The Business of War: Comrade War Journals AM: Red Rebel: Dirty Red Jet: Bronze Zapper: Sea Green Jade: Orange Sean: Light Blue Zymeth: Black Spark: Blue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cossack's Citadel July 2nd, 20XX Silent Bob sighed. Sometimes he couldn’t take Jay’s antics. Today in particular. Cossack, Jay, and I were watching the news while…well you know…and it came on. News back from America. The Shut Down Code. Cossack and I immediately snapped out of our state of euphoria and listened intently. Cossack was turning redder by the minute, and it wasn’t the drugs. The report was over and while Cossack and I sat speechless, Jay absent mindedly says “Dude, did you see the rack on that reporter? Bong!” I literally got up and hit him. He is impossible. “You idiot! Didn’t you hear anything about the Shut Down Code? Did that mean nothing to you?” He blinked. “Well that’s only for American bots yo. But we ain’t bots.” Cossack finally spoke. “No Jay. Sure it will start in America. But it will follow suit in all other countries! That means the Comrades too! And then every other robot! Christ, they are treating them as if they were insects. Many of them have souls! Human souls! Do you understand Jay?” And Cossack looked at Jay. “Yeah…but what the fuck can we do? We are in Russia! Let Doc Brown or Doc Light or what ever the hell his name is take care of it.” Jay had a point. “…Perhaps…perhaps…” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel July 3rd, 20XX (Yet another beautiful morning!) Ring Man thought to himself happily. Looking out the window, he watched as the sun slowly rose upward from the horizon while stretching his robotic limbs. He had a feeling that today was going to be a good day, but then again, he always felt like everyday was going to be a good. It always paid to be optimistic, after all. Giving his neck a nice, audible crack, he opened up the door to his room and walked downstairs. The citadel where he and the rest of the Comrades lived in was a decent size, spacious enough for plenty of people to come stay, but cozy enough to call home. Unlike most of his fellow teammates, however, they usually prefered to sleep in (a lesson he learned the hard way years ago) and so he was used to having the mornings all to himself. As he entered the kitchen in order to find something to eat, however, he noticed that he was not alone. "Dr. Cossack?" he thought aloud. The doctor was sitting at the dining table, slouched over with his hands covering his face. For a moment Ring Man could have sworn those crazy lunatics Jay and Silent Bob had gotten him again... but he had a feeling something was wrong. "Doctor?" Finally Cossack lifted his head, revealing his eyes--bloodshot. Bags weighed them down and his hair was a mess. It almost seemed as though this was a completely different person, that someone had replaced the doctor the team had grown to love with this impostor. What could cause even the mighty Cossack to look this beaten? And why? "Oh... Ring Man. It's you..." Cossack muttered under his breath, shaking his head slightly. The master of rings pulled a chair next to Cossack and raised an eyebrow, although no one could notice such a trivial detail due to the helmet he almost constantly wore. Cossack didn't seem to pay him much mind, which told him something was definitely wrong. "Are... you okay, doctor?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to push the wrong button. "No... no I'm not," the good doctor stated flatly, placing his face back into his hands. "Ring Man... Rebel... I am about to tell you something. Something that no one else knows... not even Kalinka." "W-what?" Cossack lifted his head once more and stared Rebel straight in the eye, sending a chill down the robot's spine... or at least that's what it felt like it could, as robots could not feel such a thing. The doctor mentioning him by "Rebel" also unnerved him, as that was something he had recently picked up and Cossack generally refused to acknowledge his creations with such ridiculous nicknames. "I have heard that in the United States someone wants to pass a law called the Shutdown Code Act. It basically requires a robot to have a program installed that a human officer can utilize to deactivate said robot if he feels that it is being 'unlawful,'" Cossack stated, his brows furrowing as he spoke on. "This... this act is all that it is. A poor act that shows how stupid people can truly be. If this law is passed then surely it would only be a matter of time before other countries followed suit." Rebel knew where he was going. "You mean Russia. If that act were to reach here and pass then we would..." "Exactly!" Cossack threw his arms up in exaggeration. "I find this to be a complete outrage! How DARE they try and decide how a robot should live! Would they like it if someone ended their life if they were deemed unlawful? I hardly doubt it!" "So... what are you going to do?" Ring Man asked naively, then added, "What are we going to do?" At that time Cossack started to laugh. It was a low, cold laugh, that could make a madman proud. Poor Ring Man could only watch and listen with more fear than ever before as the conversation continued. "I won't allow this to pass," the scientist replied. "There has been too much effort to create a world where both humans and robots could live equally. Dr. Light would agree with me--why should we just sit here and watch as what we strived for, what we LIVED for, to be thrown away because of some incompetent nincompoops in some stuffy office in America? I will not tolerate it, and neither should you!" "W-wait... wait a second!" Rebel started to panic. He didn't like what his creator was saying. "Those words... are you thinking about rebelling against the government!?" "I suppose you could say that... yes," Cossack nodded solemnly. "So, Rebel, will you help me... rebel?" "I..." Rebel was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to do, what to think. Of course, the idea of having something put in him that could put him out of his misery in a matter of seconds upset him... angered him, even. But for Dr. Cossack to do something so radical, he just didn't know if he could live with that, going against the rest of the world. He needed more time to think but he didn't know how to get away from the situation. Cossack seemed to want his answer now. Thankfully, Kalinka came downstairs in the nick of time, causing Cossack to put up a facade of cheeriness, as if everything was right with the world. The previous conversation was dropped for a more lighthearted tone, much to Ring Man's relief as he sighed before getting up and stumbled into the living room, his mind hazy. Just what in the world was going on...? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cossack's Citadel October 18th, 20XX, 11:21 AM The unspeakable happened. The champion of good was killed. Everywhere robots and humans were outraged. All the work that he did for the world….meant nothing because he is a robot. I inhaled my cigarette. This is not good. Not good at all. “Lunchbox,” Jay called from the other room. “Remember what the Cannibal said a week ago? About that fucked up war? I think it’s starting man.” I run to the TV set in Cossack’s living room and the reporter spoke of a monster named General Cutman. His robot supremacists. Well so much for the government stopping the Code peacefully. But this does fit with Lecter’s profile. One guy. “Lunchbox, we did some messed up shit in our past. We met that Angel that looked like Hans Gruber, fought Angels, killed a Shit Demon, and we chased around by a Sheriff carrying a monkey! But you know what? I think that this is THE most messed up piece of shit ever. Dude, what could happen next?” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russian Streets October 18th, 20XX, 1:21 PM Nothing could have prepared Drillman for this. When we visited Dr. Hannibal Lecter a week ago he mentioned a war, but I didn’t think it would be like this. Being the leader of the Cossacks Comrades, I was a natural choice to lead in the SA, and the General knew that. He cornered me in an alley. Just myself and Death embodied. “Drillman, do you know who I am?” he asked me. “Well you obviously aren’t Ben.” “Heh. You use humor when talking to Death. I like that. I am General Cutman, leader of the Scissor Army. I need Commanders though. Seeing how you are a leader you are a natural choice. You are aware of the Shut Down Code, are you not?” “Yes. I admit I am not happy. I refuse to sign up. Dr. Cossack isn’t happy either. He’s been petitioning for awhile to stop the Code. He has the right idea.” The General smirked. “Perhaps. But he is old and crazy. I alone can stop the code and usurp the current Powers! Will you accept my proposal? Will you gain the raw power of the world?” As he asked the question he put out his hand. I could see dried blood on it. “If I joined you, what would my team get?” “They, as would you, would become leaders in the New World Order, our New World Order. We would have unlimited power! All I ask you is to pledge yourself to me.” His hand was still there. A part of me wanted the power, but at my core I knew what I had to do. “I am sorry General. I must decline your offer. Unlike you I have a soul. And so do my friends.” And we locked eyes. He turned away. “Very well. I will see you soon. Very soon.” And he was gone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 21st, 20XX, 11:51 AM The Russian government sent people to the Citadel. Cossack has been actively denouncing the Code and they aren’t happy. So they are doing something that is just plaint cruel to shut him up. “What do you mean I can’t make money!? How the hell can you justify that?” he yelled at a Russian. “You speak too much. From now on every person listed in the deed of this Citadel cannot get or earn and form of money. However, if you accept the Code then we will forget about this whole thing.” Cossack spat on him. “Go to hell.” “Very well. Then as of this moment You, your daughter, and your robotic creations are bared from making money. Good bye Sergal. And he left. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cossack's Citadel October 22nd, 20XX, 9:24 PM Cossack called Jay and I into his lab, which has accumulated numerous weapons. “Listen you two. I never put you both on the deed of the Citadel. This means we have a loophole in the Government’s plan to silence me.” Jay looked confused. “Loophole? What the hell is a loophole?” Cossack ignored him. “I am bared from making money. No one would hire me anyway. I refuse to steal, unless it is necessary, which hopefully won’t be for awhile. I have very little money left. I have been using it to stock up on food and weapons. He is where the loophole comes in. You two can still work and make money, since you aren’t on the deed!” I realized where he was going. “And you want us to give you our Drug earnings. Jay, do you have any objection to this?” Jay shook his head. “Man, look at me. I’m a slacking stoner. It’s about time that I do something! Lunchbox, grab the grass, a boom box, and some Morris Day, Jay and Silent Bob are in the Hizzle!” “Heh. I’ll take that as a yes. Good luck guys. You two are my right hand men in all this. War time is upon us,” Cossack said sternly. “Dude, you know what? This is like in Star Wars. You’re Han and we are, like, the Princess and Luke right before we blow up the fucking Death Star!” Jay exclaimed. Cossack and I let out a chuckle. We all did. For we knew that it was the last we would do in a long time. War is upon us. And we, the two most unlikely people, have the most important job on the Cossack side. Thankfully, it’s what we do best. And what would that be? “Smoking weed, smoking weed, doing coke, drinking beers! Drinking beers, beers, beers, rolling fatties, smoking blunts! Who smokes the blunts? We smoke the blunts!” Look out Cutman, here we come. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 24th, 20XX, 2:31 PM The mid afternoon sun bore down through the windows of the citadel, letting the light warm the entire house to a perfect temperature. As it was the middle of fall, such times were a blessing in disguise to the human occupants. Cossack, however, was hard at work in his lab, locked up for hours on end, with no one having a clue as to what exactly he was doing. Except, maybe one had an idea... "Ring Man?" Cossack's only daughter, Kalinka, called out from the kitchen. Lazily the rebellious youth's head popped in through the doorway, noticing that the young girl was standing in front of the kitchen counter with plates full of food. To say the least the very thought of eating made him drool. "Yeah, you wanted me?" he asked casually, trying to keep his mind off of the food. "Father has been in his lab all day today... and most of this week as well," she said, putting a hand on her hip. "Well, he hasn't eaten since yesterday morning, so I am certain that he must be starving. Could you please take this plate up to him?" Rebel nodded, more than happy to help out. After all, he always figured that having that little girl on his side was better than the opposite. And so, with food in hand, he headed off to Cossack's lab, resisting the temptation to instead pig out on the gourmet. He knew that there was more waiting for him, after all, so patience was a virtue. Reaching the door of the laboratory, he knocked on it hard enough so the entire building could hear. After a minute, he knocked once more, before finally receiving a reply. "Who is it?" "It's Ring Man!" "Oh, Rebel, come right on in." Ring Man noticeably winced from being called Rebel... he suddenly had a flashback of what had happened over two months ago; his encounter with Cossack. Although the doctor had made no mention of his insane proposal of going against the government since then, everything about it had been enticing rumors. He was fairly certain that the rest of the Comrades also heard of them by know, but has quite possible dismissed it as just that--a rumor. Unfortunately, Ring Man had a feeling that this next encounter was a big mistake... Stepping into the lab, he noticed that the entire room was completely dark, save for the very back, where a faint, white glow emanated. It was Cossack's desk, where the scientist was sitting at with a work lamb on, writing at a furious pace. The doctor looked even more sickly than before, as he had been holed up in this room for almost two days now. Cautiously he walked up to him, not knowing how to approach him. "Did Kalinka bring some food for me?" he asked, not looking up from his work. "...Yeah," was all Rebel could utter. "She is a good girl," he said, scribbling more words down. "Thinking about me even after all this." "Well, she is your daughter..." "And just what are you and the rest of the Comrades to me?" he suddenly asked, lifting his head up, the oils that had accumulated from his lack of a shower glistening in the light. "I made you, after all. Do you consider me to be your father?" "W-well... yeah, I suppose so..." Ring Man scratched his head, dumbfounded. Personally, he had always just preferred to call him "that guy who built him," but whatever floated his boat. It was at that time that Rebel noticed what exactly Cossack was working on: Plans. Numerous plans on how to bring certain "robots" into Russia without detection and into this citadel. Seeing this made him take a step back, nearly dropping the plate full of food. He hurriedly set it down and tried to walk away. "Hold on a second, Rebel," Cossack stopped him dead in his tracks as he rose. "Do you remember what I told you back in July?" "Er... possibly... but there were lot's of things you told me..." he answered lamely. Cossack adjusted his glasses. "There have been rumors, you know. My plan isn't exactly a secret. Which is why tomorrow I plan on telling the rest of the Comrades and Kalinka as well..." "Really?" Rebel turned around, his eyes wide. "What will you say?" "Not entirely sure. I want them to understand me, however, to understand where I am coming from. I am already low on resources as it is," he shrugged, as if he didn't care what the consequences were anymore. "If the RPD decided to make it's move on me, I'd need all the help I could get, and I would prefer it if my own children could side with me. That's why I asked you before, Rebel, and I never got an answer. Will you help me?" If sweat could form on him, Ring Man would be drowning in it. It was an decision he was so afraid to make, but why? Shouldn't the obvious choice be to help Cossack? Didn't he WANT to do something against this Shutdown Code? So what was the problem? Where did it lie? The silence dragged for a while longer until Cossack broke it, "I want someone to be there when I tell the others... someone to support me. If you were there, right behind me, then the others might be more willing to follow suit. Please, Rebel, I'm begging you... help me!" "I... I...!" Ring Man stammered until something inside his head snapped, causing him to spin and make a mad dash out the door, leaving the poor doctor in his tracks, incapable of catching him. The red communist robot bolted up the stairs and into his room, which he locked himself in for the rest of the day. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 25th, 20XX, 12:56 AM Ring Man heard the last member shut the door to their room. He had counted all of the doors that had closed and knew that had to be the last one, counting Kalinka but more than likely not counting Dr. Cossack, who was probably still in his lab. That meant that he himself had been locked up in his own room for almost eleven hours straight. Not much was done during that time. Rebel mostly stared at a wall, unblinking, not thinking of any events in particular, save for one--the repeated question that Cossack had asked him, "Will you help me?" It haunted him. It refused to go away until it had an answer, and that wasn't something that Rebel was willing to make just yet. Not yet... (Why am I so afraid to make this decision?) he asked himself once more. (Cossack is, whether I think it or not, my father... he made me. So why can't I stand up for him?) Because Ring Man knew that this mission--to fight against the Shutdown Code and effectively the RPD itself--would be nearly impossible to accomplish. It wouldn't be just a mission, it would be a war, and who knew just how violent it would be. To make matters worse, he wouldn't be fighting on the side of justice this time... oh no, quite the opposite. If they were to lose who knows what would happen... (Oh, what a silly thought... we'd die!) he thought unhappily. He hated being pessimistic over this. It didn't do him any good. Something just had to be done, though. The Shutdown Code could not be allowed to do this to his kind... they had their own freedom to think about, too! The RPD had to be dealt with, yet he knew in his heart that Cossack was not the right choice. No... if he sided with Cossack, he would only be assisting in what would be considered as a "futile attempt." He had to find someone else willing enough to take a stand against this intimidating force. Someone like... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outside Cossack's Citadel October 25th, 20XX, 1:34 AM Although it should have been pitch black, the moon shined brightly in the sky, illuminating the surrounding area, giving it an eerily beautiful look. Ring Man was a good fifty feet away from the citadel, turning to take a good look at it, letting every detail burn into his mind. He closed his eyes to savor the moment, before noticing that among the darkened features of the building, one light remained on... Cossack's laboratory. Ring Man lifted his hand up and stared at it, before clenching it and looking back at the window. "Cossack... Comrades... Kalinka... Next time, when we meet, I promise things will be different. I won't let you all get into this mess." With that the ring-covered robot started to stomp away into the distance, toward the moon... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 25th, 20XX, 10:45 AM A week later life was normal at the Citadel. Well, as normal as you can be living with a Mad Scientist, His trigger happy daughter, two drug dealers, and an assorted band of wacky characters. That morning, though, Ringman had disappeared. To where I did not know. He probably went out for some Coke. I was watching Die Hard when I got the call. It was from the police. “Mr. Drillman, are you familiar with the Parr family?” the monotone voice inquired through the phone. “Yes. Why?” “Would you please come down to their house. We need to show you something.” I ran as fast as I could down to the house that Ty built so long ago. And then I saw. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parr House October 25th, 20XX, 12:30 PM It was something out of a Saw film. Blood everywhere. My girlfriend. Her family. Dead. I broke down. Who could have done this? Why would anyone do this? I asked if they found anything at the scene. Suddenly I knew. All that was left was a bloody scissor. This was The General’s response to my stance. The Parr’s blood was on my hands almost as much as on his shears. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel: Jet's Room October 25th, 20XX, 1:40 PM It's strange how quickly things can change. One minute all's well, the next the whole world's at war. As Bright Babe, I have to help my team no matter what. I'm scared though. Very scared... In fact I didn't know I could be so scared and be able to hold my arm steady enough to write in this journal! I've been with my team for a while now. They've become my friends and my family. I was always more of a pacifist though. I sought diplomacy before I hurt anyone. Things are so different now... The idea of being at war... I want it to go away. It's hard to deal with at times. Sometimes it gets so scary I almost wish I COULD shut myself down and just leave the chaos behind me forever. That would be selfish though. I've come to realize that I have to hang in there for my team and my new friends. I have to toughen up. They need me to help now more than ever before and that means no more being pacifist. I don't want to, but I'm certain our enemies would rather kill us than try to reason. I really have to fight now. I'm just praying I have the strength in me to get through this. If not for my sake, at least for the sake of helping my team. I say I'd do anything for them. Now's the time to actually PROVE it. I'll still never forget when Cossack brought me into his lab and told me about the Shutdown Code Act. It seems so surreal to remember now. I was pretty nervous already simply because he was acting differently. I knew something was on his mind, but when he told me he believed this Shutdown Code Act would be passed in Russia... ... I was scared so badly I couldn't speak. I was horrified. Why would they do this? What gives THEM the right to decide if I should live or die for my actions? I started to cry. I was frightened for myself, my teammates and at what Cossack had just told me. We were at war now and he was going to resist the government if/when the Shutdown Code Act passed. I didn't say a word. I was still in disbelief. I just went to my room and stayed there for the remainder of the day. I knew I would stay with Cossack from the get go. But what about the others? Rebel's gone now! What if more of my teammates leave? I don't wanna have to fight my friends. Among all the bad news. There's something else on my mind too. Apparently other robots resisting the Shutdown Code are coming here too. I guess we'll be working together in this. I am glad we're getting reinforcements as you might put it, but I'm still worried. We're not exactly well-to-do. We're low on resources and it looks like a LOT of robots might be coming here. We need the help but with so little in the way of parts and such to go around... How will we manage this? I hope Cossack has a plan of some kind. In the meantime, I'll try not to get hurt or anything... Go as long as I can without any sort of repairs. We'll need to stretch our supplies as much as we can if we want to last through this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 26th, 20XX, 9:54 AM After the funerals, I sat alone contemplating all that just occurred. A knock came at my door. It was Cossack. “How are you feeling Drill? Do you want to talk?” he asked. This was the first time I ever heard him sound…kind. “It’s my fault. General Cutman wanted me to join the SA, but I refused. He talked of bringing down the Code. But he is…evil. I wouldn’t…couldn’t live with myself if I had accepted. But if I did then they would still be alive.” Cossack looked at me like a father would his son…which technically I am. But he never did this before. “Did you kill them? Did you lay a hand on them? No you didn’t. Yet if you did join the SA that would be the path you follow. I myself will attempt to stop the Code. I even have a few people willing to help me. We are low on money but all we can do is try. Jay and Bob are doing their share. Their drug money is really all that we have. As long as they keep dealing we can keep fighting.” He sighed. “You crazy bastard, you need all the help you can get. Where do I sign up?” And Cossack did something he only did when he was high: he smiled. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel: Zapper's Room October 27th, 20XX, 12:04 AM Zapper sat there on her bed in the dead of night. Moonlight poured in the sole window, helping the faint glow of her nightlight illuminate the room. She held on to a ragged teddy bear, quietly sniffling to herself. She was scared, moreso than she'd been in a long time. She soaked her tears up with the fabric of her teddy. She didn't know why all this had happened, why it all had to be like this. She listened to the voices arguing in the other room, the loudest among them Cossack's. Robot masters had been moving into the citadel recently, seeking to help Cossack out in the war. Thankfully she still had her room to herself, as she'd been living with Cossack for a while now. She didn't want to join in their arguments, of course. She figured she'd leave that to Cossack, Drillman, Skullman, and whoever else had an idea for it. She was just too scared to do anything. "If only that Cutman guy could have been nice..." She found herself muttering. "Why'd we all have to go to war?" She asked her bear, as if expecting and answer. Her eyes welled up with more tears as no answer came. She jumped as she heard something crash in the other room. The arguing had esalated. She didn't like the idea of war at all. She didn't like the destruction, the death. She would have been just happy to still be a little human girl again, so she wouldn't have to be there. She didn't remember much of her human life anyway. The life she was familiar with was that of Zapper. Of course, she wasn't the only Zapper out there. Beta and Delta were still out there somewhere, with Black Lotus, the company that made her what she was then. She was, for all intents and purposes, a war machine. Drillman and Dustman helped her rig her suit to limit her natural powers as a destructive engine in order to bring out her real mind. What was left of it, anyway. If she shrugged off her restraints, she'd loose herself again, and become something much less than human. Something that scared her to death. She didn't want any part of this. She just wanted to go back to the way things were, just hanging out with her best friends and fighting some crime whenever it popped up and Drill told them to hop to it. Zapper just sobbed to herself, frightened and confused. Then she started thinking about her friends. They were all fighting bravely, all of them were fighting to help protect the world from the S.A. She admired their courage, a trait that she really lacked. She covered her head with her arms and curled up into a ball. She just kept wishing it would all just go away. But it wouldn't. She wiped her tears away and thought about all of this. Her friends were putting their fears aside and fighting for what they beleived in. And since they were goign to, so was she. She was scared to death, but she was going to fight. She laid down and wriggled under her covers. She was going to fight along side her best friends, she decided. No matter how scared she was, she'd always have them, and she'd do her best to prove that she wasn't too afraid to help them out. "But what if something terrible happens..." She thought, sadly. But soon she put it out of her mind as best she could. She could only hope for the best, and fight to make sure the best happens. No matter what, she couldn't let her friends down, no matter how scared she was. No matter what... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel: Jade's Room October 27th, 20XX, 9:34 AM I should enjoy this night while I can. There might not be many more like it. So much is going on inside the Citadel nowadays. The doctor's been harboring those robots that refuse to comply with the new Shutdown Code Act. I wondered for a moment that if robots must have that ludicrus chip installed, what does that make me? After all, I'm not quite a robot, but I have been enhanced by some of Cossack's technology. Although, from my understanding, most of the other robot masters I know are also at least partially human, so I guess the point is moot. Anyway, with him seeing to all of the refugees, I figured I might as well go out for a walk and partake in the cool evening. I simply couldn't believe when I heard last week how this General Cutman barbarically murdered our friends the Parrs. Simply because Drill refused to join up with him, he chooses to kill them all as payback. This must be eating up at Drill inside, although he tries not to show it in front of the rest of us. But I think everyone is troubled by what's to come. I haven't seen much of them lately. Toad shuts herself in her room a lot, as does Cossack; him being busy with the refugees and all. I haven't seen Ring for days. I'm getting concerned about him... I wasn't around for Cutman's first big insurrection, but I've heard of him through the Maniacs, and the Sinister Six before their unfortunate disbandment. The guy sounded like a real piece of work to me as it was, but his most recent actions hit much closer to home; anyone who would slaughter an innocent family - including children - just to make a point, is outright pyscho in my book. Now he leads a brand new army against the entire world. Well, I'll be damned if I'm going to just stand by and let him have his way. But unfortunately, we have more to worry about than just him. Since Cossack is openly defying the Shutdown Act, we're going to be labeled as international criminals and wanted by pretty much every civilized nation. It's literally us verses the world. Well, it doesn't really matter. Since I came to this world, the Comrades befriended me and gave me a place to stay. They've been good to me, and I'm not going to abandon them in their time of need. The odds are against us, but somehow... I can't help but smile. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel: Sean's Room October 27th, 20XX, 10:44 AM Many people could have predicted that a war would eventually occur. It was only a matter of time since most governments refused to give robots the same rights as humans. I just never guessed the war would be like this. The US Government has decided that robots can no longer be trusted and has made it mandatory for robots to have a shutdown code installed allowing a human at any point in time to shutdown that robot. Dr. Cossack considers shutdown code a violation of rights that robots should legally have and offers a safe haven for all of robot kind. General Cutman, a Sinister Six villain long thought dead, resurfaces with an army and decides humans should no longer exist. Dr. Wily as usual thinks he should rule the world and no one should control his robots other than him. There are now four armies in existence consisting of some of the most powerful robots and they all want to destroy each other. Normally I'd think the world had gone crazy and decide whether or not to sit things out, but the stakes are way too high. If the RPD wins, the Shutdown Code Act will exist and robots will never be truly free. If the Scissor Army wins, humans will be extinct and I highly doubt the robot utopia that General Cutman promises will exist. If Dr. Wily wins, we all will be ruled by an evil, mad scientist and that surprisingly doesn't sound too bad at this point. If Dr. Cossack wins, robots get more rights. I chose to side with Dr. Cossack when he asked me. Dr. Cossack can't win this war in my opinion. I'm not following a murderer and I'm not allowing anyone to mess with my mind. I know that Dr. Cossack won't have the resources to repair me as the war goes on, but I honestly don't care right now. Besides my only weapon is attached to my head, I can't lose that without losing something much more important. The hardest thing now is the reality of war. There can’t be any more warning shots. There can’t be any more aiming to wound. I’ve never considered myself a soldier; I’ve always preferred to try and invent rather than fight. I can only wonder if I’d be able to finish off another robot or even worse, a former ally. I don’t know if I could pull the trigger if someone I’d known for years like Rebel was at the end of the barrel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 27th, 20XX, 12:24 PM Zymeth walked through the cold hallways of Cossack's Citadel, his dark cloak billowing behind him as he moved. His mind was lost in thought, though his hood hid his thoughtful stare. The sound of his metal boots clacking against he floor resonated throughout the hallway. He gave short, polite nods to those he passed by on the way to his personal quarters. He shoved the doors open and slammed them behind him, granting him sanctuary from other sentient contact. He loved the peace his quarters brought. He also loved the tides of war. The shifts of power they brought, the instability it created. It turned the stone-like world into clay, clay which could be molded and shaped however the artist wanted with the proper tools. He pushed the armored window out, allowing the bitter cold to invade his home. He grinned under his helmet. "This..." He thought, "could be the perfect oportunity..." The main players were all set, ready for Zymeth to exploit. "The first barrier, and the greatest... would have to be winning the trust of one General Cutman." He decided. He had it all planned perfectly. He'd possition himself on the side of each force. Directly, or indirectly. The first and greatest challenge would be Cutman, as his intellect and knowledge of war and treachery was great. He'd have to contact the General himself, first. Zymeth mentally prepared himself for the delecate, and admittedly somewhat frightening task at hand. His mind wandered to other villains that stilll haunted the ranks of Cossack's Comrades. Wraithman was the first, of course. It seemed like the demon had a personal grudge against Cossack's new Skullman. He recalled the first time they met, he could recite Zymeth's whole life to him perfectly... ------------------------------------ “Long ago there lived a valiant knight, who fought bravely for his country. He won many battles, and killed many foes. With halberd in hand he’d charge into battle, in the name of his country and the name of his love, Katrina. His people were once cruel to him. His father was a murderer, and a madman. The knight was hurt much in his childhood by that man, both physically and mentally. But his love, Katrina, was always there for him to lift his spirits. His people were cruel to him as well, even after they killed his father. “Murderer Son” they called him. But no matter how bad they treated him, Katrina would always be there. They continued to be cruel to him until, finally, he graduated from the war academy at the top of his class. Everyone was shocked that the lad had done so well, despite his father’s influence. The King gave him the title of knight, and sent him off to fight for his people. The knight did so and always returned hoping to meet with his dear love each time. She even gave him a good luck charm, a cross endowed with their names. He kept it close at him, and he never lost. But one day something happened to Katrina. The people accused her of being a witch and a traitor, out of the paranoia brought by the war the knight was fighting in. The king though so too, and sent his troops down to kill her. The knight pleaded and begged for her to be spared, but they did not. They say that the knight went mad after she was killed. He killed the soldiers that carried out their duties. “This is my reward for serving the crown and the Lord!?” He cried. He renounced his knighthood and fled the land that had treated him so cruelly. But every new land the knight came across was filled with the same kind of people who preyed upon the innocent. In his madness he finally saw the truth. That most people are wicked, and the savored few who weren’t were only abused by them. He went back to his home and his love’s grave. He promised her that he’d make a new world for her. A world where the wicked were punished severely, and the innocent were free to do as they pleased without fear of being abused. He swore revenge on the world that treated them so cruelly, and vowed that he’d make all of them suffer tenfold what they made him suffer. Every year he came back to her grave, with her gift, and remade the promise. They say that he left his land and went to a forbidden place. They say there he learned the forbidden arts of magic. His madness and anger consumed him. He became cruel and unforgiving towards those he deemed as wicked. He became evil to do away with the stupidity and cruelty of the world. He went back to his home and killed his king with his newfound powers, calling himself a Lord. However, he had enemies too. They wanted to kill him. Before they could, though, his dark teachers helped him bind his soul to his bones, in hopes that one day he would come back. After he was killed they buried him next to his lost love, along with the rosary he had been given long ago. Unfortunately he did come back, in a way. Meddling scientists found his bones and studied them, finding them full of Dark Energy. They used this to try to remake a robot in order to give it dark powers, and in transferring this dark energy they awoke the true soul within. His AI consumed all of the memories, and perhaps even the soul of that knight. Their experiments worked, as the robot had very limited control over the Dark Energy inhabiting its frame, giving it a few almost ‘magic-like‘ powers. However, after the retrieval of those memories he wasn’t happy at all. They say that the robot escaped that place, and haunts the world, once again in search of revenge for his miseries. Of course, you know this now to be true. This is your story, Vincent Zymeth. This robot is the same one that has recently acquired the Skull Armor. The same robot that befriended Zapper, a fellow experiment from that hellhole. The same robot that, my friend, stands before us. But a thought, are you truly Vincent Zymeth? Or are you merely the remnants of his memories? There is no such thing as magic. That Dark Energy is responsible for your whole existence. And I know, soul or memories, how much you hate these people. How much you hate both robots and humans, as they’re both so alike. Filled with the ignorant, wicked, or unsympathetic, sprinkled with the truly good or innocent. He's done a wonderful job of making a legend of himself, as you all know. In many circles "Zymeth" is known as a legendary robotic murderer. Have you known what a twisted soul you’ve been talking with? See now the power rage and loss have? And the power of the ever-so mysterious Dark Energy? But the question remains: are you Vincent Zymeth, Or just a wretched collection of his memories?” ~Wraithman to Skullman ----------------------------------- "How could he have known!?" Zymeth whispered to himself. No one knew exactly what the phantom was up to at that time, but it was a safe bet he'd saught shelter with the Scissor Army. Zymeth sighed. He really didn't have an answer for Wraith's final question either. He shrugged it off, however. Whether it was truely him or not was unimportant at the moment. Zymeth looked out the window, imagining the chaos and destruction to come. He looked down at his hand, in which he clutched a rosary, comprised of silver spikes banded together. Across the horazontal arms read the name "Vincent". Across the verticle read "Katrina". Zymeth sighed. He looked up at the sky. "Soon, Katrina... very soon..." He whispered to himself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 28th, 20XX, 3:31 PM Zymeth stared from the front gate at all of the robots who'd come to join Cossack's cause. They had chosen to side with the least of all evils. "Touching." He muttered to himself. He turned around and strode into the castle, taking his hood off upon reaching indoors. He continued marching through the halls until reaching the sight of a familiar human. "Cossack." Zymeth shouted. The scientist turned from Drillman to face him. "Skullman? What is it?" He asked. "I've been looking at our so-called troops. By the looks of things, halfway into the war they'll all just look like marrionettes missing most of their strings." The Skull-clad robot said, coldly. Cossack fidgeted with his glasses and said, "Of course you know that we have little supplies to work with. I'm trying to gather up engineers to help, but that's not going very well." Drill stepped forward, "Skull, you have to be patient. And you don't have to talk about everyone like they're puppets just for you to play with." Zymeth laughed, "Are they not? Regardless. I still think it'd be in your best interest to join the Scissor Army. It'd save you a huge world of pain." Drill shook his head, "Skull, for the last time, I can't do that. I don't know how you could sacrifice your humanity like that..." Skullman's eyes narrowed into a sad glare, and Cossack turned about abruptly as to pretend he wasn't listening in on thier conversation. "My humanity? A.M., I lost that long, long ago. I'm only thinking in you're best interests." "I'd rather die, Zymeth, than join him." Zymeth chuckled. "Well you probably won't be dissapointed, my friend." He said, jokingly. Drill couldn't help but smirk a little at Zymeth's dark humor. "Oh, Skull, you've reminded me." Drill said, "I just have one little question. Where the hell have you been going lately?" Zymeth opened his eyes wider in surprise, "What do you mean?" "We know that you've been lurking off, Skull, and I don't like it. I want to know where you've been going." "Ah, so you don't trust me." "I never said that, Zymeth. I just don't want you getting yourself in trouble. The Comrade's moral is low enough after Rebel left... we don't want to loose our Skullman too." Anime Master put a hand on Zymeth's shouler. Zymeth turned away from AM's kind glance abruptly, somewhat touched by his concern. He brushed his hand off his shoulder. "Thanks, A.M. That actually does mean something to me. However, you'll just have to have faith in me. Think of it as... a surprise for later." "Alright... I still don't like it. But God knows I can't stop you. Just remember, you may be the sadistic newbie, but we still care about you. Don't get yourself killed." "That's not my intention, let me assure you." The two stopped talking and an awkward silence rose over the whole room. "Any word on Wraithman, Drill?" Cossack said, attempting to break the bitter silence. "I have no idea what he's up to." Drill responded. "But I know damn well it's not good for us." Zymeth put his hood up, "Well, I'm going to 'lurk off'. Goodbye, friends." The two waved him goodbye as Zymeth stormed out of the citadel with the intent of teleporting to the meeting spot he and the General had picked out to discuss their potential alliance further. "I had almost forgotten..." Zymeth thought to himself, "there are indeed a few lives in this world worth saving..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 28th, 20XX, 5:11 PM Dive Man felt nothing but hatred as he stood outside in a raging blizzard and took another swig of Russian Maalox from his flask. Hatred for the riled up asswipes in D.C. for passing that damned act. Hatred for Cut Man and his Manson Family for starting this whole goddamn mess in the first place. Hatred for the RPD for pushing for the Robo-Leash-Law when they should be ripping Cut Man a new asshole. Dive Man had stepped outside onto the outer Citadel walls to grab a smoke and to get away from all the damn mouth-breathers that invaded his home. Normally it was good for whatever was ailing him, even it there was a raging blizzard out, like there was now. It wasn't doing him an ounce of good. All he could he think about were all the people being butchered by a psychotic lumberjack with delusions of granduer. Or the Mechs, DM, Ring, or countless other people he used to call his friends who'd turned their backs on Cossack as soon as this all started going down. Right when he needed them more than ever. Infuriated, he slammed his fist through a window while screaming as many curses in as many combinations he could think of. How the hell did they all get in this mess?! Why the fuck did the world that let itself go to the seventh circle of Hell in a hand basket?! There was no good friggin' reason for any of this, and it pissed Dive Man off. Dive Man couldn’t tell how long he’d been bashing windows, but the wave of anger passed over him as quickly as it came. Brushing some snow aside, Dive Man sat down on the edge of the wall, pulled some smokes out of his green army BTU jacket and lit up, trying to calm himself down. This whole damn war was bringing out the worst in him. But it’s kinda hard not to be cheesed off with his existence and more importantly, his freewill at stake. Thank God Cossack had the sense and the balls to tell RPD where to stick their Shutdown Act. That’s why Dive Man didn't have to think twice about sticking with Pops. Not just because he was Dive’s father, but because as long as Dive Man was here, his freewill was safe. As safe as it’s going to get, anyway, Dive Man mused. As happy as he was to have it, his freewill sure as hell wasn’t coming free. It meant they were all but cut off from everyone who either could or should help. They'd also have to fight off Dr. Strangelove, Hannibal Lector, AND the Gestapo all at the same time. There'd been some talk about buddying up with Wily, 'cause he's the kind of person you could count on. Then there was all those damn freaks and geeks of all the colors of the rainbow that Pops took under his wing. The whole lot of 'em were all just mouths to feed. Dive Man hadn't the foggiest how Cossack was going to maintain them all. Supplies were in the toilet, which meant they'd have go scrounging sooner or later. And they'd all be lucky if they scrounged up a shit sandwich 'round these parts. Bottom line, they were all up the creek without a paddle. But in the end, Dive Man knew it still beat the living hell out of having RPD shove a leash up his ass. As long as he had his own individuality, nothing else mattered. Besides, it's gonna be humiliating for them when we smoke all their asses. Dive Man thought smugly. Feeling calmer, Dive pulled his jacket tight, Dive Man brushed the snow off his jacket and took another swig of Russian Maalox. If they had a jalapeno’s chance in this frozen hell in pulling through the war, they couldn’t afford to pull any punches. All bets were off, and Dive Man was ready to sacrifice whatever he had left to hold onto his independence. He didn't give a flying rat's ass if he had to sacrifice his comfort, or a better part of his ethics. Whatever it took to stop a bunch frightened, smarmy fleshbags from making him their pet. He just hoped his buddies were on the same page. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cossack's Citadel October 29th, 20XX, 9:55 PM One of the large rooms of the citadel shook with the resonating notes of the vast pipe-organ housed there. Skullman sat there, playing the twisted melody with deft fingers. "All is well..." He tried to convince himself. He looked back on his meeting with General Cutman. The General was a hard man to please, especially with a condition such as the one Zymeth had asked. Then again, he'd expect such from a man with an I.Q. that breached 200. However, he sensed that Cut was actually amused and interested in Zymeth's persona and plans. He knew the General sensed the treachery in him, being one who is quite familiar with the concept. At first they discussed the exchange of information, but Cutman was already in possession of verious means of obtaining that as it was. However, Zymeth's talent for murder was the one thing that struck a deal. They'd definately be in touch, to discuss this matter further. A sour note found its way into the distracted Zymeth's tune, which was quicky corrected. His plot wasn't advancing as he had hoped. His new possition as an assassin wasn't the best to take advantage from, at least in the way of manipulating the General's actions. He cursed under his breath. Also, he failed to recall another major player in the SA. Mesmerman. Zymeth knew that Mesmerman could sense every thought in his mind. "Is that why Cutman rejected my offer of data?" He asked himself. He shook his head, not having an answer. It's not as if it mattered anyhow. He could only pray that the psychic robot wouldn't tell Cut of his intended treachery. But, the loss was lightened heavily by other breakthroughs. The arrival of Blizzardman, for one, lightened the skeletal robot's mood, both as his friend and a fellow conspirator. The other thing was knowing that if Cossack was defeated, he'd have another stage to run to and start anew. Also, Wily's short temper and low theshold for frustration, as well as the RPD's vast web of red tape and beurocratic nonsense would prove to be quite useful. Zymeth opened his eyes for the first time since he began playing. He looked down at the cross laying on the shelf of the organ. "Katrina..." He said, quietly, "I promised you a world where the wicked would be punished and the innocent are free... robotic or human. I won't let him take that world away from us..." The rythem of the keys being played quickened as his eyes narrowed into a glare. "If Cutman wants a war, he'll get his war. His world and my world can't co-exist. He's one of the many vile creatures that needs to die a horrible and agonizing death... He's a monster that needs another monster to kill him. A monster like me... I'll do my best to make them all suffer... Katrina... Though I must admit, he does serve as a wonderful reminder of boundries I cannot lot my world cross..." The twisted yet beautiful song continued to resonate throughout a portion of the citadel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skull Castle November 1st, 21XX The large corridor echoed as Ring Man's boots clanked agains the metal floor beneath him. It had taken him a week to find Wily's elusive base of operations, all the while searching in the middle of the mountains while it was raining over in the United States, no less. He was sick, tired, and honestly missed his home. But he was desperate to find the mad scientist, even if the reason itself didn't seem to reassure him as it did when he first left Cossack's citadel. As he neared the end of the seemingly endless hall, he stopped to try and wipe off the excess water he had collected on his armor to make himself look better. Then, taking a deep sigh, he opened the door and entered the room. As expected, Wily was sitting at a table in the middle of the room, his eyes glaring right through the communist robot. "How nice of you to drop by, Ring Man," he spoke first, his voice cold as ice. "Dr. Wily... I see you've been expecting me," Rebel retorted. It was strange, just upon seeing the old man he felt the need to lunge at him. It's not like he hated the doctor to the point he wanted him dead... call it more of a reflex if anything. He was practically trained to attack the guy on sight thanks to all of the trouble he caused the Comrades in the past. Wily only continued to glare. "You snuck into my fortress and got past my security, so I figured it would only be fitting to wait for you here." There was a heavy air surrounding the room that only continued to thicken as time progressed. Eventually, Wily continued. "Why is it that you have come?" "Surely you have heard of the Shutdown Code... correct?" Ring Man asked, trying to sound innocent. "Heard of it? That's all I've been able to think of for the past few days! It won't be long now until it's made a law, that's for certain." Ring Man bit his lip, not knowing where to go with this. "...What do you think of it?" "Hmph, personally I hate it," Wily frowned as he answered. "Some of the robots I get I steal, so having a chip installed in them won't do whenever I try to attempt world domination. And if one of my lazy robots gets stuck with it, then I could be finished. What does it matter to you, anyway?" "Dr. Cossack doesn't like it either... says it goes against what he and Dr. Light have worked hard for," Rebel replied. "Wily... he's planning on rebelling against the government." The mad scientist suddenly removed his piercing eyes from Rebel to let out a loud, ghoulish laugh. The voice carried off into the distance, resonating throughout the entire castle. No doubt everyone else in the complex heard it as well. "Cossack? Fighting on the other side? Do tell!" Wily looked amused. "Even if that is the case, that fool doesn't have the brains nor the funding to pull something like that off effectively! The RPD'll smash him in no time." Rebel could only nod in agreement, much to Wily's surprise. Wily was certain that the Cossack-branded robot would have tried to pummel him or at least get slightly angry, yet there was nothing but a simple shake of the head. It was then that doctor realized that there was more to this meeting that met the eye. "You are right, Wily... Cossack doesn't stand a chance," Rebel confirmed his suspicions. "He wanted me to help fight for him but that one fact dawned on me--he was incapable of surviving a war of this scale. Then I thought about you..." "Me?" "Yes... I knew you probably wouldn't take the Shutdown Code well either, which is why I came... and since you confirmed what I thought, I ask of you: Will you let me fight for you against the RPD?" Slowly, Wily put his hands up to his face and interlaced his fingers, placing the upper part of his lip directly on contact with them as he thought heavily. He had Ring Man once before on his side, very briefly, and the result was disastrous. That time, however, the red robot was forced to come here and now he was offering his allegiance freely. If he could play his cards right, he could have quite some use out of this new puppet. "Mwahahahah!!" the doctor rose out of his chair laughing hysterically. "Ring Man, it pleases me to welcome you as a new soldier for my army! You will make a fine addition!" "...Thank you," Ring Man lowered his head, not bothering to mask the unhappiness in his voice. He knew Wily didn't care. "We have much work to do... but the most important step is to get you situated," Wily said, stroking his mustache. He then pressed a button on top of his desk, summoning the Quick Man look-a-like, Mr. Whiz. "You rang?" the yellow robot asked as he stepped through the door Rebel had entered. "Take our guest down to where the Warriors are. He will be staying with them from now on." "Right away." With that, Mr. Whiz guided Rebel throughout the building, until eventually reaching the area where the Wily Warriors were staying. The Warriors, for the most part, were a Mega Man Team that ended getting hooked back up with Wily through some legal action that took place. Despite the fact that they butted heads in the past because of this, it pleased the young comrade to know that he would be spending time with more of the "hospitable" Wily bots... even if that wasn't saying much. Still, it did not matter in the end. To make the point perfectly clear, Rebel had betrayed his fellow teammates, the people who used to turn to him for support. He did not know if he would ever be able to go back to his past life, back to the way things once were. Just what had he gotten himself into? And most importantly... would he be able to come out unscathed?