There was no one behind the doors as they whizzed open. It was dark and quiet. Decha stepped out of the elevator and carefully observed the room. Each step he took clacked across the entire area. The echoes of his boots intimidated both Amir and Jax, who were still inside.

"It's a laboratory," Rox gestured to various machines placed in different parts of the room. "These are used to print and construct battle gear. Exactly like the ones at the Agency."

"How did you know that the Agency supplies these?" Decha eyed her suspiciously.

"Rory has provided me with information on the layout of the building. From top to bottom, I know about the prison cells, the offices, the armory, combat training rooms, the cafeteria, the infirmaries, and the director's office at the very top. Perhaps Rory studied these from somewhere."

"It's starting to get weird to hear you talk about Rory when you're modeled and look exactly like her." Decha sighed. "It's not helping."

"Shall I act as her and offer you comfort?" Rox frowned.

"No thanks—"

"You can do it, Decha," Rox's accent changed completely and she grabbed onto his arm. "We're all rooting for you!"

Decha's heart ached and his expression softened. He almost forgot it was a hologram standing before him, and not the woman he wanted to save.

"That is what Rory would say, sir." Rox went back to her normal way of speaking and released him. "Your heart rate increased. Your temperature is rising. I suggest cooling off, Sir."

"Darn it," Decha wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Don't do that again."

"Command saved. I won't act as Rory unless you order it." Rox nodded.

"Amir, come and inspect these machines." Decha walked over to one that was big and made to step inside. Decha pressed his fingers against the metal and looked at the two. "It's still warm."

Before anyone could say anything else, POYO burst in from above and landed right in the center. The ceiling crumbled and almost gave out. POYO's landing shook the entire building. Then it zipped forward and snatched Decha by the arm before flinging him into Amir.

The two rolled across the concrete, with Decha on top of his friend.

Jax panicked and began to shoot at POYO, but it whizzed out of the way after two beams struck it. Amir and Decha struggled to get off of each other, slipping from the awkward position the two were in.

"Guys! A little help if you don't mind!" Jax shrieked when POYO formed a blaster in its hand and aimed at him.

Decha groaned and sprinted in front of Jax. Each beam POYO fired, Decha was able to block and reflect it with the two rods. While Decha was distracted, a few scientists ran in from the elevator with blasters in their hands.

Amir pulled himself up and blocked their attacks by flicking the dial again. The blasters broke and all scientists fell to the ground, unconscious.

Jax noticed two men from above aiming at Amir and firing at them, destroying their weapons as well.

Decha dodged one of POYO's hits and sliced its torso. POYO grabbed his leg and tossed Decha aside, but Decha latched onto the wall with his enhanced grip and jumped right back toward it. "Agh!" Decha connected the rods to form the staff and swung as hard as he could.

POYO flung away from the three men and Decha landed swiftly on the ground before wiping his sweat away.

"Geez, Decha." Jax chortled.

"What?" Decha huffed, "Too much?"

"No, I was going to point out your lack of overkill," Jax smirked.

"Great." Decha brushed his damp hair back and stood straight. "Cuz I'm not done." He disconnected the two rods and ran at the droid once more. Decha crouched before jumping into the air and landing some harsh blows to POYO's upper body.

Jax whistled at the sight. "Not gonna lie, if I was a woman, I'd be whipped for him."

"Sounds kinda like you've got a man crush," Amir laughed.

"You two must help Decha, he won't be able to do it alone." Rox gestured at them.

"Alright Prissy AI Princess, we're on it." Amir rolled his eyes and went back into battle mode. He aimed his arm at POYO, and the same energy he used on others knocked him and Decha back.

"Amir!" Decha growled.

"Sorry! I'm still not used to this thing!"

Jax fired at POYO twice, but it seemed like the ammo wasn't working enough.

"Increase your level of damage, N9899. All you have to do is slide the dial higher." Rox advised. "You'll be able to stun it."

"You couldn't have told me that before?"

"It's my first time." Rox frowned. Jax quickly raised the button and aimed again at POYO. He fired, and just like Rox said, a bolt of electricity covered its exterior and POYO went stiff.

Decha spun around and kicked POYO as hard as he could. It hit the wall again, but Decha didn't leave it alone.

He swung rapidly and relentlessly, determined to make sure that the droid wouldn't ever attack him or anyone else. There was a murderous glint in Decha's eyes as he refused to let POYO live.

While amid his blows, he remembered every single time POYO interrupted and hurt the people of Astell. It even almost killed Rory, his mother, and his father. He was hesitant about destroying the droid completely because it was one of Rory's prized possessions.

But he realized it wasn't the same kind and helpful AI that Rory constructed originally. It was a killing machine. In the end, he had to finish it.

Decha disconnected the staff and jammed both of the rods into POYO's metallic abdomen, causing a black substance to leak. He removed the rods when the black substance stained his shirt and hands and let POYO drop to the ground, lifeless.

Decha panted and released the rods, and they fizzed away in thin air. Then he rested the front of his head against the wall and took a deep breath.

"You okay, Decha?" Amir rushed over to check on his friend.

"Fine," He responded softly and wiped more sweat off of his face.

"That was a lot of anger," Jax commented.

"Where's Windsor?" Decha coughed and stepped away from the droid.

"We destroyed the bot, but no sign of anyone else," Amir spoke through the headset.

"Is the target on the coordinates still active?" Decha inquired.

"There is still activity in the area you're standing." Jamison's voice echoed. "Are you sure there's no sign of movement or—"

Decha felt something latch onto his back, and intense burning all up his frame. He went rigid and stiff and screamed in pain as electric bolts engulfed him.

"Decha!" Amir and Jax both turned around as he collapsed next to them. POYO's robotic voice howled and it stood again, but it was very weakened.

"H-how?" Amir aimed his arm high, but POYO grabbed him by the shirt and threw him across the entire room. Amir crashed into the wall and blacked out as he hit the ground.

Jax began to shoot, but a simple swing of POYO's fist knocked him unconscious as well.

A low and deep laugh bounced off the walls as Windsor entered from the elevator. He was dressed in a black long coat and boots and his brown hair was styled neatly. Rox stooped down to check on Decha. "Sir! Sir! You have to get up!"

"Stupid boy," Windsor snapped his fingers, and POYO grabbed Decha by the shirt collar and raised him high. "You think I'd let you waltz in and try to destroy my creation without thinking I installed an extra battery? You're N96 aren't you? Are you the General with one of the highest IQs in Astell? You don't seem like it!"

Windsor pointed up and commanded POYO. "Bring him to the roof."

In an instant, POYO skyrocketed up and burst through the above floors. Decha closed his eyes to shield them from the rubble and dust. Then POYO slammed him onto the roof and held him there firmly.

Decha groaned when his head hit the solid and he felt as if he was going to faint. But Windsor's annoying cackle fueled his anger enough to keep him awake.

"Not so strong now, are you? You know, I'm very surprised. I thought that bomb killed you! I wasn't expecting to see a ghost today!"

"Windsor," Decha spat, "You're going to be seeing a whole lot more than a ghost."

"Making threats, huh? Still got it in you?"

"You have no idea," Decha kicked POYO away and flicked his hands forward, summoning the two rods in his hands.

"Oh... isn't that the same toy you used the last time?" Windsor chuckled, "Kinda old and outdated kiddo, I've already upgraded the bot to get past that," He snapped his fingers again and POYO screeched before slamming its sharp hands down

Decha successfully blocked it, but POYO was a lot sturdier. Its blow caused Decha to skid back.

"What is your motive?" Decha growled. "You're an Astellian! Why are you working so hard to destroy our country?"

"Aw, N6, don't make me blush. No one's ever shown this much interest in my work before." Windsor fluttered his eyes playfully.

"Do you want money? Power?" Decha clenched his jaw as POYO smacked his rods again.

"None." Windsor huffed. "I just want a makeover, the entire city, redone and re-established. Honestly, I shouldn't go into it with you, but since today is the day you die, I suppose it's okay."

Decha dodged another hit and groaned.

"This world doesn't understand how precious technology is. It can be used well, both to save lives... as well as end them. The Sectors are missing out on this great opportunity, N96." Windsor explained. "Imagine living in a world where life is simple and made easy for EVERYone. Not only for the rich, or for the poor... but for those who deserve it."

"I don't follow," Decha hissed.

"How many times has the Council treated you like you're nothing more than a servant? During your years of service, what has the Council ever done for you personally other than throwing a few Tekels around and giving you some perks? Are you an asset because of your ability, or because they value you as a person?"

"As a General, our duty is to the Sectors no matter what the Council thinks of us. We don't answer to them, we answer to the law."

"The same laws created by past council members! Do you see how flawed the system works?" Windsor snickered, "I bet Chai knows..."

Decha's eyes widened.

"That's right... I've read all about you, N96. Your adventures on the Outside, and the Hanahas Incident. I know about them all." Windsor teased, "But one story that always gets me is how you went out of commission for a month because of your breakdown, 5 months after your lover's disappearance."

Decha exhaled the breath he'd been holding in.

"Don't you feel it's an injustice to her? I mean, if she's dead, wouldn't it be morally right of you to grieve? That's not what the Council thinks. They assigned you to another country right after the event. Can you imagine if you had some form of tech to help you cope? But the Council doesn't value you enough to believe so."

"You—"

POYO pinned Decha down from behind, and the rods diminished again.

"Astell is just bigger territory, by the way. The Brackets are no better. Besides, Astell deserves more of a quick renovation than the rust dump across the border."

"But what about the people? Who are you to tell them what they deserve or not!" Decha grunted, trying to free himself.

"You're the same as the Council, like most Astellians. When did you start caring about someone other than yourself?" Windsor snorted. "Oh, right. Ever since you became affiliated with my student. It's a shame... I enjoyed her company. But I'll have to eliminate her soon after I kill you."

"No!" Decha snarled.

"I can't keep her alive when she's making tech that works well against mine." Windsor cackled. "Her ideas are great though, I wouldn't mind borrowing from her. Anyways," Windsor pulled out a pistol from his pocket and aimed it at Decha's head.

He pulled the trigger, but a small metallic patch landed on Decha's forehead. Windsor smiled wickedly and brought out a small remote before tapping one of the buttons. Decha knew it was a bomb placed on his head.

"In 30 seconds, it'll go off. The entire building will collapse on top of your friends. Of course, you won't live either. And POYO will also be eliminated. I'll get away scot-free and disappear without a trace so I can continue stripping this entire country to remake it into something better. A world full of technology."

He twirled the remote playfully in his fingers before hiding his hands behind his back.

"You're insane." Decha barked, "Your plan will cost millions of innocent lives. Who's gonna help rebuild your dump town when you've eliminated everyone, huh?"

"An army of artificial intelligence stored in physical droid-like forms," Windsor smiled and glanced at POYO, "This one is just the beginning. The beauty of a new order will be unmatched. No one outside of the Sectors will be able to stop me," Windsor spun around and walked over to the ledge of the building slowly. Each step he took was calculated.

"That is after I've ended you." Windsor pressed the button on the remote, and the countdown began. Decha paused, waiting for the bomb to go off, but it didn't. Windsor cackled softly before tossing the remote off the ledge, and Decha realized that he was on a time limit to stop it from going off.

Decha managed to free himself from POYO's grasp and kicked it away. POYO zipped forward, much faster than most could process, but Decha saw it coming. His staff instantly reappeared and he jammed the end of it into POYO's torso, before flinging him off the roof, killing the droid once and for all.

Before he could focus on Windsor in time, he was knocked aside by something hard. Decha roared as an intense throbbing in his head distracted him. Decha reached his hairline and there was red that stained his fingers.

Whatever hit him was made of some firm material.

"N96," Jamison's chopped voice rang in his ear. "I've... bzzzzt! Identification of Deliverance... bzzzt!" The earpiece had too much static for Decha to focus on the message, but he tried his best.

Decha's vision became spotted, but he tried his best to stay awake, knowing that the bomb would go off at any moment and kill him and his friends.

"H...Huh?" Decha squinted his eyes and spoke much more softly in pants.

"Stephen... bzzzzt! General of Astell... bzzzzzt! Number is..."

Decha tapped his earpiece to try to clear the signal. "Stephen Windsor is a General of Astell, as I suspected. Don't be surprised to see something strange. His recent reports have been altered to say he's missing, but Henry found a hidden file just now. His Number is N77." The full message came through.

Decha looked over his shoulder and glanced at Windsor. He was in a fighting stance, but his arm was poking out from the robe he wore. It was completely made of metal. Decha decided to follow Jamison's advice and not be surprised.

N77 was an unidentified lost General that was never found many years ago. Much more time before Decha began his service to Sector A.

"N77..." Decha huffed, and Stephen froze. "You're a General."

"Says who?" Windsor sneered.

"That means..." Decha pushed himself off the ground. "You know the law. You're obligated to protect the Sectors... but you're working so hard to destroy it..." Decha tilted his neck and licked his lips.

"You're stating the obvious... are you really a genius?"

"Now I'm even more pissed," Decha balled his fists and separated the staff.

"Your Ego is hurt? What are you gonna do about it? You've got 30 seconds left until you're nothing but a pile of ashes—" Decha didn't let Windsor finish. With the staff, he swung it and missed him purposely to propel himself up and kick Windsor's stomach.

Windsor tumbled back and over the ledge, but he caught himself with his fingers. Decha stepped on them, causing Windsor to loosen his grip.

"Go ahead and kill me! We'll die together, but my legacy will remain! I still know where all the bombs are located. My knowledge will go with me!" Windsor laughed, "And you think POYO won't be able to repair himself? If not I, then only someone greater can make Astell and the Brackets a better place!"

Decha clenched his teeth and pressed harder onto Windsor's hand. For two whole months, he had been searching all around for the fool beneath him. The chase was finally over, and Decha could finally stop running around like a dog chasing after its tail.

"Kill me!" Windsor howled.

Decha thought about it. Is that really what he wanted? For Windsor to die? It was a relief to finally have him in this position, and at any other time, he wouldn't have second-guessed it. But why did Decha feel so hesitant?

"No," Decha removed his foot and clutched onto Windsor's arm.

"W-what?" Windsor puffed and widened his eyes, very perplexed by the rejection.

"Killing you would be too easy. I want you to suffer for every last bit of your sins." Decha snarled. "I want you to lose sleep over all the pain and suffering you've inflicted on our country, especially after being given privilege for so long. You're going to face consequences far worse than a quick death would give you." Decha pulled Windsor over the ledge and tossed him right next to him.

Windsor watched the time on Decha's forehead and tried to make a run for it, but Decha stopped him. Decha knocked him off his feet and slammed him into the concrete. "Disable the bomb, now!" Decha hollered.

"You're Crazy!" Windsor scowled. "I can't! And if I could, why would I? It's better for us to die than for you to—"

Decha rolled Windsor over and sucker-punched him in the jaw, having had enough of him. He had to do something quick to deactivate the bomb. If not, it would mean his life, his team, and worse... Rory.

Decha looked at his gloves and frowned. They were probably the only thing that could work. They were constructed with a strong grip, which would hold the explosive in place. He just didn't want to destroy the gift that he treasured.

Decha grabbed onto the small patch attached to his forehead and ripped it off. Then he snatched off his glove with it stuck onto the gripping pads. When he saw the timing, Decha panicked momentarily.

He rushed over to the ledge.

5... 4... 3... 2...

Decha slugged the glove off the roof, and as soon as the timer hit 1, it exploded, sending a wave of heavy wind that knocked Decha off his feet. Decha landed on the concrete, and his vision went completely black.

The sound of ringing was the last thing he heard before going completely unconscious.

~~~

A double update. I hope you guys enjoy :)