Arc 13 Battle of Bronson City
Chapter 13
I stared down the imposing half-painted mech, cracking my knuckles and rolling my neck to get the blood pumping. It had been a while since I got to fight something bigger than me. Last couple of times that mech had kept its distance. Now, it was within reach and didn’t have anywhere to run. My fingers wiggled before tightening into firm fists.
“What is your name by the way?” I asked, I should at least know the name of the person I was about to kill. That way if somebody accuses me of stuff like before then I will know who I took out.
The speakers replied in a distorted voice, “Retro Robo. This child is called Evening Star.”
Retro Robo, huh. Evening Star? Why did that sound familiar? I paused tapping at my head, trying to remember where I had heard that before. I gazed up and down at that machine. The head was domed with a thick tinted glass, whatever was in there could not be seen. A clean white painted exterior had highlights of red interwoven, this design was completely devoid from one side of the machine leaving the raw metal plates exposed. Something had scraped or peeled it off, possibly even burned it off from the scorch marks around the edges. Oddly I was getting arachnid vibes from this thing, it had six arms and two legs. Overall it had a humanoid appearance, granted it had a massive humpback with vents. I suppose it made sense, Retro Robo, but Evening Star? It didn’t fit this thing. Something about that name bugged me. I know I have heard it before. Well, I will have to think about that later. The Evening Star bristled with armaments as it shifted into a fighting pose. My tentacles scratched my head. Hmm, what would a Villain do here?
AH of course.
I opened my arms wide in an inviting way gazing up at the taller machine and rejoiced, “Finally my kaiju on mecha boss fight is real. You are no giant enemy mecha crab but you will have to do! Give me your best mecha bitch. I will finish you with the Bronson Crab!”
“What does that even mean?!” Replied the robo lady.
She took offense to that. Not sure if it was not living up to my dreams of fighting a giant robo crab or being called a bitch. Either way, a metal fist slammed into my face. I shook my head as the hand violently retracted snapping back into place. That robo skank has hands to throw I see.
One of the other arms raised, huh that thing has six, that arm didn’t have a hand. No that was certainly a gun. A big one at that. The barrel lit up. I ducked and dived, my claws digging into the floor and rapidly shifting my angle as the blast shot across the room, narrowly missing me. The explosion from the blast shook the room as the lights flickered.
I slammed down onto all sixes and surged forward. My claws gouged and scraped with every rhythmic impact as I closed the distance. The mech’s back flared and it started to hover before accelerating backward away from me. Its shoulders opened revealing tubes. A barrage of rockets shot out homing in. The impacts shocked me for a moment but I shrugged it off, my carapace was little more than cracked in a couple of spots, dented from the explosions.
My legs kicked hard as I propelled myself at the robot. It shifted attempting to dodge but my wings flapped sending me faster. Fist met metal as I intercepted the Evening Star. The hit slammed it against the wall but otherwise didn’t damage it, besides some superficial denting and scraping from my claws. What the hell was that thing made of? A full-force swipe from my claws even fucked up Armadillo’s suit.
The gun arm’s barrel shifted changing to a larger one. It shot out a giant net that clipped my wings binding them up. After several flaps, they got tangled even more. A surge of electricity shot through my wings scalding and arcing between them. My arms flexed in with such force that the carapace cracked and I fell flat on my face. Twitching from the shocks, I rose back up for round two.
I charged and swung down, and it grappled back, locking hands with me. The extra pair of the robot’s hands scrabbled for purchases along my carapace and if I didn’t know better was coping a feel. I slammed my head forward head-butting the mech making it shove me back as it stumbled away. It fell onto its back, all at once its limbs twisted unnaturally and it scuttled away like a cock roach. Two of the arms stuck straight up and contorted in my direction pointing their weapons at me.
Before I could lunge forward to close the distance the weapons shot hitting me square in the chest. The impact jarred me back as yellow gushed out. My eyes twitched and narrowed as the world started to tint with my rage. Fuming I slammed the ground crushing it so that the floor dented down splintering the large tiled floor panels. The sudden incline dragged the machine towards me like and ant attempting to escape an ant lion. I bounded forward charging straight through the hail of bullets and lasers. The heavy thuds doing little more than ever so slightly slowing me down.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Finally, I got within grabbing range. Time for the Bronson Crab special! I coiled around as it bucked and thrashed limbs flailing in all directions. The mech lifts it and tilts back into a suplex. It crashed hard toppled over as I slithered over it twisting it so that the back legs were in front of me as I slammed my ass down on it pinning it to the floor and yanking. My legs tightened crushing it between my thighs as I rocked back and forth. Normally of course this would be a headlock between my legs, but the big robot has odd anatomy so I have the chest area seized.
The Evening Star struggled below me as the danger of thighs became fully evident from the creaking metal. At this rate, it was gonna burst like a watermelon. Sensing the danger the jump jet roared to life burning my ass, the sudden heat and searing of my meat made me reel back, releasing it. That is not fair. Illegal move. Red flag.
As I reeled, it escaped making some distance as it fired off a barrage of missiles. My eyes squinted at it, the smoke and debris from the earlier explosions settling into a silence between us. A stand-off with a laser cannon pointed at me. I took a second take. It kind of looked like me. The silhouette at least. Then it clicked. My little Evening Star is my Mom’s pet name for me. After all, it is what Vesper means.
I pointed at the mech, “Hey, why does that thing look kinda like me and basically have my name?” My carapace crawled, “Are you… are you a weirdo stalker? Oh no you are one of them aren’t you?”
“Oh, I didn’t think you would connect the dots so soon, Vesper.” Said Xava redirecting my attention down to her. Not sure when she got there. It was dangerous here so I scooped her up to shield her frail little robo body from any crossfire.
I know I am slow on the uptake, but did I have a stroke or get shocked and black out and miss a whole conversation? I shiftily looked away from her rather than questioning it. Playing along, I can’t look stupid all the time.
“Ah so it was THAT way I see.”
Xava and the mech laughed in unison, “I am surprised.”
If I wasn’t used to Xava talking through multiple bodies that would just be creepy as fuck. Wait a minute, that is a hero over there.
“Really Vesper, to think you saw through my surprise. I thought I had you fooled. I am impressed. Overseer eject.” Said Xava off-handedly.
There was a beep and then the machine replied, “Acknowledged.”
With a hiss, the cockpit opened and ejected the pilot. Retro Robo fell flat on her ass before us. I couldn’t see her face through that tinted helmet but by the shivering and questioning head turns it was clear that she didn’t know what just happened either. As ever my eyes scanned along her form, assessing what uses I could put this one to. As is the case with most heroes she was fit, in that tight retro space suit. It was striped red and white just the same as the machine.
My lip curled as I scrunched up my face thinking, tilting my head back and forth attempting to process what just happened. Then it came to me.
“You had Overseer hack that bitch when they tried to hack us.” I declared.
Xava face palmed and sighed in disappointment. “Vesper… well I suppose that would be what it looks like.”
“What it looks like?” I reply sheepishly.
“What the hell did you do to my Evening Star?” Retro Robo sounded enraged looking between us and her mech she waved a stun gun looking thing threateningly at us. I wasn't particularly intimidated as the pitiful little toy sparked in her hand.
Xava didn't answer but rather commanded, “Overseer, end role-play Retro Robo Hero.”
Retro fell flat for a moment and then stood back up. The demeanor was all too familiar to me. It was the same as one of the Neon Nurses. “My apologies, creator, you did say and I quote to “Ham things up.” This one believes it was convincing?”
“So what do you think Vesper?” asked Xava.
I took a bit to process it, thinking it over. I raised a tentacle and asked. “So you have already infiltrated the Citadel, but then why do we need to invade it?”
“Simple Vesper. The Citadel has an interference matrix that cuts off communications, which is why Retro Robo has been functioning independently in its role. You could consider it a sleeper agent of sorts. It has been gathering detailed data of the layout of the Citadel. Unfortunately I did not have the proper tools to take over the systems, until now. When we infiltrate I will have all the equipment in place to do a full override and take control. EGS, The Earth Guardian System, will need to be subverted or destroyed.”
“EGS? I feel like I have heard of that before.”
“Likely it is famous. And it might be sentient so it should be considered a Hero in its own right. Yes the AI is responsible for global operations for the Hero League, it is aboard the Citadel, which is why the Citadel is important using its hardware and systems I have theorized that it will be possible to perfect the Cyberbrain, at the very least it will be a temporary housing for my systems.”
“I see. So what was the surprise?” I asked.
Xava motioned and the Evening Star opened, it wasn’t a mech… it was a suit.
I gasped and squealed like it was Christmas and Xava got me a limited collectors edition Moon Sailors full figure box set, the special edition one with removable magnetized clothes. “Are you telling me that you made me a new super suit? With guns, laser and rocket launchers?”
She simply smiled and nodded.
“I ever tell you I love you?” I grinned back. My massive hand petting her on the head.
Xava smiled deeper, genuine it wasn’t that mechanical smile, her fingers slipping between mine as she held my hand, “Yes you do and frequently. Oh by the way don’t think I didn’t hear you loving on me earlier. You big old love bug you. ‘She would never betray me and I would never betray her.’ I ever tell you that I think you are cute?”
“Heard that did you?” I asked scratching my neck.
“Yes I did. I thought it was very romantic of my big strong sexy wasp to defend me from all those mean heroes.”
I leaned down so that she could pet me on the head. “Anything for you.”
“Thank you for trusting me even though I have kept things from you.”
“I know you only looking out for me. Knowing me I might blurt something out by accident. So why did you show me your sleeper agent? I might say something by accident.”
“Vesper, couldn’t have you beat up your new suit. Besides, how do you think you are getting into the citadel since the Heroes didn’t take us up on our deal?”
“Oh.” I nodded, “But couldn’t you have just had Retro Robo drag me in acting like she caught me?”
“I could but then I would need to break you out of their holding area instead of having you be able to help me from beginning.”
“Won’t they be able to detect me inside of that thing? Don’t they have scanners or something?”
“They do, which is why I sent it in as a dry run. Overseer and I have already analyzed the defensive measures and concealing the inside of a metal machine isn’t too hard. Speaking of I need to make some adjustments to the suit. The heroes might get suspicious if things stay too quiet so, why don’t you go down into the dungeon and entertain them for a bit until I am finished?”
“What should I do with Medavac?”
Xava thought about it. “Well, we do have some history. I will leave that up to you. On one hand he is a loose end and might figure out something is amiss. He does know us too well after all. On other he was very nice to you and stuck up for you and I a lot. The choice is yours Vesper.”
I crossed my arms, “Ah... I might have to actually kill him, huh?” I sighed, “I will do what I have to.”