Rotten to the Core

[Implosion]

Chapter 6: Rated "R" for Rabid
824 A.S.

-You're about to get violated, Danny boy. You sure you can take on the empress herself and win? She ain't gonna just talk with you, you know...she's out for blood. Your blood. What a bad way to go, getting gutted by...

-Align the ship, Scarlet. I wan't the absolute minimum distance between the two bridges. I want your boarding team on standby, just in case things go south. Correction, when they go south.
-Aye aye, hoss. Lethal force?
-Authorized.

Scarlet nodded and the Perditrix went nose first towards the other Mako. The Terminus Est, sporting three very distinctive blood red stripes, which followed the contour of the bridge trench.

-My oh my, the man of the hour... -Jess' voice cracked from the comm unit and Daniels could see a figure on the bridge leaning forward, but the lights almost blinded him.-Don't look at me like that, Danny. You might give me the wrong idea.

-We have unfinished business, me and you.

-Oh, come on. You're not still asshurt about the 'failure' comment, are you?

-It's not the comment that bothers me, it's the intent behind it. If you would be so kind as to come aboard, we can settle this

-Me, aboard that vile stack of garbage? Not even if you bent over for me, sweetheart. Now, if that daughter of yours bent over, that'd be a different story.

The comment about his deceased daughter didn't seem to move Daniels, instead, he just smiled and continued.

-Oh, poor, sweet Gab. What a tragic loss indeed. The Zoners will pay dearly for that, I assu-..

-Yeah, whatever. Tragic. Didn't you grow her in a tube? Can you make me another one? I want to turn her insides into outsides.

Daniels didn't expect an interruption, so he decided to play a game of his own and try to enrage the giantess.

-It sounds as if you're just afraid of me.

-I'm afraid of getting my boots dirty in that pile of trash, yeah. They're not cheap.

-Well, I'm not afraid of your little boat. Get your nose ready, because it's about to get the same treatment as Freeport 11.

Jack cut the comm link and adjusted his blazer before heading to the docking bay to board a shuttle. The Perditrix and the Terminus Est were essentially the same on the outside, however that's where similarities ended. When he entered the ship, his senses were overwhelmed by the smell of cheap perfume and sweat. The layout was radically changed. Every other deck was gone, making way for huge corridors. The crew looked tiny, but that wasn't the only problem. The clothes they wore weren't up to any standard of the Core. Jack was convinced a homeless person on Leeds would probably dress better and also smell better than these people. Finally, after a rather disgusting stroll down the halls, he reached the bridge. Surprisingly, the Core log was present. Large and golden. The massive doors it was etched on slid open, revealing the bridge. And Jess.

-Took you long enough, Danny.

-What are you doing here, farming elephants? Why is everything so huge? Compensating for something?

-Compensating for the fact that everyone else is built like a midget compared to me

-We finally meet in person. I have to say, you're... Bigger than I imagined.

-Feeling a little squeamish?

-I have no insecurities about my size.

-You should. Oh, undress for me, Danny. Here, I'll even make it fair.

The "woman" then undid the velcro straps on her flak vest. She let it fall to the ground and grinned. She was ready to bounce.

-We can end this before it starts, Jess. Admit I'm no failure, and you won't have to pick your teeth up off the floor.

-I'm afraid not. We're long past that. I'll be generous, though.

She turned her cheek towards Daniels and slapped herself a few times.

-You can take the first swing. Go on.

-Sorry, I don't hit women... First.

-I don't count.

Daniels frowned and immediately launched himself, knee first. Jess countered by slightly crouching and taking a hit to the chest.

-Try not to be so rowdy. It'll hurt less.

-Impressive. I knew you had potential, woman. Your talent to cause mayhem and destruction of incomprehensible proport-..

-Oh, stop it. We're here to fight, so get to fighting. Come on, swing like you mean it

-Ah-ah-ah. You get to fight, I get to talk.

-Last mistake you'll ever make.

She then rushed forward and wrap her monstrous hands around the back of Jack's head, then pulled down towards her advancing knee. The Guildmaster was thrown towards the nearby bulkhead. As he rose, blood dripped from his brow.

-Guh...What are you made of? Iridium and steroids, I assume.

-Eh, might be. So what?

-Just idle talk. You are right about one thing, though...I was a failure. I nearly ended the Core's existence years ago. Why I was called back is beyond me. I was, and still am, the least logical choice.

-"Maybe you should've. If you had, you wouldn't be getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter now!

-What you don't know, Jess, is that I never make the same mistake twice.

Daniels' cybernetics activated on his command, launching him straight towards the giantess. The monstrous impact carried them both in the air before landing onto the nearby table made of massive wood and steel. The table splintered to a millions bits and the woman struggled a bit before getting up. Jack retreated a few meters back and adjusted his now torn blazer. He was genuinely surprised about the composition of the table.

-Who the hell uses wood furnishings on a warship?

-People with... Nngh... Class.

-Class... Right...Pop quiz, Jessebelle: how have I failed you?

-You didn't kill me with your first swing.

-What purpose would that serve? Why would I kill one of my best operatives?

-Because she undermines your authority. She doesn't respect you.

-It's a free sector.

Daniels knew she would attack in the next few seconds, but he wasn't ready for what was coming. She spun on her left leg with inhuman speeds and kicked the man with her high heels. The stilettos cut clean through bone and cybernetics. Blood and lubricant came pouring out of the wound. But she wasn't done. Jessebelle used her size to force the man to the ground and pin him there.

-Mmm. I knew these would come in handy someday.

-Nngh... What do you want, Fillian?

-Oh, nothing much. Just stop getting in my way, that's all. Say... Aren't cyborgs supposed to be superior to us 'regular' humans?

She lifted her foot and released them man. Before setting it down, Jess tried to kick away most of the blood. The cigarette was still burning in her mouth and she was still flicking her ash in the Guildmaster's face.

-Not all of us, apparently. What do you really want, Jess?

-I already told you. Stay out of my way.

-So long as your path doesn't conflict with the interests of the Core, you won't have any issues at all. But, I am your guildmaster, and if we want to win, we need to work together, like it or not.

-Win? It looks like I'm already winning. The war, this fight, this argument...

As he was getting back to his feet, Daniels saw his reflection in the windows. His shoulder was torn, but most of the cybernetics looked somewhat intact. Or at the very least, functional. He went on the offense again and landed a flying kick in the giantess' face. It almost seemed like she took in on purpose, instead of dodging. And he was correct. Not a second later, her massive hands grabbed him by the legs and his face had a very close, and painful, encounter with the debris from the table. He tried to free himself, but the pain was too great. Wood and metal tore his face. WIth one last desperate push, he broke away from the meat grinder. He sat against the wall and began picking shrapnel from his mug.

-Nngh... I think I need a new spleen...

Jessebelle was towering above him. Her jaw was in a seemingly painful position and blood was pouring out of her mouth.

-Hyou... Bihch..

-EAT HER ALIVE, JACKO!

The following scene sent cold chills down the man's spine. Fillian pushed her jaw upwards and the sound it made as it went back into it's socket was repulsing.

-I have an offer for you, Jess. Task force... Ehrgeiz, or whatever is left of it. In exchange you work with me for the common goals of the Core. Not for me... But with me.

-How do I... Nngh...Not just going to stab me in the back? Why shouldn't I just end you right now?

-Erik trusted you for some reason, and he had an eye for talent. -He paused while the woman cracked her neck in both directions. Another pain wave was inbound. -He wasn't always right, but you're still here. That's a start.

As the Guildmaster was trying to put some distance between them by crawling backwards, his hand felt the flak vest.

-THROW THE VEST!

He did just that and hurled it towards the woman, followed by an attempt to sweep her legs. The distraction worked and she hit the floor. By pure instinct, Daniels planted his knee in her stomach, leaving her breathless.

-Good boy, Danny!

-Herschel, the Eagles, the Valkyries, Laptev and Hydra... Come on, Jess. I need an answer before you bleed to death.

-I can't trust you.

-Give me the benefit of the doubt.

-Why should I?

-Because all I do, I do for the Core.

-And all I do, I do for myself. It's a dog-eat-dog world, Guildmaster.

-Fair enough, but the world didn't give you a warship. The Core did, and the world isn't supplying you with provisions for that ship, either.

Fillian brutally slammed the man against the wall and used her mass to try and choke the man. Her fingers wrapped around his comically smaller neck.

-And it sure as hell isn't going to take it away.

Daniels decided to repeat the distraction. He tapped her on side and her reflexes turned her head. When she focused back on the man, he met her with a grin.

-Tooth... Ahhhnd... Nail.

Another well placed knee, this time straight to the crotch. The pain was overwhelming and her grip got looser while her face went pale.With less pressure on his neck, he could chain a whole sentence.

-No one is taking anything away from you, get that through your thick skull. I want you to understand I'm trying to help you!"

-I don't...Want your help. - Replied the butcher in pain.

-But I want yours.

-Lots of... Hhhn... People want lots of things from mheee... They get them when I give them..


-I can't win this war with you as a rogue variable, Jess. You're the Nightmare of Delta, mothers scare their children and husbands with you. I want you fully on board with the cause! - Adrenaline kicked in and so did the cybernetics. Daniels landed a punch in the face of his opponent.

-Nngh! You misunderstand me, Danny! I'm onboard with your 'cause,' so long as the cause of the Core aligns with my own!

He wasn't in the clear yet. Fillian's hand raking down his already torn face confirmed that fact.

-What are your goals, Jess? Tell me.

-A world where those with ambition reign.

A punch of her own slams Jack in the nose.

-Not just ambition, but a god-given right! Look at me, standing toe-to-toe with the best human science has to offer!

Daniels returns the favor with an uppercut to her liver's general area.

-Nobody is going to give you a thing unless you work for it!

-Why shouldn't I lead? Why shouldn't I rule?

She follows the example and returns an uppercut to his chin. Blood and teeth fly in the air.

-All I see bows before me! ME!

-You think I wanted this? Years of getting shot and clobbered and beaten by all sorts of power hungry mongrels? Getting turned into this robotic abomina-..

He was interrupted by the sound of his nose breaking in the giantess' forehead.

-No, shut up! SHUT UP! I'm the EMPRESS! Your problems aren't mine, I don't want to hear about them!

-And I'm the goddamn Guildmaster of the Core! Your problems are MY problems!

Jess overpowers the man and grounds him again. Punch after punch hitting the bull's eye. His skin peels off and in return, the metal underneath eradicates the skin on Fillian's fists.

-I don't need your help! You need me! You need ME!

Daniels punted her with the broken leg of a nearby desk.

-We... Need... Eachother! I can't put an end to the Zoners without you, and you can't do it without me!]

-You're not proving anything to me, Jack, except that you're still... A failure-

Despite all the abuse, she continued to choke the Guildmaster.
Scarlet was closely observing from across the bridge. She had had enough and it was time to act. The woman turned around and signal the strike team. In that moment, a blinding flash of bright blue light erupted from the Terminus Est's bridge. The prototype "Perdition" implant had flared up. As power surged through the man, he easily pushed Fillian on to her back. With his eyes ever so blue, Jack rose to his feet, seemingly free from any pain or fear.

-Yeah, you done messed up now, you filthy omicronian piece of space trash!.

-You don't seem to understand me, Jess. I want you to keep doing what you're doing, and double... No, triple your efforts. You will be rewarded.

-I don't want a reward! I don't want your help, I don't want to share in your problems!

-The Freeport, or whatever's left of it, will be yours, to do with as you please.

-I don't want your sympathy, I don't want your compassion! I don't want your goddamn Freeport! I swore no oath to you, I hold no loyalty to you! I pledged my allegiance to Erik, not some pitiful excuse for a diplomat!

-Moment of truth, Jess. Tell me what you want. What will make you obey my authority?

Daniels peeled the skin from his fingers, revealing a fully artificial hand. The sharp metal was ready to deal some serious damage to Fillian's internals.

-I'll tell you what I want, Daniels. It's simple. I want your GODDAMN HEAD, YOU SHIT! DIE!

She drew her blade and began swinging like mad, obliterating everything in her wake. The wickedly serrated machete needed one proper hit to cut the man in half.

-There is no 'us!' There is no 'we!

-Answer the question! Or that'll be the last question you ever leave without an answer!

Jack ripped an exposed pipe from the wall, hoping it would be enough to defend from the raging maniac. The HUD implanted in his retinas was showing rapidly dropping power levels in the "Perdition" implant. As if the woman knew, she let out a beastly roar and charged him. Most of the swings were deflected. But not all.

-Swallow your ego, Jess! Accept the offer, you don't have much longer!

Eventually, the Guildmaster found himself pinned against the wall. Everything went from blood red to hot white and back to blood red. The blade sliced through him and the metal padding behind like it was nothing. With the last remaining power, he angled the pipe for a lethal penetration and hoped it would be enough to stall the woman long enough. Surprisingly, it went straight through her lung and out of her shoulder.

-I won't be your subordinate. I'll die first...But I will stand as your equal.

-Way to get beaten by a girl, macho ma...

-You know the rules, Jessebelle. There is only one Guildmaster. I can give you the task force, the Freeport, but I will take us both to hell before I give up my throne to you.

-Then we... Should get to walking. It's a long way to meet Morta.

-KILL HEEEEEER...

Out of spite or maybe rage, Jessebelle bit down on Jack's neck. He tried to scream, but only blood came out. Out of desperation, he twisted the pipe and Jess eventually fell backwards with a major part of his neck still in her mouth. The voice in his head went quiet, unusually so. Perhaps he was truly about to die? After all this time, did this mean he's free? Was that all it took? A psychotic steroid junkie and a large pocket knife?
Daniels' lifeless body slid to the ground, just as Scarlet's team entered the bridge. He saw her blue eyes hovering over him and he felt pure bliss. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, perhaps he was finally at peace. Or perhaps the inhuman dose of painkillers she had just given him were kicking in. Either way, the blue eyed angelic figure was a sight to behold.
The strike team ensured the Guildmaster's wrecked body, or what remained from it, was transported safely back to Durban. Scarlet was yelling something at the doctors while Price was curiously inspected Jack's wounds. He was genuinely passionate about such things. A few minutes later, a fully kitted surgeon followed by a couple of cybernetic specialists entered the room. Jack lost conscience just after he saw the excessive amount of augmented and prosthetic limbs they hauled in. The idea of loosing whatever "original" parts he had just a few hours earlier was too much for him to bare.

---

Credit to the original post and logs to Jayce. Sources used

---

| [Youtube Channel] | [Daniels] [X] [X]  | [Jessica Scarlet] |