The Business of War

Orchestrated By C.M. Rich (Magnetman)

Broken Armour Part 1

By the Armored Assassins

Time: 9:00PM
Location: Skull Castle, Armored Assassins Debriefing Room
Mission: Pending

"What is the news, Albert?" Plantman looked at the mad doctor sitting on his big couch, sipping from his mug of coffee. Only few like Plantman had the privilege to address the evil doctor by his first name.

"News just came, Raven...the Cossack's Citadel has fallen...there were only few recorded survivors, I'm still trying to reach them...I believe my 'old friend' Mikhail Sergei Cossack and his group of robots have fallen as well, of course...not without a fight." The mad Doctor looked at the multitude of screens surrounding the room, each displaying images of the destruction from all angles. He too addressed the Planeswalker by his first name.

"Albert...has any image captured our series of robots?" Plantman looked the bird's eye view of the citadel ruins, now a desolated barren land covered in snow.

"I can't seem to find them, in fact...we found no one around. Not even little Kalinka Cossack..." Dr.Wily sighed, now he felt bits of remorse for kidnapping the girl, though the feeling soon vanished like every other remorse for the bad deeds he's done.

"Do you think anyone survived, Dr.Wily?" Windman looked worriedly at the screens, "The Citadel's defenses were supposed to match the Skull Castle's..."

"Nonsense, Windman, Mikhail's still a long way off...but yes, his defense should've held him out longer." Dr.Wily looked at the screens again. "I won't blame you guys on retreating and...well, failing the mission in Niagara Falls...and you did well to save the human life there. Now we know that the SA has a weapon of mass destruction, we must, must watch out."

"Of course, Albert..." Plantman sighed, "Do you think if Kalinka Cossack is alive she would come under our roof?"

"Might, Raven, might." The mad doctor replied, looking at Plantman. "But judging from what I did to her in the past. She might not..."

"Lastly, sir...I heard about the slaughter in Brussels? The Rescue Force were moping about it..." Windman rested his arms behind his back, pacing slowly back and forth in small steps, at least, small for his jumbo-sized feet.

"Ah, yes...this proves how cruel the RPD can be." Wily smiled and took a last sip from his coffee. "I knew, from the beginning you guys are part of the ICPO...do you guys want the RPD dead, and SA wasted?"

"Of course we do, Albert, you know my job..." Plantman looked at the mad doctor, returning the smile.

"Go nuts on them, as if you haven't already, I don't care if it's in my name or the Interpol's name, but I want them down. Robots deserve much more respect than a shutdown code in their brains." Dr.Wily lowered his face, his messy hair flying around his head. "I wouldn't have came this far had you guys, the Gladiators, the Warriors, Spark-chan, and many others came to aid me..."

"For us all. Albert...you are, the only right choice." Plantman saluted as he turned around, "Is the snowboard finished?"

"Ready to go, Raven...give it to him." Dr.Wily turned his couch back, focusing satellite images on various sites around the world.

"Very well...c'mon, Windman, let's go."

With that, the two robot masters left the old doctor alone in the debriefing room. The illuminating lights of the screens shined on the wrinkled face of the astray man, yet a possible savior of the world.

--------------------

Time: 9:45PM
Location: Left Eye of Skull
Mission: Pending

The two robot masters sat in front of the computer, with Plantman typing a distress message through a secret network known to no human on this world save for the Armored Assassins.

"Blue Fox, by the time you read this, we would have evacuated from Niagara Falls.

We heard what happened in the citadel battle. I'm sorry to be unable to come to the battlefield, but we had no choice but to focus on evacuating the city before Heatman blew it up.

If you really must, tell Kalinka Cossack they are as welcomed as any other robot to Wily's side...this side, may be our only right choice now.

If you haven't heard, the RPD and WRF fought in Brussels, resulting in a huge civilian casualty. I regret to say but this is proof of yet another act of crime the RPD has commited, I swear, the WRF had not done a thing towards the civilians, even assisting them. Yet, the RPDs are coming to ruin the plan.

This war is already getting out of hand, if wherever you're staying is invaded, keep in mind there's always the Warsaw, Taipei and Tokyo bases, hidden safely from the sights of SA and RPD.

We will meet soon, Blue Fox, but hopefully, not as enemies on the battlefield, of which, we will pay full responsibility to chasing back our two fallen teammates.

All regards.

Planeswalker, RC"

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Time: 10:00PM
Location: ICPO Headquarters, Lyon
Mission: N/A

"What is this!? You little snot of an inspector, you have lied! Treason!"

The chief of police of various countries scowled angrily at the middle-aged man and his team of cops. Noguchi was nowhere near pleased-his lie has been uncovered. The Armored Assassins were never in Siberia chasing Silver Feather.

"Your punishment will be decided, Japanese Snot, not only for this, but for every failed effort on chasing down the damn thief!"

"...Yes sir." The Inspector lowered his face as he and his team slowly walked out of the meeting room. Not far away, an old man slowly walked over, the chief of Japanese Police Bureau.

"Noguchi, don't worry...you know we, Russia and many countries still secretly support the Interpol...but many don't too."

"What do you suppose I do, boss?"

"Don't let the RPD know...you must escape. I'll promise your position back once the mess is over, but you must get out of here before the RPD integrates you on the Assassin's locations. Your team will be back in Tokyo..."

"...How will I do it, I-"

Before Noguchi could finish the sentence, the lights blanked out from the entire building. As people scurried by in horror, a hand grabbed the weathered Inspector's gloves.

"Follow me, old man, we're high-tailing out of here!"

"That voice, you little-"

"No time, Inspector!"

The two figures sped up towards the roof, not far away was a small copter just for two people. The insignia of Silver Feather imprinted on it.

"Isn't this missile bait?"

"Nah, you'll see."

The cape of Phantom Thief, Silver Feather flew swiftly in the sky as the two got onto the copter. As it took off, deflecting several bullets from the officers just arriving from rooftop. The said officers happening to be Noguchi's very own team, and the chief of the Japan Police Bureau, the latter winking and smiling at Noguchi.

"Alright, Inspector, mirage time!"

The thief laughed as he pressed a small, green button, the copter slowly blended into the night skies, and soon, there was nothing in air in the visible sight.

Slowly flying away, the Inspector glared at his nemesis.

"Why did you save me?"

"The Chief said it, Windman called me about it, heck, I think the only person that hasn't called to get you out is yourself."

"...Fair enough, Feather...where are we heading for?"

"Meeting up with some Assassin members...possibly, the Cossacks, or if I go wrong directionst....the Wily side."

"You're horrible at directions..."

"Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Inspector, look at the times you did when I fooled you guys around."

"Oh, stuff it up, doesn't this thing need refuel?"

"Whatever you see today and till end of this war. please don't present it as evidence against me...not like you can, you don't have any recording device."

"Tch, found out one step earlier, eh?"

"Always be ready. Inspector..."

Time: 11:45PM
Location: Above Scotland
Mission: Arrive in America, DI Base or Skull Castle safely.

--------------------

A few hours after Scenario A...

A large group had amassed outside the teleportation barrier. Slashman found Knightman and helped Centaurgal over to him.

“Thanks, Slash.” She smiled sweetly.

“Hey, no problem, you fight pretty well.” He said with a grin.

“Do we have everyone?” T. Hawk asked.

Everyone who was conscious nodded. They had run a double head count, and the only ones who were missing were with Astroman’s group. Knightman looked back on the burning Citadel.

“Master…” He whispered softly.

The Robot Masters bowed their heads in sadness as they teleported to Deep Impact.

--------------------

Blizzardman felt his heart sink as he saw the nuke hit. Zapper hadn’t had enough time to get out! There’s no way she could have gotten to the secret passage and back…

“No…” Blizzardman began to search frantically, turning over every piece of rubble, no matter how large it seemed. “She has to be here… She’s not back at the base… she’s got be here… Please… not her… not her…” For five hours, he searched through the ruins before he found the one thing he had prayed he’d never witness.

As he turned over a large piece of rubble, he found Zapper lying there. Broken, bloody, and motionless. There was a deep gash in her breast. She had been stabbed through the heart. The General had taken no time in dispatching the Comrades. Blizzard didn’t see any sign of the other Comrades, nor did he care.

She was gone forever. She had left him, and now she’d never come back to him ever again. Blizzard felt a horrible pain in his chest. He would have rather died than have Zapper leave him, and now she had left him for her friends… he thought she loved him, but she would have rather risked death alongside her friends than live for certain with the person she had fallen in love with? He clutched his chest impulsively, the pain was unbearable.

“Why? Why did it have to be her?!” He sobbed, picking her up in his arms holding her close. Her dark violet blood stained his snow-white armor as he rocked her gently as he had done so many times when she was alive.

He closed his eyes as he wept. Memories of Zapper and the life they had together washed over him. They now crushed down on his heart, removing any hope for happiness. “I… I should have been here… to protect you…” He heaved. “It’s… it’s all my fault, Zapper… I wasn’t there… if only I had been there…”

His mind began to wander to other thoughts. He thought of all her friends, the ones she left him to go help. What had they done? All they did was lure her into a trap. They just wanted to drag another person down to hell with them.

“Drill…” He seethed.

His mind soon began searching for others to blame. Drill, Bright, Skull, Cossack himself… Hell, everyone had let her down. The whole faction had failed to protect the love of his life. She was the only thing that mattered in the world to him, and now she was gone all because of a rag-tag bunch of nobodies trying to make a difference in the world under some stupid ideal.

“Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither…” He snarled under his breath. He suddenly got up and looked to the sky. “SEE WHAT YOUR PRECIOUS LIBERTY COST YOU?! SEE HOW WORTHLESS IT IS NOW?!” Blizzardman screamed as loud as he could.

Nothing mattered anymore. Zapper was gone. To Regulus, the world ended. Zapper was the only precious thing in it. He didn’t care what happened to a worthless clod of dirt everyone else called the world. He activated the secure Blue Fox com-link system. He tried his best to be calm, but his voice quivered.

“T. Hawk, Knightman, Centaur, Ivan, report to me, we’re leaving the Cossack faction.”

“But, Blizzard, they really need us.” T. Hawk began.

“I SAID REPORT BACK TO ME NOW!” Blizzardman shouted into the com-link. “WE’RE NOT WORKING FOR COSSACK ANYMORE! YOU GOT THAT?!”

“Jesus…” T. Hawk said as he hung up his com-link. His ears were still ringing. He found Knightman and Centaur rubbing their audio receptors as well.

“What’s wrong with him?” Knightman asked.

“I don’t know, he’s never been this upset unless…” T. Hawk stopped in mid-sentence. “Oh my God…”

--------------------

Blizzard looked up at the sky. He held Zapper’s limp body in his arms. He just wished someone would come and end it all. Maybe he’d see her again that way. Her body was just as cold as his now. He brushed back her bloodstained hair. He’d never see those eyes open ever again. Blizzard tried his best to choke back tears. He thought of all the people who should have helped her. Why were they alive and she was still dead? It was all their fault. Their stupid dream was what killed her. He’d bring them the same pain he felt right now. They’d know his sorrow. He clutched Zapper to his chest as he slowly trudged into the woods. As he teleported, he wondered if the pain would ever stop.

--------------------

Knightman looked down at the ground. He really wanted to honor his lord by staying with Cossack’s followers, but Blizzardman was now his lord. He was charged by Lord Zymeth to follow him in his absence, and Skull had gone missing during the siege.

“This isn’t right, Regulus…” The knight said quietly.

“Shut up.” Blizzard said shortly.

Knightman was angered by such disrespect, but he let it slide. He knew that Blizzardman loved Zapper dearly, and it was only to be expected that he’d be cross. He didn’t know what it meant to love, Zymeth spared him that torment.

Blizzardman looked upon the massive fortress. Skull Castle was an impressive sight to behold. Blizzard was still holding his beloved in his arms.

“If only I had trusted this man to protect her…” He thought. Wily was superior to Cossack. He should have brought Zapper here. Now, he came to the domain of a man deemed by the world a terrorist. To Blizzard, he was a savior he had recognized far too late.

Centaurgal looked at Blizzardman. She could tell he was trying his best to keep from weeping. “Blizzard…” She tried to put a hand on his shoulder but he marched off towards the Castle.

She wanted so much for him to love her the way she did Toadgal… but Toad was the “real” Zapper. He would always love her more, and now the real Zapper was dead. She was just a copy, but she wanted him to love her so badly.

--------------------

"Boss-man, Arachnia saw your...um, friends down there!"

The mini-metool commander squealed as he jumped by with a platoon of small commander metools, on their way to their latest maintenance session by Wily himself.

"Thanks, did Wily fix her up?"

"As good as she could be when he built her..."

"Thanks, bud. Henry, let's go."

"Ave, boss, seems like we got some certain things to discuss..."

The two robot masters slowly walked through the hall towards the front gate, on top of the cliff stood the four former Cossack Faction Armor Assassins.

"Well? Shouldn't you guys be tending to the people injured in the Cossacks? We heard everything from Albert." Plantman looked at Blizzardman, a grave look on his face as his eyes swept by Toad-Zapper's corpse.

"Speak nothing of those useless fools." Blizzardman grunted angrily. As Tomahawkman, Knightman, and a face-lowering Centaurgal inched away from him.

"Useless fools? Don't make me laugh, Fox, what makes you think they're useless fools?" Plantman's eyes turned into a pair of cold glares, almost as cold as the air emitting from Blizzardman.

"Useless, because they have failed to protect her..." Blizzardman returned the glare, sensing anger in Plantman's words. "For their useless ideals, did they really think a rag-tag group of nobodies like them could change anything? Did we change anything?"

"Oh, is it? Well, little snot, may I remind you you're not the only one affected by this war." Plantman's lips curved up into a small smirk. A snide expression as if laughing at the hulking Robot Master in front of him.

"Plant, this isn't the time to..." Tomahawkman stepped out and started. But the Robot Master he addressed stopped him with a flash of his green palms.

"Interfere in nothing of this, Regdar...who do you think you are, Fox, just because you lost your one and only means you lost everything? Get real, kid, war is like this, and I for one lost way too many people to count, get used to it." As Plantman finished his rambling, everyone turned to look at Blizzardman, eagerly waiting for a reply.

”Stay out of my business, planeswalker.” Blizzardman spat as he made his way past Plantman. “You’ll never understand.”

As Blizzardman walked past Plantman, the planeswalker grabbed him by the shoulder, whirling him around and punching him straight in the face.

"I've had it with your selfish bitchy attitude, kid, it's about time you shut the FUCK up!" Plantman shouted.

Blizzardman put Toadgal down gently on the floor. “It’s obvious that being leader here has gotten to your head, Plant.” He took off his trench coat and draped it over his love. “I think it’s time I reminded you who’s calling the shots here.”

"If you're even worthy of being called a leader, snot, let me remind you who's the Planeswalker here!" Plantman shoued back as he wiped a strip of fluid off his mouth. Both of his busters shined and became fully charged. "About time you learned a lesson!"

The enraged Amazonian Robot Master fired two large plasma shots in time. As Blizzardman jumped into them, charging through them nearly unscathed. "You're more or less nothing as well without your powers, I'm sure you forgot who has multi-layered armor here."

“Blizzard! No! Please don’t fight!” Centaurgal cried. She couldn’t take any more of this senseless violence.

Blizzardman didn’t listen and instead charged at Plantman. The nimble Plantman dodged out of the way, hitting Blizzardman on his back with his elbow. Blizzardman swung at him with the back of his hand, but Plantman ducked, landing a flurry of blows on Blizzard’s heavy armor. He pulled back his right hand, ready to slash a good piece of armor, but as he thrust forward, Blizzardman caught his hand. He tightened his grip, crushing the joints together and making Plantman shout in pain. He whirled the plant-based Robot Master off his feet and into a nearby wall. Plantman recovered from the tumble and landed feet-first on the wall, jumping off and hurling himself at the Russian. Blizzardman thrust his palms forward.

Surely he wouldn’t! Not against a fellow team member!

But Plantman thought wrong. As he neared the Armored Assassin leader, Blizzard shot a potent Blizzard Attack at point-blank range, ripping through Plantman’s armor. The cold chilled him right to the bone, stopping his attack dead in its tracks. Plantman fell to a knee.

"You little snot...have you gone blood simple!?" Plantman spat at the former Cossacker. He hadn’t expected Blizzardman to actually use his special attack.

Blizzardman gave no reply. Instead, he picked Plantman up by the head and slammed him face-first into the wall behind him. He pulled his face out of the dented wall only to smash it back in again. As strong as Plant was, Blizzard was a superior melee fighter, and to make matters worse, Blizzard wanted to kill Plantman. He had been looking for an excuse to vent his rage on someone.

Centaurgal couldn’t watch. She buried her face into her hands, she fell to her knees helplessly. She was not the real Zapper, Regulus would never love her like the real one. She was only a copy. The real Zapper would have been able to tell him to stop.

Windman and Knightman both seized Blizzardman by his arms, holding him off from Plant. The planeswalker spun around and was about to strike the Russian when a bullet buried itself into the ground just inches from the spot he was about to place his foot.

“That’s enough, both of you!” Regdar said sternly. Smoke trailed from his revolver.

Blizzardman struggled without making much noise. He just glared at Plantman. Eventually he calmed down enough that Knightman and Windman no longer had to hold him. Windman knelt down beside Centaurgal, unable to say anything. He put his hand on the crying girl's shoulder.

"Why do you guys even fight in a situation like this..." Tomahawkman looked at the sun, then focusing his eyes on the two battered robot masters. "It's all pointless, Plant. Cossack's ideals have lead us to nothing but this. For us, Wily is now the only right choice."

"Oh yeah? Does that mean neglect the Cossacks, leave the other teams behind, open to slaughter by SA, or arrest by RPD?" Plantman replied angrily. The Blizzard Attack had done a number on him, and he felt as though if Blizzard had been allowed to continue, he would have caved his skull in against the wall.

"Master Zymeth believed what Cossack did was right, however, we failed to fight the Scissor Army. Besides, Master is now gone..." Knightman said gravely.

"Are you taking us in or not, Plant...or is it you care more about the desolated group that doesn't even have a proper leader than your own teammates?" Blizzardman glared in question towards the leader of Wily-owned Armored Assassins.

"A proper leader is one that can survive after the original has fallen. Kalinka Cossack is the most suitable leader in every case possible. I will take you guys all in, Wily definitely will, go in for repairs. Fox...and last thing, snot, you haven't lost your one and only."

With the last whim of words, Plantman picked up his last piece of armor, collecting them in a sandbag, and walked away.

Centaurgal looked through her hands at Plantman, then looked at Windman, the bulky China-themed Robot Master looked puzzled as well. Centaurgal then slowly followed the group in. Still glancing at Blizzardman.

"Albert? I bought the rest of the Assassins with me, and two of us might need some repairs..." Plantman held his shredded armor in the sandbag. Blizzardman had some deep gashes and dents in his armor.

"Raven, can you not fight our own people one of these days? I can't repair you every time you pick a fight just because they act the way you don't like them too."

"If only I'm at full power, Albert, if only, none of this wouldn't have happened save for a little uprising of a small army of Scissor Idiots."

"Why didn't Nature Skin work?"

"His fury, his rage...I didn't want it to open up. He needed a place to vent, Albert."

"...You are your ways, Raven..."

"Ah, quit it, Albert."

Time: 11:00AM
Location: Skull Castle
Mission: Pending

--------------------

Centaur's War Journal: Stage 5 Aftermath

Centaur only flopped down on her new bed, sniffling. She got her front legs up before collapsing, leaving the rest of her equine body hanging limp off the edge of the bed. She buried her face in her pillow, and began crying. Blizzard refused to love her, despite that she really was Zapper. Well, she always thought of herself like that before, but now things were different. They started being different ever since this war started and she finally met the... real Zapper.

Not that she had anything against the real one of course. When they met they were just like sisters. Almost the same in personality but different enough in it to tell each other apart. She felt bad for Toad, since she was always so scared. Centaur didn't have her child-like fears.

But when Blizzard started spending more time with Toad instead of her, it really started to wear in that Centaur wasn't a real lover... just some shoulder caddy so that Blizzard didn't get lonely. He didn't love her, he just loved Zapper through her...

She remembered back when Blizzard was injured by Punk. She raced over to see how he was, afraid to loose him, but it turned out that Zapper had beat her there. Knight stopped her at the door to the med bay, though. "I'm sorry, Centaur..." Knight said, obviously following orders. Centaur stopped, shocked and already tearing up.

"But, I need to see if Blizzard-"

"Blizzard's going to be fine." Knight interrupted. "Toad's already with him, and she's pretty shaken up as well. The last thing she needs is to see her double walk in."

"Oh... o-okay... I understand..." Centaur choked. She couldn't blame him, he couldn't feel love himself. But he did put a hand on Centaur's shoulder, comfortingly.

"It'll be alright, Centaur. Soon enough you'll have him to yourself again. But for now, we need you to fight." He said, sternly. Centaur wiped her eyes and nodded.

"Yeah..." She said, before slowly walking off. It never had seemed like she was a fake. But it all started becoming clear to her after that... Just like how Blizzard started ignoring her out of battle altogether. She tried to keep a strait face, but it was just eating her up inside. He spend all of his time with Toad, and hardly even talked to her anymore.

But then Toad died. Centaur cried merely at the tragedy itself. But what made it even worse was that Blizzard wouldn't even let her try to comfort him. He'd rather cradle her corpse rather than her... That was the last proof... she wasn't Zapper. She wasn't much of anybody. She was practically just some machine that Blizzard built to keep him company while the REAL Zapper was gone.

She wept into her pillow, coming to the realization that Blizzard really couldn't love her. She was a fake, a copy. Over an hour passed as she cried, until she finally dulled it into a weak sniffle. She covered up as much of her body as she could with her new, empty room's blankets. At length she kicked her back legs and the rest of her body onto her new bed, causing it to sag heavily. She covered herself with the heavy blanket, still sniffling.

She thought that, maybe even if Blizzard didn’t love her, at least being around him would make her feel a little better. She curled up as much as she could in her uncomfortable mattress. She just wanted to go home. She figured maybe she could talk to Regdar in the morning. He always knew how to cheer her up, even though she was a fake…

--------------------

Early morning, one day after Scenario A

At the Scissor Army HQ, General Cutman looked over his glorious captured Robot Masters. Suitable additions to his army. He neared a worn out box with the letters, "FLAMATO" scribbled in what appeared to be black sharpie on the side.

Intrigued by a box of robot bits that were never reported, he picked out a helmet and examined it. It was Yamatoman's head. He turned to a mechanic at his side.

"Where did this come from?" He asked. He had a visage of both mild confusion and repulsion.

"They were retrieved from Lisbon, sir." The mechanic replied.

"In what manner?" He inquired, holding the head at arm's length as though it were radioactive.

"Well, they decided to dive headlong into battle without reinforcements, and were quickly overwhelmed by the enemy." The mechanic explained.

The General's expression failed to change as he loosened his hold on the helmet, allowing it to plop unceremoniously into the parts box.

--------------------

Late afternoon, one day after Scenario A

Plantman decided that he would leave the castle to train. He opened the door and stubbed his foot against a heavy box. He was startled by the rattling noise and looked down.

--------------------

Blizzard held Zapper's lifeless body up in his room. He had closed the door so he would be alone. His things were left packed on the dresser. He had managed to retrieve some of Zapper's most precious items from the wreckage, namely her teddy bear. He had remembered finding it. It didn't tear at his insides nearly as much as finding Zapper herself, but it was still a tragic site to see something so innocent-looking among burning napalm and broken stones.

The door opened. Blizzard cursed under his breath for not having the sense to lock the door. Plantman walked in with a box.

"Flamato?" Blizzard thought to himself, reading the black marker on the side.

Plant plopped the box in front of him. It contained Flameman and Yamatoman's parts. Now the spliced name made sense. There was a note inside:

"Sorry, can't use garbage.

~Cutman"

If Blizzardman actually had a mouth, he would have cracked a grin. It was the first reprieve from the heartache he'd had since finding his loved one murdered.

"How dare he mock us like that?" Plantman said in a huff. "If only I had 50, no, 25% of my power, this would have been over by now!"

Blizzardman glared at Plantman, he had had it with that damn planeswalker always whining about getting his power back. What about his lover? At least Raven was gaining his power back over time. Zapper would never come back. Ever. The room began to chill as condensed air began to roll from his vents out of anger. Plantman 's indignation began to cool as he noticed the room cooling. Then he saw the ice blue eyes shooting daggers at him.

"Are you finished?" Blizzard said with notable contempt.

Plantman stared back at him, not sure what to say. The silence was getting awkward. Finally, Blizzard stood up, laying his loved one on his own bed. He had cleaned her wounds with the utmost care. It almost looked as though she were only sleeping were it not for the sizable gash.

"Good." He faced Plantman again. "Do you know WHY he sent them back?" Blizzard inquired. The room was beginning to look like a meat-locker with all the chilled air unable to escape.

"He wanted-" Plant started, but Blizzard cut him off.

"Because YOU made our team look like idiots in Lisbon, that's why!" Blizzard shouted. "You had hundreds of units, and what did you do? You tried to fight the RPD and the SA all by yourself. Quit acting like a god, you're one of us now. If I had those kinds of numbers... I wouldn't be holding the corpse of my love!"

"We just underestimated Hyper-" Plant was cut off again.

"We're doing things MY way from now on, understand?!" Blizzard loomed in uncomfortably close to Plant's face. He had never seen Blizzard so furious. "No more stupid honor codes. No more foolish ideals. Now get out."

Plantman stared back at the menacing behemoth. He knew he was looking for a reason to kill someone. He didn't just want to fight. He wouldn't be satisfied until he made someone-anyone-feel even the slightest amount of pain he was in right now.

Plantman left for the door. "You know," He said as he stopped in the doorway. "Loved ones live on in places other than the loved one themself. And yours is a special case..."

Blizzard didn't respond. He simply glared at Plantman until the planeswalker left the room quietly. The icy giant sat back down again and gazed at Zapper. His eyes shrinking back to the blue points of light. He caught her up in his arms again and sat down on the bed, returning to all the pain that had been placed on hold due to the overwhelming anger he had been harboring during his talk.

--------------------

Time: 1:00PM
Location: Skull Castle
Mission: Pending

“I heard everything.” Windman leaned on the wall beside the door as the mechanical door slid open, the green foot of Plantman walking out slowly, “We did underestimate Hyper Storm H…and he is right, Raven…till your powers come back you’re not going to be able to rewrite all this.”

“Don’t get me started…” Plantman sighed as the two of them walked down the hall, “I don’t even know who made this universe.”

“Raven…you have to understand, he lost his one and only.” The bulky robot master dusted off a small patch of dust on his helmet.

“No, he hasn’t, and if he doesn’t realize that sooner, he’ll truly lose his one and only.”
Plantman grunted angrily as the two of them looked at the plains lying beyond the mountain of which the impenetrable fortress of steel was built upon. “I hope he can wake up soon.”

“You sound like you know what’s happening.” Windman glanced at Plantman from the side of his eye, “As if…it had happened to you.”

“Speak nothing more, Henry, I prefer not to talk about anything of my past, this is even beyond the war between Planeswalkers I once told you about.” The plant-themed robot master held out his palm, a small petal in the middle, resting on his cold, steel hands. “You know why our Zapper cried?”

“…I don’t, Raven….to be honest, I’m puzzled, confused, of all things.” Windman sighed as the two sat down on a bench, looking at two Metools and a Joe throwing a ball around them playfully.

“Well, we’ll only intervene when we must. Henry, there is no point trying to solve the problem till Fox wakes up from that snotty boy into the worthy warrior we knew him as.” Plantman cackled lightly as he caught the ball, throwing the ball swiftly back at the Joe. The latter caught it with its shield, letting the red ball slide off onto a Metool’s helmet.

“You saw him worthy? Am I listening wrong? I thought you saw no one worthy.” Windman smirked as he looked at his companion.

“I see everyone worthy of putting up a fight, Henry…I’ll only call someone a snot if they’re asleep.”

“So is Fox asleep now?”

“He is, and only one person can wake him up.”

The two exchanged small laughs, Windman suddenly turned his head around, looking at Plantman, “One quick thing…how did General Cutman find out about this castle’s location and yet not flatten it in one all-out attack?”

“He can’t, I’ll tell you what, Henry. This castle has enough firepower to screw over the SA seven times over, just the two of us alone firing from the castle walls can probably take down three squadrons without breaking a sweat, and if Heatman even wants to go all explosion again, he’s gotta reach the castle first…and I’m sure this time we’re prepared to blow him to Kingdom Come.”

“Still, how did he get our…um, address?”

“Henry, Henry…the Scissor Army is very efficient, I may look down on their combat abilities, but their data gathering is magnificent, I believe the General and Mesmerman already pinned down the brand of toilet paper Wily uses.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, you go ask the SA.”

“Bah, forget it. Raven…”

“So, what’re you two doing here?”

The mad doctor Albert W.Wily slowly limped towards the two robot masters, the grouchy look always on his face. As if he’s been deprived of sleep for days.

“Nothing really much, Albert…” Plantman stood up, gesturing Windman to walk with him and the doctor, the three slowly treaded down the hallways. “Seems like Blue Fox is unable to get over the death of his one and only.”

“Which one?” Wily smiled comically as he saw a group of robotic bees pass by the automatic repair bay. Each one refitted with explosive bombs.

“The dead one, the…real one.” Windman stammered when he spoke, he was unsure if ‘real’ or ‘genuine’ were appropriate words.

“Cutman’s brilliant work…” Wily’s grumbled as they walked past the WRF’s quarters. “Now we have one robot master that just can’t fight since he’s emotionally unstable, any solutions, Raven?”

“Well, Albert, I believe we won’t mind if he strikes down a SA or RPD officer in rage, but…” Plantman shrugged.

“Of course, I wouldn’t care either.” Wily said as the door slid open, and the three entered the Assassin’s debriefing room. “…but?”

“If he strikes anyone from Cossack…who technically still could help us, or we could use them…” Plantman looked at the multitude of screens, showing territories under Wily’s control, and spy cameras across the cities and secret bases.

“Strike him down then. I don’t want to see him mangle our potential ally…or, well, as you said, tool, when they can help us, of course, if they’re helping the RPD, we’re taking them out.” The mad doctor grumbled, “What about the other two? Oh, and I heard the General sent in spare armor parts?”

“I’m sure Tomahawkman will always support us…” Plantman looked at the Joes patrolling Cairo, “As for Knightman, due to the fact he’s blindly loyal to Skullman, if Cutman somehow resurrects the Cossack’s Comrades, we’ll have to knock Knightman out as well.”

“So…who’s the commander, you or Blizzardman?” Wily peered at Plantman.

“Him, I’m sure he can do it.” Plantman looked calmly at Wily, who made a queer face. “I trust in his ability to wake up…if he doesn’t. I’ll make sure we get some sense into him very quickly, even if we must use violence, or even deactivate him.”

“Thing is, me and Knight barely even got to hold him back…” Windman gave a shocked look at Plantman, “I don’t know if we can do this, or not.”

“I’m counting on you guys…I’m sure no matter how clouded he is, he can make the right decision. But if he denounces the empire Albert, you, is trying to establish, or if he continues to vent his hatred towards the Cossacks on them, I won’t hesitate to open fire on him.” Plantman looked down at the doctor menacingly.

“But you heard him…he said screw all the ideals and honor codes.” Windman staggered back a bit as his partner turned back at him.

“He has to remember who’s taking us in at this moment. Henry, Albert here is, and to be honest, I don’t think he realizes that, all he has in his mind now is his guilt over Comrade Zapper’s death, and leaving our Zapper in a broken heart!”

The three of them exchanged glances, silence ensued before Windman finally spoke.

“Fair enough, Raven.” Windman sighed. “After all, Dr.Wily, without you we’d have to go under the RPD’s care, and I’m not sure if shutting down just because we did badly is a good idea.”

“I’m surprised you’re actually holding your temper that well, Raven…” Wily laughed madly as his cold, blue eyes focused on Plantman. “Are you really trying to help him?”

“I do what I can, Albert…” Plantman replied sternly, after saluting at Wily, the duo left the room, pondered with thoughts.

Time: 2:00PM
Location: Skull Castle
Mission: Pending

--------------------

5:30 PM...

Blizzardman looked in the parts box from the bed he was holding Zapper. He needed to escape this pain somehow... He needed something to distract him from the torment. Perhaps tinkering would suffice. He got up, still holding Zapper in one arm, and sat down again next to the box. He pulled out the Flameman parts and, with a soldering iron he kept in his luggage, began to reassemble Flameman.

Several hours passed, and Flameman was all in one piece. One thing remained.

"I need a chip..." Blizzard whispered softly, almost as though he were addressing Zapper. Then he remembered what was in his coat pocket.

He pulled out the chip and inserted it into Flameman's head. "Hopefully Sora wasn't as stupid as the last Flameman." He thought to himself.

He was about to activate him, but then hesitated. He really didn't want to have to explain a whole bunch of things to Sora right now when he would wake up from being attacked by Wraith and finding himself in an Arab Robot Master's body. It'd be traumatic, and lots of questions would be asked that he would rather not bother himself with answering.

He'd do it later.

He jumped as he heard a knock on the door. He had almost forgotten Zapper was being cradled in his right arm. He sighed as reality flowed back to him. Repairing Flame had taken his mind off the heartache a little, and now it came right back again.

"...Come in..." He grunted.

"It is me, Blizzardman." Wily said quietly as he opened the door. "I see you haf finally come back to me after zat incident with my bio-suit project. How does zee new body suit you? I am curious."

"Well, you lied about one thing, Doctor." Regulus said. "I rigged your bio-suit to return me to my old form. Perks of being a mind in a stasis tank."

"Ah, zo you haf found a loophole, zen?" The Doctor inquired.

"Yes. Now, I'm not feeling well, as you can tell, so what did you want?"

"I haf made you a gift. Think of it as a token of appreciation for bringing ze rest of ze world tournament Robot Masters back to me." Wily held out a snowboard that had retracted to a foot in length. "I'd tell you about it, but I think you vill figure zis all out soon enough. Now, I haf a favor to ask of you."

"What's that?" Blizzard simply put the board down without so much as a 'Thank you.'

"I haf been researching Dark Energy, und I haf managed to channel a soul using Dark Energy into a power-core. I believe zis will be ze most suitable armor, as ze donor vas stolen from a burial ground in Kyoto Japan." The Doctor finished, noting Yamato's obvious Japanese heritage.

"Take it," Regulus said, "And bring him up to speed with this chip." He gave him a flash card taken from his datapad. "Oh, and Doctor Wily. I require these units for the next time you send us out for a mission." He hand the doctor a piece of paper.

"Hmm..." Wily twirled his mustache. "I think I zee ver you are going with zis." He said with a slight chuckle. "I thought zat you ver in too much pain to think straight."

"Not so, Wily." Blizzard corrected. "I think quite clearly. I just wish I had come here with Zapper before... before this happened..." He tilted to show the doctor Zapper's body.

"Zat iz a shame, I suppose." Wily didn't seem phazed. "I vill provide zese units as you haf requested." He left.

The doctor took Yamato's remains and the card and left. Regulus sat down again, contemplating his intolerable future without Zapper...

--------------------

Blizzardman found himself inside Cossack's Citadel. He saw the the Comrades trying to drill through heavy steel doors trying to get out. And there was Zapper, perfectly content to be with her friends. She looked up.

"Hey, Reg! We were just about to leave!" She jumped up and gave him a big hug, which he returned with joy. He had her back! She WAS safe.

"You should get back to Blue Fox HQ." She smiled. "What with the Scissor Army, the Citadel isn't as safe as it used to be. The General should be here any minute now, but we'll be fine. Drill said so!" She beamed at him.

"Speak of the devil..." A sinister yet amused voice rang out behind them. "I decided to drop in. I hope you don't mind."

It was General Cutman.

"I'm a nice guy." The General continued. "I'm only here for Sergei. You little bots can run off if you'd like." He gestured in a 'shoo' animation. "But you have to the count of five." He put his skeletal fist up. "One..." He lifted his index finger.

"Zapper, run! Get somewhere safe! Don't stay here!" Blizzard shouted.

"Two..."

"Don't worry, Reg. Drill said we'd be safe." Zapper gave Drill a hug.

"Yeah, don't worry, Reg, we'll take good care of her." Drill patted Zapper on the head.

"Three..."

"Zapper! The General is right here! Don't be foolish! He'll kill all of you!" Blizzard said.

"Quit being a sore loser, Sno-cone, Frogger wants to stay with us." Dive lit a cigarette. How could he smoke at a time like this?!

"Four..."

Blizzard ran to Zapper and fell to his knees. "Please!" His words became slurred and frantic because he was starting to weep. This was his second chance with Zapper. He knew how it'd end if she stayed. "Don't stay... he'll... he'll kill you... I can't lose you again. Please don't make me go through all that pain... I... I can't..."

"Reg, I'll be fine. My friends will watch out for me." Zapper replied.

"Five..."

The General began to walk towards the Comrades. He brandished his sheers. The Comrades just stood there, smiling with seemingly blissfull ignorance on their faces. Blizzardman grabbed the General as he walked past, but he was not in the least hindered by his strength. He marched with Blizzard trying to push him back to his first victim. Sean seemed oblivious to him as the sadistic robot split him perfectly in half with a shear, the left side of his body cleaved perfectly from the right. Blizzard tried to stop his attack, but not even with all of his strength could the massive robot stop so much as one of Cutman's arms as it tore through Sean.

"Zapper!" Blizzard screamed. "RUN!"

"It's ok, Reg." Zapper insisted as the General lopped off Bright's head whle Blizzard tried in futility to stop it.

The next one was Diveman. "Ya can't even stop a flimsy little panty-waist like Old Coldcuts?" He sneared as the blade severed his toso torso from the lower body. "Yer a pussy, Bliz." He finished as he fell to the floor. The rest of the Cossackers were executed until the General reached Zapper. Blizzard this time shielded her from his attacks by throwing himself around Zapper.

"No! You'll have to kill me first!" He shouted.

He stared into Zapper's eyes. If the General was going to kill her, he didn't want to be alive to witness it. Suddenly, Cutman's shear passed through his chest, stabbing Zapper in the heart. He was shocked. The shear just went right through him. He had failed to protect her... again... This time he held Zapper in his arms as her eyes closed, the life leaving her all because he failed to save her. He closed his eyes as he heard General Cutman's laughter ringing in his ears.

Eventually the laughter of the General began to mix with with a more familiar laughter. Blizzard opened his eyes. He was outside the tunnel and in the main courtyard of the Citadel, still holding Zapper's limp body. There stood Skullman.

Laughing.

"Skull, he... he killed Zapper..." Blizzard sobbed.

"I know!" Skullman weezed between fits. "Now you know how it feels to lose the one you love! The look on your face is priceless!" He began to laugh uncontrollably. "I hope I never looked like such a nimrod when I lost Katrina. Oh, and Napalmman says hi."

Skullman pointed across the courtyard and over the snowy plane to where the SA Captain was waiting. He recoiled, and then Blizzard heard a screaming sound as the Napalm Nuke came crashing down...

--------------------

Blizzardman woke with a start. Had he the ability to sweat, he'd have been drenched in it. Instead, only his breathing simluated his panic. He looked over at the bed he had laid Zapper in. She was still there exactly how he had left there. It wasn't just some horrible nightmare. She was gone. Forever.

Blizzardman sobbed as quietly as he could. All he could think about was how much hate he had for so many people. He hated Cutman for killing Zapper. He hated Drill for letting her throw her life away. He hated the whole Cossack faction for rallying together for such an absurd cause. He hated himself for letting this all happen.

He walked across the room and picked up Zapper, cradling her in his arms. "Forgive me, Zapper..." He whispered in a quivering voice.

--------------------

Goodbye

One week after the death of Zapper...

Blizzardman looked at his love with tears in his eyes. He had tried his best to preserve Zapper, but after a week, the natural process of decay threatened to claim the lovely woman he had fallen in love with.

He had to bury her...

Blizzardman never thought he'd have to do this. At least, not now... He had hoped that when their time came, they might die together, so that neither would experience the sorrow that he was feeling right now, because one wouldn't have to bear the burden of burying the other. Someone would just bury them as they always were: together.

It wasn't fair. Why did he have to do this? He had so much more ahead of him, all without Zapper. He thought of Drill when he told him about what happened to the Parrs. Oh well, if it hurt Drill so much, he would have thought about what he'd go through when he called Zapper over to her death. Either he was dumb enough not to see their fate coming or he wanted Blizzardman to suffer. Either way, he hated him.

He carried Toadgal's body outside of the Castle. He had snuck out without anyone bothering him along the way. He wasn't going to bury her in such unworthy territory. There was only one place he'd put her to rest.

--------------------

Blizzardman came out of the teleportation just outside of Blue Fox HQ's check-in station. He put Zapper down. Suddenly, Blizzardman's body contorted and his armor began to shift and withdraw into portals that opened up close to his body. The transformation completed, and a blue Quickman with a face-guard gracefully dropped to the ground. He had met Zapper in this form, and Regulus wanted to say goodbye to her the same way...

Regulus walked to the check in, station. Altair was performing a routine checkup on the facility, as the duties of leader were now his during Regulus's absence. He spotted Regulus, and was about to wave when he saw Zapper. Instead, he rushed over to see him.

"Commander. What happened?!" He said quickly. "I'll call for help."

"Don't bother..." Regulus said, his voice breaking. "She's... she's been dead for a while now..."

"Commander..." Altair tried to put a massive hand on Regulus's shoulder, but the Blue Fox commander simply walked on, ignoring him. Altair took his cue and resumed what he was doing, hoping he would be alright.

Regulus trudged across the snowy plains surrounding his compound until he found the sacred ground. He looked down at his fallen loved one.

"We're back home, Zapper..." He sobbed. "We're back in Payon..."

Regulus walked slowly into the woods. The forest was absolutely beautiful regardless of the time of year. The snow had left the ground coated in a thick, even layer. The trees were wearing a coat of the glistening white powder. A haven to two lovers from the rest of the world, untouched by friend or foe. It was a place Regulus and Zapper had spent many hours simply gazing into each other's eyes and thinking of the life ahead of them. But to Regulus, this place was a graveyard. A beautiful world shattered by the presence of death. It was a sorrowful thing to behold now. It tore at his heart with all the memories flooding into his mind from the familiar scenery conflicting with the body he held in his arms.

He laid Zapper down in a clearing and set to his sorrowful work. He had neglected to bring a shovel. Instead, he carved out the earth with his own hands, each handful felt like he was ripping out a part of his soul. Each time his hand scraped the dirt from the ground, a new memory of their life together would resurface, and he'd have to let that go as he dropped the freshly dug earth from his hand. For anyone else it took hours to dig that grave. It took Regulus years. All the years of his life he'd known true happiness, now he was going through true despair. Everything that mattered to him was taken from him.

The hole was finished. All he needed was to place the body and... and then he'd begin the task of replacing the dirt. He wanted so badly to join her there. He wished he were the one being put to rest in that dark hole in the ground. But it was his burden to be forced to carry on. He picked up Zapper's body, taking the helmet off and letting her long white hair hang freely. He pressed her face up against his.

"I wish things didn't have to be this way, love..." He said softly. Tears were running down his face. "I... I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you... I should have been there... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

He kissed his lover's forehead and gently placed her on the soft earth floor. This was it. This was the last he'd see of Zapper. Regulus was burying himself in that hole. Only a shell would walk away from this grave. He began to scoop up the dirt he had moved, placing handfuls on top of the beautiful body that lay in the ground. He began talking to her as he did so. It made it bearable.

"I remember when we first met, dear..." He said, placing a handful of dirt into the hole. "I remember the first thing I thought was that you must be the most beautiful creature on Earth." He placed another handful of dirt. He chuckled lightly. "I was right, too... I'll never find anyone as lovely as you are, my dear... That person simply doesn't exist."

He continued to heap the soil onto his beloved, talking to her about fond memories as he did so. It kept him from breaking down and weeping like a child. He wanted to dig her back up, to hold her again, but he knew he'd have to leave her there. It was time to let go.

He reached the last handful of dirt. As he patted down the earth below him, he felt his the sharpest pain imaginable at his very core. He didn't have a "heart" in the sense of an organ, but right now he felt it twisting into horrible shapes. He had brought a piece of marble with him, and he placed it at the head of the mound. He took out his katana and began to carve an inscription:

"To those who find this, know that this day, January 23rd, 20XX, the world lost the only thing worth living for. Let no one claim true happiness, for true joy has been murdered. Let there be no more kindness, for kindness has been pierced through the heart. Let there be no more laughter, for hatred has forever silenced it. The world lives on, but it has lost all that it lives for. God help us all who remain."

Regulus sat back and looked at the grave. Nothing could bring her back, so all he had left to fall on was sorrow. He fell forward, catching up Zapper's helmet and bringing it up to his cheek. He wept for hours. What else could he do? He had nothing else to give except his pain, his misery.

After what seemed forever, he stood up, tears still wet on his face. He looked at the grave. "Goodbye... Zapper..." He barely managed to choke out her name. "I'll... I'll always love you..."

--------------------

Time: 9:00PM
Location: Skull Space Station, 0230 Hours before Mission of Kalingrad
Mission: Defend Kalingrad, destroy all SA and RPD attack forces.

“I really don’t know what to do, Dr.Wily…” Windman said as he sank his face into his hands, sitting on a green leather couch, the mad doctor sat across the table in a red chair, peering at Windman through his work goggles.

“I fear Raven has become to distain with his duties of keeping not only Cossack’s ideals alive, but also build up my empire, the combined pressure of two is slowly driving him into a fanatic…I fear for the worst, I could be wrong, though, that kid can fake anything perfectly.” Wily gritted his teeth as he looked at Windman. “Blizzardman is thinking quite straight even after the death of his love…he might just be acting it in front of us, I trust in you guys to take care of the attacking force of Kalingrad.”

“Which side should I take, Doc…” Windman held his head with his hands. His turbines generating a gentle breeze. “It’s so very complicated, even for an Esper, I feel confused, and lost.”

“Pick no side to stand on, let Raven take care of his business of Blizzardman, I know he has a plan, do not take on Blizzardman’s goals either, hi goals only contains vengeance.”

“Wha…what should I do?” Windman looked at the doctor, his eyes hollow with confusion and despair.

“Come here, beside me. Windman.” Wily gestured to the robot master, the latter slowly followed the madman to the airtight windows of the space station, both of them viewing down on the now war-torn earth. “You and Raven…are the few of my loyal causes. I already assured Raven’s stance, he will be with me, but he will also preserve Mikhail’s goals…as for you…”

Wily paused for a second, turning back to look at Windman, then he slowly began, tightening the grip of the wretch in his hand. “Be yourself, Windman, help me, help an old man fulfill his dreams of world domination, become one of my true horsemen of a new order, a new empire!”

Windman gazed at the doctor. His turbines stopped silent, hundreds and thousands of things rushed through his mind—it seemed like the Doctor was right after all. To Windman, both Plant and Blizzard were too busy fighting each other, and he would rather help the heartbroken Zapper, and Wily.

“…I accept, Dr.Wily…no, Master Wily…” Windman bowed down, one knee kneeled on the ground.

“Arise, MXN-047 Windman, one of my proudest robot masters.” Dr.Wily laughed insanely as he held the robot master up. “Get just a bit of sleep, it’s only hours before your next mission.”

“Of course, Master.” Windman saluted and walked out. Leaving the doctor, with a devious smile on Wily’s face. Slowly widening into yet another insane laughter.

Time: 9:30PM
Location: Skull Space Station, 0230 Hours before Mission of Kalingrad
Mission: Defend Kalingrad, destroy all SA and RPD attack forces.

--------------------

Centaur slowly trotted through the space station, sadly. She hugged herself, quivering as she went to her new room, in which Wily was nice enough to supply a bed big enough to fit her on. It still hurt so badly, even after two weeks. And after Magnetman destroyed their last base, she was scared of the SA a lot more then. She sniffled back some tears before she rounded the corner, seeing Blizzard man.

Her heart leapt up at seeing him, and she trotted over to her dejected leader. He looked just as depressed as she was feeling. It was only a week ago he had to bury the REAL Zapper. “R-Reg..?” She stammered in front of him. Blizzard looked up, and then back down at the floor and kept walking past her. She followed behind him, closely. “I’m still so sorry, Reg…” She said, honestly. Still he ignored her. “If you want to talk about it-“

“Centaur…” Blizzard sighed, “Please, please leave me alone right now…” He didn’t seem angry or hostile towards her, but it still cut her deep.

“But… But Reg… why?” She asked, her eyes flooding with tears again.

“Centaur, every time I look at you, every time I hear your voice, ever time you call me Reg… It… it just reminds me of her… So please, leave me alone…”

Blizzard walked off, leaving Centaur trembling in the hallway. Tears streamed down her face, but she couldn’t move or even make a sound. Slowly all of her legs started to give away, and she laid down on the floor in the hallway, buried her face in her hands, and wept. She could have sworn she laid there, crying for hours. It was all hitting her so hard… She wasn’t real, and Blizzard could never love her back. Not only that, but now she knew that her simply being there only made him sadder.

Her face alone made him miserable. Her thoughts started swimming as she bawled in the hallway, dragging herself up and walking towards the bathroom. She closed and locked the door, and began staring at herself in the mirror. She hadn’t noticed before, but she really was an exact copy of Zapper, only she looked terrible now, from crying so hard. She grimaced and collapsed again, crying into the sink.

She had never felt so miserable in all her life, both the real one and the fake memories of Zapper’s. She looked up at herself again. She could never replace Zapper, it was a foolish thing to think. She couldn’t even see a point in trying anymore. She looked down at her hand as her naginata appeared in it. She started crying even harder as she grabbed the hilt right underneath the blade, and lifted to her face.

Minutes passed and more and more of Centaur’s synthetic skin fell into the sink in front of her. She started having a rougher time as the dark brown, almost black hydraulics fluid seeped out of her wounds. Her eyes looked down at the sink, which was filling up with pieces of fake grey skin, oil, and small bits of metal used for facial expressions. She finally couldn’t take anymore and threw her naginata to the side, burying was left of her face in her hands.

She slowly looked up at what she did to herself, and started crying hard again. She was hideous, now. The only thing left of her old face was some of her skin remaining around her right eye that led up to her scalp, and covered part of her cheek and led to her ear. The rest of her face and throat was nothing but the base skeleton that Regulus had used to build her. Her completely white eyes looked over the dull, riveted, metal skull-face staring back at her from the mirror. Even her neck showed off all the working parts now. Her long, white hair was much shorter now, not going past her shoulders anymore and stained in some places with oil, which had finally stopped flowing.

She exited the bathroom in a daze, horrified by her new appearance, by what she had just done, and her current situation… Other Wily members side-stepped her, seeing her mutilations despite her best efforts to keep them hidden behind her hands. Traces of oil still dripped between her fingers and practically covered her chest and shoulders. She finally stumbled into across Blizzard’s room, still dazed and dizzy. She opened the door and stood in there, shivering.

“Reg…?” She asked, before quickly stopping. Her voice now had a synthesized, metalic feel to it, like she was talking through a radio. Blizzard looked up, slightly shocked to see Centaur in such a condition. But he turned away from her, staring back into the corner he was prior. She sniffled and walked next to him, sitting next to him on his bed, their combined weight making it sag. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I love you…” She said, in her tinny voice.

He still didn’t even acknowledge her, and she started crying again, the mixture of tears and oil dripping on his white armor. She closed the one eye she still could, her other one simply blacking out, and just leaned against him, longingly. Suddenly her eyes opened/activated again when she heard someone else in the doorway. It was Tomahawk.

“Hi, T.Hawk…” She choked. His eyes widened with shock and he ran over to her, almost panicking.

“Centaur! Are… are you okay?” He asked, concerned.

“No…” She choked before starting to cry again.

“C’mon, Centaur… let’s go…” T.Hawk said, walking towards her.

“No…” She whined, burying her face in the unmoving Blizzard’s armor. It was like seeking comfort with a boulder. T.Hawk put his hands on Centaur’s shoulders, gently tugging her away from the clearly uninterested Blizzardman. She buried her mutilated face in her hands again, crying heavily. She started slowly walking with T.Hawk’s arm around her, consoling her.

“Centaur, is there anything I can do for ya’?” T.Hawk asked as they got the hallway again. Centaur just shook her head. “Is there anything that ya’ need, Cent?” T.Hawk knew better than to try calling her “Zapper”.

“I am a little sleepy…” Centaur said, sniffling. T.Hawk smiled, weakly.

“C’mon then, buddy. Let’s get you to bed. How’s that sound?” He asked. Centaur wiped her tears and nodded. They slowly approached her room, and T.Hawk helped her to bed. He tucked her in and sat down next to her. “Everything’s going to be alright…” He said. He gave her a hug and she started bawling into his shoulder, miserably. She hadn’t realized how much her face hurt until then. “Shh… shh… Everything’s going to be alright…”

Eventually Centaur stopped crying so hard and laid down again. “Please don’t leave…” She pleaded.

“C’mon, Cent. I’m not gonna leave ya’. I’ll be right here, all night.” Centaur nodded as T.Hawk pulled up a chair next to her bed. He flipped off the lights and reclined in his seat until Centaur’s sniffling cries faded and she drifted to sleep. “Sweet dreams, Zap…” T.Hawk said, tipping his headdress down over his eyes and joining her in sleep.

--------------------

Deceit

Hours before the attack on Kalingrad...

Blizzardman activated Flameman. "Comrade Sora." He said softly. "Do not be alarmed at your new body. A lot has happened since your last activation.

The firey robot master slowly opened it’s eyes, blinking a few times as his eyes adjusted to the light, before he noticed something was very wrong with his body.

"Huh?" The former Mercury looked at himself, his green and purple armor was gone. He was now spiorting red and gold armor, this was very wrong. "What the-?!"

Blizzard grabbed him and held him firmly. "Do NOT panic. I am NOT in the mood." He said sternly.

"Sorry… What the hell is going on?" Sora asked, taking in his new figure.

"Wraith killed you." Blizzardman explained.

It was then that it all came back to him, memories flooding abck into his mind of what happened on his last Mission. "That bastard…!" Sora clenched his fist.

"You should actually thank Wraithman, he spared you and gave me this chip. Your mind is now in the body of our ex-Flameman. I hope you're not as stupid as it's last host. But much has happened since your last activation, the Cossack faction turned on your friends the Cosmic Gladiators. That is why we are at Wily's HQ. They wouldn't leave it at that, either. The Cossackers decided to rat out Wily's base to the Scissor Army, and we've been forced to relocate to the depths of space from Skull Castle." It was a lie, but Blizzardman wanted Flameman to hate the Cossackers much the same way he did.

The New Flameman’s eyes widedened as he took in all of this. Keeping eerily silent for a few minutes, before looking down at the floor. “Those… those… We trusted them! I thought they would… they…” he dropped to his knees, “They betrayed us… Damn it!” he punched the floor hard. “They will pay… I will make sure… every last one of them pays with their life…”

The blue arctic Robot Master nodded, looking down at his new comrade “Wait for my signal… That will be the opportune moment.”

Flameman turned to look at Blizzardman, then grinned behind his faceplate. So he would have his revenge on the Cossack faction. “… Understood… sir.” He got back on his feet. “… You said we’re in space… correct?” he took his time to look around the room.

“Yes. I’m sure you’re use to it though… now onto the matter at hand. In a few hours we will be sent to Kalingrand in Russie to defend our territory against invading forces. All of our enemies are or were members of the Cossack Faction… you’ll have your revenge. But, you will wait for my command and my command only, and then we will strike.”

The red and gold robot nodded “Yes sir… I understand… they will burn…” he muttered to himself.

“… Report back here in three hours, otherwise you are free to wander around the facility... but don’t get lost.”

“Yes sir.”

--------------------

Sora wandered around the halls of the Wily space base, contemplating the events of the past. It had taken him a while to really calm down and think. He was back in space in one of Wily’s fortresses, and his entire team was destroyed by the Cossacks and the SA. Last he remembered he was Mercury standing off against Wraithman.

“… How long has it been? How much have I missed…?” he looked down at his arm, no, Flameman’s arm. It would take some time to get use to this body and these powers, and already he was going into battle..

“… I need to know more about what happened… how and why…” He was talking to himself. He normally didn’t trust easily, but he owed his life to Blizzardman, and he had to trust him right now.

”… Because there’s noone else to trust” he murmured quietly to himself as he turned around, walking back towards the lab to talk to Blizzardman

“… I wonder what my new Tea-“ he winced as painful memories came rushing back”… Associates are like. Besides… as long as I’m Flameman I have to stick with them… as long as those Cossack bastards are wiped off of the grid…” He spoke as if destroying the Cossacks would bring everything back, his life and his team.

“… Untill then… I’ll have to trust in him…” he sighed as he walked back inside the lab, only to find it empty. ~I guess I’ll have to wait till the mission to find out more about my… associates…~ he sat down on a laboratory table, closing his eyes and waiting in silence.

~.. .It would be a lot easier if I had a map…~ And thus he waited. His mind thinking back, The Scissor Army, Wraithman, the Cossack Faction, they would all have to pay for what they've done, for te sake of his team he had to make sure they were destroyed.

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Deceit

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