Once the debris was removed from Hammond's car, the trio got into the Dodge, Alfa, and Griffon, and drove them into Big Duo's feet. Cars secured, Hammond was now inside the cockpit, the glass dome sealing him in the gyrosphere. May was addressing Roger's wound still while Clarkson supported him. Roger was guiding Hammond through the start up process.
"Hit the lower 3 keys on the right, the one just above it, then come back down, hit the last one. Now, turn on all these switches. Watch your arms, the joy cons are dropping down now…"
Roger peered over, looking at the center console, seeing "CAST IN THE NAME OF GOD, YE NOT GUILTY," scroll across the center. Nodding at what he saw, he looked out at the harbor, studying the enemy that was some distance from them, but he could make out the shape.
The megadeus standing opposite of them was enormous. Roger could make out three heads and that it was standing on three legs. Silver in color, it had a greenish glow to it which added to its ominous appearance. It had slits for eyes and its body was solid. Its hands were bigger than Big O, able to grab him in one swipe. Roger had never seen this type of construction before. Hammond gulped nervously.
"What do I do now?" he asked.
"Get Duo up in the air. That's where his fighting advantage lies. I'll help you distract the megadeus until Beck and Big Fau show up."
"And then what do we do?"
Roger grimaced, in part from the pain on his side.
"Pray that Duo and Fau will be enough."
May, who had finished patching up Roger, noticed the blood on the bandage.
"Hammond, don't mean to rush, but I don't think what I did is going to hold up, especially with him standing. You might want to make this quick," said May, looking worried.
"Just don't crash and burn us," muttered Clarkson. Clarkson was still angry over Hammond's decision, but didn't argue much over it. He didn't want to chance another rocket hitting them again.
Hammond began moving the foot pedals forward. As he did so, Big Duo's thrusters started up just as the megadeus in the harbor began advancing toward them. As Big Duo began to take off, the megadeus ran with a huge spurt of speed toward them. Big Duo only managed to clear into the air space, narrowly missing a grab from the megadeus.
"Isn't he a bit testy?" said Hammond, looking at the center console.
"We're too close. Put some distance between him and us, Rich," said Roger firmly.
Hammond obliged and pushed the pedals forward and Big Duo began climbing higher. Clarkson and May held on to the sides, as Roger braced himself, grimacing.
"Are you getting any readings off that thing?" asked Roger, strained. A sharp spasm of pain had coursed through him by his injured side. Hammond shook his head.
"No, nothing yet. OH SHIT!"
Big Duo barely evaded an Arc Line blast from the megadeus. Hammond straighten Big Duo out and began circling above the enemy. Roger brought the comm link to his mouth.
"How much longer is Beck? We can't keep evading the enemy all day!" said Roger, frustrated.
"He's five minutes out! Do what you can!" yelled Yumi.
"Damn it… Rich, circle around one more time! Get behind him and do an attack run with some machine gun fire."
Hammond did as he was told and began the attack run. Big Duo got behind the megadeus and began to descend quickly, Hammond lining up his target in the cross hairs.
"Target is locked…"
"Fire!" yelled Roger.
Hammond flipped the switch and began firing machine gun fire at the megadeus, then pulled up. The attack caused the megadeus to bring up its guard, to shield itself. As Big Duo circled around once more, he began to descend again.
"Use the Arc Line and blind him, Rich!"
As the attack appeared on screen, Hammond executed the command. The attack was a success, hitting the shoulder of the megadeus and forcing it down on one of its three knees.
"Good hit, Hammond!" yelled May and even Clarkson smiled.
"Surely the Big Chap has something a bit more powerful than the laser beams?" asked Hammond, moving the controls around.
"Yeah, he does. Megaton missiles, but we're too close to the city. For right now, watch your ammo count and alternate between the two until Fau gets here," said Roger, grimacing and he dropped to one knee. May reached out to help him up, but Roger shook his head.
"I'm fine, thank you. We're nearly there. Commence another attack run, this time from the front. Shake it up a bit so he can't predict your attacks!"
"Right then. Come on Big Chap, let's keep it up!"
Big Duo began another attack run, this time from the front and using the Arc Line. The attack this time caused the enemy to fall in the water, a large plume going up through the air. Hammond laughed.
"HA! That's what you get! Come on, let's keep going!"
But the mysterious megadeus had enough of the shenanigans. As it got up to its feet, Roger noticed it swinging one of its legs to the back as Hammond began to descend.
"Rich, hold on… it's switching…"
But Hammond, caught up in his gleeful joy, didn't hear Roger. As Big Duo began to descend rapidly, the megadeus jumped into the air and caught Big Duo. The pair tumbled down to Earth and landed hard in the harbor, everyone in Big Duo holding on for dear life.
"YOU BLITHERING IDIOT! WILL YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO THE MAN!" yelled Clarkson, rubbing his head. May got up, rubbing his head as well, then stopped.
"Bollocks…" he whispered.
May was staring at Roger lying on the ground. The bandage was now absorbing blood quickly and the stain was spreading. Roger's breathing had become labored, and he struggled to get up, but May grabbed him.
"Enough. You get up and you'll be done for. Jezza! Get me the first aid kit…"
Clarkson grabbed it and brought it over as Hammond cried out, "What's going on?"
"Your graceful piloting abilities ripped open his wound!" said Clarkson, irately, handing the kit over to May and began helping him, "Do what you can until the other guy shows up!"
"But I don't know how!"
"Figure it out then!"
Hammond looked around at the cockpit, at a total loss of what to do.
Come on, Big Chap. Help me out here. What do I do next?
And then the strangest thing happened to Hammond. Instead of finding himself staring up at the sky, he found himself staring at the ground. There was smoke and fire all around, rising high into the air. And then Hammond became aware that he wasn't alone. Hammond was surrounded by other Big Duos, flying alongside him in a formation. He shook his head, vigorously.
What the hell was that?
Hammond then became aware that he was still on the ground and raised Big Duo to his feet. Now, it seemed things had returned to normal and Hammond was staring down the megadeus, who was also getting up as well. Hammond moved Big Duo back, putting as much distance as he could between him and the megadeus. He moved the foot pedals down, but because he had landed in the water, Big Duo's jets were struggling to turn on.
"I'm not getting anything from the thrusters!" he said, panicking.
Roger sat himself up the best he could.
"Go on the offensive…" Roger groaned.
"Hammond, wrap this up, now!" yelled Clarkson, "He's not doing good!"
Hammond moved the foot pedals forward once more, this time engaging Big Duo into a run. He drew the left joy con back and moved it forward. As Big Duo came in for punch, the megadeus caught his arm and threw Big Duo over him with ease, shaking everyone around in the cockpit.
"HAMMMMOONNND!" hollered Clarkson.
But Hammond didn't respond. He was now back in the different world, flying high in the sky and in formation once again. He could hear the whistles of bombs being dropped below him. His Big Duo broke off with a small group, banking to the right, flying over the city. They began releasing more bombs.
Fire and smoke consumed the city, the bombs having met their targets. Then a tall, dark, horrible shadow appeared before him. It was a massive robot, with claws for hands, and its face plate appeared to be that of a skull. Hammond felt himself tremble at the sight.
What the bloody hell is happening?! Why am I seeing this?! I should be fighting the other guy. I'm not flying!
With Hammond caught up in the vision, he didn't see the megadeus marching over to them. It now stood over them, readying its arm back, its hand now glowing with greenish hue. May saw what was happening.
"Do something!" he shouted to Hammond.
May then realized that Hammond was not himself. Hammond, now with his arms down at his sides, seemed to be staring off into space.
"Jeremy! Something's wrong!"
Clarkson looked up and saw Hammond's state. May began hitting the glass dome.
"Snap out of it, you muppet! We're about to get killed!"
"This isn't happening…. This isn't happening…" Hammond muttered.
Roger got himself up, playing with Clarkson's watch. He found what he was looking for.
"Stand back!" he ordered the other two.
As Clarkson and May stood back, Roger placed the face of the watch dial on the glass dome. A loud screech emitted from the watch, but Roger was successful. The sound wave forced the glass dome open as Roger grabbed the joy con and rushed it forward, grabbing the incoming punch from the megadeus.
"Big Duo's showing him what happened in the past! Get him to snap out of it!" roared Roger.
Clarkson, fed up with everything, didn't miss his chance. He leaned over the pilot seat, and with all of his might, slapped Hammond in the face.
SMACK!
The far away stare in Hammond's eyes went away and returned to normal. He began rubbing his face.
"What did you hit me for?" he yelled indignantly.
"THAT!" and Clarkson pointed toward the glass window.
Roger was struggling and losing ground with the joy con. Hammond realized what was happening, grabbed the other joy con and rushed it forward.
"PUSH HIM BACK!" yelled Roger, "Don't let his hand touch Big Duo…"
Hammond and Roger were struggling. But Roger was starting to reach his limit with his injuries. As his knees buckled, Hammond grabbed the joy con he had been holding as Roger released it. Hammond was now on his own, struggling to hold the megadeus…
Everyone shut their eyes tight, waiting for an impending demise. But then there was a sudden rumble and then a loud sound coming off to Big Duo's left. A moment later, a large black arm was visible through the glass dome, making contact with a punch on the megadeus attacking Big Duo. The megadeus, not expecting the punch, fell backward into the water. Everyone opened their eyes and Hammond got Big Duo to his feet.
The sight that they saw was unbelievable. Big O was standing near them, still outstretched in his punching form. As he returned to standing and put himself between Big Duo and the megadeus, Dorothy came across the com link.
"Roger! Big O is moving on his own! Where are you?"
But Roger had passed out and did not hear her. Clarkson, May, and Hammond, were simply shocked by what was happening.
"Utter madness," muttered May, "Roger's here with us, but… his robot… it's moving by itself. It's moving on its own!"
Clarkson had no retort and neither did Hammond. Big O marched forward, drawing his arms back, the pistons firing back. The left arm made contact first, firing the piston, then the right arm, also firing the piston. The enemy megadeus stumbled back, with two noticeable dents in the chest region. The megadeus' hands began to glow in a greenish glow again, and without thinking, Hammond cried out.
"WATCH IT, BIG CHAP! DON'T LET THAT ATTACK TOUCH YOU!"
May and Clarkson stared at Hammond, but Big O stopped advancing, seeming to have heard his yell. Big O's arms then began the formation of the Chromebuster, and as he brought them down to his midriff, the megadeus ran forward. As the Chromebuster fired, the megadeus caught the beam, being pushed back away from Big O. But it seemed the energy in the megadeus' hands was nullifying the Chromebuster. The Chromebuster finally disappeared and the megadeus regained its footing, now slowly marching toward Big O and Big Duo.
"Roger must know something about that energy, or he wouldn't had been adamant on avoiding it…" muttered Clarkson.
"But what can we do?" asked Hammond, "We're gonna have to get close if we want to deliver a final blow to at least disable it."
"YOU MORONS!"
Big Fau finally surfaced at last, placing himself between Big O and the megadeus. Beck was furious from all the events that had happened, and it showed in his voice.
"TAKE THIS! ELECTRIC SMASH!"
Big Fau deployed a near invisible force field into the megadeus, paralyzing its movements. Big Fau then turned around to Big O and Big Duo.
"Where's Crow Boy?" roared Beck over the comm link.
"He's injured! He passed out!" said Hammond.
"GOD DAMN IT! Of all times… you three retreat with Crow Boy back to the base, NOW!"
"But…" Hammond began, but Beck cut him off.
"I DON'T HAVE TIME TO PLAY GAMES! IT'S BEEN A BAD ENOUGH DAY WITH ALL THE KNIGHTS ACTING UP! DO AS I SAY AND DO IT NOW!"
"Hammond, we need to go. I don't think Roger will last much longer if we linger," said May, worried.
"But I can't. Big Duo's thrusters aren't firing properly. I think they still have water in them…" Hammond began to say, but Beck cut him off once more.
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, SHORTIE! YOU GOT WATER IN THE JETS?"
"IT WASN'T MY FAULT!"
"YOU MORON! AT LEAST SCHWARZWALD WOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER NOT TO FIGHT OVER WATER!"
"WELL EXCUSE ME FOR NOT HAVING PROPER INSTRUCTION!"
"WILL ALL OF YOU KNOCK OFF THE FIGHTING!" yelled Dorothy, "Beck, that thing is charging up again with a mass of energy! Get your shield up now!"
"MOTHER…" and Beck got Big Fau's shield up barely in time as a large energy attack blast came from the enemy megadeus. Big Fau stepped back, bracing himself from the impact of the attack.
"DAMN YOU!" roared Beck.
Big O, sensing the danger, ran forward and braced himself against Big Fau, supporting him. Hammond saw what was happening and ran over with Big Duo as well, bracing Big Fau. They felt the shockwaves as the shield held, then the energy dispersed in a bright light, blinding everyone.
Smoke filled harbor. Hammond rubbed his eyes, trying to recover from the bright flash of light. Big Duo and Big O straighten themselves up as Big Fau took a step forward.
"Where is it? I'm not seeing anything!" Beck yelled.
"I'm not seeing anything either," said Hammond, "Nothing is coming up on my radar…"
The smoke finally cleared and the megadeus was gone.
"Crow Bird! Where did it go?" Beck asked.
"I don't know, Beck! I don't know. It's disappeared off of our radar! Dan's also confirming he has no visual on the enemy either!" cried out Dorothy over the comm link.
"Damn it," growled Beck, shaking his head, "Listen up! Crow Boy's injured and Big Duo can't fly back! I need a medic unit, stat!"
"I'm sending one right now. Beck, help my clients with Big Duo and bring them back to base."
"On it, Crow Bird."
Hammond leaned back, exhausted now that threat, for now, was gone. A small clinking noise caught his attention. It was beginning to rain, the sound echoing throughout the cockpit.
"What the bloody hell happened?" yelled Clarkson, "Why did you stop fighting, Hammond?"
Hammond shook his head. "If I told you, I don't think you would believe me. I don't even believe it myself."
The sound of a motorboat could be heard approaching them as three Knights stood in the harbor in the gentle rain. The occupants in the cockpits were feeling uneasy about the abrupt end to the battle, having the feeling that would not be the last time they would see the enemy.