IZ-Commando Phoenix part 2

[Briefing room]

Bertram: It seems the commandos have seized the planet Dirt; how we missed this, I can't figure out.

Jeena: Well, we have been busy repairing the station; besides, there was the strike on Hobo 13.

Rusty: It seems a cold storm has somehow moved in; the planet is covered in ice and subzero temperatures.

Xorg: We'll have to send extra gear to combat the weather; I'll lead the main group to the commando outpost and we'll strike them by surprise.

Shred: Excuse me sir, but wouldn't it be easier if I led the mission? After all, the cold won't affect me.

Xorg: Actually Shred, I don't think it makes sense for you to even go on this mission. Everybody must be ready in twenty minutes, now move out.

(the group leaves, while Shred catches up with Xorg)

Shred: Do you somehow mistrust me? You know I'm able to adapt to extreme temperatures.

Xorg: I'm the most qualified soldier here to lead this mission, as I've lived on a frozen world for almost a whole Irken year. Also, from what Ram's told me, you have issues to take care of here; many issues.

Shred: Your soldiers won't survive out in the cold, but I can; it seems to me you're passing on possible success.

Xorg: That coming from the Irken with Skull's programming eating away at your data.

Bertram: That's enough. (the two others are silenced here) Shred may have Skull living in his data, but he does have the abilities to survive in these intense conditions; this is a tactic he's perfected longer than you have. I suggest you take him along, and not just as air support.

Xorg: (scowls) If he goes rogue, it's your fault. (turns to Shred) I don't trust you; I will not allow Skull to come back.

Shred: Ram gave me a suppression program; it's still working.

Xorg: Just stay out of my way; you stay in the cargo hold. (leaves)

Shred: (eyes turn dark) I'm sorry sir, but you're the one who should stay out of my way. Once I am at full power, then we'll see who's giving the orders. (eyes turn normal again; the suppression program reads "42% corruption")

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[Drop ship; entering Vort airspace; an hour and a half later]

Xorg: Skrag will fly us down to a reasonable height, then we'll drop down and attack.

Krack: Attack mode engaged; ready to strike the enemy.

Zim: (adjusts his helmet) Zim does not fear these idiotic hornets; they will be squashed like bugs.

Shred: Just save it for the enemy.

(the ship's cargo bay doors open and the soldiers drop into the sky; they land on the snow-covered ground and begin shooting at the hornets heading towards them)

Hornets: Delete, delete, delete, delete!!

Krack: EXTERMINATE!!! (blasts three with one shot)

Shred: (slices and dices his way through hornets one by one) Don't get carried away.

Zim: (slices a hornet in half, then blows off another one's head) Bow before Zim!!!

Xorg: (gets into a scrap with ten hornets, but fights them off using ninja skills) And they say war is hell.

Krack: This is not war; this is pest control.

Hornets: You will be deleted.

Skoodge: (dodges a shot, but is hit in the shoulder by another) Where do these guys get their gear?

Xorg: (still fighting off hornets) Seekers often self-upgraded their weaponry as a common practice; I'm guessing Miyuki (knocks out a hornet) made sure they were state-of-the-art.

Shred: (pulls down a visor over his face) Well, let's give them a taste of the future. (takes down a commando destroyer with a rocket, then activates his battle blade and slices through five hornets easily) Yeah, now that's true power.

Xorg: Hey, don't go overboard. (gets hit by a shot)

Warp: (using a hover-board) You can run, but you can't hide; not from me. (flies over the battlefield shooting at the various soldiers)

Skoodge: Somebody get rid of that guy!! (dodges a shot)

Krack: Command received; switching to sniper mode. (fires a shot that knocks Warp into a spin and out of the sky) Enemy repelled.

Zim: Forward, to the base

(twenty minutes later, the group enters the base and planets the bombs; they begin their escape, but find the exit blocked by Warp)

Warp: You think that measly shot could kill me? You have a lot to learn. (activates rocket launchers and fires a spray of missiles)

(the hero group scramble, but Xorg is hit hard and falls to the ground)

Shred: (tries to stay calm, but fails) That's it!! (roars in anger as he attacks Warp; the two begin banging away at each other with various weapons)

Zim: (shoots three hornets) Enough is enough already.

Skoodge: You're telling me. (kills another hornet) I'm running out of ammo; we need to get out of here!

Shred: (manages to slice open Warp's face, then opens his visor to reveal his eyes have turned grey) Nobody can beat me; NOBODY!!! (breaks Warp's back on his knee just before his eyes return to normal; Shred falls to his knees in what looks like pain)

Krack: Escape ship spotted; retreat is preferable option.

Zim: (starts running) Victory for Zim!!!

Skoodge: Showoff. (follows in hot pursuit)

(Shred stays behind to scoop the badly injured Xorg up in his arms)

Xorg: Leave......me.....

Shred: Not on my watch. (carries Xorg back to the escape ship just before it takes off; seconds later, the outpost explodes from the explosives)

(the escape ship meets up with the orbiting Eliminator and flies away)

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[Bloodwurld; infirmary; three days later]

Miyuki: I can't believe you were outmatched.

Warp: (groans from his medical capsule) It wasn't my fault; that soldier had fighting skills I never knew existed.

Galaxia: I say we end this idiot for his failure.

Miyuki: No, he's needed for the final strike; I have come too far to have this collapse.

Destron: Shall I ready the troops for the battle?

Miyuki: Not yet; we have some repairs to make.

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[Irken Space station; infirmary]

Ram: You really owe Shred your life out there.

Xorg: (coughs) I guess, but that does not mean I trust him now.

Jeena: Well you should thank him; speaking of which, where is Shred?

Xorg: He's in one of the private rooms; didn't want to be disturbed.

Ram: I wonder what he's doing.

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[Private room]

(Shred is seen making a diagnostic on his corruption level, which is now at 50%; he then tries to meditate on his actions)

Shred: Why is it I can't stop changing? I shouldn't even be having this problem; Skull's download failed. He's gone.

Skull: (emerges from the shadows) I am never gone; I live because you live.

Shred: Why are you here? You can't be real.

Skull: Oh, but I am real. And soon, you will cease to exist and the universe will bow to its rightful leader.

Shred: (back away) But Ram gave me a suppression program to stop the corruption; that should be keeping you from being here.

Skull: (laughs) I'm not a case of the Irken flu, soldier; and I don't roll over just because a firewall is put in place neither. Nobody pulls my strings, soldier; especially not you.

Shred: (stuttering) But you're dead; Zim killed you.

Skull: It doesn't matter if he did or not. Like the phoenix rising from its ashes, I will live again. (Shred tries to strike at Skull, but the commando leader dodges rather quickly) You can't hit me; I am a part of you, and soon I will be in complete control.

Shred: I don't care what you want; I am not a monster!!! (manages to knock Skull down)

Skull: (chuckles as he stands) You don't know when to give up, do you? Every minute we spend fighting, I slowly gain control of your mind. (grabs Shred by the throat) However, I did not come here to kill you; I've come to issue a warning: by the end of the week, I will be alive again. (activates a blade) And when I do return, nobody will stand in my way.

(Shred starts to scream as the blade presses into his head; Skull laughs manically as the room begins to spin. Finally, Shred passes out on the floor; twenty minutes later, Jeena walks into the room and manages to wake the commando up)

Shred: Wha.....what happened?

Jeena: I heard two voices in here, then a scream. What happened?

Shred: I....I fear that Skull is taking control of my mind. (checks his corruption level) It's already 68% corrupted? The suppression program must have stopped working.

Jeena: Well, let's get you to Ram; he'll know what to do.

Shred: Yes.....that is where I should go. (is walked out of the room and down the hall)

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[Infirmary]

Ram: So the corruption is getting worse?

Shred: It's already at (looks at the meter) 70% corrupted; the program must not be working.

Ram: Actually it is working; if the program wasn't there, you'd be gone already.

Shred: So is there anything you can do?

Ram: I can try to manually remove the corruption, but that could cause more harm than good.

Shred: I don't want Skull to control me; make it happen.

Ram: (sighs) Okay, but know that it was your idea.

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[Bloodwurld; throne room]

Miyuki: Have we received the supplies?

Warp: Yes mistress; all supplies accounted for.

Miyuki: Excellent; you're really making up for the mess you made earlier.

Warp: (winces) I wish you didn't mention that.

Miyuki: How many hornets are ready for battle?

Destron: The entire fleet is ready to go.

Miyuki: (smiles) Excellent; we will whip them into a frenzy and destroy the old armada once and for all.

Warp: That's brilliant, mistress.

Destron: We will not be defeated this time.

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[Irken space station; infirmary]

Ram: The corruption is now at 62%, and I'm afraid to go any further without damaging your PAK data.

Shred: It's okay; you did your best, and at least I'm better than before.

Ram: Well, that's all we can hope for.

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