It had happened so fast. One second 28's hands were grasping for 82's throat, the next there was a muffled bang as the tall boy's head exploded outward. Showering 78 and 28 in blood. 28 stood shocked, wiping the red from his eyes before sinking to his knees. His hands were covered in blood and brain matter. As 82's body collapsed in a heap, dark blood pooling into the ash, he knew his friend was gone. After everything that had happened, he was just gone.
28's hands clenched into fists, blood squelching out from between his fingers. 78's face was blank, splattered with gore. She rose slowly to her feet, dusting the ash from her knees. And when her eyes met his 28 saw the pain within, tears creeping silently into their corners. 28 turned back towards Rinzlo, his gaze filled with accusation. But Rinzlo's face was the very mask of confusion. He had never raised his weapon.
Slowly the two began making their way back to Rinzlo. But 28's mind was elsewhere. He could see it all as the last warmth fled from 82's blood, his friend's blood, the blood that dripped from his fingers. He saw 82's last memories. He saw as they entered the house. 99 stormed up the stairs as the Rinzlo and 82 searched the main room. He could feel 82's confusion at his familiarity with the house he'd never seen. He saw as they pushed the wash basin aside to reveal a trap door. He watched as Rinzlo and 99 dragged the figures out from the darkness. Two were strangers to him, but the third...Marlene was worn down with the stress of single motherhood. 82 saw her, and she saw him. But she did not recognize him as he did her. His wife, Robert's wife. His children, Robert's children. Rinzlo began to speak about the assets, twin girls. Both six years old, genetically similar to Asset Number 82. 82 wasn't listening anymore. He began to sway back and forth. 99 looked at him with concern and Rinzlo began to ask if he was alright. 82 didn't respond, he didn't know what to say or who he was. Marlene grabbed the girls while they were distracted and bolted for the door. Rinzlo seized her arm, his eyes widening at the sight of her. And 99 struck her from behind, blood spraying from her head as her skull cracked open. 82 went numb; and then he seethed with inner fire. The boy screamed in rage and his eyes burned as flames poured out from them. He was Robert, and these strangers had just murdered his wife.
28 looked up as they reached Rinzlo and 99. He searched for shame in their faces, 99 only smirked and Rinzlo betrayed nothing. 99 hefted the two girls to their feet. 36 stood next to Rinzlo a little ways away, his tear-filled eyes locked on 28. 28 paid him no mind.
"Nines?" he murmured nonchalantly.
"Yeah Twenty-eight?"
28's rifle was in his hand with a deft spin, and with only that hand he leveled it at the other boy's chest and fired. 99 was flung backwards into Rinzlo, who caught him with his silver arm, as shards from his black armor were sent spinning through the air. Rinzlo's hand moved to his side arm but suddenly stopped, stretching straight down as the muscle rippled and strained. 99 was likewise forced to his knees as 36's gravity well crushed them.
"Go!" the small boy yelled.
28 darted forward and grabbed the two girls but before he could get any farther Rinzlo's silver arm had made its move. The once solid silver rippled like water and formed into a blade that curved backwards, piercing 36's stomach. The small boy sank to his knees with a cry and the weight was lifted from Rinzlo and 99. Rinzlo shot forward as 36 fell, his arm outstretched with fingers poised to seize 28's throat. 78 moved faster than 28 could, leaping to intercept the man and tackling him out of the air. 28 didn't get a chance to see what happened next, however, as 99 began his assault. The boy launched himself through the air and straight into 28, knocking both the girls and his rifle from his grasp. 28 skidded across the ash before rising to his feet only for 99's fist to crash into his helm and send him flying backwards through the wall of the ruined house behind him. 28 blinked away the splotches in his vision and tore off his shattered helm. He lay in the rubble of Robert's house, face to face with Marlene's corpse. Rage and grief spilled over him.
99 stepped through the hole in the wall, cracking his knuckles. But 28 was nowhere to be seen. The vengeful boy cast his gaze from the left to the right before they settled on a set of footprints in the ash beyond the collapsed back wall of the house.
"You can't run Twenty-eight, I'm coming for you!"
28 stumbled through the alleyways of the sprawling mass of yellowed houses. He knew 99 would find him, hell he was counting on it. But he needed him alone. 28 ducked quickly into one of the alleyways and pressed himself against the wall, listening. A frown formed on his mouth after several moments had passed without the sound of boots padding on ash. Slowly the boy peered around the corner and down the alley. He saw nothing but his own footprints. 'What the hell?' 28 turned back around to see a deformed shadow on the wall before him. Something was on the roof. As 28 realized this he pushed himself away from the wall, but it was too late. He paused for a moment in surprise as white strands of silk shot down from above and he became entangled in the sticky threads. As he struggled, 28 was hoisted up the side of the building and onto the roof.
99 awaited him, the lower half of his body mutated into a twisted and grotesque spider torso. It was massive and bloated in size and it's hard black carapace gleamed menacingly. 99 clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Really? That's the best you could do? Hiding in an alley...and to think I still had some respect for you."
"And I've lost all respect for you, murderer." 28 spat venomously.
99 laughed, "You think I killed old fire-eyes? Don't be an idiot."
"No," 28 growled, "You killed Marlene."
"Who the hell is...wait, the woman. How the hell do you know about that?"
28 grit his teeth as he continued struggling against his bonds.
"I said, how the hell do you know about that!"
28 tore free of the webs with one last effort and launched himself at the other boy only to be swatted away by one of 99's eight, long legs. The would-be assailant crashed into a wall below with a grunt and sank to the ground. 99 crept quietly down the side of the wall, his long legs grasping at the sides of the alley as he lowered his hulking torso towards 28.
"Why try and take the assets? I don't get it. We had a mission."
28 groaned softly as he raised his head towards 99, "You wouldn't get it nines. They're not just any kids. I think they're Eighty-two's kids."
99 frowned for a moment, then he shook his head.
"You've really lost it huh?"
28 shrugged admittedly, "Maybe."
28's fist crashed into the side of 99's head, the boy's helmet warped and cracked under the force of the blow before spinning off of 99's head entirely. 99 wheeled away from the attack, his spider legs flailing in the air as he crashed backwards. 28 shot to his feet and bolted down another alleyway, not daring to look behind him. He heard 99 roar in rage and he knew that the enraged mutant was hot on his tail.
As 28 plowed his way through the dusty side roads he began to hear a strange clacking and tearing coming from behind. Quickly he dared a glance over his shoulder and was horrified by what he saw. 99's spider torso was twisting and elongating. The long legs began to shrink back as more and more of them sprouted leaving his newly formed centipede body glistening in the light like the red teeth of a wine drinker. 99's new body shot forward with immense speed, the many legs allowing him to traverse over and along buildings with ease. 28 reached down and grabbed a handful of ash before turning and flinging it up. 99 who was now upon him caught the ash in the face and blinded, he nose dived into a wall to 28's left. 99's body punched a whole in the wall, causing the rest of the home to buckle and shake. 28 breathed heavily for a moment, waiting. Then the centipede resumed movement, coiling up into the whole as 99's top half shot up through the roof. The hybrid snarled angrily and struck forward like a cobra. 28 just barely managed to dive out of the way of the attack but was knocked aside as the rest of 99's body tore itself free of the now ruined home. 28's body glanced off the side of a building before crashing down into the ash once more. As 28 struggled to his feet 99's centipede torso shrank away, leaving two long, bird-like legs in their place. The fierce talons gleamed like steel and two great black wings sprouted from the boy's back.
"You can't win Twenty-eight. You're good, don't get me wrong. Short of Rinzlo, no inferior being could stand against you. But I'm just better."
The great wings flapped once, billowing a storm of ash towards 28 and blinding him. As he shielded his eyes 28 felt the set of talons grip his arms and he shot up into the air, trapped in 99's grasp. 28 watched helplessly as the buildings below began to shrink away. If he let 99 get too high a fall could mean certain death. 28 grit his teeth and flexed his stomach, swinging his legs up to wrap around 99's torso. His ankles locked together and the boy began to squeeze his legs with all of his might. 99 gasped with pain as he felt his torso cave inwards and he began scrabbling at 28's legs, trying to break the grip. As he did, 28 turned his head and sank his teeth into one of the clawed appendages. He tasted hot blood in his mouth as 99 howled in pain. Then the winged boy broke his grip and swiftly kicked 28 away, sending him sailing through the air. 28 attempted to right himself as he fell but 99 had switched into a dive and collided with him midair. The two boys grasped at each other and wheeled through the air, exchanging blows to the body and face. At the last second 99 broke off and 28 crashed through the roof of a house and the second floor before slamming into the ground floor. His vision flickered dangerously and his lungs struggled to find air. Gasping he tried to rise but his body screamed in protest. Instead he lay limp, waiting for the pain to pass.
He heard it before he opened his eyes, 99 came to a rest atop the roof. 28 opened his eyes to see him staring down with disdain and contempt. 'So that's how you really feel. You hate me don't you?' 28 groaned and propped himself up on an elbow.
"Damn you Twenty-eight, damn you straight to hell."
28 chuckled as he came to his feet. The house was not empty. One man had been killed when 28 came plummeting through, crushed under debris. What seemed to be his children cowered in the corner, three of them. 'I need to get this away from people. Who knows how many have already gotten caught up in our battle without my knowing.' 28 fixed his gaze one 99. 'But with his ability he's far more versatile than I. I'm not in control of this fight, I can't set the stage.' 99 lunged down into 28, slamming him back into the ground. 28 felt hands close around his throat as his eyes shut from the impact. He tried to grab at them but felt more hands pin his arms. 'What the hell?' He opened his eyes and saw numerous arms sprouting from 99's back where the wings once were, all of them set on restraining him while 99 crushed his throat. 28 coughed blood as the pressure increased on his body and throat. 'Internal damage, not good. I don't know how quickly I can heal that.' 28 stretched his fingers, trying to get one on 99 but to no avail.
"Don't you wanna know where we come from?" 28 choked out with a struggle.
"No, Twenty-eight, I don't really care. I am what I am, and I don't care for ludicrous ramblings."
28's fingers scrambled for something, anything. They settled on a shard of wood and he jerked it upwards, jabbing it into one of 99's many arms. 99 hissed and the arms briefly relinquished it's grip. But it was long enough. 28 plunged his hand upward into 99's chest, a rib cracked and the boy grunted in pain and surprise. Suddenly 99 flung himself away, crashing into a pile of rubble from the ruined roof. 28 rolled over and vomited before beginning his crawl away from the other boy. 99 rose shakily to his feet as his arms receded into his body.
"What the hell was that?"
28 didn't respond, instead he struggled to his feet as his strength returned to him. He looked for the children, they were gone. 28 shook his head with a sigh and straightened out before turning to face 99 again.
"I think we've done enough talking nines. It's time we end this."
99 smirked, "Fine, works for me."
The two began to pace, just like in training, circling around each other. Slowly they began to exchange blows. Back and forth they went, countering and attacking. Gradually they built up speed, their arms and legs moving faster than a normal man's could. Their attacks were fast and heavy and precise. As they wore away at each other their knuckles tore and their bodies bruised. But the battle was far from equal. 28 found himself taking far more hits than he was getting in, and while he tired 99 seemed to grow only more aggressive. Eventually it became too much for 28 to take. 99 broke his guard and while 28's arms were splayed wide he delivered a series of powerful strikes to his body, lifting him from the ground with their strength. 28 gasped as all of the air rushed from his lungs. Then 99 twisted his body, striking 28 across the face with a right hook that sent him barreling through the wall and into the street. 28 rolled in the ash, blood dripping heavily from his nose and mouth. He tried to rise but 99 was already upon him. His hand slammed into 28's throat, pushing him back against a wall. 99 lifted 28 off his feet and brought back his other arm. True to his word, 99 did not speak. Instead he brought his fist into 28's face. And again. And again. 28 took several blows to the face, feeling the wall behind him begin to crack. 'I can't take much more of this!' 28 put his hand up to catch 99's, stopping it mid blow. Then he brought his knees up to his chest and thrust his legs into 99, flinging him backwards. 28 fell to his knees as 99 released him, and looked up at his foe. 99 had already regained his footing and rushed at 28. 99's shoulder slammed into 28's chest, sending him through the wall behind. 99 waited for him, he had nowhere to go. 28 stumbleded from the hole, and 99 chuckled. Then another 28 emerged into the light, and another until 99 was staring at seven 28s. The 28's all gathered around him, cracking their knuckles and snickering.
"What the hell?" whispered 99.
The 28's descended on him in a fury, surrounding him and assailing him from all sides. Miraculously 99 managed to avoid a majority of the blows, but those that did slip through were powerful and bone breaking. 99 weathered the rain of attacks for as long as he could, never having an opportunity to counter. But even 99, for all his strength, could only take so much. And as the last blow fell, so did 99. The boy crashed into the ash, blood pooling from his mouth. He gazed wearily up at the 28's which all faded until only one remained.
"You son of a bitch," 99 wheezed.
"I hope you know, I didn't take any joy in this nines."
"The hell you didn't, asshole."
28 coughed and doubled over in pain, his body was healing but not nearly fast enough. He was spent. That's where Rinzlo found them, curled up on the ground covered in ash and blood. Rinzlo was not gentle in securing them. He practically dragged them back to the ship. 78 was there, unconscious and beaten to hell but alive. 36 had buried his head in his hands, refusing to look at anyone. The trip back was practically silent, the two girls were nowhere to be seen, and they didn't ride the train again. They had lost that privilege. When the ship neared the foundation's compound 28 finally worked up the courage to ask what had been on his mind.
"Hey boss, how badly are we screwed? Seventy-eight, Thirty-six and me."
Rinzlo let out a long breath and shook his head without looking at 28.
"I don't know kid," He muttered, " I don't know."