Chapter CCLXXVIII: Hostile Withdrawal ~Multehx

"Guah..." Jaded groaned, holding his head with his right hand. "That witch packs a punch alright."

He opened his eyes, cocking an eyebrow slightly. "Sorta feisty and spirited I'd say."

He smirked behind his scarf, shrugging. "Hey, not that that's a bad thing."

Taking a quick inventory of his belongings, he felt his pouch on his belt, still concealed beneath the red cloak, and his sword tucked in the inner pocket of the cloak, made to hold something of that sort in case of an emergency. He had programmed it into his mind to automatically sheath it in that pocket when fading fast, be it from assault or simply deprivation of something. After all, he didn't get to his rank among those of his trade for nothing.

He made his way silently to the door, opening it just as quietly and pulling it gently open. There was quite a ruckus from down the way in the tavern area, so this might prove easier than he first thought, he noted.

Slipping out into the hall, he walked in such a way that his boots would make little sound. Doing this, he found himself at a bend in the hall, which apparently opened out into the bar.

Thinking quickly to himself he reasoned that, in a rowdy place like this, it often was best just to walk casually through and leave, as those most silent attracted the most attention usually.

Re-wrapping his scarf, he began his casual walk through the room. In fact, things seemed to be going better than he could have hoped. A few of the rougher folks at the bar and tables gave him a sideways glance, but the liquor would wipe their mental slates clean with the next swig.

He continued this way until he had his gloved hand on the door. But as he was turning the knob, his senses keen as ever, he could tell someone was watching him quite carefully. Having learned to ignore these things to perchance throw off the suspicion of the watcher that they had been found out, he frowned slightly, pulling the door open all the way. He strode into the streets, the door closing quietly behind him; odd, as the hinges were rusted badly...

* * * *

The wind rustled gently in the trees. The warm breeze blew by gently. Townsfolk milled about the village. But near the entrance to the town there was a brief rush of wind as a rapidly moving figure came to an abrupt stop just on the outskirts of the woods that framed the path to it.

Multehx brushed aside a lock of hair casually as he leaned against a tree.

Well, I am sorry for leaving them back there like that...but, serves ‘em dang right I say! Bah! Leaving ME, a professional and the only damn one of them who knows what the sodding mission IS to dawdle and wait for their near eternal inaction; it's just...just...RUDE! That's what it is!

The agent snorted indignantly and shook his head.

Besides, the only one a them that had real potential to my eyes was that Fulsta kid. I mean, he was a sicko, but the kid had spunk, gotta give that to him.

Watching the peaceful town for a few moments, Agent 707 mulled over a question in his mind.

Hmm...this seems to be of an old era, Multehx mused, which means that they probably would freak out if they saw anything as strong looking as a Twilighter waltz into their midst. I think I should go for a less intimidating look.

There was a blinding flash of black light for an instant, but it was gone before anyone was certain it had happened. Now where moments before had stood a very suave looking green demon, sans nose, was a shorter fellow with a round body and a calm expression on its face.

Yes, when I'm at ease, I think some have compared the Classic form's looks to something girls would call 'cute' and find adorable. He scratched his head, shrugging. But no girls ever rush me and fawn over me as such, so I guess they're wrong. Ah well...this will be less intimidating to even the more superstitious of people.

Waiting no longer, Multehx made his way into the town. Though, instantly he knew something was not right. For one, there were no people about. Secondly, the door to each dwelling appeared to be shut tightly; timid eyes vaguely visible peering from the windows. And lastly and most importantly, a shiny, silver figure stood with his back to the agent in the centre of town.

Taking a few steps across the grass, he put a determined frown on his face. "Look, whoever you are," he called out, "I say now that whatever you've done to scare these people so bad must stop right here and n–"

At that point, the other made it a point to wheel about and grin sinisterly.

Multehx leapt back in shock and horror. "You!-Me!-But you can't!-" he stammered.

The other snickered and folded his silver, metallic arms. "Well, I seem to have scared you by my presence." It held out its arms at their full length and grinned as the sun glinted off its surface. "What's the matter, host? You look as though you've seen a ghost! Heheh, it is just as you're seeing it! I'm back and on my own now."

"But...HOW?!"

"Heh heh heh, it was quite simple. After Pseudo Havering removed me from your body, he began to experiment upon me, but was unfortunately 'called away'. Or you might say murdered. Take your pick." It chuckled as it continued. "As you could guess, from one measly chip I mutated, replicated, and spawned my designed form."

Multehx nodded slowly, taking this all in. Then, he grew angry again as a thought occured to him.

"So, you're here for me; is that it?"

Metallic snickered cruelly and folded his arms again. "You catch on quick, host." It snapped into a fighting stance, pointing a clawed metal finger at him. "Let's just say, for all that time lying within your body, I feel obliged to 'return the favor'."

It laughed to itself at Multehx's apparent shocking realization. "Yes, I believe you get the picture. I'm not here to kill you as so many have tried to us in the past–" it clenched its clawed fists and sneered. "I'm here to take what's MINE."

Taking a fighting position himself, 707 snarled in anger, hiding the fact that this intention chilled him to the very core. "FINE! Then, let's see who's the better- man or machine! First one to die loses!"

The two lunged at each other; claws clashing with gloved fingers; animatronic strength versus biotic might. For a moment, it was standstill. But mere seconds later Metallic gained the advantage, steadily pushing his foe back and making his boots leave trails in the earth as he was moved.

Abruptly, the two broke off this conflict of strength to go about a different routine. Multehx back-flipped and launched himself off the side of a house. Metallic drew back his right arm, and then sent a punch rocketing at the airborne agent. Instead of the blow stopping short of connecting, as all logic said it should, the machine's fist shot from its wrist on a metallic cable.

A sickening crunch echoed through the area as it met with Multehx's face and rebounded off it. Multehx spun wildly away and down. The fist retracted its cable and reattached to its owner's wrist with a metallic clank. As Multehx crashed to earth, he hesitated not a second, forcing himself to his feet with one hand and lunging like a bolt for his foe.

Metallic smirked as he raised his remaining hand (as the other he still had missing) and opened the palm of it at the advancing figure. A loud explosion echoed from it as the hand was disconnected entirely from the wrist and the chord to which it was attached. Smoke billowed from the built-in thrusters as the appendage blazed forth.

As the claws imbedded quite painfully in Multehx's face, the agent was knocked to the ground from mid flight. Instantly, he tried with all his might to force the claws free, but their hold was unbreakable.

Metallic snickered to himself, crossing his now handless arms. "It's not going to release its hold until I command it to, so don't waste our time, host."

"Then...order...it...OFFA ME DAMN YOU!!"

Metallic laughed, holding up an arm to wave a finger mockingly, then chuckled at the realization he made, looking at the blunt wrist. "Terribly sorry, but I think not."

Pacing, Metallic knelt by Multehx, who was still determinedly prying at the hand.

"Oh, and I made ooone teensy addition. You should enjoy this; it was crafted with you in mind."

Before having a chance to respond, the claw began sending an electric charge through its fingers and into his mind. Pain became 707's world as he fell to his side, holding his sides and gritting his teeth in agony.

"S-s-s-t-t-to-op th-thi-is-s f-f-f-ri-ig-gin' th-hi-ng!!"

Metallic sneered cruelly, casually stifling a yawn with its non-existant hand.

"That's emitting the equivalent of enough power to run a power generator for a day. By my calculations, your systems should hit critical limits and burn out in aboooout...fifteen seconds."

Multehx parted his grit teeth to make some comment, but instead simply fell over limply. His red robotic-eye flickered and dimmed out of existence.

Metallic smirked. "Whelp, I was wrong it seems. Make that four seconds." Standing, it shrugged. "Ah well, I'll leave you an extra eleven seconds to live when I'm finished with you."

The being laughed evilly as four twisted looking cables extended from its back, clasps opening at their blunted ends as they snaked towards the fallen agent. As they drew near, the clawed hand released its grip and fell to the ground; acidic green blood still smoking on its enduring fingertips.

Each of the cables locked their clasps as soon as they made contact with various spots on the agent; one on either shoulder and one on either side of his head. They lifted the limp body up and swung it around to be held above the ground behind Metallic.

"Heh, what I made sure of, in case of any emergencies, was to hide two back-up files of my best discoveries in your memory, in case I had mine wiped while I was active in you."

Bending over, he extended an arm to the hand lying on the ground. The appendage shook, then shot up and snapped back into place on its wrist.

"Little do you know, one of these files contained data I gathered on your little 'Rage Force', in hopes to help you enhance yours someday. As soon as I have that back, I'll use the data to give it to myself instead, then I'll decide on what to do with you from there."

It snickered cruelly before trembling violently as an electric current moved over its body. It suddenly grew very angry, turned to a nearby tree and bellowed at it, "Of COURSE it's a good idea, simpleton! I thought of it!! Never question my genius!"

Feeling contented he had ended this little 'insubordination', Metallic turned, and with a terrific leap, bounded to the steeple of an aged wooden church. On the point he stood, information flowing wildly through the cables and into his mental systems.