A Tale of Two Cities

*It screeches, falling back into the ocean. Once it does, though, a pair of the eel monsters swim out on either side of her, slithering to her back & rearing up.*
====================================
*Roger nods towards Thiera & Lilith & follows her with his briefcase.*
====================================
*The Megadeus explodes out of the ground behind him, wrapping its legs around the Megadeus & leaking out its acid on its back.*

*Kanrei Tsuki spins around the machine gun ports in its rib section opening up and spraying the eel monsters with bullets.*

=====================================================

*Gelu Chalybs releases one hand from its rifle and raises its arm bent at the elbow over its shoulder. The machine gun port in the forearm opens up and fires at the Megadeus.*

Zell leads Roger to her room, "Here it is." She said motioning to the finished painting, which rested on an easel.

*The spider Megadeus staggers off of him, firing charging lasers.*
==========================================
*The eels open their mouthes, a surge of electricity repelling the bullets. Meanwhile, one rears up in front of her, stretching its mouth wide over the Megadeus's head. A wheezy kind of voice comes in over her radio.*

???{Do you like my creations, Dominus?}
==========================================
Roger<All right, then.>

*He opens a compartment in his briefcase, which seems to be designed to hold rectangular objects by the edges.*

[Dominus?]

*Kanrei Tsuki points its rifle into the monsters mouth and fires a round into it.*

=====================================================

*Gelu Chalybs turns around the cannon on its shoulder lowering into firing position. Inside a machine lowers itself over Vega's eyes and crosshairs begin to bounce around the screen as he targets its body. Once the words TARGET LOCKED appear he squeezes the trigger on the controls firing the cannon.*

Zell smiled and said, "You always have the fanciest gadgets Mr. Smith."

{Do you really think you'll be able to destroy my works of art with your clunky scrap heap?}

*As the one dies, the other 2 coil around her & start electrocuting her.*
=========================================
*The Megadeus's main body explodes, the debris falling down to Earth. Then all of the legs fall over, still twitching somehow. The mummy guy's voice comes in on the radio.*

???{That was just a practice run. I've discovered a Megadeus more powerful than any I've used so far. When it's properly restored, I'll tear down your false skies.}
=========================================
Roger<Just tools of the trade.>

*He puts the painting in the briefcase, then closes it.*

Roger<Is there anything else you need before I go?>

Zell shakes her head, "No, I think that will be all, thank you Roger." She said.

*Hitomi activates Kanrei Tsuki's barrier to force the monster off. On a small screen a time lights up and begins counting down from fifteen seconds.*

=====================================================

*Gelu Chalybs cannon raises returning to its normal position then begins to return to the hangar or whatever.*

"Whatever you say."

Roger<All right, then. You have a good day, Miss Zell.>
========================================
*Once forced off, they continue blasting at her with lightning.*
========================================
*The TV is on when he gets back. Barbatos is back at the podium, with a few scratches & a ripped suit.*

Barbatos<...but the perpetrator got away from me & the tank division wasn't able to mobilize fast enough. I am pleased to say that the Megadeus who destroyed the spider Megadeus is welcome in this city, so long as the pilot continues to use its powers for good.>

"You as well, Roger, have a good day." She said, starting back on her way to the dining room to see if anyone was there.

[Eight seconds remaining... Seven... Six...]

*Kanrei Tsuki drops its rifle and ports in its thighs open up where the handles to a knife pop up. Drawing a knife in each hand Kanrei Tsuki proceeds to hack & slash at the eels.*

[Five... Four...]

=====================================================

[Well evil wasn't something that came to mind, but if this good thing gets boring it might be worth a shot. Although if that's unsuccesfull I'm screwed.]

"Wait, I turned the tv off when I left..."

*The eels, being quite wiggly, manage to escape with only a few major gashes, & wrap around the barrier, trying to crush it with mass & lightning.*
===========================================
Roger<You take care as well, Miss Psyche!>

*As he closes the door, he sees that Lilith & Thiera are still sitting there. Lilith is staring at Thiera who's quite successfully ignoring her.*

T"Well, that was interesting."
===========================================
*He finds a manuscript on the floor. To save time, it's the same one Hitomi had earlier.*

[Three... Two... One...]

*The barrier deactivates and the timer turns over counting down from twenty minutes. Kanrei Tsuki begins tearing at the eels wrapped around it with its knives.*

=====================================================

*Vega picks up the manuscript and after flipping through it sees Gordon Rosewater's name on the back.*

[The weird tomato farmer? If I do decided to dabble in some evil the first thing I'm doing is razing his tomato farm.]

"What was interesting?" Zell asked, taking a seat.

T"That whole visit."
==============================
*One of the eels goes limp, the other wraps its absurdly long tongue around the Megadeus's neck & stretches its jaws to eat it, still electrocuting it. Needless to say, Hitomi is in horrible, horrible pain.*

"How so?" Zell asked, wondering what was so special about it.

*Kanrei Tsuki stabs the eel with one knife and drags it as far as the arm will extend and with the other knife slices at the tounge.*

L"You are dense."

T"Don't be mean, Lilith. So, Zell, I've been meaning to tell you. I was examining the Megadeus I recovered from the mummy-guy. Michael Seebach. Do you know what I found? Your latest painting was in its memory files."
==============================
*The eel eventually goes limp.*

{Hmm...maybe I underestimated that lifeless can slightly. But make no mistake: It's still just a glorified trash heap next to the masterpieces of Dr. Aamon Avici!}

*Topaz is back at her place, watching TV.*

"How am I den--" Zell was cut off by Thiera. With a small sigh, Zell listened to Thiera talk. Once the woman finished Zell raised an eyebrow, "That is impossible, not only is that painting entirely original, it is painted in a style I invented. There is no possible way."

*Kanrei Tsuki kneels down while inside Hitomi is breathing heavily.*

[That name. It was on the sign out card for Metropolis.]

*She wipes the back of her hand on her chin smearing blood on it then sits back her breathing returning to normal.*

[I don't know where that smell is coming from, but it's... calming.]

L"That does not follow. If it happened, of course it is possible. Therefore, the only way both of your statements can be true--according to you--is if your painting was actually a repressed memory."

T"I think Lilith might be right."
=========================================
Vera{'Itomi, was it? Did ze creator of zese beasts attempt communications with you?}

"Yes."

Zell shook her head, "But, I don't have any repressed memories. I remember every painting I ever painted, and how I painted them, and why..." Zell tried to remember if she had done anything similar to what she painted, but she couldn't remember a single one that even resembled it. "That was the first city-scape I painted in the style I created. You'd think I'd remember that, and it wasn't such a bad painting, I doubt I would repress the memory of it, the days it took to paint it."