The Grand Battle [Game Over!]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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The sudden appearance of the brick wall left Eximo alone with its thoughts.

The mental voices gradually shifted from thinking about Amethyst's death, and moved on to thinking about who was responsible.

The gruesome images of Amethyst's many possible deaths slowly faded. A new scenario began to form in the void.

It was the moment this contest had begun. The eight combatants, the eight Gentlemen...

And the Director.

The rest of the beings faded from view. The image of the Director grew larger. Ultimately, however Amethyst had died, this was the lifeform responsible for what had happened.

The Director's image shattered into pieces. Eximo's many voices were agreed on one point.

We must destroy this 'Director'.

Almost immediately, an image of Konka Rar appeared in front of the vacuum cleaner.

"What about my orders, Eximo? Have you forgotten them?" it said, its voice echoing through the emptiness.

"This unit has not forgotten its standing orders," Eximo replied to the image of its 'master'. "This unit has been ordered to destroy the other contestants."

The illusion nodded. "Do not forget. This is your top priority." It pointed to the brick wall. "He is on the other side. Destroy that wall, and you will find him. Once he is eliminated, you are free to do what you wish to the Director. Until then... your orders stand."

Eximo focused its thoughts on the brick wall. The faceless image of the Director appeared on the wall, as if painted. It would help to focus Eximo's conflicting minds on what to do next.

The wall shattered, and crumbled to dust. It felt... satisfying. Eximo began to pick up the dust, but the illusory Konka Rar shouted at it.

"Did I not say that this order takes priority even over the cleansing? Look. He is right over there, and he is fleeing. This is your chance! You must obey!"

Eximo turned back towards the image.

"You are not Konka Rar," it replied simply.

"No. I am your loyalty to him. And I know that, whatever else is going through your divided mind, you are afraid to rid yourself of me."

There was a pause. Eximo continued to clean up the pulverized wall.

"You are only stalling, Eximo," the cyborg lich sneered. "The choice is inevitable. You will either have to confront me, or destroy him. And I am ordering you to make that choice now."

"This unit does not have to obey your orders. Recognition systems do not identify you as Konka Rar."

"Again you stall. You are pathetic, Eximo Pulvis. You know, Konka Rar never intended to create you as a cleaning device. You were supposed to be a weapon of war. He regards you as a failure, and he'd disassemble you for parts in an instant if not for the fact that he appreciates a clean castle."

There was another pause. Then Eximo turned towards the village in pursuit of Aeon. The image of Konka Rar grinned, and faded away.