Breaking Point

<---INDEX

As they drove through the deserted streets, Wes desperately tried to contact the other Lode Runner bases in a desperate attempt to escape the enemies that would soon find their location. Finally, a female voice came over the comm, saying, “You guys are still alive?” Wes shouted into the said into the comm, “Nice to hear from you too, Ciel! We were attacked by our own soldiers! What the hell is going on?” The female replied sorrowfully, “It looks like they felt the battle was lost, so they went with the easy way out.” Rock snapped, “And no one thought to tell us that before we retreated to the base?”

Ciel replied, “Regardless, I managed to scrap up all the remaining soldiers that are still loyal to the resistance, but I'm afraid that's not a whole hell of a lot.” After looking at the others for a moment, Wes muttered, “It's better than nothing, I suppose. How many total?” The scientist didn't answer. “I asked How Many?”
“Ten in all,” was the remorseful reply. Rock slapped his face and yelled, “That's it? Ten Soldiers left in the entire resistance? This is a joke, right?” Wes shook his head. “I'm not all that surprised by the news. What does surprise me is why the enemy wanted us alive after all the trouble we caused him?”

After a moment, Ciel replied, “I think I overheard the defects saying something about avoiding the end of the world. Does this ring a bell with any of you?” Jake, Wes, Jackson and Dash each muttered a no while Rock went into deep thought. Do you think it has something to do with the Chaos Command?” Everyone turned to him confused. The female on the comm said contemplatively, “You know, I think there was something about that in one of Dr. Light's old files. I'm not making any promises for an answer, but there might be something important that I overlooked. I'll be in touch.”

The group fell silent for several moments, then Dash said, “Well, I need to go.” Jake looked at him and replied, “Go? Where?” Letting out an evil smile, he said, “It's been a blast,” and jumped out of the moving vehicle. They paused, trying to guess what that was all about. The pause was a fatal error, they realized, when a high pitched whine came from where the absent hybrid was seated. In an instant, the Jeep was engulfed in flames as an incendiary device detonated and rolled along the ground for a distance before coming to a complete stop.

 The air around the wreckage seemingly came to a complete halt, as if the insubstantial witness could not believe the treasonous act. Shortly, Rock crawled out of the blazed debris, more stunned than wounded.  Looking at the destroyed jeep, He desperately looked around for the others. “Jake! Wes! Jackson! Are you alright? Answer me!!!” There was a feint groan coming from nearby. Running towards the sound, he saw his teammates lying nearby. It didn't look good.

Jake was missing one of his arms and legs, Jackson had been torn apart by shrapnel and Wes... Well, he was fortunate that his death was swift and, god willing, painless. Jake looked blankly at Rock and said weakly, “Rock. Are you there? Wes? Jackson? Anyone? Please say something.” Rock walked over to his fallen teammate and saw that his eyes were destroyed by the blast. Rock said calmly, so as not to give away the death of the others, “Yeah. We're here.” Jake smiled and said, “Thank god. How's Wes and my son?” Looking at the corpses, and Jake's fatal condition, he felt bad news was the last thing that he needed to hear.

“They're fine. They were just knocked out by the blast.” Jake let out a labored laugh and said, “Lying isn't your strong suit, is it Kid?” Rock shook his head. “No. Not part of my programming.” The soldier sighed and said, “How bad is it? Their condition I mean?” Rock looked at the others and replied, “Let's just say that they look better than you.” The soldier smiled. “Looks like this is the end of the road, huh kid? What's the plan of action at this point?”

Looking at the sky, Rock mused, “Well, I can always go to Disney World.” The two of them laughed at the rather lousy attempt at humor. Jake let out a weak grin. “Looks like jokes aren't part of your programming either.” Rock chuckled. “Well, at least I tried.” Jake muttered, “I don't think it's safe to trust Ciel either. She might be compromised, or worse. She might get the same thing as us if we contact her again. We can't risk it.”

Rock nodded. “Yeah. We can't risk anyone else at this point. I'm going to have to do this solo.” Jake coughed violently as he said, “Rock, do me a favor.” He handed him a pistol, saying, “Don't make me suffer. Aim for the head. Three shots. I want you to be the one to do it.” Rock looked at him appalled. “I can't do that! I'm not a murderer.”
“Please! I cant fight anymore, and I lost everyone. I have nothing left to fight for.”

 Rock shook his head and replied, “I lost everything as well, but you don't see me killing myself.” Coughed hard, Blood spraying from his mouth. “You do have something. The memories that carried you this far. Fight for the people you lost. The people you love. Fight for their memory and stay true to that cause. You're the only one left who can do it.” He handed Rock the crystal that Jackson gave him in the Jeep. “And this will be your pocket ace. With this, Your friends will have your back. This is your war now, So do what you do best. Finish it.”

Rock looked at the pistol in his hands. He didn't want to take the man's life, but he had little to no choice. As much as he couldn't kill in cold blood, his desire for his new friend to stop suffering was greater than his program. He looked at Jake and said, “Are you sure you want me to do this?” The dying soldier hissed, “This is the part that will make or break your mission. If you cant override your restraints, This war is finished and we all died for nothing. Send all those bastards to Hell. I'll wait for them so I can kick their scrap heap asses.” Reluctantly, Rock replied, “Fine. I'll so it.” He primed the weapon and asked, “Are you ready?”

“Does it matter?” Not sure how to answer the question, he took aim and muttered “Should have known that Dash would turn. Looks like I'm the winner of that damned award of yours.” Rock shook his head. “Someone else won the award this month.” He fired three shots into the soldier's head and tossed the weapon away in disgust. Heading towards the jeep, Rock said, “And I'm going to give it to you in spades, Bass.”

He pulled a heat shielded crate out of the back of the smoldering wreckage with the marking 'Protocol Override 13' on it. Slipping the data crystal into his neck, he opened the crate and pulled out two prototype, self-replenishing Buster Rifles and a new model Z-saber. He then walked North, towards the city of Tarlania, the city where Bass operated from. His eyes had now turned red as he muttered in a voice filled with rage, “Let's Rock.”