12-11-2005, 06:53 PM
The watchtower was visible on the horizon?it may have just been a tall black shape, but for the weak, burned, and battered machine-hybrid it represented safety and hope. Plus, now he could inform the others about the army. Yet, before the cybernetic warrior could take to the sky, a sound very familiar to bubbling water caught his ear.
In the moment before he planned to fly away, the abrupt, noisy bubbling noises struck a nervous chord, causing the android to stagger and almost fall on his face. Scolding his anxiety, Seventeen slowly turned around to face the source of the sounds. As he looked forward, however, he saw nothing but the never-ending stretches of nothingness that comprised the wastelands of Kala. As if angered at the stupidity of the cybernetic warrior, the source of the sounds intensified, giving away its exact location. Android Seventeen?s gaze dropped to the ground a few feet in front of his feet. A diminutive puddle, composed of some type of black water, was churning and boiling on the lifeless earth. The machine-hybrid stooped down, cocking his head as he studied the viscous liquid.
Large bubbles escaped the surface of the pool, swelling up to the size of a baseball before exploding wetly. Suddenly, the puddle started to expand exponentially right before the android?s eyes. Startled, Android Seventeen started to back away as the syrupy fluid started to bulge upwards. From the center of the pool rose what seemed to be a human head composed of whatever solution that the puddle was. The cybernetic warrior continued to back away as some type of human form continued to emerge from the black liquid. Ebony arms, with the odd fluid still perpetually cascading around them, emerged from the pool and dropped onto the dirt with a wet smack. Now with limbs, the aqueous creature pulled the rest of its body away from its own primordial origins. The being?s feet tugged away the last remains of the diminished pool, leaving behind nothing but dirt and dust. As it stood, Seventeen noticed how its pseudo-flesh continued to pour and churn over itself like water.
Seventeen continued to stare as the nebulous construct started to shrink and take on some more human characteristics. Clothes, comprised of the same solution as the figure, covered its formerly ill-defined chest. Although the jeans, boots, and combination of tee-shirt and long-sleeved shirt was the wrong color and fighting to remain at least partially solid, the android could tell whose outfit they were intending to emulate. The creature?s cranium mutated so that it could complement the attire it wore. Android Seventeen gritted his teeth, taken aback by the new appearance of the aqueous being. When it opened its black eyes, smiled, and brushed a watery bang away from its eyes, the cybernetic warrior prepared for whatever was going to happen next. It wasn?t as if he never had to combat a doppelganger before; however, this was the first time one of his clones was composed of some bizarre, mutating liquid.
The strange creature darted forward and buried a watery fist into the android?s gut with speed that no one could have predicted. Seventeen cried out in pain?he didn?t expect the nebulous makeup of his attacker to feel so solid. Unable to deal with the sudden turn of events, the cybernetic warrior lashed out before the aqueous monstrosity could execute another attack; however, just as the android?s fist was about to impact the construct?s sternum, an opening in its thoracic cavity appeared! The high-powered strike of machine-hybrid passed completely through the new hole in his target?s chest. Before he could utter a declaration of his shock, Android Seventeen?s opponent attacked with overwhelming brute force. It was the creature?s knee that struck first, driving the air from Seventeen?s damaged lungs, yet the first attack dulled in comparison to the multitude of punches that bloodied the android?s already charred, battered face. When the onslaught of the aqueous doppelganger came to an end, the android collapsed to the ground, fighting to maintain his consciousness.
As he lay on the cold earth, fighting both his fading physical and mental condition, the wrecked machine-hybrid endeavored to formulate an effective offensive. With his strangely composed assailant quickly approaching, Android Seventeen kicked off the ground, taking to the sky before the liquid construct could capitalize on his decreased fighting capacity. The cybernetic warrior darted through the sky with his eyes set on the small tower in the distance. If he could just make it to the watchtower, he would be able to get some assistance from the divine forces stationed there. Seventeen had only traveled around a quarter mile when he noticed his liquid-based twin was quickly gaining on him. The aqueous creation was flowing across the wastelands like a colossal flood. Although its torso still resembled the android, the monstrosity?s lower body was rolling and gushing forward with astonishing velocity.
Before he knew it, Android Seventeen felt part of the creature dart upwards and close around his ankles. The liquid flesh of the doppelganger was cold and clammy, yet for as shapeless as it appeared, it contained enough strength to yank the fleeing machine-hybrid back to the ground. Upon impact with the ground, the android vomited up a mixture of blood and saliva as he reviled in the immense pain. After regaining his bearing, Seventeen looked up to see the angelic outpost was still over a mile away. He knew that the wrath of the construct could not be allowed to engulf him before he could warn everyone stationed at the watchtower. Cold enveloped Android Seventeen as an extension of the fluid creature wrapped itself around his waist. With unnatural power, the liquid doppelganger lifted his solid prey off the ground with relative ease.
Realizing that his tenure on the mortal coil was going to be cut drastically short if he failed to react, the android started firing blast after blast of energy at his oppressor. The liquid structure of the monstrosity began to break apart under the constant barrage of ki; however, Android Seventeen was starting to run out of strength. Within seconds, the machine-hybrid, completely drained, let his hands fall to his sides. He was waiting for the monstrosity to end his life, but instead, the pressure crushing his sides loosened and then released him. When he landed on his black-and-blue knees, Seventeen immediately glanced up at his opponent. He watched the torn, disfigured body of the fluid construct sink into a steaming, obsidian pool. The cybernetic warrior started to cough hoarsely?one of the side-effects of his nearly fatal encounter with the demon general Azrael. Still, he managed to recollect himself and was just about to start towards the watchtower when he heard the heavy boots approaching.
?Are you alright!? the voice was that of a member of the celestial army stationed on Kala. Seventeen take a quick look over his shoulder and saw one of the seraphs jogging towards him. Even though the outpost was still roughly a mile, the cybernetic warrior must have luckily garnered the attention of a sentry. The angel arrived just in time to catch the android as he started to teeter, ?what has happened to you, friend?? the divine soldier asked to his weary acquaintance.
?I got into a scrap with a demon general by the name of Azrael,? Seventeen rasped weakly as he closed his eyes to the world, wondering if the seraph could even understand him under all the problems he had communicating nowadays, ?and then this thing attacked me,? the machine-hybrid added, pointing a charred digit accusingly in the direction of the pool of simmering liquid.
?What attacked you?? the angel asked inquisitively, but all the android did was groan an unintelligible reply, ?do not fret my injured friend, you have fought valiantly and I will see to it that you do depart from this world today.? Android Seventeen felt a familiar feeling of warmth flood over him seconds later. All across his body, he could feel the pain slowly start to leave him, but then the situation suddenly made a turn for the worst. The seraph?s unexpected screams were quickly drowned by the sounds of what seemed to be a roaring river. Seventeen opened his eyes and what he saw mortified him to all ends. What had once emulated him in combat, was now forcing itself down the angel?s gullet. Enough of the android?s strength had been restored for him to quickly crawl away from the wide-eyed divinity.
When the last vestiges of the amorphous creature vanished between the lips of the angel, it took only a few seconds for the host to react to his parasitic invader. The winged warrior screamed wildly and scratched at his throat, trying to prevent the trespasser from entering his system. Seventeen jumped up to standing position, torn between fleeing the scene and staying to see what was going to happen. It seemed the android?s intrigue (or perhaps?his idiocy) won out in the end, because even as the celestial being started to convulse and grunt, the machine-hybrid failed to abandon the scene. The skin of the immortal soured?darkening from its usual snowy white to the color of ash. Android Seventeen watched as the beautiful feathers on the angel?s wings started to fall away. What remained after all the unnatural molting were the seraph?s gray wing bones, still twitching sporadically.
Having finally seen enough, Seventeen turned to run away, but the infested seraph decided to use that same moment to attack. Before he could progress more then three feet, the corrupted divinity leaped from the ground and tackled him. The two rolled across the ground for a few feet before the slightly renewed android managed to kick the angel away from him. The celestial was back on his feet in a matter of seconds, but that short span of time was all the machine-hybrid had needed to regain his own vertical position. Coming together, the force the two warriors exerted upon locking up their hands caused the ground beneath them to buckle. Overpowering the cybernetic warrior, the defiled angel pushed his foe down to his knees, bending back the android?s hands in an effort to shatter his wrist bones. Still unwilling to accept his mortality, Seventeen used his burned, scarred cranium as a weapon?bashing it against the knee of his angelic adversary like a hammer. Bone could be heard smashing underneath the impact, and as a result, the infected seraph quickly released his iron grip.
Free from whatever his opponent was intending to do and ignoring a possible concussion, Android Seventeen leaped from his knees, head butting the divinity in the chin. Letting out a horrendous scream, which sounded oddly reminiscent of a person gurgling water, the angel stumbled backwards a few times before collapsing. Tired and wanting to get someplace safe, Seventeen once again manifested his ki in the form of a saber. Spinning the sapphire weapon for unnecessary flair, the android plunged the deadly weapon into the gut of the polluted divinity. The angel twitched a few times, and then the black fluid that had contaminated him started to gush out of the wound.
The cybernetic warrior took a few steps back, his arms immediately stretching out to the side, and an influx of golden energy assimilating in his palms. In front of him, the nebulous creature was starting to reform itself outside its former host, and Android Seventeen doubted that he was capable of lasting another round. The machine-hybrid clapped his palms together, the two meager orbs of ki unifying to create a single, awe-inspiring sphere of energy.
?Final Flash!? Seventeen screamed, unleashing the wrath of the shimmering beam upon his still-reassembling opponent. The aqueous construct was consumed in an intense flash of heat and energy. The android could barely make out the crumbling form of his opponent amid the yellow light, but when the light finally dimmed, victory was quite apparent. All that remained of the strange, parasitic water monstrosity was a few piles of ash?each giving off small towers of smoke. Android Seventeen stared at the remnants of his dead attacker for a few more moments before reality set in. With a forward glance, the machine-hybrid exploded off the ground, leaving behind a tiny crater as he blazed through the sky towards his final destination.
As both the horizon and watchtower drew closer, Seventeen noticed that the angels were still standing around outside as they had been for the last day or so. With no knowledge of Satan?s encroaching army, they would be sitting ducks. A new question formed in Seventeen?s mind?why the hell had no action been taken? Were this almighty divinities on this asteroid for a picnic? The android paused above the heavenly soldiers for a few seconds to remove his battle visor from his pouch. Sliding the steel and glass machination over his head, the android ignored the congregation beneath him. Gabriel was probably down there with his brethren, staring up aimlessly at him, but Seventeen knew that if the archangel had done nothing with his men in the past day, he wasn?t going to start anytime soon. The machine-hybrid knew he had to locate the other surviving contestants if he wanted to do anything about the approaching army of hell spawn. With a hearty beep, the visor alerted Seventeen to the presence of two warriors battling around the other side of the watchtower?the saiya-jin Bardock and Brim?s spawn, Kao.
Not wanting to interrupt the bought between the two titans, the cybernetic warrior scanned the interior of the watchtower and found exactly what he wanted. Inside the confines of the tower was another very powerful source of energy. Although he only faintly recognized the name the apparatus gave him from the CIA invasion, Android Seventeen ignored it, his attention moving to the two signatures that had just exited the watchtower. Both were contestants in the game as well, and the android hoped that they wouldn?t be as indolent as Gabriel. Seventeen quickly located the pair of warriors?both were complete strangers to him, but the cybernetic warrior had to inform someone of the army of hellish crusaders approaching. Android Seventeen dropped from the sky, landing on his feet a few feet in front of the two powerful sources of energy. The android instinctively pulled back from the two, half-expecting them to blast him into oblivion for literally dropping in on them.
?Listen,? the machine-hybrid rasped, hoping his damaged respiratory track wouldn?t rob him of the ability to speak before he could tell someone what he knew, ?a massive army of demons led by Satan is rapidly nearing our current position. I don?t want to go to Gabriel because his inaction is what created this entire mess, but we need to do something or this battle will be over before it ever began.? Seventeen dropped to his knees, the burns and scars that heavily covered his body were taking their toll on him. Looking back up at the two warriors as he strained to stay conscious, the android awaited some form of response?hoping that these two warriors wouldn?t be as apathetic as the angels had been so recently.
In the moment before he planned to fly away, the abrupt, noisy bubbling noises struck a nervous chord, causing the android to stagger and almost fall on his face. Scolding his anxiety, Seventeen slowly turned around to face the source of the sounds. As he looked forward, however, he saw nothing but the never-ending stretches of nothingness that comprised the wastelands of Kala. As if angered at the stupidity of the cybernetic warrior, the source of the sounds intensified, giving away its exact location. Android Seventeen?s gaze dropped to the ground a few feet in front of his feet. A diminutive puddle, composed of some type of black water, was churning and boiling on the lifeless earth. The machine-hybrid stooped down, cocking his head as he studied the viscous liquid.
Large bubbles escaped the surface of the pool, swelling up to the size of a baseball before exploding wetly. Suddenly, the puddle started to expand exponentially right before the android?s eyes. Startled, Android Seventeen started to back away as the syrupy fluid started to bulge upwards. From the center of the pool rose what seemed to be a human head composed of whatever solution that the puddle was. The cybernetic warrior continued to back away as some type of human form continued to emerge from the black liquid. Ebony arms, with the odd fluid still perpetually cascading around them, emerged from the pool and dropped onto the dirt with a wet smack. Now with limbs, the aqueous creature pulled the rest of its body away from its own primordial origins. The being?s feet tugged away the last remains of the diminished pool, leaving behind nothing but dirt and dust. As it stood, Seventeen noticed how its pseudo-flesh continued to pour and churn over itself like water.
Seventeen continued to stare as the nebulous construct started to shrink and take on some more human characteristics. Clothes, comprised of the same solution as the figure, covered its formerly ill-defined chest. Although the jeans, boots, and combination of tee-shirt and long-sleeved shirt was the wrong color and fighting to remain at least partially solid, the android could tell whose outfit they were intending to emulate. The creature?s cranium mutated so that it could complement the attire it wore. Android Seventeen gritted his teeth, taken aback by the new appearance of the aqueous being. When it opened its black eyes, smiled, and brushed a watery bang away from its eyes, the cybernetic warrior prepared for whatever was going to happen next. It wasn?t as if he never had to combat a doppelganger before; however, this was the first time one of his clones was composed of some bizarre, mutating liquid.
The strange creature darted forward and buried a watery fist into the android?s gut with speed that no one could have predicted. Seventeen cried out in pain?he didn?t expect the nebulous makeup of his attacker to feel so solid. Unable to deal with the sudden turn of events, the cybernetic warrior lashed out before the aqueous monstrosity could execute another attack; however, just as the android?s fist was about to impact the construct?s sternum, an opening in its thoracic cavity appeared! The high-powered strike of machine-hybrid passed completely through the new hole in his target?s chest. Before he could utter a declaration of his shock, Android Seventeen?s opponent attacked with overwhelming brute force. It was the creature?s knee that struck first, driving the air from Seventeen?s damaged lungs, yet the first attack dulled in comparison to the multitude of punches that bloodied the android?s already charred, battered face. When the onslaught of the aqueous doppelganger came to an end, the android collapsed to the ground, fighting to maintain his consciousness.
As he lay on the cold earth, fighting both his fading physical and mental condition, the wrecked machine-hybrid endeavored to formulate an effective offensive. With his strangely composed assailant quickly approaching, Android Seventeen kicked off the ground, taking to the sky before the liquid construct could capitalize on his decreased fighting capacity. The cybernetic warrior darted through the sky with his eyes set on the small tower in the distance. If he could just make it to the watchtower, he would be able to get some assistance from the divine forces stationed there. Seventeen had only traveled around a quarter mile when he noticed his liquid-based twin was quickly gaining on him. The aqueous creation was flowing across the wastelands like a colossal flood. Although its torso still resembled the android, the monstrosity?s lower body was rolling and gushing forward with astonishing velocity.
Before he knew it, Android Seventeen felt part of the creature dart upwards and close around his ankles. The liquid flesh of the doppelganger was cold and clammy, yet for as shapeless as it appeared, it contained enough strength to yank the fleeing machine-hybrid back to the ground. Upon impact with the ground, the android vomited up a mixture of blood and saliva as he reviled in the immense pain. After regaining his bearing, Seventeen looked up to see the angelic outpost was still over a mile away. He knew that the wrath of the construct could not be allowed to engulf him before he could warn everyone stationed at the watchtower. Cold enveloped Android Seventeen as an extension of the fluid creature wrapped itself around his waist. With unnatural power, the liquid doppelganger lifted his solid prey off the ground with relative ease.
Realizing that his tenure on the mortal coil was going to be cut drastically short if he failed to react, the android started firing blast after blast of energy at his oppressor. The liquid structure of the monstrosity began to break apart under the constant barrage of ki; however, Android Seventeen was starting to run out of strength. Within seconds, the machine-hybrid, completely drained, let his hands fall to his sides. He was waiting for the monstrosity to end his life, but instead, the pressure crushing his sides loosened and then released him. When he landed on his black-and-blue knees, Seventeen immediately glanced up at his opponent. He watched the torn, disfigured body of the fluid construct sink into a steaming, obsidian pool. The cybernetic warrior started to cough hoarsely?one of the side-effects of his nearly fatal encounter with the demon general Azrael. Still, he managed to recollect himself and was just about to start towards the watchtower when he heard the heavy boots approaching.
?Are you alright!? the voice was that of a member of the celestial army stationed on Kala. Seventeen take a quick look over his shoulder and saw one of the seraphs jogging towards him. Even though the outpost was still roughly a mile, the cybernetic warrior must have luckily garnered the attention of a sentry. The angel arrived just in time to catch the android as he started to teeter, ?what has happened to you, friend?? the divine soldier asked to his weary acquaintance.
?I got into a scrap with a demon general by the name of Azrael,? Seventeen rasped weakly as he closed his eyes to the world, wondering if the seraph could even understand him under all the problems he had communicating nowadays, ?and then this thing attacked me,? the machine-hybrid added, pointing a charred digit accusingly in the direction of the pool of simmering liquid.
?What attacked you?? the angel asked inquisitively, but all the android did was groan an unintelligible reply, ?do not fret my injured friend, you have fought valiantly and I will see to it that you do depart from this world today.? Android Seventeen felt a familiar feeling of warmth flood over him seconds later. All across his body, he could feel the pain slowly start to leave him, but then the situation suddenly made a turn for the worst. The seraph?s unexpected screams were quickly drowned by the sounds of what seemed to be a roaring river. Seventeen opened his eyes and what he saw mortified him to all ends. What had once emulated him in combat, was now forcing itself down the angel?s gullet. Enough of the android?s strength had been restored for him to quickly crawl away from the wide-eyed divinity.
When the last vestiges of the amorphous creature vanished between the lips of the angel, it took only a few seconds for the host to react to his parasitic invader. The winged warrior screamed wildly and scratched at his throat, trying to prevent the trespasser from entering his system. Seventeen jumped up to standing position, torn between fleeing the scene and staying to see what was going to happen. It seemed the android?s intrigue (or perhaps?his idiocy) won out in the end, because even as the celestial being started to convulse and grunt, the machine-hybrid failed to abandon the scene. The skin of the immortal soured?darkening from its usual snowy white to the color of ash. Android Seventeen watched as the beautiful feathers on the angel?s wings started to fall away. What remained after all the unnatural molting were the seraph?s gray wing bones, still twitching sporadically.
Having finally seen enough, Seventeen turned to run away, but the infested seraph decided to use that same moment to attack. Before he could progress more then three feet, the corrupted divinity leaped from the ground and tackled him. The two rolled across the ground for a few feet before the slightly renewed android managed to kick the angel away from him. The celestial was back on his feet in a matter of seconds, but that short span of time was all the machine-hybrid had needed to regain his own vertical position. Coming together, the force the two warriors exerted upon locking up their hands caused the ground beneath them to buckle. Overpowering the cybernetic warrior, the defiled angel pushed his foe down to his knees, bending back the android?s hands in an effort to shatter his wrist bones. Still unwilling to accept his mortality, Seventeen used his burned, scarred cranium as a weapon?bashing it against the knee of his angelic adversary like a hammer. Bone could be heard smashing underneath the impact, and as a result, the infected seraph quickly released his iron grip.
Free from whatever his opponent was intending to do and ignoring a possible concussion, Android Seventeen leaped from his knees, head butting the divinity in the chin. Letting out a horrendous scream, which sounded oddly reminiscent of a person gurgling water, the angel stumbled backwards a few times before collapsing. Tired and wanting to get someplace safe, Seventeen once again manifested his ki in the form of a saber. Spinning the sapphire weapon for unnecessary flair, the android plunged the deadly weapon into the gut of the polluted divinity. The angel twitched a few times, and then the black fluid that had contaminated him started to gush out of the wound.
The cybernetic warrior took a few steps back, his arms immediately stretching out to the side, and an influx of golden energy assimilating in his palms. In front of him, the nebulous creature was starting to reform itself outside its former host, and Android Seventeen doubted that he was capable of lasting another round. The machine-hybrid clapped his palms together, the two meager orbs of ki unifying to create a single, awe-inspiring sphere of energy.
?Final Flash!? Seventeen screamed, unleashing the wrath of the shimmering beam upon his still-reassembling opponent. The aqueous construct was consumed in an intense flash of heat and energy. The android could barely make out the crumbling form of his opponent amid the yellow light, but when the light finally dimmed, victory was quite apparent. All that remained of the strange, parasitic water monstrosity was a few piles of ash?each giving off small towers of smoke. Android Seventeen stared at the remnants of his dead attacker for a few more moments before reality set in. With a forward glance, the machine-hybrid exploded off the ground, leaving behind a tiny crater as he blazed through the sky towards his final destination.
As both the horizon and watchtower drew closer, Seventeen noticed that the angels were still standing around outside as they had been for the last day or so. With no knowledge of Satan?s encroaching army, they would be sitting ducks. A new question formed in Seventeen?s mind?why the hell had no action been taken? Were this almighty divinities on this asteroid for a picnic? The android paused above the heavenly soldiers for a few seconds to remove his battle visor from his pouch. Sliding the steel and glass machination over his head, the android ignored the congregation beneath him. Gabriel was probably down there with his brethren, staring up aimlessly at him, but Seventeen knew that if the archangel had done nothing with his men in the past day, he wasn?t going to start anytime soon. The machine-hybrid knew he had to locate the other surviving contestants if he wanted to do anything about the approaching army of hell spawn. With a hearty beep, the visor alerted Seventeen to the presence of two warriors battling around the other side of the watchtower?the saiya-jin Bardock and Brim?s spawn, Kao.
Not wanting to interrupt the bought between the two titans, the cybernetic warrior scanned the interior of the watchtower and found exactly what he wanted. Inside the confines of the tower was another very powerful source of energy. Although he only faintly recognized the name the apparatus gave him from the CIA invasion, Android Seventeen ignored it, his attention moving to the two signatures that had just exited the watchtower. Both were contestants in the game as well, and the android hoped that they wouldn?t be as indolent as Gabriel. Seventeen quickly located the pair of warriors?both were complete strangers to him, but the cybernetic warrior had to inform someone of the army of hellish crusaders approaching. Android Seventeen dropped from the sky, landing on his feet a few feet in front of the two powerful sources of energy. The android instinctively pulled back from the two, half-expecting them to blast him into oblivion for literally dropping in on them.
?Listen,? the machine-hybrid rasped, hoping his damaged respiratory track wouldn?t rob him of the ability to speak before he could tell someone what he knew, ?a massive army of demons led by Satan is rapidly nearing our current position. I don?t want to go to Gabriel because his inaction is what created this entire mess, but we need to do something or this battle will be over before it ever began.? Seventeen dropped to his knees, the burns and scars that heavily covered his body were taking their toll on him. Looking back up at the two warriors as he strained to stay conscious, the android awaited some form of response?hoping that these two warriors wouldn?t be as apathetic as the angels had been so recently.
![[Image: A17June08.jpg]](http://frozendust.com/sig/A17/A17June08.jpg)