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[faithfulflame]

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Re: one punch ax

[faithfulflame]

I'll find out. That's what friends do.

[It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Reibot...flying towards a building and holding Athena like a child. She won't drop you, she's better than that.]

Is there a particular food you want cooked?

[psycholawgy]

[ huff puff!!! ]

I'm not going to talk to you.

[faithfulflame]

No?

[Reibot sighs and looks up at the sky, focusing more on the task at hand. But there's an absent, hurt sounding query.]

Why?

[psycholawgy]

Because you're obviously evil! An evil robot! And I refuse to acknowledge you!

[ athena, why are you saying this while in her arms and while you can die at any second... sweats... ]

[faithfulflame]

If I were evil, I would have dropped you by now.

[She isn't evil.]

But you'll learn to acknowledge me. That's not going to take very long at all.

[psycholawgy]

You want to hurt Rei. If you're not evil, then I don't know what you are.

[ WHY IS SHE STILL TALKING TO YOU!! ]

[faithfulflame]

I want to do my job, and that means replacing the inferior model, of course. She isn't anything special.

[psycholawgy]

Your job?

[ wait. ]

Are you telling me that the other robots are acting this way, too?

[faithfulflame]

The other robots will do as programmed.

[But she's different!]

[psycholawgy]

So the rest are fine...

[faithfulflame]

[Eventually, Reibot gets Athena to their ultimate destination. A building that was unoccupied, and generally? She's fairly nice and helpful. Cooking, providing whatever she thinks Athena might need besides y'know...freedom and contact with the outside world...and genuinely seeming hopeful that Athena will come around to being her friend as well. It's not like she's really evil, she's always around.

However after a couple of days there's a clamor on the roof, the sound of heavy boots up top, and an angry heartbeat.]

Dammit.

[The Reibot swears and tears off up the stairs to the roof, leaving the door partway open behind her. Come check it out?]

[psycholawgy]

[ whatever that is, it's probably better than being here with reibot. athena's definitely checking it out as quietly as possible! ]

[faithfulflame]

[What she's going to see might seem a touch dramatic. Mars, bow already drawn, focused on Marsbot who had done the same. Both turn a fraction of an inch to regard the girl who's footsteps had been missed but who's mind drew them in.]

You okay, Athena? Did it hurt you?

[psycholawgy]

[ athena comes out of hiding and tries to go to where the real rei is-- ]

I'm fine! You're going to get hurt!

[faithfulflame]

[The robot doesn't seem particularly bothered by that. She fully intends to off Mars and take Athena back, after all.]

I'm going to get hurt?

[The real Mars blinks in slight confusion at that.]

Have a little faith...

[psycholawgy]

[ she just shakes her head stubbornly. ]

I don't want anything to happen to you, Rei!

[faithfulflame]

Athena.

[Mars narrows her focus towards her machine double.]

I'll be fine. This isn't the first time I've fought a double, and this one isn't even my equal.

[The Mars Arrow creaks as she holds the bow up.]

Stand clear, please. I'm not going to let her take you away.

[psycholawgy]

[ yeah, she's definitely heading to the side, where she should be safe. ]

I believe in you!

[faithfulflame]

I'm glad!

[Stupid robot.

And just like that the fight is on. The Marsbot shoots an arrow, which the real one turns aside with a shot of her own, the projectiles caroming off into the night. A gout of fire tears a furrow in the roof, the real Mars rolling aside and trying to line up a second shot.

Marsbot lobs a fireball, Mars deflects it, and then two more come, exploding underneath Mars's feet, flinging her into the air with a shout. She floats there, wind kicking up her skirt and hair, but her hands are already glowing with more flame.]

Athena! Cover your eyes!

[psycholawgy]

[ oh god SO MUCH ACTION athena is definitely covering her eyes with her arm, though she closes her eyes at the same time. she can't tell what's happening but of course she hopes that the real rei is okay. ]

[faithfulflame]

[The reason for that is the absolutely blinding light that erupts from Mars fingertips. There's a shout of pain from one of the Mars, several explosions, and Athena will hear a battle-cry.]

In the name of the holy planet of Mars, I cast you down! Go back to whereever you came from!

[Followed by a final explosion, showers of building-dust spraying everywhere, and a cry as...someone dies.

A presence looms beside Athena then...a heartbeat hammering from adrenaline the only audible sound on the rooftop.]

[psycholawgy]

[ oh god there's black oil everywhere too, isn't there... sweats... ]

Is it over?

[faithfulflame]

[No, not really. There's an oil stain at the center of a small crater, but for the most part Rei had completely incinerated her robot.

She wraps her arms around Athena, pulling her tight against her, unyielding.]

It's over. You are safe now.

[psycholawgy]

[ she holds onto rei's arms tightly, as if she hasn't seen her in weeks. her eyes are still closed, not really ready to open them yet. ]

You're safe, too... I'm so happy.

[faithfulflame]

[There's a release of pressure in the air, the spiritual form of Mars receding and being replaced by Rei. The smaller, slighter girl is no less ferocious in her hug, stroking Athena's back.]

I am so sorry I didn't find you sooner. She didn't hurt you or do anything to you did she?