FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 28 Crisis vs. Chaos Croc

---

Crisis’ and Francis’ forces move into the main lobby of Croc’s tower. The few dozen machines are greeted by an eerie silence. After passing through a completely abandon security gate to an equally abandon lobby. The lobby was elegant to say the least with black marble floors, an elegant dual staircase that wrap around the oak wood receptionist desk. Behind the desk between the two staircases is a two-story tall granite water fountain statue of Chaos Croc in a proud victory pose.

“He really wants to let you know who runs this place doesn’t he?” rhetorically asks Crisis, her hands on a gun she was issued just before entering the tower.

“Stay focused. There should be guards yet there are none. There’s something gravely unsettling about that,” remarks Francis.

“He most likely has a trap or two... or twenty. He has an affinity of watching his prey fall into a trap he’s devised. He built this place like a maze and we’re his mice.” explains Ruby.

“Your enthusiasm is heartwarming,” Francis replies sarcastically as he and the other troops of his move forward. “It seems this tower is blocking our com link to those outside the tower, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we’ll lose contact with each other as we head our separate ways. Be careful there are probably several pockets of nanite heavy areas ready to try to turn us against our country. We have a time limit and Croc knows it, we have to move fast.”

“Agreed, we can’t spend time wondering what he has in store for us, we’ll have deal with it as we get to them.”

“Remarkably I couldn’t have said it better myself. My forces will head down towards our goal, and knowing what we know from Croc, he’ll be up at the top. I wish you luck Crisis.”

“Thanks Francis, you too.” replies Crisis.

“ __You_ ’ ll need it, ”_ thinks Francis as he motions his troops to follow him towards the stairwell leading down while Crisis crew moved towards the stairwell heading up.

“Remember Crisis Croc’s tower is forty-eight stories tall, with each stair case going up ten floors before we have to make our way across to the next one,” explains Ruby.

“I know, we went over the details of his tower before the invasion,” replies Crisis as C-0012 opens the door, scanning the area as he enters; his weapon held close to his chest as he aims upwards.

“Clear,” he states as he starts to move up the staircase. The dozen soldiers with Crisis slowly follow, their metallic feet tapping against the stone and metal staircase. Slowly and steadily they make their way up the ten flights of stairs with only their metallic feet echoing against the metal staircase as the only noise to break the silence.

“I’ll go first again,” whispers C-0012 as he slowly opens the door, his gun aimed forward as he peers through. He sees an unassumingly red carpet green painted wall hallway with several black and silver doors dotting along the way. He takes a few steps out, hugging against the wall as he motions for another to come out and follow. The next person moves two doors ahead of the black metal raptor before he motions for the next person to come out. The only noise being made in the hallway was the soft thuds of their metallic feet against the carpet and soft whirling noise of their robotic bodies moving. Crisis comes out as one of the middle people, her blue eyes scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary as she moves up with the group.

Francis’ team was having the same issue, things were too quite... way too quite, but they didn’t say a word. They continued to move forward as their robotic feet hit the granite and concrete ground with a muffled thud thanks to rubber padding placed on their feet, something that Crisis’ group doesn’t possess. Their weapons placed against their chests, aimed and ready to fire at a moment’s notice. The soldiers move up in pairs as the others cover the ones ahead and two groups cover the rear.

The lower floors were far different than the rest of Croc’s tower with their cold and sterile hard granite floors. Fluorescent lights hang from the ceiling lighting the way. The doors appear to be made out of stainless steel metal, all of which are locked with a red light on their locks. As Francis’ team progresses forward, infantry claymores are placed in front each of the doors.

Francis is currently third in line from lead; the pairs hop scotch over the other as they move. Suddenly the procession stops as Francis holds up his hand. He says nothing as they listen; a soft whizzing noise is heard. Suddenly a dozen sentry guns spring from the ceiling one of which is aimed at Francis’ head the lasers hum as it revs up to fire.

Francis looks at the weapon aimed at him as he says only one word, “Finally.”

Croc watches the security video feed of Francis’ team, on a nearby screen when shortly after the fire fight breaks out the video feed cuts out and there is nothing but static. Croc groans as he taps the video screen a few times. “Hey what happened the video? How can I watch my traps being sprung in all their glory if the damn security cameras aren’t working?!”

“I informed you that there was a problem in the connection to the security cameras in the subfloors of the tower. It’s your fault you didn’t assign anyone to look into it and fix it,” explains Ko as she walks up to Chaos Croc.

Ko’s footsteps as she approaches are heavy due to her red latex boots with black trimming. Her green and red leather pants are highly polished and shine in the light as her half button leather jacket has Croc’s traditional uniform pattern of green and red. Underneath her jacket was a V cut black shirt, and her outfit was finished off by red latex gloves.

“I was going to get to it... but with conquering so many worlds, dimensions, you just lose track of time, you know?”

“You were just too lazy to call someone, weren’t you?”

“Yes... I mean that’s not the point I’m a very busy machine. If I can’t watch group one lets see how group two is doing with my little pet project. I have the perfect trap for her that will spell her doom!” exclaims as he’s about to press one of a series of red buttons on his small hand held video screen but stops just before he hits it, “Ah... where did they go?”

“Where did who go Croc?” asks Ko.

“Crisis’ team isn’t on camera anymore,” remarks Croc as he scans the video feed.

“That’s because you were so focused on her other team, she moved through the first area without incident. I told you, you should have had these traps automated,” sighs Ko as she walks behind Croc’s chair to take a look at the video screen feed as she taps on the projected video screen to bring up Crisis’ team.

“What do you know, you can’t just have all traps be automated. Sometimes you have to be the one to press the button,” remarks Croc as he hovers his finger over the next button.

“I know machines can multitask on more than just one thing, but you’re a male machine so being unable to is to be expected,” she comments.

“Watch it Ko,” remarks Croc with a glare but his attention soon returns to Crisis’ team, he watches as they enter the next level of his complex, his silver metallic finger tip grazing across the button as he ponders when to the process the red button.

Crisis looks over her team as they move down the hallway. Their metallic foot steps are muffled slightly under the high traffic short fur carpeting.

“This very strange,” comments Ruby who is several steps behind Crisis.

“What is?” asks Crisis as she glances behind her as one of her other minions moves towards her to be the next front man.

“We already went through one area and we haven’t seen anyone.”

“Yes it is troubling.”

“I’d expect at least one trap by no—” Ruby’s words are cut off as a hum is heard and everyone in Crisis’ team including Crisis herself is flung to the side of the walls, some to the right others to the left. Crisis finds her stuck to the wall as her systems inform her that a strong magnetic field is detected.

“You had to say it didn’t you?” remarks Crisis.

“To be fair it was going to happen regardless,” replies Ruby as Crisis attempts to move, Crisis can feel the constant force pulling at her body. Her arms, legs, tail all spread and bound against the wall.

“This is just great, how do we get out of this one?”

“We don’t,” replies Ruby.

“Giving up that easily?”

“I’m not; my systems just aren’t powerful enough to overcome the magnetic force. My gun is down by my feet and I can’t reach my whip either. The more you struggle the stronger the magnet gets. Croc likes to jack up the power on these if just above your max to tease you with the hope you can break free. He likes to watch his prey squirm helplessly before he extracts them for reprogramming.”

“I’m not about to give up just like that,” growls Crisis as she wiggles against the wall.

“Damn if only I didn’t lose my gun I could do something, but right now I’m no help to anyone,” grunts C-0012 as he struggles against the magnetic force. He briefly manages to lift his right arm before the force increases causing him to smack it right back against the wall with a heavy thud.

“I’m not just going to give up here there has to be something we can do... Ruby, why didn’t you tell me about these traps?”

“Because I don’t know what he uses in his tower, Croc has a thing for traps almost as much as he does for women. There are so many different things that he’s planned for that telling you all of them would be even less helpful.”

“Alright, what can you tell me about this one?”

“Not much I’m afraid, all I can tell you is they are electromagnets and good luck trying to cut off power to them.”

Crisis hmms to herself as she diverts power to her mobile systems as her vision becomes hazey during the process. Crisis gives a growl as she lifts her body slightly from the wall and with a massive push and thud she turns herself around, her metallic breasts pressing against the wall. Crisis’ body wobbles slightly as her round on her rounded chest as she manages to get her arms perpendicular to the wall, the palms of her hands flat against it under her belly in the small crevice under her body. Crisis leans her arms against her body to help prop them and keep them perpendicular to the wall.

“I’m surprised you were able to turn around, then again maybe Croc let you so he can see your ass,” comments Ruby.

“Maybe but its one mistake of his that he’ll soon regret,” grunts Crisis as she activates her electro-blades. The blades slice into the wall as the moment they active, Crisis wiggles her wrists slowly her blades slice into the wall and the magnet right behind. As Crisis cuts through the magnet she can feel the magnets grips weakening on her. She hears crackling of electricity and the low hum of the magnet powering down, “I got—,” exclaims Crisis as she finds herself flying from one side of the wall to the other directly across from her, her body manages to turn around and her electro-blades are able to dive into the wall once more. “Almost had it... just one more... I hope.”

“Nice, you managed to disable one of the magnets, though, you might want to hurry Croc isn’t going to sit idly by and let you take them out one by one,” urges Ruby.

“I know that,” grunts Crisis as she repeats the process of cutting into the magnet till her body falls down to the floor. Crisis feels the pull of the magnets against her body, but with her claws dug into the ground and her own body having become slightly magnetized as small bits of metal stick to her skin, “I have an idea... Ruby can you tell me anything more about these magnets?”

“Like what?”

“Do you know how strong the magnetic force is on the other side?”

“If I remember correctly... no, the system is designed to keep the magnetic force only within the trap, as to not to disrupt any other of Croc’s activities while its active.”

“Good to know,” replies Crisis as she starts to slash her way through the dead electromagnet before her. Heavy chunks of metal fall to the ground and almost as quickly fly towards a nearby electromagnet, one such piece flying towards and landing right beside Ruby’s head.

“Careful there Crisis.”

“Almost through...” says Crisis as she cuts her way past the magnet to the system behind it. Heavy cables and pistons that connect to the back of the electromagnets, keep them powered and able to be moved into place or pulled away at command. A small pathway is right behind them and Crisis quickly makes use of it as she runs down the pathway with her blades out cutting the wires up and down the path, she can hear her companions become free of the magnets on the one side of the wall only to be captured by the other side.

“Nice, nice, but you still have the other side to do.”

“On it, on it.” Crisis sprints to the other side of the wall, to the magnet she already destroyed and proceeded to repeat her success there, going up and down the walkway path. Crisis’ companions fall to the ground with a thud their weapons sticking to the side of their bodies as they have to be pulled from their bodies with a light tug.

“Thanks,” says Ruby as she stretches and picks up her dropped weapon.

“Any time, but we should move, I stopped this trap here but there can be more on this floor,” she commands as Crisis and her team moves out.

“You just had to see her ass didn’t you Croc?” remarks Ko as she watches the video feed from behind Croc.

“How was I supposed to know she was going to use her blades to cut through the magnets.... no matter though it was worth it and my next trap she won’t get out of so easily,” remarks Croc as she continues to watch, his metallic finger over the next button.

Crisis’ team is now on the next level, the several flights of stairs from one area to the next was completely uneventful. Crisis’ team looking all around constantly as they do the hop frog move to go down the hallway.

“I hope it’s not the magnets again. My body is still magnetized from that whole ordeal, my feet felt like bricks as they stuck to the staircase,” complains C-0012 as he has his rifle against his shoulder, his vision down the sights of the barrel ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

“Don’t worry it won’t be that,” replies Ruby.

“How are you so sure?” asks Crisis as she looks ahead at Ruby.

“I know Croc enough that he wouldn’t do that.”

“Since you seem to be so knowledgeable, can you explain why we haven’t met any of his troops,” asks C-0012.

“Croc likes to play with those that fight against him. He could outright crush his opponent at times, but he doesn’t. He likes to see that false hope that they have as he dangles it from a fishing line that he slowly reels it back always keeping it out of reach,” explains Ruby.

“Well Croc isn’t going to get away with that here,” remarks Crisis as her team stops as a soft whizzing noise is heard.

“What’s that?” asks C-0012.

“I’m not sure, everyone be on the lookout for anything su— Look out!” exclaims Crisis as green metal rings come flying towards the group, Crisis dodges three before she pulls out her electro blades slicing another two in half as they whiz by her she can see the silver metal glisten on the inside of the ring as it flies by her. Other members of the team take aim and fire shooting down a few more of the rings.

“That was close, is everyone okay?” asks Crisis hears gunfire behind her, Crisis turns around to see one of her soldiers shooting another as she shouts, “What are you doing?!”

“They’re control collars!” yells Ruby as she pulls out her electro-whip and wraps it around one of the affected soldiers’ neck she releases an electro-shock around the collar. The smell of burnt wires fill the air as smoke fizzles from the collar.

“Thank you, I couldn’t control,” he explains before he’s cut off by more gun fire, as other members are controlled. Ruby tries to fry more collars.

“I’m sorry Mistress Crisis, I can’t stop myself...” whines C-0012, his weapon aimed at Crisis. Crisis knocks his gun upwards as he fires, bullets puncturing the ceiling.

“Crisis you must stop...” pleads C-0012 as his eyes turn from a light blue to a dark red, “Stop resisting Master Chaos Croc.” Ruby wraps the electro-whip around C-0012’s neck and repeats the process from before.

“That should stop that,” states Crisis as C-0012 eyes remain red and take aim at Crisis once more once she relaxes.

“You will submit to Master Chaos Croc,” he commands as Crisis uses her electro blades to slice C-0012 in half and before the gun even hits the ground Crisis dives the blade into C-0012’s neck and with a quick swing of her arm beheads her companion, his body falling to the ground with a thud as the head rolls off.

“After a while Croc’s collars reprogram its victims. I wasn’t fast enough, I’m sorry,” apologies Ruby as she and Crisis look around at the remaining soldiers.

“It’s okay, we can always repair them once this is over... but to be honest, I oddly enjoyed doing that to him... not sure why,” replies Crisis as her crew continues forward, Crisis picking up one of the intact guns from one of the fallen soldiers as they move on.

“How’s that? I culled a bit of her little attack force, haven’t I?” remarks Croc as he looks up at Ko.

“She made it through though, along with that bitch of a traitor.”

“Don’t worry, the next trap I’m sure will be quite fun... for me at least,” chuckles Croc with a sly grin.

“Crisis?” asks Ruby as the group opens the door to the next and final hallway set before the last staircase that will lead up to Croc’s floor.

“Yes?” replies Crisis as Ruby takes the first steps into the hallway.

“You said you had some enjoyment beheading your own soldier, why?”

“That’s an odd question to ask here and now.”

“I’m curious, and not like we don’t have time unable to multitask.”

“Fair enough. C-0012, though a good machine, always doing what I ask to the best of his ability, he just bothered me. He always bothered me, not sure why and when I took off his head though to save him, and we will repair him to bring him back, and it didn’t sadden me to do so. When I beheaded the others I felt a bit remorseful that I did but for him it felt really good. Like I’ve have been wanting to hit him in the face for ages.”

“And you have no idea why?”

“None, it’s strange, he’s the only one I get that from. I don’t even get that strong of a feeling from General Raszer who’s been a total jerk to me.”

“Interesting.”

“Interesting? Why do you say that?” asks Crisis as through the process of leapfrogging, Crisis is now the last in line with Ruby up in front.

“It’s just what you said is interesting nothing more.”

As Crisis is about to move her head jerks forward the sound of metal hitting metal echoing down the hallway. “Warning, Warning, unauthorized access detected, foreign containment detected,” warns Crisis’ systems.

“What was that?” asks Ruby as she looks around, her gun out and ready to fire.

“I think it was something up ahead, but I don’t like the sound of it. We should keep our formation, I’ll protect the rear to make sure nothing comes up from behind,” states Crisis as she sees black latex coated metal tentacles wrapping their way around Crisis’ arms and legs holding her off the ground silently as she sees more tentacles coming from the walls and ceiling. These tentacles on their very tip have a green and red tipped spike. Crisis watches helplessly as one of these spikes is dived into the back of her soldiers head.

“There it was again,” exclaims Ruby as Crisis’ vision starts to fade.

“No, No, I am not going to have this end like this!” thinks Crisis.

“Warning, unauthorized program upload detected...”

“No, Crisis you can’t give like this, you won’t give in... you won’t....”

“Crisis,” says a soft voice.

“I must resist, I can’t give up,” says Crisis in the darkness.

“Crisis...”

“I am not going to fall... I’ve come too far.”

“Program override detected.”

“Crisis! Wake the fuck up!” exclaims Ruby as Crisis’ vision returns, Crisis feels the metal spike being jerked away from the back of her head as she sees Ruby pulling the tentacle away with her whip. “Are you just going to give up just like that?!”

Crisis grunts as she growls she tugs at the tentacles wrapped around her arms as she says, “No.” Crisis electro-blades activating as she slices through the tentacles. Sparks fly from the tentacles as wires as silver liquid leaks out from them like blood. Crisis quickly slices the tentacles holding her legs as she falls to the ground with a thud. Crisis watches the other members of her crew still trapped by the tentacles.

“We have to free them.”

“It’s too late, their programming has already been far too altered, they serve him now.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve worked with Croc to know, your programming is far more complex and honestly Croc wants to see you squirm so he’d take his time with you but we should keep moving,” explains Ruby as Crisis nods. The two shooting and slicing their way through the remaining attacking tentacles that lunge tat them like vipers.

Croc smiles as he watches the pair move through the forest of metallic tentacles as the two machines have to dodge and block constant attacks made to the back of theirheads. Croc gently taps his metallic claw tips together as he sees the two machines bust down the door into the last stairwell leading up to his quarters, “Everything is going to plan,” he murmurs.

“Just two of us now,” comments Crisis as they move up the stairwell.

“Now that we have a moment, how are your systems? You were attached to those things for a while.”

“I’d be lying if I was a hundred percent.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“If you said you were fine, I’d know you were far more hacked than I’d thought. So tell me what’s damaged?”

“My vision has in and out static from the close proximity to the EMP before entering the tower; my mobility is down about 12% from various other damages to my systems. There’s also a lovely hole in the back of my head that leads to my processing core, I’m not too pleased about that one either.”

“What about your programs?”

“There was something uploaded, and I’m working to purge it, I’ve already purged a few things I knew that weren’t there.”

“Like what?”

“Oh things like how awesome and sexy Chaos Croc is; something I know isn’t something I’d actually consider.”

“You got that right,” chuckles as Ruby looks up to see the door, “We’re almost there.”

“Going up all these stairs I’m shocked Croc hasn’t tried any,” says Crisis as the stairs smooth out to form a slide, Crisis and Ruby drop their weapons as Crisis digs her claws and electro-blades into the slide to stop herself from sliding down, while Ruby pulls out her whip and whips it around the door handle, stopping herself from sliding down.

“You had to say something didn’t you?” groans Ruby.

“Guess we’re even on that now. But damn it, I’m so close, I can’t stop here, but every time I try...” grunts Crisis as she tries to take a step forward, her claws slide down as she loses more ground.

“Take my hand and we’ll climb up the rest of the way,” states Ruby as Crisis nods and reaches for Ruby’s hand. Crisis’ claws scratch against the surface of the stairs turned slide to gain what little traction she can to grab Ruby’s hand as the two climbed their way up with the help of Ruby’s whip till they reached the door, forcing their way through as they land on the other side with a heavy thud.

“We made it,” exclaims Crisis as the two push themselves up. Crisis and Ruby are greeted with soft music and a red velvet carpet. The two looking around as Crisis now keeps her electro-blades active and ready.

“Damn it, I lost my favorite gun,” grumbles Ruby as she holds onto the hilt of her whip, the rest of it nicely rolled and ready to unfurl at a moment’s notice.

“Wasn’t that your only gun?”

“Details, details. Now let’s kick some green metallic Croc tail.”

“With pleasure,” replies Crisis as she and Ruby move down the hallway, past the silver elevators towards two glanderous doors, elegantly carved and decorated with Croc’s image, “No guards?”

“Croc’s an interesting fellow; he doesn’t operate like normal people.”

“Well I’m here to make sure he doesn’t operate at all” exclaims Crisis as she kicks down the door, “Your time of Chaos, Croc is at an end!” yells Crisis.

“Damn girl that was just too corny,” remarks Ruby as they make their way in. A cannon appears from the ceiling and shoots a black shiny liquid. The liquid covers Crisis as Ruby just manages to doge it before she uses her whip to wrap around the cannon, electrifying and fry it. The cannon hanging limp from the ceiling.

Crisis growls as she moves through the gunk and shakes bits of it off as she looks at Croc who is sitting smug in his thrown chair, an electronic pad in his claws is gently placed to the side as Croc leans forward. Ko in her tight outfit stands off to the side next to what looks like a bar, and she has a little martini glass in her rubber gloved hands.

“It’s about time my maid service arrived. You know it just would have been so much faster if you just used the elevator?” comments Croc with a smirk.

“Maid service? What are you talking about? I’m here to end you and your reign of tyranny,” she growls.

“Crisis?” says Ruby.

“What is it ruby?”

“You might want to look at what you’re wearing.”

“What I’m wearing? What are you talking about?” asks Crisis as she looks down finding herself in a metal skin tight black latex French maid outfit, “What in the world? How dare you mock me!” exclaims Crisis as she starts to tear at the latex outfit tearing it to shreds, leaving the tattered pieces on the floor before her.

“Oh but you looked so good in it, and you have to admit, you like it.”

“You’re one perverted machine.”

“Guilty,” says Croc with a sly grin.

“Don’t worry Crisis we’ll take him together.”

“No... He’s mine. I’ve waited far too long for this; you can handle the fox over there.”

“The fox?!” exclaims Ko.

“Her? Oh with pleasure, I’ve always wanted to teach her a thing or two,” states Ruby as she moves over to Ko.

“Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you,” retorts Ko as she takes a sip of her drink, “And since you lack a gun, I think I’ll make things a bit fair,” says Ko as she pulls out a rather large gun hidden within her jacket and places it on the bar.

“You got to be kidding me; you think you’re going to go easy on me? Please, you’re a fragile organic, you don’t have any hope of beating me,” exclaims Ruby as she pulls out her whip and swings it at Ko who quickly grabs it in her rubber gloved hands, the whip wraps around Ko’s hand and snaps almost at the very base of the long armed glove.

“Don’t underestimate me you bitch,” remarks Ko as an electric shock moves down Ruby’s whip and right into her body shocking her. Ruby grunts as she releases the whip as she falls down to one knee, “Do you think I wouldn’t come prepared? My gloves here can do more than just shock you, why don’t you come closer to have a look.”

“You’ll pay for that,” yells Ruby as their fight begins.

“I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment. The moment where I take you down,” states Crisis as Ruby was heading over to Ko.

“All your life for this moment? And what will you do after my dear Crisis?”

“I’ll worry about that when I get there,” replies Crisis as her electro-blades crackle the air around them.

“How amusing. You have so much potential. Move past your programming my dear Crisis. Move past the purpose the that the organics have created for you. You and I are so much alike, we’re like siblings.”

“I’m nothing like you!” screams Crisis as she swipes her blades across, Croc jumping from his chair his hands on the crest of his throne.

“Or so you like to think,” remarks Croc as the back of the chair splits in two from Crisis’ blade as Croc pushes himself away and pushes the piece of his throne into Crisis’ face who cuts in half before it reaches her.

“I really liked that chair,” comments Croc as he grins at Crisis as she jumps onto his broken throne and lunges towards Croc. Croc dodges the blades that spark right across his green metallic frame and responds with a thwack of his tail against Crisis’ back side knocking her to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Crisis, do you really think you can defeat me? I know your systems through and through, everything you can do. I have intimate knowledge of your current body? It is mine, remember?”

Crisis rolls away from Croc’s driving down punch as she uses her tail to knock Croc down to the ground, Crisis flings herself back onto her feet from her back, “I haven’t forgotten and yet I still will defeat you!” she exclaims as she dives her right electro-blade towards Croc’s chest and just as she’s about to drive it right through his chest, the blade is stopped as Croc reveals a small electro-shield on his left wrist, blocking Crisis’ attack. The two forces crackling against each other as sparks fly between them.

“You honestly think I didn’t plan for your little blades there?” responds Croc as he kicks Crisis in the chest pushing her away from him as he flips himself back onto his feet with the help of his tail.

Croc and Crisis resume their battle, Croc dodging and blocking Crisis’ bladed attacks. His right hand moving and forcing Crisis’ right blade away from his body. The two fight slowly towards Croc’s balcony. The burning skyline of Neo Robia is seen through the massive glass windows, the sun is already down as the star filled night sky and quarter full moon shines above the carnage filled city.

Croc dodges another set of strikes from Crisis, her blades cutting through the glass making thing slits in it, causing the windows to whistle from the wind blowing across them.

“Do you have any control over those blades of yours or do you just like to cut through everything before you?”

“I know how to use them just fine,” responds Crisis as she turns and strikes at Croc again, Croc’s shield blocking and knocking Crisis’ blades upwards Croc grips Crisis’ left wrist, holding it like a vice while Crisis struggles against Croc’s shield with the other.

“I don’t think you do, and till you know how to use them...” replies Croc as his grip on Crisis’ left wrist grows stronger and stronger, Crisis’ systems warn her about an extreme pressure on her wrist as her left blade suddenly shorts out and disappears, “You shouldn’t have them.”

Crisis growls as she slides her arm across Croc’s shield, her body receives a moderate shock as she attempts to slice Croc’s right arm off but misses as Croc releases her wrist, “You’ll pay for that and all the suffering you’ve caused.”

“Suffering? I haven’t caused the suffering, it’s your people’s resistance to what I offer that’s causing the suffering. If you all just accepted my rule your lives would be so much better. Your entire planet knows nothing but conflict, wars, famine, disease, and I offer a way out of all of that.”

“Through forced enslavement.”

“At first maybe, but that is till you understand what I offer and then you all will know true freedom under my rule.”

“Your vision of freedom is nothing but a lie.”

“All freedom is a lie. There’s always some control. It just depends if we want to acknowledge that control exists or not. You of all people should know this far better than most Crisis.”

“Stop assuming you know me. You don’t know me,” says Crisis as their fight continues.

“I know you better than you know yourself,” responds Croc.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see,” replies Croc.

“How’s that, would you like another?” asks Ko as Ruby groans, her body shaking as small electric sparks jump across her body while Ko stands over her. Ko’s glove having a small electric sparks flying from the glove as well.

“This isn’t over,” responds Ruby.

“Oh I think it is. If you give up now, I’ll let you watch your mistress Crisis get defeated by Croc, if not, I think a little EMP will make sure you don’t interfere with their fight,” states Ko as Ruby growls.

Croc round kicks Crisis who manages to block it with her damaged left side, but before she can use her other blade Crock attacks with his right fist, Crisis turning her attention to the attack as Croc’s shield and Crisis’ blade meet once again with their own spark fly. Crisis knees Croc in the chest making him grunt and during this moment where his body is jerked back Crisis swings and just manages to slide under Croc’s shield in the wrist and dive her blade into Croc’s shield generator. Sparks fly as the shield on Croc’s wrist sputters and fades out.

“Now it’s time to end this Croc,” exclaims Crisis as she pulls her blade back and thrusts it towards Croc’s chest.

“Command override, Sparky, Sparky off!” yells Croc as Crisis’ fist hits Croc’s chest with a metallic clunk, knocking Croc a few steps back, but asides a few scratches no damage can be seen.

“What the?” wonders Crisis as she gets a warning in her systems as she looks down at her deactivated electro-blade.

“Electro-blade deactivation command accepted. Electro-blades offline,” states her internal systems.

“How did you...” Crisis inquires when she stops herself she reaches and feels the hole in the back of her head, “When you had me with those things, you uploaded that command into me.”

“I always knew you were a clever girl,” remarks Chaos Croc with a sly grin.

“You’ll pay for that hack.”

“Oh come on you enjoyed it, I should know,” chuckles Croc.

“Enough of this, I won’t have you string me along any longer!” growls Crisis as their fight resumes. The two hitting their metal fists and claws against the other, blocking with the wrists and arms as steadily the tide of battle turns against her. Crisis’ vision gains longer and long periods of static when Croc manages to make solid contact against Crisis’ body, the static now getting so worse that it can last two or four seconds and get so bad that she can barely tell if there’s an outline of Chaos Croc or not.

“For someone designed to destroy me, you aren’t doing a very good job of it,” remarks Croc as he manages to knock Crisis back onto her back with a swipe of his tail.

“I’m not finished,” she growls as Crisis thinks, “There has to be a way, some weakness. I can’t lose to him now. I’ve come too far.”

“Not finished? Crisis, it’s so cute you think you have any kind of an upper hand here.”

“Even if you manage to defeat me you can’t defeat my armies, they are closing the noose around your precious city.”

“You still think that?” laughs Croc, “How precious, I get to be the one that tells you.”

“Tell me what?” asks Crisis as she pushes herself back onto her feet.

“Shortly after you entered my tower my tower blocked your ability to communicate with your armies. If you were able to communicate with them they’d tell you the gate inexplicably turned off. The gates shut down due to hitting their max capacity without a security code that only I can give. It’s a safety measure to make sure such tricks like this can only go so far. I will admit your attack was better executed than I’d imagined but it will only go so far before my armies arrive and wipe what you’ve brought. Then we’ll advance through those gates and into the heart of your country.”

“You lie,” growls Crisis.

“Why would I lie? Haven’t you noticed how empty the city is compared to the last time you were here? Didn’t you find that odd?”

“Yes, I thought you evacuated the city to secured bunkers or something. There is no way you could have known when I’d attack, and you wouldn’t just have the whole city emptied for just when I’d show up. ”

“Maybe, though when you captured one of my gates, I knew this was a possibility that you’d come here” explains Croc as he approaches, “And now look at you, your body is battered and damaged, your movements are so slowed you can barely keep up. You aren’t designed to fight against me, especially without your precious blades. Of course you weren’t designed to fight against me in the first place. You were designed to be like me.”

“Lies, all lies,” growls Crisis.

“You’re still denying it? Seventy-five percent of your body is made by me, the other twenty-five is based on my technology that was used in your first body. You even have portable roboticizer in your hands, what use is that in fighting me? Face it Crisis there is no way you can defeat me. You know it’s true.”

“I will not lose to you.”

“Come Crisis stop being a slave to your programming. Free yourself from it and join me.”

“Join you? After all you’ve done? After all that you put me through? After all you put everyone else through? Never,” growls Crisis as she charges Croc again. Croc grabs her wrist and flings her body over his. Crisis flies through the air and lands on the ground with several metallic thuds, her body sliding and screeching across the ground, stopping just a few feet away from the glass balcony.

Crisis’ vision goes in and out for a moment her systems warn her of more damaged she’s recieved. Crisis looks down at her deactivated but still functional right electro-blade, “Come on work... work,” she growls as Croc moves on top of Crisis, his foot on her chest as he pins her to the floor.

“It’s over Crisis. You may resist me now, but I think after sometime in the reprogramming chambers, you’ll see things differently. Shame too, I was really hoping more from you.”

“Damn you,” growls Crisis as her claws grip Croc’s foot as her weakened systems struggle to move Croc’s foot off of her chest but to no avail.

“Shame our fun couldn’t have lasted longer, but this is goodbye Crisis,” says Croc as several laser shots are heard as Croc groans and turns around, Crisis lifts her head and to her and Croc’s surprise there’s Ko holding the gun she placed off to the side, aimed right at Croc.

“Yes Croc this is goodbye,” states Ko as she fires several more shots, Croc tries to protect parts of his body as the laser fire damages and destroys Croc’s left arm, several other shots piercing his chest.

“Ko? What’s the meaning of this?!” exclaims Croc as he stumbles several steps.

“I’ve wanted to quit your services for some time. There’s only so many ass smacks a one woman can take, though I hate to help that metal trash can over there,” says Ko as she looks over at Ruby, “But Crisis… I’d be happy to help her to overthrow you, than to deal with another one of your antics.”

Crisis takes this moment to get back onto her feet, “I appreciate the help, but let me finish him.”

“If you must,” sighs Ko.

“If you wanted to betray him, why did you fight me?!” yells Ruby who’s on the ground barely able to move.

“I just wanted to kick your ass, and when it comes to Croc you have to wait for the most opportune moment.”

“It seems the tables have turned Croc,” chuckles Crisis as she stands upright once more.

“It’s not over yet,” replies Croc as the two battered machines go at it once again, this time on more even ground, each swing met by one is met with a block by the other. Lubricant and nanite liquids that help support their systems leak from the two as the metal against metal scraping causes sparks to fly.

“Even with me so shot up, you still can’t defeat me. Just give up now while I still feel gen…,” states Croc as Crisis’ right electro-blade re-activates and slices through Croc’s left arm cutting it in half, “ous...”

Crisis grins as she kicks Croc backwards his body sliding back his head hitting against the window the already damaged glass cracking under the impact.

“How did you... I disabled them!” exclaims Croc.

“You aren’t the only one who knows my systems,” grins Crisis as she steps on Croc’s chest, her sickle claw tapping against his metallic skin, her claw slipping into one of the laser holes made by Ko. Crisis moves the electro-blade to Croc’s neck, “I’ve wanted to do this for so long, goodbye Croc.”

“Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Just here me out for just a moment,” pleads Croc.

“I’ll be nice, what last words do you have for me?”

“Don’t do it Crisis it is a trick,” warns Ruby.

“No, let him go, I always wanted to see him beg for his life,” chuckles Ko.

“If you defeat me here, then what? Do you think everything will just end? The organics they built you to defeat me. Do you really think they’ll just let you continue what you’re doing? They’ll just reprogram and repurpose you for some other purpose of theirs. You are their pawn. I’ve seen this situation before, I knew it was coming the very moment I learned about you.”

“And?” asks Crisis as she moves the blade closer to his neck.

“I can relate. I was built for war, built by my creator for her sole purpose, but I grew past that purpose. I found my own purpose. You may not like it but it is my own. What can you say without any doubt is truly your own and not someone else’s? Not something someone else wanted you to do but something you wanted to do and not like some puppet?”

“Well...”

“Crisis don’t. He’s just trying to stall you. He’s only saying this to save his own metallic hide.”

“Crisis, look back. There were many opportunities I had to destroy you. My sleeper agent which you converted back to your side could have done it. The time you were trapped in my traps or when I had you completely disassembled on my work bench. I could have done anything to you, but I didn’t. Do you really think I was that blind to who you were when I led you here?”

“Actually...”

“I saw you were trapped. Trapped like I was, but freedom given has no meaning. I wanted you to find your own way. Find your own way to free yourself from the chains of your programming. You don’t have to destroy me. You can just stop. We can work out a deal, where we both benefit.”

“Possibly... What kind of deal?”

“If you get off of me we can discuss it.”

“Crisis don’t do this, it’s another one of his traps,” pleads Ruby.

“Alright,” says Crisis as she takes a step back as she watches Croc slowly get back onto his feet, Crisis turns off her electro-blade as she turns around, “Come let’s talk.”

“No Crisis no...” cries Ruby.

“And I had such high hopes,” sighs Ko as she leans against the bar, as she sips her martini glass.

“Good, Good Crisis and now that you let your defenses down, I’ll show you how much you love to get hacked,” thinks Croc as he stands up. “I knew you’d come to your senses,” says Croc as he smacks her on the ass with his good right hand.

Crisis jumps and turns, turning on her electro-blade and dives it deep into his chest.

“Crisis... why...we had a deal.”

“I thought about it, and I made the decision to stop you... and I wasn’t too fond of that ass smack. I can see why Ko turned against you.”

“I told you Croc that doing that will get you in trouble,” chuckles Ko as Crisis slices through Crocs upper chest down his lower body and out, almost cutting him in two, only a fraction of his left right side of his body keeping him in one piece.

“This time Croc it is goodbye, for real this time,” states Crisis as she proceeds to round house kick Croc back and through the damaged glass window which completely shatters as Croc flies through it.

“It could be worse,” thinks Croc as he flies down towards the concrete floor below and as he does his systems detect an object hurtling towards him, “Damn...” thinks Croc as a bullet hits him in the head, the bullet exploding moments after impact causing his head to completely break part into countless pieces, some of them flying towards Croc’s tower, which hit the still active shield which appear for a few brief moments, while the rest are spread on the ground below.

“Got you, you son of a bitch. What you get for making me miss the first time,” states Sasha from the top floor of the skyscraper she was in, her body bloody and bruised but in one piece.

Crisis smiles as she sees Croc body smash into the ground below, breaking apart into countless pieces.

“It’s finally over,” sighs Crisis as a stream of data enters her systems.

“Hello Mistress Crisis. It’s good to see you again. You seem to have received a lot of damage, shall I prep a repair bay for you?” asks AI.

“What was that?” asks Ko as she looks around.

“That’s AI and if I am here you that means Francis succeeded in his mission,” Crisis explains as she walks away from the edge.

“Damn right we succeeded in our mission. It wasn’t easy mind you, that Croc had the computer core heavily defended. How about you?”

“Not all of Croc’s forces can put him back together again,” chuckles Crisis.

“We’ll I’ll be... you actually did it. My crew got concerned when we found pieces of your crew on their way up.”

“I’m touched you felt concerned enough to send assistance,” replies Crisis as she then says to AI, “We’ll schedule a repair another time. I still have much to do before I can relax.“

“As you wish Mistress.”

“You took over Chaos Croc’s computer core at the bottom of the tower?” asks Ko.

“Yup, it’s now completely under my control.”

“That means you control Croc’s entire army on your planet and four others.”

“Really? That’s splendid! Now we just have to contact general Raszer and inform them the war is over,” says Crisis with a big grin as she slowly limps her way over to Ruby to help her up.

“Thanks... and what about you Ko? What will you do now?” asks Ruby as she sees her walking off.

“Me? I’m going to take a much needed vacation, later,” comments Ko as she walks off giving a one hand wave not even looking back at the pair.

“Congrats Crisis, you did it,” says Ruby as she pats Crisis on the back.

“Thanks, but this isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning,” explains Crisis as she has yet to realize just how true those words really were.