The Grand Battle [Game Over!]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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Eximo lead Lutherion down the street. Konka Rar extended his mechanical arm for a handshake. Lutherion grumbled for a moment, then shook it with the wightmaw arm.

"Greetings. I apologize, but in all this commotion, your name has escaped me. May I ask it?"

"I used to be Bob Luther. Now I'm Lutherion Maw," he stated, sounding annoyed. He looked over his new acquaintance. The cyborg lich looked even stranger than his creation; a large arm on one side, various circuitry adorning the front of his robe, and a glowing red eye on his skull.

"We have much to discuss. In particular, I am very interested in how that arm of yours works. This is, without a doubt, the most advanced form of necromancy I have ever seen. It would aid my own research immensely."

"What's it matter?" Lutherion shouted. He didn't feel a need to contain his irritation in the slightest. "We're stuck in this city. Sure, together we could rule it with an iron fist - literally, in your case - but it's just one stupid city!"

"Ah, you raise an excellent point." Konka Rar's exposed skull broke into even more of a grin. "It did not take me long to realize I was but a copy, once the memories came to me; the original Konka Rar has quite a sharp mind, especially for magic. And I have retained it. I believe I can find a way around this city's barrier - after all, I was able to dispel the one keeping you in combat with Eximo. And as you can imagine, that was quite an advanced spell."

"Maybe it was. But the guy who cast it? He was a flunky. The barrier on the city was probably put there by his boss. Who could probably wipe out this entire city, you and me included, by sneezing." Lutherion grunted. "I'm just out to get my revenge before that happens."

"That seems a rather defeatist attitude for the 'greatest necromancer ever'," Konka Rar replied, wryly. "Also, I'm rather curious as to why you could possibly be seeking revenge on my vacuum cleaner."

"Not just that stupid vacuum. The strawberry girl. The old man. The bacon lady, even if she's just another copy. All of them. They all played a part in the death of the original Lutherion Maw, and now that I've got his memories, I want to make them pay."

"Tell me more."

Lutherion told him about the battle, with Eximo, upon being ordered, adding pertinent details. After hearing the whole story, Konka Rar laughed.

"I can ensure your revenge is carried out, even if this 'round' is ended. That is, provided Eximo is spared. I would hate to have the original Konka Rar lose such an effective appliance. In return, I ask for your cooperation in... research."

Lutherion mulled over this. He hated that stupid vacuum. He hated it so much.

But then he thought. It sure spent a lot of time around the strawberry girl.

Maybe it even... liked her.

And if Konka Rar's plan was what he thought... oh, yes. That would be... almost as good as tearing the stupid machine apart with his own two hands.

Lutherion held out the wightmaw arm and shook Konka Rar's metal hand again.

"You've got yourself a deal. When do we start?"