Season Beatings Part 6

If I told myself from whenever we got kidnapped that we were going to go from a simple, early Christmas party to be at the hands of an obsessive mad scientist, I'd honestly believe it. Nonetheless, we were undoubtedly ending the year with a one-of-a-kind experience. Our current stage was at least a feast for the eyes compared to the rooms before.

To counter the sterile white rooms, we now got treated to seeing a workshop of what could only come from a madman. Upon our short walk to the epicenter of the madhouse, we saw various materials. Amongst the sights was a trash can filled to the brim with wads of paper, wooden bulletin boards taken from the gutters of the lower levels, and broken pieces of seemingly more straightforward versions of the Nefaribot.

However, all that paled in comparison to the center. Even with my good eyes, I couldn't absorb it all, as we bared witness to ourselves, stretched over about a dozen large monitors, from our fights against the Monarchy of Misanwhatevers to even some of our more private moments (why did I search up spotting my bro at the gym gone wrong).

Either way, at the epicenter of all this, lay a single chair, and from the theatrical nature of it alone, I knew for sure who it was before they even spoke. So like something out of a 20th-century spy movie Dr. Nefario made their appearance spinning around in said rolling chair with their hands clasped together in the most stereotypical position you can get.

From there, they sprang up from said chair with their arms behind their back as they scanned us with those electric eyes. However, before even a tense cloud of silence could form, Eternus instantly struck first, throwing another piece of glass dead on! Nefario caught the small projectile rolling around their armored fingers with an almost robotic reflex while Eternus grew a more confident persona.

"So, it looks like you're the real deal. Good, it'll make the next few minutes all the more satisfying," Eternus said while pointing at both me and Gum from his free hands.

"Oh, trust me, Eternus, no one will be more satisfied on this day than I. It's like Christmas came early."

"Can't say the same, only you're going to wish you got coal!"

With that, all talk left our system. Per his command Eternus, and I led the charge against our captor. In the most casual of motions, Nefario took the shard of glass and flicked it straight at Eternus's head! In those small few nanoseconds wasted upon Eternus' dodge, I was the one who managed to close in first.

The arrows almost felt as if they were there as in one fell swoop; I carried through all my momentum in a climatic straight jab! However, despite the rather explosive hit and his skinny frame, Nefario could stand firm through a hardy block! Before I could even follow up the strike, Nefario pushed me off like he was throwing off a child, deflecting five fast punches from Eternus!

When he managed to make some distance with him, Nefario counterattacked, hitting me with a spin kick that I barely blocked! I swear I could feel my bones rattle upon my second push back, but that didn't stop me from closing back in and following up with Eternus as we both gave another hardy punch!

However, with almost mechanical precision Nefario once again caught both. Then, in uncontained excitement, Dr. Nefario cackled, explaining their current success like every blowhard would.

"C'mon on now, guys, do you honestly think that I didn't master your fighting styles to a metaphorical T?"

With that, we both moved to our next step, locking their arms together and holding on for dear life! At that moment, Gum tried closing in with her charged up shot! At that moment, I swear I could hear revving hydraulics and grinding gears go crazy as we got pushed off with superhuman torque to opposite sides of the wall!

Just when I thought our strategy would fall apart entirely, Gum decided to take the initiative and pull off her craziest gamble yet! First, Gum let loose the condensed power, with her left hand stretched back, rocketing towards them with the same force as a waterjet! Then, and with far too little time for Nefario to react, Gum thrust with her right hand, letting loose another powerful blast that sends both of them back!

With that, Dr. Nefario was thrown so hard into his extensive set of monitors that they shattered apart, raining down the glass to the floor in spades! Our highlights on-screen quickly turned into static-filled, incomprehensible images as Gum got thrown back so hard she almost became limp, only showing signs of being fine after she gave a shaky thumbs up.

A small smile managed to escape from my face, thinking that we finally earned another lucky break. However, I got quickly proved wrong as Nefario's cackling grew even more crazed upon his capture.

"Excellent move, Gum, exceptional even! I knew that choosing you, Cons would be so much more interesting than her."

"Um, sorry to ask, but who's her?" Fury said in a polite tone.

"Oh right, I'm getting ahead of myself again. I meant Omna; I came to Krimo hoping to find the greatest of challenges. My machinations were originally going to tackle the Omnifarious Officer, but after seeing your display, I couldn't help but get drawn to you. Like a lightning bolt, you came out from the shadows, anxious yet ambitious, sporadic but precise, having nothing but striving for everything. Tell me how I could not fall in love!? Tell me, how could I not unveil my full debut arsenal at the hands of this amazing warm-up?"

"Wait, warm-up?" said a struggling Gum.

On that note, Nefario released a terrible code from his mouth.

"Nefarisuit, Mark 1, activate shoulder cannons!"

Then dread started to seep in as two outstretched mini Gatling guns appeared on their shoulders, firing multiple suppressive explosive rounds at the lot of us!