The Business of War

Orchestrated By C.M. Rich (Magnetman)

The Reunion

By Gauntlet, Raijin

Scenario H
Participants:
Chimeraman (MM3)(SA)
Artilleryman (MM3)(C)
Evil Eight(MM3)(W)

Location: The Center of the Earth
Max. Cossack Scrap Value: 9843
SA Infantry: 1055
RPD Units: 0
Wily Bots: 444


Omniman walked alone in the corridors of the subterranean Skull Castle. This was just about the worst situation he could have imagined. The Scissor Army commandeering his master. It would be better if the RPD had captured him … at least the Robot Police had rules for this sort of thing. The General had none. And, for reasons that escaped Omniman, he seemed to hate Doctor Wily personally. As if the good doctor had done something to him. General Cutman was mad, that wa the only thing that Omniman could conclude.

Not for the first time did Omniman find himself in front of Wily’s cell door. There sat Doc Robot, crouching with his hand on the door.

“He doesn’t want us to rescue him,” said the robot sadly, “He is afraid of what the general will do if we try. Or even if we succeed. I … I do not know what to do.”

Omniman kept his silence. For a long time he regarded the diminutive Doc Robot as his enemy. As competition for the affection of their master. But now … Omniman didn’t know what to think. Skull Castle had been captured. While they all still had their freedom they all knew in their hearts that it wouldn’t last. Eventually they’d all have to join the Scissor Army or die.

“Don’t you have some sort of idea?” asked Omniman.

“The Master does not want us to do anything but comply,” sobbed Doc Robot.

“Even so … there must be something we can do.”

“Master says to do nothing but obey orders!”

Omniman grabbed Doc Robot’s arms. “Snap out of it!

Despite Omniman’s urgings Doc Robot remained morose. Omniman often imagined how it would be like to have Doc Robot so defeated. He’d never imagine it’d leave him feeling … empty. Maybe it was the circumstances. Omniman strode out of the corridor and back to his room.

All around him Wilybots ran their own affairs as if nothing had really changed. But there were Scissor Joes everywhere now. They now told the Wilybots what to do. Even Golemman had been sent to a secret mission … to the center of the Earth! Omniman himself was ignored. He wondered what they needed Golem down there for. He wondered very much.

It was several minutes before an idea struck the dark knight. Maybe he couldn’t do anything without fear of reprisal … but he still knew one person who might be able to…

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Artilleryman leaned against a tree in Camp Cossack. There was a air of victory around the group since the doctor’s triumphant return. He hated to admit it, but even he felt caught up in it. Had he really given up his last paycheck because he felt like a good guy? He was getting soft. That’s all there was to it.

Artilleryman walked towards the commons area. There the Cossacks Comerades were talking to the Tech Tyrants. All noise ended when Artillery approached.

“Hey,” said Artillery.

“Hey,” said Naop.

There was an awkward silence.

“So, any –“

“No,” said Naop quickly. Artilleryman grunted.

This was followed by another awkward pause. Artilleryman walked away. He was just about out of earshot when Dive called out to him.

“Hey, Arty! You and us got business after the War!”

Artilleryman did not turn. “That a fact?”

He could hear some of the robots urge Diveman to stop, but the blue robot made his way over to him anyway. “Yeah, it’s a fact. You offed Ringman. He was a friend of mine. And sticking by my friends? That’s priority number one for me.”

Artilleryman grunted. “I did what I had to do. I figured you’d understand that one. And, as for Ringman, that was Kalinka’s idea. I just brought him to her.”

Diveman turned Artilleryman around and that was when he saw the anger in the robot’s eyes. “Don’t think I buy that story! You were doing what you had to? Fair enough. But this story about Kalinka torturing the guy to death? I don’t buy for a minute that it was her idea. I know it was you, you bastard. Ringman was a friend of mine and after all this is done … well, we’ll just see what happens.”

Artilleryman looked at the other robots.

“So, that’s how it is, eh?” asked Artilleryman of the surrounding group. No robot said a word.

“See you after the War, Arty.”

“Not if I see you first, Dive.”

Artilleryman made his way to his own portion of the camp. So much for goodwill. Before he was a coward because he wasn’t repaired as the war raged on for months. And now they hated him because their pal bit the bullet. Cossack seemed to value him, but he was about it. Artilleryman hated the situation! He couldn’t go to the RPD because they’d install a damn chip in his head. He couldn’t join the Scissor Army because they’d turn him into a monster. And his pride certainly wouldn’t allow him to return to Wily.

Artilleryman was mulling over his options when he got a heavily degraded signal. It was on his own personal frequency, one very few people knew about.

After weeks of boredom (his bosses didn’t like sending him on missions unless it was necessary thanks to him wanting to earn a living) this was just what he was looking for. He checked the message. The smile behind Artilleryman’s helmet grew wide. Either this was a trap or some long-overdue genuine action. Either way, it looked like he’d have something else to do besides trading looks at Diveman.

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It was just as the instruction had said. A volcano on Snæfellsjökull in Iceland with three craters. It would be in the middle one. If this was legit. Cossack and Kalinka didn’t think it would be. Curiosity got the better of Artilleryman and he bargained away half of his paycheck in order to be allowed to investigate. Artilleryman cursed. He actually had a place he could go. A place where he could lay low for a while … he didn’t just run off on a stupid whim.

The mercenary landed. So far so good. But, then, that could be the idea. War hadn’t yet reached Iceland and the Scissor Army did, on occasion, keep their bases secret. Artillery breathed in the cold, crisp air. If he did find a secret base what then? Call for help? His faction wasn’t exactly big on manpower. And would anyone actually come for him? They did come for him before, but they took their time when doing so. And most of those idiots blamed him for what happed to their precious Ringman. At any rate, he might have to sacrifice more money if he did end up calling for help.

No. He was a professional. And the Cossacks were already talking shit about him behind his back. He’d do this alone. But he’d have to play it smart.

With this resolution Artilleryman made his way down the crater. Tempting as it was to use his jetpack, it would also make him a clear target. Climbing down may be the slow way, but it would be easier to stay out of sight. Moreover, most robots had gung-ho mentality and Artillery was banking on the notion that the Scissor Army would be more prepared for a direct assault than a low-tech sneak.

The robot fastened a steel rope to the top of the crater and made his way down. He had to do this human style and that mean footholds, rope, spiked boot attachments, and absolutely no jetpack. His dark blue armour might hide him well enough, but the jetpack would give him away instantly. Artilleryman kept this in mind as he continued his decent. At first it was easy. There were plenty of handholds and nothing impeded his progress. However things became more difficult as the walls grew increasingly sleek. The lava below had melted them into a fine surface. But Artilleryman did not dare use his jetpack. If the Scissor Army was hidden, they would see him. Hope relied on his skill in subterfuge, not battle.

Artillermyan cursed as he lost his grip and fell.

However he was saved by a path that jutted out from the wall just below him. Artilleryman breathed out slowly. He knew about the path. That was why he went the way he did. But that was close. Artilleryman called back the cord and made his way down the narrow path.

Soon enough the path led into a dark corridor. The lava had long ago disappeared, but it was still hot and Artilleryman could smell his wires burning. His servos hurt him as he continued onwards, but his pride would not allow him to stop. He went into a tunnel made by the lava when it gushed forth from the Earth and immediately turned on a light. He was always prepared. Always. Not many robots appreciated what preparedness could bring to one’s life.

Artilleryman ignored the crystals of opaque quartz and obsidian the lava had created. Maybe he’d return on another day for them, but not now. He was on a mission. The spectacle before him made no difference one way or the other right now. It was still miserably hot.

Artilleryman continued tirelessly. One advantage of being a robot was little need to rest. His eyes lit up as a disturbing thought entered his mind. He had acted on impulse! He had come all this way using a light, but that was a beacon to the Scissor Army. Silently curing himself for his stupidity Artilleryman shut off his light and turned on his night vision. Always prepared, but with an impulsive streak. That’s the kind of crap that got him owned by Geminiman at the beginning of the war.

It wasn’t long before the passageway ended and he came at a crossroads. Four tunnels. Artilleryman consulted the crude map he was given by his mysterious benefactor (surely a trap) and went down a path leading east.

The path was a mess of winding ways and was surprisingly cool. Artilleryman thanked his luck and silently pressed on. He hadn’t noticed any Scissor Army presence at the time and it had been a few days, even marching tirelessly and without rest. Artilleryman was growing impatient. If it was a trap, when would it spring?! He hit what appeared to be crude, primitive soil as hard as he could in frustration. The rocks might have been considered beautiful by others. Across the rocks wound metallic substances. Copper? Platinum? Even ... Gold? This place was definitely worth a second visit, but Artilleryman just wanted to get on with the fighting already.

After even more walking Artilleryman had to ignore the path as it became a sort of crystalline rock mixed with other substances he didn’t know and didn’t care about. It seemed pretty hard and Artillery hated to think what Stoneman could have done with the materials. The mercenary stopped dead at the thought. Stoneman. If he met that behemoth he would die right then and there. And nobody would ever find him. Nor would they even know where to look. It would be as if he had never existed.

For a moment panic gripped Artilleryman. Were the walls closing in on him? He felt a mad desire to rush out as fast as he could!

Calm down, mate. Don’t get paranoid! If Stoneman was here you’d be dead by now. The fact that you’re not means you’re safe.

Calmed, but still shaken, Artilleryman resumed his journey. It was a day before he noticed the tunnel had become pure granite.

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Omniman’s story washed over Artillery likes a wave over the beach. Wily had surrendered. The chaos all over the world was caused by General Cutman. The General is holding Wily hostage and his forces are being forced to submit out of fear for their master’s safety. However, communications are strained in this facility. Omniman decided to trash it; to teach the Scissor Army a lesson while keeping it relatively secret.

All of this washed over Artilleryman. Fact was he hated Wily. The old man betrayed him at the earliest convenience while he was still on the Evil Eight and Artillery had never forgotten it. Never mind that he was eventually rescued and repaired, Wily would not be forgiven. He didn’t even create him, really. What really mattered was something else.

“You idiots don’t have a plan do you?”

Omniman scoffed. “Of course we have a plan!”

“What is it then?”

Omniman and Golemman looked at each other. Omniman lost his dangerous fervor and seemed to grow nervous.

It was Golem who responded. “We crush all in puny stronghold! Leave none alive! Teach General Cutman a lesson!”

Artilleryman was beside himself with rage. “That’s not a plan, damn it! That’s a vague idea! You dragged me down here to follow up on a vague idea! I’m leaving! And you idiots are lucky that I don’t fry you for wasting so much time!”

Omniman grabbed Artilleyman’s arm as he turned to leave. “Wait! You can’t go!”

“Let go of my arm, Omni.”

“This facility is at the center of the Earth, Artillery! The very center!”

“That’s impossible you stupid piece of junk! It’s probably just somewhere very deep underground.”

“No! It’s at the center of the globe!”

Atillery struggled against Omniman’s crushing grip. Omniman continued to explain. “The General constructed this facility using a combination of technology he’s been able to study. He used Stoneman’s powers to create the path you have followed as well as to get this facility here! Gravityman’s powers keep it from being crushed by the pressure as well as giving it an artificial gravity of its own. And the same structure that allowed Heatman to survive his own nuclear blasts enables this place to survive the intense temperatures found in the core!”

“What the Hell would he need a place like this for!?” demanded Artillery while still struggling to get free. He had to admit, though, he was intrigued.

“A powerful earthquake weapon. Perhaps even the power to shift the continents above. It’s still in the experimental stages, but think of it: entire cities that resist the Scissor Army … demolished within minutes. Anywhere. It doesn’t matter who holds the area, troop size doesn’t matter … with this the Scissor Army can win the war!”

Artilleryman stopped struggling. “And the guys who brought this place down … they’d be famous heroes.”

“Yes!”

“And they’d be rewarded!”

“Yes!”

“And they’d be able to show the jackasses they're teamed up with what they can really do, couldn't they!?!?”

“Wait, what?”

“I’ll do it!”

“YES!”

Golem smashed a massive fist inside another massive hand. “We’re ready to smash everything to little bits! Say the word!”

Artilleryman put a finger in the air. “No! I have a better plan."

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Omniman was beside himself with joy. It was finally time to strike a blow that would truly hurt the Scissor Army! He gouged a hole inside a Splitter Joe while crying out in joy.

“Death to the Scissor Army! Glory for the Evil Eight!”

Golemman crushed another Splitter Joe inside his massive hand. “Scissor Army BAD!”

With satisfaction Omniman used his Drill Lance to tear apart the communications console. Sparks flew joyously as the disgruntled Wily robot let his rage run free. Being so far underground meant that communications with the main base was impossible. The Scissor Army wouldn’t know of his rebellion and Wily would remain safe. He was finally free. And in such an important facility as well…

Golemman laughed gruffly for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity. Omniman was happy and he got to destroy enemy robots, so he was happy as well. Golemman lifted a Joe high into the air and threw it into the wall. It made a large dent before it fell to the ground.

“Where to next?”

Omniman thought. They couldn’t destroy the main computers because they needed the teleporter to get out. That left … “The supplies! We’ll take them out so that, even if the plan fails, we will have stalled them.” Golemman roared his support. Omniman rather thought the giant would have supported anything so long as it involved destruction.

Even though internal communications were down, the base soon rang out. Word had spread of their rebellion. Soon they ecountered a large Hot Dog, one of Wily’s creations. With ease Golemman withstood its barrage of fireballs and used his strength to tear the robot dog’s head off its shoulders. With another motion he used his fists to blow the body apart.

Soon after came a squadron of Sniper Joes. They brought their shields out before them and fired at the robots. Golemman hardly felt anything, but Omniman was beginning to feel the wear of battle. Their shields were strong enough to withstand his Drill Lance, but they could not do much good against Golemman’s sheer strength. Still, there were many of them and they piled high on the two robots.

Omniman struggled with his attackers. He was having trouble. He could feel them trying to pierce his armour through its joints. He then heard a loud crack and realised that Golemman had taken care of those attacking him. Soon after Omniman felt weight lift right off him as Golemman roughly tore his assailants off his body and threw them to the ground with such force that their internal components were damaged beyond repair.

They were off once more and after several successful battles they found themselves in the supply chamber. It was quite large and full of heat-resistant alloy. The two stopped for a moment. Randomly pounding away wouldn’t do them much good. They had to find something to help them …

“Find some explosives. Anything will do. We’ll blow the place up!”

“Yeah!” cried Golemman, “We’ll blow it up good!”

The two robots had spent a long time in the underground lair and quickly found the explosives they were looking for. In short order the room was demolished. Steel plates and beams fell to the floor. The room filled with the smells of burning wire and cooking plastic. Strange chemicals exploded in their barrels. Soon the room was filled with fiery destruction. Omniman backed away. He wasn’t very good with fire and had underestimated the amount of damage he would cause. Nevertheless … it worked out well enough.

But then he turned around and saw before him a very angry-looking Chimeraman.

“Just what do you think you’re doing!?”

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"Ch-Chimera! What are you doing here?" Omniman stammered. He and Golem took defensive positions while the hulking demon beast just stared them down.

"Idiot. You think with the leash you're on, you can teleport off to wherever you like? The General noticed you went to 'help' Golem without being ordered to and sent me to see what you were up to. I knew you'd be up to no good. You idiots don’t know when you’re licked."

This was bad for Omniman. He wasn't stupid, he was expecting someone from the SA to come after him. He wasn't afraid of that, as the conditions were ideal for him. An enclosed space, little room to maneuver, ceilings mostly too low to allow flight. For once, the superior melee combat power of the Evil Eight's faithful duo would persevere. Anyone that tried to hunt them down would only be trapped in the doomed facility and no word would get back to the SA of the truth. When they faced the General, they could blame the destruction of the base on Artilleryman and the "traitor" (or so they would brand the one who came to stop them). At least that was the plan. Artilleryman had a right to be indredulous.

Now that the "traitor" had arrived, and it turned out to be their former ally Chimeraman, Omni was at a loss on what to do next. He still wanted to reunite the Evil Eight at one point. He couldn't leave Chimeraman to be obliterated in the center of the earth. But for the sake of Wily, they might not have any choice.

Chimera could see Omniman's hesitation and fear. He could see right through the incompetent leader. He had almost expected to hear some kind of excuse, he was hoping for his old colleages to get down on the ground and start begging for their lives and the life of their imprisoned master. Seeing Omniman locked in a battle stance at a loss for words, and Golemman as slow and silent as always, he gave up on those hopes and decided it was time to get down to business. Clenching his oversized Gutsman-fist, he took a thundering step towards the dumbfounded pair.

For Omniman and Golemman, seeing their former ally in this state was a surreal experience. They had only seen him in his new body once for a moment when the SA moved into the underground Skull Castle. At first they weren't even sure it was him. He marched through the halls quickly, not even sparing them a glance. Quickman was there at the time too, and informed the shocked E8 members that it was indeed the same Chimeraman they saw in San Diego. Ever since then the encounter haunted Omniman's mind. How much of the old Chimeraman was really in that thing? Was he completely mind-wiped by the General's twisted redesign? Was this just some impostor using Chimera's name?

His face seemed so alien and strange. They remembered a black featureless face framed by a yellow Geminiman helmet, with piercing solid-white eyes. The demonic metal goat's head that loomed over Omni at that very moment had to belong to a completely different robot...yet those eyes looked so familiar, burning into his soul with the same ancient, arrogant hatred that once rebelled against Master Wily.

"Chimera...please, you don't have to do this. Don't you remember us? We're your teammates! Is the Scissor Army really more important-"

Chimeraman interrupted the sappy appeal with a blast of heated air from his nostrils. "Save it! I remember you losers just fine! I ditched your 'team' because you always failed! The General gave me the true power I always deserved! Don't think for a moment that I'm doing this against my will!"

Omniman reeled at the callous dismissal. There was no doubt about it, that was the real Chimeraman's mind. Only the true Chimera could be so heartlessly power-hungry. As much as he wanted a full team again, he knew he wasn't going to get this one back. He was as stubborn as a goat.

"Then...You leave me no choice, old friend!" Omniman leveled his lance and charged the robotic conglomerate. "I can't let you leave this place alive!"

Golemman let out a roar in response and lumbered after Omni to join the attack. Chimera just made a guttural laugh and met both attackers head-on with his massive fists.

"It's about time you showed some spine!"

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Artilleryman listened to the drama going on through the open E8 comm line from a small room at the facility wall. It was an interesting reunion, but he would have to wait to get involved. He had his own business to attend to, plugged into the computer console in the cramped, dark room.

As per the desires of his new 'employers', his main task was to destroy the base. It was easy to figure out how to pull that off in an efficient manner. As he expected, the controls for the anti-gravity systems were located at key points around the edge of the spherical complex. All he had to do was upload a virus into the computers and have them shut down systematically. Without anything bending the laws of physics for this place, the concentrated pressure of the entire planet would crush the whole structure to the size of a softball. It would become one with the earth's core; a lovely way to get rid of any and all evidence permanently.

The job afforded Artillery with a chance for some side-tasks as well. He hoped hacking an SA computer system might give him access to their entire network, but sure enough, the facility's computers were completely cut off from the surface world. It made sense. It wasn't like they could snake a DSL line down there, and being surrounded by a thousand kilometers of solid iron wasn't going to let signals through easily. He figured he'd check anyway; after all, the SA somehow got a teleport beam through all that and against all logic managed to build this place to begin with. Who knows what they were capable of?

Still, the computers had some data he could copy that might come in handy later. The specs for the anti-grav systems in particular looked like they could be adopted to a flight-system upgrade to replace his jetpack. Thoughts of all the new toys he could make from SA designs made the mercenary giddy with excitement.

There was one setback however, there seemed to be 26 generators exerting equal force spread about the exterior of the facility...and none were interconnected! He had a feeling it wouldn't be so easy that he would only need to find one console. He'd have to make his way around to at least half of them to weaken the output enough to cause a failure. On the bright side, he had an easy way around the perimeter through access tubes, and thanks to the bruisers handling the "diversion" aspect of the plan, he didn't have to waste much ammo on security. He mostly just ran into the SA worker drones at each station, and all it took was a stun laser blast to put them down in a quiet, stealthy manner.

He was just wrapping up the transfer on generator#12. It was a repetitive, tedious job at this point and he was eager to get back to the center area and get in on the real action. Omni and Golem were chumps for rampaging around and drawing all the security forces towards them, but they were lucky chumps for getting to fight instead of crack passwords and wait for viruses to upload.

As soon as the timer was set, Artillery yanked his cord out and fired up his jetpack. He flew over to the the next access tube door and used the key he "found" to unlock it and slip inside. Just a few dozen meters of precision flying to the next one. Just one more... he thought. Then this dump doesn't stand a chance. Hope those guys leave a piece for me by then...

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Artilleryman wouldn't have much to worry about, as his two allies had more than their hands full with the single SA officer. Golemman was subjected to the rare experience of having his punches caught by the chimera's left hand. Even Hardman didn't take Golem's fists that well. Omniman thought he could at least get behind the beast while he was busy grappling with his partner, but the long serpent's tail on Chimera's back wasn't just for show. The appendage whipped around like it had a mind of its own, and the dark knight robot master was on tripped on his back before he knew it.

Chimeraman chuckled inhumanly, making more steam shoot from his nostrils. The fools didn't believe him when he claimed his superior strength, and now they were finding out firsthand just how far he'd surpassed them. Letting his chuckle grow to a roaring laughter, caustic flames burst from his mouth into the face of the struggling Golemman. With his helmet beginning to melt over his eyes, the behemoth was forced to break off from his attack and try to protect his head from the deadly fire.

Before Omniman could even pick himself up, the snake tail moved with lightning speed and wrapped itself around the black and grey body. Before Omni could even try to break free he was being swung around the room and bashed into the walls, ceiling, and floor. When Chimera had had enough fun with that, he brought the disoriented commander in front of his face and clutched his victim's head with his clawed Hard Knuckle.

"Now do you weaklings understand? Why your master is licking mymaster's boots?" Chimeraman taunted the black knight but he wasn't sure if he was even getting through. The grilled helmet was badly dented and the pinching claws weren't helping. If he was unconscious already what was the point of dragging things on? One little twist, and...

"GOLEM SMASH!" Before Chimera could finish Omni off, Golemman rammed into his side at full force, finally knocking the mythical robot master for a loop, and causing him to release his prey. Golem had peeled away the melted parts of his own helmet, exposing the undetailed metal skull beneath. "DON'T HURT OMNI!"

It turned out Omniman wasn't unconscious after all, as he landed on his feet. He had trouble standing up straight for a moment, but the wooziness passed and he was back in battle formation in seconds.

Omniman came up with a new plan of attack. Getting behind the creature was more trouble than it was worth, so a more direct approach was called for. With the point of his finger, Golemman took the signal and charged Chimera full strength again, not giving the monstrosity time to recover from the last hit. At the same time, Omni stomped his foot on the ground, activating his most deadly ability. A large, square patch of ground behind Chimera shifted and sank. Long, sharp spikes jutted up from under the metal floor panels.

Chimera saw it happening through the eyes on his shoulders. He didn't get the chance to move away though, as Golemman slammed into his chest, knocking him backwards onto the trap. He wasn't about to get skewered so easily though. Golem was still on top of him, but he brought his legs up and kicked off the giant's chest, and with a couple quick flaps of his four wings, he glided over the pit to the other end.

There really wasn't enough room to support flight there however, and the tips of his wings scraped against the walls while his horns scraped the ceiling towards the end of his extended jump. He landed roughly on the opposite wall and fell to the ground. He was now extremely irritated at the upstarts on the other side of the spike trap.

"Hmph, so close!" Omniman cursed. "Golem! This time I'll distract him while you try to get behind him! You should be able to hold that troublesome tail of his!"

"Golem don't want fire in face again."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine now that we know how he operates!"

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Chimeraman jumped over the spike trap and met his opponents on the other side once more. He could see them "strategizing" during their momentary reprieve and was curious to see what boneheaded scheme they came up with now. Though no sooner were they squaring off again, than something seemed to rock the entire facility. Chimera was extrememly nervous. The morons hadn't caused enough damage to the place to make the systems crash, had they? Or was it someone else?

His answer came in the form of a firey blast to the back. He didn't need to turn around, he could seem him through his shoulder eyes. Artilleryman. What was hedoing here?

"Ah hah!" Omniman cheered. "That evens the odds! Now Chimera, you can see what the Evil Eight are capable of when united!"

"You mean you guys were losing a two-on-one fight? Pathetic!" Artilleryman sneered, deflating Omniman's moment of confidence.

Chimeraman laughed "Heh. I can take on three of you just as well as I can two of you. I thought you were with Cossack though."

"Wasn't working out for me. I'm enjoying myself here though." Artillery chuckled while charging his gun for another shot. While he was doing this, the base shuddered again.

Chimeraman suddenly remembered what was really important here. "What was that tremor? What did you do?"

"Just putting your little Jules Verne fantasy to bed. I'll spare you the details, but this place is going to be destroyed in about ten minutes. Let's try to wrap this up before then, 'kay?"

"You TRELOSI!" Chimeraman roared in rage. "Stop it! Whatever you did, reverse it or I'll make you wish you were never built!"

Artillery shook his head. "I'm afraid it's out of our hands now. Viruses y'know. I think you'd need more than ten minutes to undo something like that. Let's just enjoy the time we have left, shall we?"

Chimeraman didn't even wit for the invitation, he lunged at Artillery with his claws bared. The mercenary nimbly dodged the swipe and Chimera found himself stuck with his tail grasped in Golemman's arms. Omniman sprinted in and thrust his spear into the monster's back. Chimera hissed in pain and spit fire at the dark knight, forcing him to fall back. Artillery didn't miss a beat though and began to pelt the beast with pyro blasts and stun lasers. It did little more than annoy him however, and Chimeraman managed to grab the little blue pest with his Guts Arm and pound him into the ground.

With Artillery stunned, Chimera turned his attention to the big lummox grappling with his tail. A Hard Knuckle to his underprotected head sent the collossal robot teetering backwards. Omniman was back in range again though, and had gotten behind the mythical beast. Using his Crushing Grip, he grabbed at the base of one of his wings and with one mighty pull, tore it from the joint. Chimera howled in pain at the injury. It did little to weaken him given how useless the wings were in that environment, but it certainly hurt like hell.

The former allies continued to throw down for several more minutes, caught up in the action they barely even noticed the increasing tremors and the wavering gravity. Until finally tremors gave way to a hideous metallic groaning coming from all around. The fighting stopped when the combatants realized the world was beginning to crumble around them. Lights flickered and steam burst out of pipes. They were running out of time.

"I will kill you idiots on the other side!" Chimera growled. Even with all his confidence in his own power, he still feared death from the fate of the facility. The afte of those who return to the General in failure frightened him as well, but at least that was a death he could delay.

"Not so fast! You're going to perish along with this place!" Omni threatened while running past Chimera in the direction of the teleporter. "We can't afford to let any SA forces escape!"

"What makes you think you can stop me?" Chimeraman rasped while taking off after the E8 leader. Artillery was flying ahead and Golem was lumbering behind.

"Well, numbers for one." Artillery reasoned, pointing his shoulder cannon at the demon robot while flying backwards. "We don't even have to kill you here. We can just concentrate fire on one of your legs, and let you worry about crawling out of here in time."

Chimera hissed. "This isn't like you at all, Artilleryman. What's in it for you, helping these morons?"

"You know me. It's all about the money. Cossack wasn't paying me. I'm not too excited about going back to Wily, but..."

"There is no Wily, cretin! He's Cutman's prisoner! Did you think you were going to break him out right after this so you could coax a paycheck out of him? Or did you think these deadbeats were going to pay you?"

"Hey!" Omniman protested. "Artillery knows this is for a much greater cause! The Scissor Army has to be stopped! Wily has to be freed!"

"Shaddup, Omni." Artillery barked much to Omniman's surprise. "It wasn't Wily I was expecting a reward from. Smoking this place basically saves the world. The whole WORLD, chumps. That's some cred. I am going to deserve rewards coming out the exhaust port after I get outta this!"

Chimeraman chuckled. "Maybe, but you won't get any of it! This is a top-secret facility! Not even the entire SA knows about it! You won't even be able to prove you were here or that this place existed! It was all for nothing, Artillery!"

Artilleryman let go of his target as it dawned on him. It was true, he wasn't going to get squat for this mission, just like with Cossack! It was all the same! He quickly fell into despair.

Chimera saw this and grinned. "Why not throw your lot in with me?"

"WHAT!?" The other three robots exclaimed at once.

"After that battle!? No way would he join someone who just finished trying to kill him!" Omniman proclaimed.

Artillery himself wasn't so sure about that, but he had other concerns. "Join the SA and get my mind wiped? Yeah, I passed on that option a long time ago for a reason!"

"Don't be so sure that joining the Scissor Army means death." Chimeraman said ominously. "Look at me. I may be different on the outside, but my sparkling personality hasn't changed a bit. Some of the robots that join the SA willingly aren't even modified these days. You in particular, Artilleryman. Your mind as it is would be quite welcome to the General for hunting down and wiping out the last of the Cossack faction. I'm counting on it. If I can bring you back freely, it might just make up for me letting this base be destroyed!"

Artilleryman paused. "What about the money?"

"No! You can't possibly-!" Omniman started in protest.

"The General is loaded. Where do you think he gets all the resources to build his army? The world he envisions doesn't really see need for money, but you can worry about that later. I'm more concerned about the present, myself."

"So you wouldn't even hold it against me that I wrecked this place, huh?"

"We can blame it on these two. they're finished either way."

"Golem not finished!"

"How dare you! This isn't over!"

Chimera and Artillery ignored the other two. Chimera continued. "You're not getting anything out of Cossack, and you know as well as I do these two are deadbeats. Why not back a winner for a change?"

It was the most compelling argument Artilleryman had heard all War.

"Get bent, guys. Or rather, crushed." Artilleryman said casually and pelted the shocked Omniman and Golemman with pyro blasts and stun lasers. Chimera laughed uproariously before batting the losers away with his tail.

"You won't regret this, Artillery." Chimeraman said before resuming his sprint for the teleporter.

"Meh, my record is against me on that one." He really saw no alternative though. He fired up his jets and flew off after his newest ally in the span of a day.

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