valiantly fights through the flames from both mechaniloids on his way up, while X charges up and takes out both spike wheels, amidst a heavy splash in the water.
Both Hunters make it to the top at the same time as Zero uppercuts the ceiling gun turret and grabs onto a ladder to the next floor.
X blows the smoke off of his buster and smiles at his partner.
X:
Hm.. Looks like it was a tie.
Zero smiles back at X and nods with a quick point.
ZERO:
Turn around.
X:
Hm?
Before them, they can see a whole array of laser traps have been laid out for them.
ZERO:
That looks like fun.
X grins and shakes his head.
X:
Let’s go!
They both run in and carefully wait for an opening amidst the first laser trap. X passes through, but Zero triggers it. Immediately the Ray Trap motion detector, fires upon Zero, who quickly parries it away with an acute saber slash.
ZERO:
Hah!!
X:
Whoa! You’re getting pretty good with that thing.
X kick-jumps up a small wall and notices a long stretch of spikes below.
ZERO:
I know. Thanks man.
Zero puts his Saber in his back sheathe, while they both patiently wait for a Flame Gunner platform to return towards their direction.
ZERO:
Could you do the honors?
X aims his buster and charges it up.
X:
With pleasure.
He destroys the mechaniloid with a level three shot and hops on the platform. It collides against another Flame Gunner on a platform, to which X takes it out with rapid fire and swaps places. When the initial platform returns, Zero is able to catch up to X’s position.
On the other side of the spikes, X carefully analyzes the layout of ray traps ahead of him. He dash-hops between both laser traps and takes out a third Flame Gunner.
ZERO:
Hey! Leave some for me.
Zero rushes over to catch up, completely ignoring the laser traps as he dashes through them. Again, he parries a laser strike with a well-placed slash.
X continues along his path, steadily avoiding traps and taking out Flame Gunners.
X:
No time to play around now Zero. I can see the Gateway, just ahead!
ZERO:
Nice!
Zero dashes ahead and catches up to X, just as he opens the first gate.
Berkana walks back into her room, with an evil glare in her eyes as she spots Sigma holding onto his Dog through the spaces between the bars of his cage.
BERKANA:
Well, I hope you enjoyed your reunion. I’m sorry, but you’re needed now.
Sigma slightly grimaces.
SIGMA:
Hmph. So be it.
He lets go of his dog and stands up with clenched fists.
BERKANA:
Hahahaha! Not you…
SIGMA:
Hmm??
With a snap of her fingers, Velguader disappears into a cloud of purple smoke.
SIGMA:
(gasping, irate)
WHAT have you DONE!!?
She smiles and shrugs her shoulders with two graceful, open palms.
BERKANA:
(cackling, witch-like)
HAHAHAHAHAA!! The Maverick Hunters have made it to my Weapons Testing Chamber. What better of a weapon to test on them, than you’re loyal Attack Dog??? AAHAHAHAHAAA!!!
SIGMA:
BERKANAAAH!!!!
Sigma grips onto the bars as tight as he can and he gets shocked to the core with it’s dark energy. He gets flung to the floor with a jolt of dark matter.
SIGMA:
Agh, you BITCH!!
BERKANA:
Now now… That’s no way to treat your future Queen…
Sigma’s eyes widen.
SIGMA:
What!?
BERKANA:
You’ll learn how to play nice in due time, oh yes… Hahahaha, HAHAHAHAHA!!!
An angry, confused Velguader appears in mid-air at the top of the room, and has no choice but to dive towards the intruders, X and Zero.
ZERO:
What the-
He growls as he recognizes their faces. Particularly, the sight of X makes his mouth muscles twitch.
X:
Velguader…
From one wall to the next, he quickly bounces and flips down to the floor. Upon landing, he gives them a menacing glare.
ZERO:
Sigma’s old attack dog… I don’t like that..
X:
Me neither.
Both heroes guard themselves. X charges up. Velguader growls and squats down with all four of his legs out. He is ready to strike both of them at any time.
With a howl, Velguader makes the first move. He pounces on X so fast that he misses a Charge Shot completely.
X:
Agh!
ZERO:
Whoa!!
Zero dodges the oncoming disaster, and instinctively slashes Velguader at the side with his Z-Saber.
Velguader whines upon getting struck with the powerful beam. He runs away and regroups, turning around with a powerful ball of ice, ready to fire.
ZERO:
Oh, shit!
Velguader shoots rapid blasts of ice balls at both X, and Zero.
X:
(intense)
Ahhhh, Damn iiit! I hated doing this last time!!!
X shoots powerful rapid fire level 1 shots, which seem to be far more powerful than usual. Red pellets of fire power, chip away at Velguader’s face and chest, leaving him with permanent dents in his armor.
Velguader growls again and dodges out of the way with three jumps. Once closer to X, he lets out a flame thrower from his mouth.
X gets burnt on the side as Zero quickly comes to his aid.
ZERO:
X, I’m comiiing!!
With a Z-Saber out, he’s ready to slice the dog at his back, but Velguader quickly turns around and bites him in the arm.
ZERO:
Aghaaaa, what!?
X:
HM!
X mercilessly impales the dog with a Ray Claw of his own.
For a split second, everything stops as X holds the dog up with his Ray Claw.
Velguader lets out a heartrending whimper, as he bleeds out all over X’s arm.
X stares at Zero, completely in tears, as he quietly grimaces and sets the dog down on the ground.
Zero looks at X in awe, and for once, he can actually understand his friend’s pain.
ZERO:
(whispering)
Shit…
Velguader slowly short circuits and begins to explode, releasing yet another DNA Soul, which splinters off and begins to enter X and Zero’s veins.
X:
No. NOO!! I DON’T WANT IT!!! DON’T GIVE ME THIS POWER!!!! I HAVEN’T EARNED IIIIIITTT-hihihiiii….
X can’t help but let it out in a good cry. He falls to his knees and lets himself go. Even in front of his best friend, whom he strives to be so strong for.
Zero’s eyes widen. He completely understands X’s fury, but he cannot share the pure emotion that he does. This makes him angrier at himself, more than anything else. As he blankly accepts the Erasure entering into his veins, he can feel his wounds close, as his muscles tighten up evermore.
ZERO
Ah… I can’t…
Zero closes his eyes, shaking his head.
ZERO:
X.. You can’t let ‘em get to you. That’s how they win…
Zero starts to wonder if he believes himself any more.
X:
(furious)
They’ll NEVER Win!!!
ZERO:
Hm?
He sobers up, with curiosity as he watches his friend’s composure suddenly change.
X:
(calmer, darker)
When this is all over, you and I are going to release ALL of these DNA Souls. Do you HEAR ME!!?
Zero gives X almost a troubled look as he listens.
X:
We’re going to give them all back to the inhabitants of this Island. ..Even if it’s the LAST THING WE DO!!!
ZERO:
Yeah, of course! ..but.. How??
X:
There’s got to be a way, damn it! Because I can’t live like this!! Not any more. I won’t do it!! Understand me!!?
X glares at Zero who looks back at him with wide eyes of shock.
After a short moment, Zero’s eyes normalize, and he shakes it off with a short sigh.
ZERO:
Yeah.. I got it. Now come on. I can’t have you losing your head yet.. We have to finish the mission first…
He offers a hand to his a best friend and helps him up.
X lets out a big sigh and sniffles as Zero brings their handshake into a one-armed bro hug.
ZERO:
Come on man. We got this. We’ll figure it out, alright? I promise.
X closes his eyes and disembarks from their hug.
X:
Thanks Zero.. I needed that.
Zero gives him a crooked look, followed by a smile. He is still wary of expressing his own feelings, however he has come to respect X for his sentimental nature.
ZERO:
S-sure.
With a thumbs up, Zero turns around and notices another gateway in the far corner of the room.
ZERO:
Come on. It must be this way!
Zero leads the way and runs out of the room.
X smiles and clenches his fist, once again. With dry eyes, he follows his companion out of the room.
Berkana patiently waits outside of Gareth’s private chamber, until he opens his door.
GARETH:
What is it, my Lady?
She freely enters his room as she informs him of their current status.
BERKANA:
All of the final traps have been set, my dear Knight. Now we wait to see their results.
GARETH:
Oh believe me, they’re already in.
BERKANA:
Hmm?
Gareth walks her over to his Monitor and shows her that the Maverick Hunters have successfully defeated Velguader.
GARETH:
They have breached the Weapons Testing room and are now in the Development Wing.
Berkana’s eyes widen with excitement rather than fear.
BERKANA:
Mmmm. How interestiiing. So Sigma’s attack dog was no match for them. Weeell, that puts things into perspective…
GARETH:
Hmm, it looks like Isaz and Sowilo will have a chance but to face the Hunters after all.
BERKANA:
Mmhhmmm. This is so exciting!! I hope you don’t mind if I stay here and lounge with you for a little while.
GARETH:
Not at all, my Lady.
He quickly kneels with a short bow to her honor.
BERKANA:
(admitting, sheepish)
My quarters are sort of.. occupied by a certain slave, whose yet to learn his place.
Gareth gives her a crooked look.
GARETH:
I still think it’s a mistake to keep him here.
BERKANA:
(haughty)
I didn’t ask for your opinion, did I?
She gives him an evil, passive aggressive smile as she passes him by.
GARETH:
(dejected)
No…
She walks over to his throne and sits on it, with her legs crossed. Then she beckons him.
BERKANA:
Ohh, don’t give me that poor pathetic look. Now sit…
GARETH:
Hmph. Yes, Ms. Berkana.
He kneels by her side and watches the screen idly, half expecting what she will do next. Half hoping she won’t stop this time.
While focusing on the monitor, she thinks about the Legendary Maverick Hunters. How incredibly strong they are. How much stronger she would be, once she obtained all of their DNA Souls! The thought alone enticed her with such ecstasy.
While deep in thought, she absently places her hand on Gareth’s head and gently pets it. Slowly and gradually, she sensually massages the pointy rim of his helmet. The feeling of her fingertips makes him blush and lose his concentration on anything else, but the pleasure of her company. If only this moment could last forever.
But it did not. Just as soon as he displayed any signs of enjoyment, she became aware of her actions, and immediately all further gestures came to a sudden stop. This was not the first occasion, in which something like this has occurred. And rather than feeling embarrassed, that made her feel powerful too.
BERKANA:
Hehehehehehehe. That’s a good, pet… Now let’s watch X and Zero die!!
