ARAAT4: Origins

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A Rose And A Thorn 4: Origins

Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651

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Froggy: This chapter doesn’t have any actual sex but there is a ninja fight scene. Everybody loves those, right? And, as the chapter title says, the Gizoid. Will it rampage now? Later? Never? It’s one of the terrible things to happen on the ARK, you know…

Harley: Oh, just play Sonic Battle twice in succession.

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Chapter Nine: The Gizoid

Mirage was the first to awaken this time. She blinked, realising that she had fallen asleep when she had meant not to. She also realised that Midnight's muzzle was buried in her chest fur. He looked... different when he was asleep, or at least, asleep with her... The permanent worry line wasn't there when he was asleep. He was so... so... She stopped, unable to find the words. It was enough to know that she had never felt so strongly for Espio as she did for Midnight. The chameleon had been a comfort, a safety blanket, and somebody she cared deeply for and loved... but not in this way. Espio had always made her feel... dependant. Midnight made her feel as if she could take on the world and then some... She would twist the fabric of time and space for Espio, but deep in her heart, she knew that she would give up her immortal life at Midnight’s very request - and then give up a mortal life for him after that.

The midnight blue echidna stirred in her arms, nuzzling her chest and mumbling something inaudible. The sedatives had run their course through his system, and he was well on his way to awakening.

Mirage smiled, moving his dreads out of his face so that she could see him better. She enjoyed the feel of him so close to her, and now she came to think about it, she always had.

The echidna sniffed the air and slowly opened his eyes, waking up. He stared blindly in the dark for a moment, his mind catching up with his senses. His mind was foggy from the drugs, but he did distinctly remember... "Mirage,” he spoke softly with a smile, "Good morning."

Mirage smiled, "I am afraid we have broken their rules again," she said, "I am not supposed to sleep in the same room as you any more..."

The echidna snorted, "To hell with 'em. If they want us to sleep apart, they're going to have to fight us over it," Smiling again, he tilted his head up to softly kiss her lips, "Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Yes," Mirage kissed him back slowly, "And when I woke, I realised something."

Titling his head to the side, his grey eyes looking into hers, he asked, "And what is that?"

Mirage brushed his dreads to one side, "I... I love you...” she whispered, “I love you more than I love Espio."

His smile widened, that permanent worry line on his brow disappearing for one blissful moment, "That's the best thing anyone has ever told me,” he said. Reaching up and caressing her cheek, he replied, "Whoever he is. I love you too, Mirage. I just hope you know what you're getting into."

"Me too," Mirage kissed his cheek. She sat up, her bones clicking, "But it is time to get ready and get training..."

"Another day of bruises, huh?" said the echidna, who sat up and stretched, "It won't be long now that you'll reach the limits of what I can teach you. You've been a good student."

"The doctors told me I have yet more to learn," Mirage replied, "It stems from tapping this..." she held the Shard, "It was always so natural before... and now I have to learn how to do it all over again."

He reached over and ran his finger along the glowing stone, "That, I cannot help you with,” he said, "I know all about physical combat, but I'm a bit lost when it comes to the magical."

"I do not think it is magical," Mirage replied, "It is some sort of highly advanced ultra-science."

"Well, I'm not much into that, either,” he said. Smirking, he added, "I'm a graduate of the old-school 'break 'em with a blunt object' teachings."

"Tell me about it," Mirage fluffed out her quills, and turned back to Midnight, "Come on, let us go get breakfast..."

~~~

After breakfast, and some light training, the echidna and the hedgecat were walking through the gardens side by side, chatting to each other about the events of their lives, smiling and happy, something rare for both of them.

Of course, it wasn't going to last. One of the white-coats came jogging over to them, some young, nervous-looking kid fresh out of school, "Oh! Project Mirage, there you are!" he said, slowing to a walk and panting, "...And you too, Project Midnight. Um... we need you for a test we're about to conduct." He was looking at her as he said it.

"Just me?" Mirage asked, "Or both of us?"

"Well... he can come along and watch, but the test is for you,” the scientist explained.

Mirage nodded, "Oh, okay," she sighed. As she walked after the scientist, she turned to Midnight, "Were they like this with you when you first awoke?" she asked him.

"They're always like this,” he replied, rolling his eyes, "What kind of test is this going to be?"

The young scientist looked over his shoulder and said, "Well it’s, uh... a combat test."

"Oh, goody," Mirage said, with false enthusiasm. Still, she considered, it would give a chance to work on her chaos abilities. The Professor had been keen on that, and she was also.

The young man led them to a room facing a reinforced glass wall, showing a larger room beyond it made of reinforced steel. Scientists milled about taking notes and fiddling with equipment, "We're going to need you to step into the chamber,” he told Mirage, "We'll seal the room behind you, let your opponent in, and we'll just... uh... watch."

"And what happens if somebody gets into trouble?" Mirage asked, a nasty suspicion rising up in her mind, "Suppose my 'opponent’ gets their head twisted off a little." Her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.

The scientist chuckled nervously, backing up a step, "Hey... calm down; we wouldn't let it go that far. We'll stop the test if there's trouble, ok?"

"Sure you will," Mirage sneered, "We are after all, very expensive." She turned to the dividing door and stepped through it, a sour expression on her face.

The door closed loudly behind her. Midnight pressed up against the glass wall, looking into the bare chamber beyond. Asides from Mirage, there was nothing inside the circular chamber. Not even any weapons to choose from.

Mirage stretched slowly, various bones clicking into place. This all felt increasingly familiar. The memory came to her. It was going to happen, unpleasantly soon. She tensed her body, waiting for her opponent.

A low rumbling sound filled the chamber as the far doors slid open. Harsh lights from the ceiling illuminated the other figure, a short, golden robot of some kind. It had large blue eyes and a large crest extending from its head, which made its face look like that of an insect's. Not including the spike it was a little taller than Mirage. The large eyes coldly, emotionlessly stared at the hedgecat, unmoving.

Oh, bugger, Mirage's brain registered. So, it was beginning. Maybe not right now, but soon. The Gizoid would soon grow powerful and run amok. Well, this was why she was here. She had to stop it. And what better way to stop it than to turn it into a pile of scrap metal? She advanced on it slowly and cautiously, her claws sliding out.

The Gizoid just watched as the feline approached, observing her every move and analysing it, storing it to memory.

Mirage looked at the metal creature. It was a robot, lacking all heart and soul. Unless it had been commanded to do otherwise, it would end the fight with her demise. Therefore it was not a good approach to learn its moves, as she might with Midnight, but to end its existence as quickly as possible. If only she had her Chaos powers... She dismissed the thought, and from a standing start, leapt at the robot, one foot outstretched to kick into its head.

The kick connected with a loud clang, knocking the golden robot back. It came to a stop and stood up fully again, staring at her.

"You may look like a real person," Mirage kicked it again, even harder, "But that is all you are - a machine! Built! To! Look! Like! A! Person!" Each word was punctuated by a kick or a punch.

Finally, the robot reacted to the attacks, blocking and dodging, clumsy at first, but the moves got smoother as at the assault continued.

Why will not it just fall apart?! Mirage thought, becoming enraged that the robot was blocking her every attack, I am going to rip it right open... Her attacks continued, becoming fiercer and harder and more desperate as the battle continued, and she dredged up further energy to fight with. Failure was not an option. She couldn't fail. She could only die trying. All of her attacks concentrated on the Gizoid's head and chest area. She was getting in more blows, but they just didn't seem to be taking effect...

After blocking another blow towards his head, the Gizoid suddenly swung his hand at her own face, imitating her claw swipe. Of course, the robot didn't have claws, but the steel hand could do plenty of damage on its own.

After the Gizoid had blocked for so long, Mirage had thought it was, for now, incapable of attack. The blow hit her so hard that she was knocked straight into the reinforced two-way-mirror on the wall, cracking it and obscuring the observing scientist and Midnight's vision somewhat. She slumped to the floor, blood trickling from her back, "So you DO have a spine," she hissed, "Prepare to have it ripped out, murderer..." She ran at the Gizoid, claws outstretched to grab hold of it. She slammed it into a wall as hard as she could.

Pausing for a moment, the Gizoid grabbed onto her vest and swung around, slamming her into the wall, "Mur-der-er..." it spoke slowly, imitating Mirage's low, clipped voice quite well. Midnight could only watch from the other side of the wall, slamming his fist once against the glass helplessly.

Mirage's eyes widened. Ignoring the pain in her back, she jumped over the Gizoid and kicked it straight into the wall.

Without turning, the Gizoid pushed off from the wall and kicked backwards at the feline.

"Stop it,” Midnight growled at the scientist, "Why are you putting her through this? What's the point?"

The scientist ignored him, still taking notes, "Do you think it will be able to make her surrender?" he asked his colleague.

The man shook his head, "It could spray her with boiling acid and she couldn't be able to surrender. That's why she's the best choice - she'll just keep fighting, even when she shouldn't."

Inside the room, Mirage was getting angrier and angrier. The thing just wouldn't break! It caught her a punch in the jaw, and she spat out blood. 'That's it' were not the words. That had been it a long time ago, and she was out of new moves. It punched her again, and she gripped the metal tightly, her claws digging in to keep hold. From there, she launched a series of punches and kicks at close quarters.

That close to the robot, her blows had little force behind them and little effect on plate steel. She might as well have been wrestling with a tank. It struck her again, and again, and again.

"Stop the test! Stop it now!" Midnight shouted at the scientists, but they weren't listening. Snarling in frustration, the echidna picked up an empty chair and started bashing it against the cracked glass. He had to get in there.

Mirage gritted her teeth, trying to block the punches. She felt dizzy and sick, but she couldn't just give up and ask for help, she couldn't give up-

It was then that the Shard glowed. The glow expanded and surrounded her in a shield of green light, and the Gizoid's attacks were blocked. It was as if, rather than hitting flesh, the robot was attacking a wall created entirely from Master Emerald energy.

The robot continued to strike the green light, curious about the new skill its opponent was using. Midnight didn't have time to think about it, continuing to bash the glass. Scientists stepped closer and spoke in soothing voices, trying to calm him down, but he would have none of it. One more swing, and the glass shattered. The echidna leapt through, rolled, and came back to his feet, running at the machine.

Mirage was staring down at the Shard, "So that is how I do it..." she mumbled. The shield faded, and another punch slammed into her chest. She was pretty sure that it had cracked a rib. But she couldn't just give up-

"Grrraaahh!" the echidna bellowed as he collided with the Gizoid, grabbing onto it and dragging it away from Mirage. Pushing it away, Midnight stepped back beside Mirage, "Are you alright? We need to work together to beat this thing."

Mirage rolled onto her front, "This is not... your fight," she panted, and wiped some sweat off her forehead, smearing blood in the process. She stood up using willpower alone.

"I'm making it my fight,” he growled, staring at the Gizoid, "Come on, machine. What are you waiting for?" Mirroring Midnight's stance, the machine slowly stepped towards him, looking for an opening of some kind.

"Oh, shitty death," Mirage growled. Her body tensed up into a fighting stance, and she advanced on the Gizoid from the other side, "Midnight, I can do this myself!" she told him.

"Too late now,” he told her, leaping at the Gizoid and slamming a booted foot into his head. The robot tried to grab his leg without success.

Mirage scowled, took a deep breath, stifled a wince of pain, and dived at the Gizoid's legs. If she could bring it down and keep it down, maybe she could take it out.

It jumped over the kick, though, mimicking Midnight's short jump. It learned faster than any human or furry should. Running forward and grabbing onto the echidna, the Gizoid used him as a living projectile, hurling him at Mirage.

Mirage had two choices - get hit by Midnight, or get out of the way and see him hit the wall. By taking the time to acknowledge these choices, the latter had been forced upon her. Midnight collided with her hard enough to send them both into the metal wall. Mirage hit the wall hard, while Midnight was sent flying into her, and she slumped to the floor.

Midnight groaned and got to his feet, standing in front of Mirage's semi-conscious form, determined to keep her safe from the strange robot, "Is that the best you've got?" he rasped, "I can do better." Giving a loud battle cry, the echidna charged his mechanical foe, launching a flurry of attacks at him, dodging and weaving, too fast for the robot to keep up. But it was learning, and it was getting faster.

Mirage's eyes opened again, and her body protested even at that slight movement. Midnight was standing between her and the Gizoid. Not that it mattered; the robot was concentrating on the greater threat. Mirage started to lever herself off the floor, her head swimming with the movement.

Midnight was putting up a good fight, confusing and battering the robot down, but it was a slow process, and the robot could take far more damage than an organic foe... It was taking too long. He realized that when a swift blow from Gizoid connected with his head, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Mirage levered herself off the ground fully, forcing her body to work despite the pain. She strode forward, stepping over Midnight, and as the Gizoid lashed out at her, mimicking one of Midnight's attacks, she brought up the shield again. As it pulled back for another punch, she swept its legs out from under it and using all her remaining strength, started to slam its head into the floor repeatedly.

Groaning, Midnight got onto his knees and crawled over beside the feline and started to help battering the robot, their combined attacks leaving it helpless to resist.

Mirage knew that if she stopped, her brain would take over her body and she would pass out again. She just kept going, neglecting any kind of fighting style and just hitting the robot, over and over again, Scrap him, destroy him utterly, you have to, it is the only way... her thoughts ranted.

"This test is over!" a voice called out over the PA system, "Step away from the Gizoid!"

Mirage narrowed her eyes, continuing her assault on the robot. This ‘test’ was only over when the Gizoid had been forcibly dismantled.

That was when the prongs from the taser stuck into her side and jolted her muscles into useless spasms. Mirage screamed in pain, freezing up, "NO!" she cried out, "It has to be... has to be..." She slumped forward, losing consciousness again.

Midnight was about to lash out as well, to hurt those who dared to hurt her, but he too was shocked into unconsciousness.

Mirage managed to focus for a brief moment on the soldiers above them. Not security guards... soldiers... GUN... As she faded again, the soldiers picked both her and Midnight up, carrying them to the med labs so that they could be treated for their wounds.

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Harley: So, the Gizoid ISN’T destroyed. A portent of things to come? Or merely unfortunate? Come now, you didn’t think it would be that easy, did you? What does the future hold, eh?

Froggy: Well, Midnight and Mirage haven’t had sex yet…