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Vector -> RE: (HS) Trials of Morality (9/30/2011 16:17:09)
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Chapter XIII
They could feel it. They were pretty sure Death would show up at any time, and they were definitely worried that neither of them might make it through at all, especially since the villains continue to boast (and harrass them with) the claim that no one would survive their secret weapon, but Psi finally told them off... and said only three words about the secret weapon:
'Just don't miss.'
That made Demolicious even more worried, and slightly angry.
"Psi, what the hell do you think you're doing?" she yelled, "You're gonna get yourself killed!"
"And those tyrants want to make a freakin' slave out of me! If we really don't survive this war, then I have to make sure they don't get their hands on me no matter what... even if it makes Tradertown a reality. But you're the only reason it hasn't happened yet, Demo... you're the only human in the entire city, especially the ones who claimed to be desperate like you, who didn't run away screaming or otherwise refused to let me help them."
"Beggars can't be choosers," she realized, "But if you told me who you were, then I'm pretty sure--"
"No, Demo. You would've still thought about having me help you, since I helped you first, but..." Tears started rolling down his face as he started sobbing. "You'd still talk to me, even to get answers out of me, instead of what everyone else would do... I... I really thought..." He couldn't finish what he wanted to say, no matter how hard he tried, and just ended up crying on her shoulder, though Demolicious already knew what he was talking about.
"You thought you'd feel exactly like that monster from the story. I'm sorry, Psi, I just... I wanted you to actually enjoy the life you have instead of just throwing it away so quickly."
"I... I know, hon, but... you can't enjoy a-anything if... you don't have the freedom to enjoy it. That's what I wanted to tell you. That's what... the dead scientist gave me... the one I told you about last week."
"Then we both owe him more than we do to Davinci," she says as she wipes away his tears, "Oh, and by the way... you forgot about Strebor. He didn't lecture us on how this important relationship isn't supposed to happen." She kissed him before he got a chance to respond, and that's when they heard someone knock on the door. Psi didn't bother hiding, even after they hastily let go of each other; the city is going to find out about their love one way or another. "Come in!" It was only Strebor, which was a surprise, so Psi held Demolicious' hand.
"Didn't expect to see you right away, Strebor," he said as she holds his hand tighter, trying to calm himself down. "I thought it was... another three days before you'd come back to check up on her dad."
"Actually, I came to check on you two personally," Strebor replied, with notable concern, "The skeleton you mentioned last time is already summoning nearly everyone able to fight, even a startling portion of the military, and I wanted to make sure you felt ready in case it came for you, too."
"Not if, Strebor, but when," Demolicious said, "We may as well be the main attraction. Still, that secret weapon threat's bugging him pretty bad and I'm deathly afraid that he might go kamikaze to try to keep me alive when things go seriously pear-shaped. Needless to say, we're not a hundred percent confident right now, but it don't look like we have much options left."
"Might wanna tell dad that you'll be leaving soon," Psi says to her, "Maybe even remind him you might not come back."
"Psi, when you tell a parent something as sobering as that," she says back, "There's no way they'll forget it, even after the event's over... but yeah, I better tell 'im it's almost time."
"Shouldn't she have her wrecking ball with her?" Strebor asks as Demolicious goes to talk to her dad.
"Against an army of guns? She's much better off grabbing a gun herself, else she'd be nothing more than target practice... or swiss cheese."
"Hmm... you're right, I should have thought of that." He scratched his white hair as they brainstormed, attempting to find a suitable strategy against the villains in the war, when she comes back out.
"Dad wants to give you some extra motivation, Psi," she says as she gives a faint smile, "You better go see him." Strebor and Psi nod at each other, then the cyborg goes to her dad's room. He was showing some noticable improvement in his health, which is somewhat calming, but her dad still wouldn't want to leave the bed just yet.
"I don't need to remind you how important my daughter is, and I still believe I can't exactly... trust you, but if she truly believes you have indeed changed your allegiance, then I will give you but one chance."
"That's more than anyone has done ever since I left that cave... well, save Megumi, who's done far more than just that."
"So I've been told... If she doesn't come back safely, I don't ever want to see you in this city again."
"Just worry about your daughter; I'll make sure she comes back." It was obvious that her dad is uneasy having to rely on someone who's supposed to be evil, but the cyborg's abilities, along with the relationship between the two (which Demolicious revealed while they waited for the war to begin) could not be denied, much less ignored. There was no other option. After finishing the conversation, Psi went back to the living room and saw just Demolicious. He was about to ask where Strebor went, but she spoke first.
"Hey... I'm goin' with Strebor to be with the other heroes when it starts," she says as they take each others hands, "Make sure to tell the 'bonehead' that when he shows up, ok?" They both snickered.
"I will, hon... well, I guess this could be it. This might end up being our last time together. I know we don't want it to, but--"
"I know. We just can't be sure." He was about to give her a hug, but she quickly took the helmet off his head and put it on, just to fool around one more time.
"Hey, give that back! I need that, you know!" There was silence for a moment, but then they wrapped their arms around each other tightly and touched lips once more while she held one hand at the back of his messy hairdo just like they did at the fairgrounds, only this time there were tears rolling down their faces. Demolicious gave his helmet back when they let go, and they wished each other the best of luck as she walked out the door. Psi then went over to her closet in her room, , grabbed his new weapons that he stored there, then went back to the living room and waited... for another 20 minutes before Death finally passes through a portal he just made.
"There you are... I expected you to be at the fairgrounds a half--"
"Shut it, you gutless snake," Psi sharply interrupted, "Just get me to the battlefield so I can get this over with."
"Not yet. This is more than just a war; I've added a bit of... competition to the chaos. Everyone has to eliminate the enemy team's 'VIP', which was already chosen while I was setting things up, while keeping their own VIP alive, then that team's VIP has to leave the area before they themselves are eliminated." There was no need for asking who the heroes' VIP was; he already knew it was going to be Demolicious, but there was no point in saying it.
"Sounds like the VIP has to wait a while before they can get out. Do I need to ask when?"
"Even if you did, I wouldn't tell you anyway."
"Hmm... here's a thought: what if both VIP's are gone? What happens then?"
"About time you mentioned it... should that ever happen, it would be considered a draw and everything resets back to before the war starts and they try again; since the event is in my realm, those who were killed in the inconclusive match are brought back."
"And obviously, when there is a winner, whoever gets taken out by the time it ends is trapped with you, just like they actually died."
"Exactly." Death used a power to push Psi into the portal, which closed immediately afterward. 'Good thing I still have my weapons,' He thought to himself, though he expected one of them to be left behind. He was lucky enough to land in an area high enough to see most of the field, though he saw an equally elevated section on the opposite side. The two sides were already battling with everything they have-- including tanks and artillery, which was a wonder they could fit through whatever portal Death spawned-- just like a true war would be fought anywhere on the mortal realm.
"I can only hope you'll be able to keep your promise... if you're still willing to help Super City." Psi turned around to find out who spoke and saw the same person who was trying to calm him downm before this war started, with the dragon tattoo and the slim sunglasses an instant giveaway.
"Didn't I tell you six times already, human? Demo's the only reason that city isn't a copy of Tradertown right now because she ignored who I was supposed to be and treated me like a real human instead of... an abomination or something. Get it through your--"
"My name is Drakkoniss, and I just--" The cyborg managed to see a swarm of villains heading directly toward a small squad of soldiers, so he grabbed his sniper rifle and scoped out who was there... and found an unmistakable, but faint, glow of purple light.
That was not good.
He literally threw the rifle on the ground, grabbed the special prototype weapon he stole from Skulldeep, (which was too heavy to be carried by any normal person) and rushed over to the otherwise doomed squad and literally shredded the assault with the special weapon with demoralizing speed. The few villains who were smart enough to retreat were screaming in terror, now realizing that the experimental technology, both the weapon and the cyborg, are being used against them... except one, who was making a last-ditch effort to charge into them, wielding a knife, of all things, but Psi easily caught up to him and painfully disarmed the fool, then grabbed him by his neck.
"Don't you ever try that scrap again! Now get!" He threw him as hard as he could toward the other side, then Demolicious tackled him from behind and hugged him.
"I can't believe it... you actually made it just in time!" she said as the cyborg was having a surprisingly hard time trying to move.
"Yeah... that was way too close." Nobody could hide their surprise that he was helping the heroes in the war, but this was no time to start complaining. "Let me get up so I can go back to what I was doing; we can celebrate this later." She smiled and helped him stand, then quickly pecked his lips when nobody was looking.
"See ya later, hon," she says quietly, "...I hope."
"So do I." Since everyone else was still occupied, they gave each other one more hug before Psi returned to the prime sniping area where he was earlier. "I know you saw that, human," he says to Drakkoniss, who had just put something away. "You should know how much I mean to her and that it's no different than if she had a human boyfriend instead... or will your natural human insolence only let you understand if you yourself followed the same path we walk on? Think about that for a while before you answer that." Actually, Drakkoniss, despite his hyper-intelligence, could not come up with a definitive, immediate response to the question, (which is likely the first time that's ever happened) so he simply bowed his head and disappeared, then the cyborg set down the special weapon and loaded his sniper rifle. "Alright, Mr. 82," he says aloud as he turns his stealth on amd gets into position, "Time to get some work done."
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