Twila@M3 - Monday, December 06, 1999, 10:56 PM ----------------------------------------------
Donachi Business District - Neo Tokyo This is the economic heart of Neo Tokyo and a great deal of the world. It is within these few square kilometers that corporate empires rise and fall, deals determining the fate of the world's commercial enterprises are made, and where the greatest commercial structure ever created dwarfs everything around it, the Stratoscraper. This immense building is so tall that aerospace technology had to be applied to maintain the building's atmosphere near the top, while the foundation below bores deep into the planet's crust. Around the base of this building are the smaller, though by no means small themselves, skyscrapers that house the headquarters of countless corporations and globe-spanning enterprises. The city has reached so far into the sky here that special public transports race up and down between suspended platforms that connect many of the buildings. Floating food vendor booths drift to and from specialized airlocks on the side of the buildings, and the lights from various holographic ad signs reflect from the mirrored windows.
Snake Man is resting in a dumpster down one of the many nameless, faceless alleyways. He has a good view of the street and the alley through a tear in the metal. His tongue flickers in and out lazily as he sniffs the air in the traditional manner of snakes.
After taking a wrong turn within the vents a little gray ball seems to roll itself out of one of the pipings from within the labs and finds itself tossed into the grass of the side yard. "Mew!" Kyo cries in bafflement as she tries to pick herself up and giving herself a shake.
Kyo-Ohki sniffs the air as she finds herself outside. After hoping towards the building's side she then starts hoping away from it. Wow! An adventure! This should be fun! What stuff can she get into? She pauses briefly, put pushes aside the feeling that she really should get back inside. Nah...no one will even notice she's gone...
Snake Man stirs a bit, catching a hint of the animal's smell from a shifting breeze. He peers carefully out of the bin through the crack and waits to see if it will come nearer
With a few more hops and yips Kyo ends up a little closer to the bin. And then closer...and then eventually closer. Then, something catches her eye. Seems as if someone misjudged the distance of the garbage bin and left an empty tire out onto the ground. With a cry of glee she hops in side playfully. <WoW!>
Snake Man's gaze fixates on the delicious looking morsel for a moment, and then he carefully withdraws to look around in the bin for something the cabbit might find good to eat to use as bait. Finding a few slightly wilted carrots, he waits until it's hidden by the tire to push them out the hole.
Kyo-Ohki has, by now, climbed herself all the way in and seems to be having a good ole time. Her excited mews proclaim it to me so. However, much like a child with a short attention span Kyo grows bored with her new toy and scampers back out. It's then that she stops and pauses. "Mew?" <Wazzat?> she asks as she sniffs the air... <Carrots?>
Snake Man's tail starts to twitch in excitement. He glances out at the street to make sure no one is watching and sits tight.
Kyo-Ohki blinks as she finally sees the carrots. Tilting her head after a moment of decision she hops a pace or two to examine them. Leaning over she tries to nibble on one...before screwing her face and scampering away with a pathetic *pa-tooie*! <This tastes awful. Even that funny looking guy in the center does better than this!>
Snake Man grits his teeth in annoyance as his lunch darts away. He makes no sound, however, as he considers how to go about luring it in. His tail tip flicks up and down as he thinks, and since it's resting in front of the hole it can probably be seen outside. Just a tiny flickering green thing that moves erratically. Like a cat toy, maybe.
Kyo-Ohki looks over her shoulder, thinking she heard something behind her. Her cabbit eyes blink in curiosity as she settles to watch...that whatever that green thing is, almost as if entranced by it. "Mew?" she inquires as she hops a little closer to investigate. <Werid...>
Snake Man's tail stops for a moment as he notices the reaction. He turns it towards Kyo and wiggles the tip ever so slightly. It almost looks like a tiny mouse's tail, except for the green color.
Kyo-Ohki sniffs as she looks towards the tail. "Mewmew?" she asks to no one in particular...as she draws even closer still...almost as if ready to pounce. <Toy!!!> Kyo isn't one to eat other animals for food. But she hesitates again. That smell! <Something's funny...!> She starts hoping away again as if uncertain.
Snake Man looks around again for something to use as bait. Finding nothing, he grits his teeth, and his tail slowly creeps back into the hole. Just before it disappears, it twitches again, as if beckoning closer.
Kyo-Ohki innocently peers up towards the tail. One of her ears flickers rom an itch. After a blink she gets up on all fours and makes as if to hope away...not liking toe situation one bit...
Snake Man's tail suddenly darts out of the hole. With the swiftness of a striking snake (of course) it winds around one of the cabbit's back leg and snaps firmly closed in a grip of steel. In almost the same motion, it gives a savage yank, pulling the prey item back towards the bin.
Ok...maybe *that* wasn't something Kyo was expecting. "Mewmewmew!" she cries in utter surprise as well as sudden fear as she's pulled back. Her free legs start scrambling wildly at the payment as she's drawn within... <What the---HELP! A garden hose has got me!!>
Snake Man pulls Kyo back towards the bin easily. Claws can't get much purchase on metal, after all. As he drags, he wraps the loose coils around the cabbit, so that his grip grows firmer with every pull.
Of course there's yet another figure nearby as well, somewhat hidden right now as he slinks amongst the rooftops, pausing now and then to allow his nose to sniff the air. Seems he's picked up an odd scent, and crimson optics narrowed to mere slits, the mechawolf continues to close in on it's source, an occasional growl issuing forth from his throat. Of course, where Treble is, Bass isn't far away, but he always tends to want to be alone when meeting with the Yakuza.
Kyo-Ohki doesn't really understand what's going on. She's never really been outside the labs before without Twila. And she's never really been exposed to any typeof true danger. And no the bath doesn't count. "Mewmewmewmew!" Kyo wails frantically as she still attempts to brake free from the snake's grip, finding that moving is becoming more and more difficult. As she's drawn closer she takes in the sight of the Robot Master, remembering him from one of the pweety pictures in the room with the entire screen. Something occurs to her as she also recalls this same figure hurting some of the ones she recognizes as friends. Fear becomes outright fiest as she begins hissing...
Treble slinks across one rooftop, growling again as the scent gets that much stronger. He moves soundlessly to the edge of it, and peers straight down, noting Snake Man's form. Something akin to an annoyed whuff emits from his snout, as he discovers that it's just another of Wily's androids. Perhaps a little disappointment too for that matter. He'd been pondering tearing something to pieces. But wait..what's this? The reptile seems to have gotten something.
Snake Man hisses gleefully right back, his lips pulling back to reveal a forrest of sharp spikes, with two gaps where his fangs fit when not retracted. He usually eats at home, and Dr. Wily's animals put up a heck of a lot more fight than this. His long, forked tongue flickers out, smelling the air as he regards the cabbit like a hungry human eyes a donut.
Kyo-Ohki continues her struggle...despite her circumstances... and attempts to nip at the coil around her wee form. "Yipyip!"
Treble tilts his head to the side, ears perking up a bit as he hears an -extra- hissing in there somewhere. Well now this is interesting. Smoke curls from the edge of his mouth and his nostrils, wafting gently into the air. Despite all his programming and tendencies to be a hellhound from the deepest pits of despair, Treble is still a dog to the core. And the small, wriggling form definitely has his attention. But Snake Man already has it in custody....and the mechawolf can't get it -that- way can he? No....this won't do. With a careful step, he moves off of the rooftop, and lands on top of the dumpster with a hard *CRASH!* putting a deep dent into the lid.
Snake Man startles at the huge nose, nearly dropping the prey. He quickly snugs up his coils though, making the cabbit look like something between a mummy and a cocoon. He hisses loudly at Treble, showing his fangs. He doesn't speak, but the message is clearly conveyed: Get your own!
As some of the tail tightens itself Kyo feels some sensations she's never felt before. Pain! And it hurts! Her eyes widen quite a bit more as she's jostled somewhat by the Master's movement. But all it seems to do is make her somewhat more wild within her actions...
Treble curls back his lips into a snarl in response to Snake Man's hiss, as the law of the pack begins to come into play. To this creature, Bass is the Alpha, and he's just under Bass. Right now, Snake Man has something he wants, and he's challenging him for it. A series of near deafening barks rip forward from his throat, as he leaps down from the dumpster, claws raking grooves into the pavement with his bulk, his posture built low, tail stiff, even his mane seems to be perking up. His barks retreat back into a low snarl again....
Kyo-Ohki cringes at the loud barking...the noise scaring her. What has she gotten herself into? Ok...next time...maybe she'll stay in the room like she was supposed to...prolly.
Snake Man continues to hold his prize. He's worked hard to get it, and he's not going to let it go without some show of defiance. He lost his prey to Treble LAST time, and it's not going to happen again. He glances around to see if the barking was noticed, and starts to back away towards the back of the alley, still hissing defiantly.
After a suitable wait Kyo regains some of her senses and starts attempting to struggle again. Ok...so this is not good. She casts glances towards the Snake and then the dog...really wishing Rush was here about now. He's not *that* bad -- for a mangy mutt...
Treble slinks forward again. He had dips on the meal last time! It was a certain Reptile that tried to claim it....while Treble was busy biting Dust Man's posterior. Besides, law of the wild again. The mechawolf continues to step after the other android, tail lashing behind him steadily now, as outright flames begin to lick about the edges of his mouth. One paw raises, and in an almost cat-like manner, the claw swipes forward experimentally, easily missing, but getting the message across.
Kyo-Ohki .oO(Uh, oh...)Oo.
Snake Man continues to back away, still holding the cabbit and not paying her any mind more than it takes to keep her from escaping. What to do? He could probably do some real damage to Treble, but then Bass would be on his case. He looks around for an avenue of secure escape that the robodog can't follow, still hissing.
Treble finally settles himself for exactly what nature calls for from him. He wants that cabbit, and he wants it -now-! With another loud snarl, his legs tense, and he suddenly leaps forward, paws out in front of him as he moves to try and take Snake Man down with sheer momentum!
Snake Man crouches low and tries to dodge to the side, but the huge dog barrels into him anyways, knocking the cabbit from his grasp. However, both of them now have a more pressing matter: the fight. Snake Man's hissing rises in volume and anger as he's pinned underneath Treble. So he does the natural thing for a snake. He sinks his fangs into the nearest part of Treble he can reach
Treble sits up somewhat as Snake Man is pinned underneath him, and his glare shifts immediately to the dropped cabbit. Ah ha....the prize! His snarl quickly turns into a yelp as the fangs sink into his foreleg, and another growl issues forward, as Treble demonstrates that he indeed has teeth too, in fact he has a heck of alot more, designed for crushing. And that's just what he does as he returns the favor towards Snake Man's shoulder. Either way, it's only a quick bite, as he pulls away from the other, to get away from the fangs themselves.
Kyo-Ohki finds herself smacking into a nearby wall rather hard...only to flop on the ground. Gasping...she opens her eyes, trying to get up as the fight begins. Overhearing the noises behind her she has just one idea in mind: RUN! But even as she does so her movements appear somewhat sluggish as she tries to head for the way she came as fast as her little legs will take her. One ear falls limps behind her as she nears the corner of the ally...trying to get away...
Treble shifts again as he begins to feel....something in his systems, and his growl loses a bit of strength in the face of....confusion. He doesn't know -what's- wrong with him.....or why he's suddenly feeling somewhat woozy, but he knows one thing. The reptile caused it! Even through the sudden haze, crimson optics flare brightly suddenly. YOU did this! Keeping right up with the image of a hellspawned demon, the dog's mouth gapes wide, and a thick stream of flame blasts outwards right for the other form. When it comes down to it, Treble packs a respectable amount of firepower too.
Snake Man abruptly lets go as his shoulder is ground between Treble's jaws. He hisses again, this time in pain. He knows his dinner is lost, but he's going to make darn sure Treble doesn't get it either. So he aims a volley of acidic spit at the dog's face from point blank range
Both flame and acid rush towards one another, both deadly in their own right. The thick glob of spit meets the thick pall of fire. And while the corrosive venom dissipates with a loud hiss and sudden evaporation, it's solid body is enough to split the flame and turn it into a harmless stream of flickering fire, which lands on the pavement around the area and burns itself out.
Treble glares at that, and gives something akin to a 'hrmph'. The point is of course, that the prize being fought over is now gone, and there's no point in fighting anymore. With another growl at Snake Man, he slinks off to the side, stumbling just a bit now as he seeks his exit to let his repair systems neutralize the toxins in his frame. One better hope Bass doesn't find the poison.
Kyo-Ohki mewmewmews as she heads back for the safety of home. But due to some injuries her pace isn't as fast as it could be. After being far enough away...she takes small pauses for rest before resuming her trek homeward. Since she wasn't all that far...she arrives on the walkway not long after and begins making her way up the front steps. After knocking herself a few times tiny trickles of fluid can also be seen as she nears the front entrance. But she finds she doesn't know how to get in. She sluggishly, tiredly, s at the door between sniffles as she tries to get herself in...but can't...
Snake Man glares back at Treble, feeling a grind in his shoulder as he turns over onto his front. He eyes the cabbit, which is plainly in view, but he's not stupid enough to try and grab it right in front of the door.
The cabbit looks behind her...back to where the scene of the Masters were...then goes about pawing at the door more frantically. "MEWMEW!" <Gemme outta here!> K Treble limps off as well, though still at a respectable gait. Rather than risk jumping straight to the roof, he settles himself for landing on the roof of a car, then leaping to a fire escape, and finally to the roof itself. In fact he does stumble for a moment, but quickly catches himself with his front paws, and hauls himself over. Grunting in annoyance at his limbs that are refusing to work just correctly, he goes back from hence he came again. Whatta gyp.....
Kyo-Ohki rests herself up against the door with a heave and a sigh as she continues looking upwards at it. "Mew..." she sniffles. <Don't anyone love me no more?>
Snake Man holds his shoulder as he climbs to his feet. With a quick look around, he heads off to his own hiding spot.
Just at that time, and late as usual.....as good guys tend to be, Rick streaks down the street, weaving in and out of traffic at his rapid speed, and slowing down only when he reaches the walkway near Light Labs, skidding to a much slower pace. As the humming of his turbocharged limbs begins to slowly die down, the technician unzips his jacket as he begins moving up the front steps as well, cracking a large yawn. So large he doesn't even notice the cabbit.
Kyo-Ohki mews sadly...almost about ready to give up and just wait until someone happens to come along. Sheeya, right. Oh...wait! Her one still functioning ear perks slightly as she notices the mechanic. Her legs wobble underneath her as she lets out a few tiny yips as she shakily hops towards him. "Mew?" she calls out to him...somewhat weakly.
Rick Morgan blinks in surprise as he hears something nearby. Gaze switches downwards, and both his eyebrows shoot up as he sees the cabbit hobbling towards him. He slowly shifts down to one knee, "Kyo?" he mutters, just a little surprised that he can actually tell them -apart- right now. "What're you doin out here? And how'd you get hurt like that?" he reaches out with both hands to the small creature. "You been tangling with robot alley cats or somethin?"
If the little cabbit could only speak English right now! But she can't...so she doesn't. Instead, with a series of yips and mews Kyo carefully, and gratefully, accepts any help Rick has to offer. As she climbs into his hands her little tongue flickers out to lick at his fingers between tiny sniffs. "Mewmew *lick* yip mew *lick." It's not long at all until she allows herself to rest in them. Although it's not much, the human could probably feel a couple of spots on her side where the synthetic fur was brushed away and the metal shows...enough for a moderate amount of her bodily fluids to seep through. She was in no way built for abuse.
Rick Morgan is of course, a technician, and thus sensitive to such things. Even as Kyo rests in his grip, he tilts his head just enough to glance at the damage, clucking his tongue thoughtfully. It doesn't look -too- bad, and Twila can probably handle it. "Hmmm, bet this'll be a lesson not to wander outside, hrm?" he says quietly, giving her a small pat on the head, mindful of her current state of physical health, before he opens the door and steps inside.
<Soon...>
Twila's Quarters <TQ>(#3681OeM) Encased within white walls and teal carpeting lies the fashioned quarters of one lone woman. The room itself is sparsely decorated save for one or two framed prints of the oceanic life focusing on the whale and dolphin hanging on the wall above the desk. This desk, as with several other pieces of furniture, is fashioned from something akin to wood, found here bears an almost antique look too it. The designs found therein are simple, yet pleasing to the eye. Upon the desk rests Twila's laptop computer as well as a minimal amount of accessories. The bed lies against the adjoining wall, its mattress and bedding covered with a quilt displaying a colorful floral pattern. Next to the bed is a small table complete with shelving underneath its surface. While a small number of books sit within their niche, above them on the top is displayed a framed photograph of a young couple. A tall, muscular dark-skinned man of middle eastern descent holds his petite blond wife close while they stand in back of a fourteen year old red-haired girl who looks nothing like her parents. Among the items noticeable within this room are also a average-sized monitor as well as a compact disc player accompanied by a select amount of musical CDs. Not far from the door rests a padded basket-type bed for the girl's young, mischievous cabbit. Kyo-Ohki will more than likely be found here if she's not with Twila elsewhere or exploring the vast ventilation system trailing throughout the base. Spread around the basket are some toys she likes to play with on occasion.
Rick Morgan pauses as he reaches Twila's door, holding Kyo with one arm as he gives a quick rap to announce his presence.
It takes a few moments for a reply to be made regarding the nightly visitor. Twila, who was lightly sleeping anyway due to all the thoughts she had been concerned with, rises from her bed after clicking on the light on the stand before answering the door. When she does, she appears somewhat bleary-eyed while her eyes attempt to adjust to the light of the hallway. "Hey, Rick," she mumbles somewhat sleepily. Doesn't appear she notices Kyo at the moment. Hello...wake up...!
Rick Morgan allows a finger to gently stroke Kyo's head. "Hey..." he returns quietly. "I was just comin back and I found somethin on the front step that I think belongs to you. Looks like she had a falling out with something or other...."
Twila Peterson turns her gaze towards the cabbit as Kyo glances back towards her pathetically. "Mew..." the little animal whimpers before jumping shakily into Twila's arms. The young woman blinks as she catches the mech and watches mutely as she snuggles against her chest. "Yeah...it looks that way..." she manages quietly, giving the cabbit a gentle hug of her own. Although, she's forced to wonder what happened exactly. "Guess I'll have to invest in a small cage when I'm not here until she learns..." she mumbles, mostly to herself. She then looks back up at the technician and offers, "Thanks for finding her and bringing her up."
Rick Morgan allows the edge of his mouth to quirk into a half-frown. "Well, I figure she's learned an important lesson tonight anyway, so you probably won't have to worry." He then shrugs. "No sweat, saw her on the front doorstep, so at least she knew where to come back."
Either Twila's tired to offer too much regarding the plight of her pet or her mind's been on other things lately. She nods in response towards her mentor. "One can only hope. I don't particularly like cages myself." She then adds, "You're right tho. She knows where home is...that's some---" Aside from the small amount of damage done to Kyo, Twila notices something else and slightly turns the animal over. "Her tail..." Or what little is left of it...
Rick Morgan tilts his head towards Twila. "What is it?" he asks, as she further inspects Kyo's frame.
Twila Peterson then looks down at the cabbit again. "Don't worry Kyo, Mommy will have you fixed up soon," she assures the trembling animal as she moves her hand so Rick can see the tiny stub that used to be the cabbit's cotton ball tail. "Looks like she was bitten."
Rick Morgan sighs and shakes his head. "Probably a scrap with another mechanimal. I figure if you get workin on her you'll find traces of whatever it was she was fighting with. Maybe then you'll have a clue."
Kyo-Ohki turns her head around to look at her backside as well...before makeing a face and spitting our something....green? Pa-tooie!
Rick Morgan's hand jerks up to catch the green.....fragment that's spit out, and it settles into his palm. "Wassis...?" he mutters, bringing it up to have a good look.
Twila Peterson tilts her head, squinting her eyes a bit, not certain of what it is either while Kyo simply goes on snugging her owner, just happy to be back. Twila leans forward as she looks at the object. "Looks like...some sort of polymore," she says...recalling her lessons.
Rick Morgan twists it around in his fingers, frowning just a bit. "Poly fibre...yeah." He rubs his thumb and forefinger over the surface. "Rubbery...where have I felt that before..?" He then blinks, as memories flood back, of handling a certain reptilian android on more than one occasion. "Snake Man...."
Twila Peterson suddenly widens her eyes, hugging Kyo a bit closer to herself. "Snake Man?" She blinks and shakes her head as if trying to clear it. Now she's a little more awake. "Great. He's hanging near the base again?"
"No mistaking it. It's the same as when I picked him up that time I managed to deactivate him." Rick shakes his head slowly. "I'll bet he's in the area to keep an eye on our activities if anything. Since they know we're coming....probably acting as a forward scout for Wily."
Twila Peterson nods slowly. "I certainly wouldn't doubt it," she states with a small sigh. "Just hope that's as far as he gets this time." Don't need another setback for the upcoming assault. "Be nice if that one was a little more detectable."
Rick Morgan nods. "We're workin on it...he won't find it so easy next time." He then glances at Twila and quickly adds. "And don't worry, Light Labs is still gonna be manned even while we're gone."
Twila Peterson nods once more. "I know. I was at the meeting and heard." She pauses for a moment. "Guess this is it," she muses, wondering inwardly how she'll hold up...hoping she doesn't freeze or anything of the sort when she's needed when the assault it underway.
"Hey...." Rick says, giving her shoulder a quick squeeze with one hand. "You'll do fine...don't worry about it." An impossible task. Even -he- worries that it may not go all according to plan. "Just try to think of other things right now....and let's worry about the jobs we have."
"Will do, Teach," she says as she offers a small smile in response. Then, after a moment, "I better patch Kyo up and get back to bed. You take care of yourself, okay, Rick?"
Rick Morgan nods. "Willdo. You too, and try to get a good night's rest." He gives his own small grin, before turning and stepping out of the doorway again. "See ya."
Twila Peterson gives him a mock salute while Kyo manages to wave a paw. "Godspeed, Rick," she bids...offering him one final glance before her door closes, leaving Rick alone within the hallway.
<Later...at Skull Castle...>
Snake Man's Den
The small, tight entrance opens up into a chamber of considerable size. However, the space is dark, and the air is humid and close. The ground and walls are stone covered in places by spongey moss and the only light provided is the sunlight beaming through the entrance. A few large, thick roots from the giant trees above crisscross the top of the cave, obviously left in place intentionally. In the middle of the room are two pools, one filled with clear water and the other with a thick, honey colored liquid. Oil. The heat soaked up by the dark, sun drenched rock above radiates from the cave walls into the room, turning it almost into a sauna. The whole back of the chamber is taken up by a cage. The barrier is made up of the sole technological device in the den, a force field generator that keeps the cage's occupant securely inside. In the muted light, the details of the cage are difficult to make out, but it seems to house a snake of enormous size, curled up in the corner.
Through the roots that hang down over the entrance, a figure slowly makes his way deeper into the snake's den, white gloved hand reaching forward to brush aside obstructions in his path. He crouches somewhat when the entranceway becomes that much small, eyes narrowed to mere slits, as his tight lipped, usual non-amused expression dominates his facial features. Bass is coming calling to the snake's den......
Snake Man lies resting at the bottom of his oil pool. Since robots don't need to breathe, he rests there peacefully nearly motionless except for the slow undulation of his tail, which makes nary a ripple. The shadows in this room are thick, and it would be easy to miss his presence.
Dark, yes. Though the Dark Knight has managed to come prepared. As he straightens up in the main cavern, his crimson pupilled eyes sweep around, as if absorbing every single little detail. Lacking proper nightvision equipment of his own, he resorts to usage of extra equipment, something rare for him, as he pulls out what appears to be a colored, plastic rod, then breaks it in half. The flare is instantaneous, blossoming to light on both halves, then is cast to the ground, it's light shedding across a wide radius on either side of the ebony clad figure.
Snake Man rests where he is, completely unaware of his visitor above. He might even be asleep.
Bass knows that the occupant is in here somewhere, and he steps forward, scowling somewhat to himself. Eyes cast first to the cage with the giant snake within, and his features twist into something on the verge of disgust, before he swings his glare around to the pool of water. It comes under scrutiny for a few moments, before he finally glances at the oil pool. Ah.....what's this? Something beneath the surface. White soled, armored boots tread firmly across the cave floor, as he approaches the pool.
Snake Man IS asleep, floating on his stomach near the bottom about 3 1/2 feet down. His right shoulder shows signs of having been recently repaired. His tail continues to wave gently, keeping him hovering slightly off the ground in the liquid.
Bass narrows his eyes just that much more as he comes to the edge of the pool, glaring down at it's single occupant. Wordlessly, he raises his right arm, as his hand disappears into it...and a purple, shimmering energy blade is soon replaced in it's stead. Still without uttering a single phrase, Wily's Force Commander lowers the crackling energy weapon downwards.....and dips it into the oil pool, the result beginning to instantly take effect as incredibly amounts of heat begin to be transferred into the liquid, which builds slowly in intensity.
Snake Man shifts uncomfortably in his sleep from the heat. As it grows, so does his movement. Finally he awakes with a start, turning and pushing off the bottom hard enough to clear the surface and grab onto one of the roots running overhead. Hanging over it by the arms, he curls his tail around to keep from slipping and regards his visitor with a confused expression. "Wha?"
The blade rises again from the oil's depths, and slowly disappears in a shimmer of energy, to be replaced by Bass' hand once again. Glaring eyes trace slowly from where his weapon once was, and towards the hanging snake above, as if threatening to pierce him right to the wall like a crossbow bolt. His voice seems to be almost entirely composed of ice. "I am so glad, to have your undivided attention..." he speaks, as he lowers his hands to rest on his hips. "You know, it's a funny thing, when one pays a trip to visit certain.....representatives that do business with us. When he lets his companion run free...." his brows tilt downwards, as the edge of his mouth quirks back somewhat into a half snarl. "..it's a suprise to find that someone's bitten him." His left hand then raises upwards, clutching a small, glass jar, with something floating about inside. To a trained eye, and indeed Snake Man's would be considered trained in this category, it's obviously a sample of venom. "And this....is floating through his internal systems..."
Snake Man blinks, and then squints at the jar. His tail tightens nervously a bit around the root, making it groan. He swallows before speaking. "He found me outssside Light Labsss, where I have ordersss to watch the Huntersss. He jumped on me and it wasss an automatic reaction. I didn't get that much in."
Bass arches an eyebrow, "An automatic reaction...?" he repeats, as if considering it. A few moments pass, and he appears to shrug, lowering the glass for a moment as he turns to the side just a bit. "Well then.....I guess that certainly makes it much different then dosen't it?" he murmurs. "After all, we're not responsible for automatic reactions to situations are we?" He shrugs just a bit, and actually chuckles. "Well that's actually a bit of a relief then, since it makes me certain that...."
"....YOU'LL UNDERSTAND MY 'AUTOMATIC REACTION' TO THIS!!!" The sudden switch in the tempo of his voice to a bellow that echos off the inner walls of the cavern is near demonic, both in pitch and ferocity. The sudden whipping motion of his arm sends the vial spinning through the air with a vicious throw, and exploding against the far wall, coincidentally (or not so) very close to where Snake Man's own 'pet' resides in it's cage. Completing the gesture, Bass levels his buster arm directly at the reptillian android, his features drawn into a dangerous, savage snarl. "Know this Snake Man. There is only one reason I do not rend you limb from limb right here and now and feed your remains to robo-rodents. This 'mission' that Wily has put you on has deemed you important enough to save you a maiming this time. However, do not think that if there is a next time, I won't hesitate to leave a smoking crater where your worthless, scaled hide once stood. The old man tends to be much more forgiving of any.....actions I tend to take contrary to his wishes. So consider this your one, and only warning you shall ever receive for this existence of yours. Should I ever catch your handiwork on Treble's hide again...." his eyes narrow, as his buster slowly shifts back into his hand again. "Then I'll personally see to it that your recycled parts are used for little more than the explosive pins in the next generation of bomb bats. Have I made myself clear?"
Snake Man does not look relieved at Bass's initial calm demenor. He knows him too well for that. Still, the sudden bellow does catch him off guard, and he winces as the vial connects with the wall. His tail tightens around the root as he looks down the barrel of the buster and listens to Bass's verbal lashing. But otherwise he gives no hint of any emotion. "Perfectly ssso. I take it there isss no allowansscesss for ssself-defenssse? I have no wish to harm your dog, or bring your wrath down upon me. But I would requessst that you keep him near you while doing your busssinesss. He made a lot of noissse, and the Huntersss could have dissscovered both of usss."
"If Treble brings down the attention of the Hunters upon himself, then he shall deal with it in his own way." Bass growls, perhaps showing just a bit of the independence that he puts in his canine, to deal with situations as he wishes.....and pay the consequences for any mistakes he should make. A dismissive motion is made, as the Dark Knight turns to make his way towards the entrance from hence he came once again. "And quite frankly if you want my advice, the next time he challenges you over a rodent or whatever, I would advise you drop it. He can run faster that you." He states this with stern coldness. "I'm sure you're more than capable of finding another at some time." Favortism? Very much so....then again, this is Bass' comrade, dog and companion that is being dealt with. "And if you are so worried about him giving away your position, then exercise those talents of yours that are supposed to be so good at slithering away unnoticed and dragging your belly elsewhere. Capiche?"
Snake Man just looks down at Bass, making no reply. However, at the last comment, his tail tightens around the wood again, which gives ominous cracking sounds. His hisssing is much more pronounced when he speaks, as if he were shaping one of those angry hisses into words. "Yesssss Basssss."
Bass knows he struck a chord, and he also knows there's not a damn thing that can be done about it, perhaps that's what his cruel smirk is for as it appears on his features. "Very good...." he states quietly. "I trust there will be no more problems..." With that, he turns and ducks down slightly, moving back through the low hanging tunnel, his head just barely clearing the interior ceiling of it.
Snake Man simply sighs, resting his chin on the root. He knows there's nothing to be done about it either. With a kick, he slides off the branch and back into the pool below, takin a certain bitter comfort in the warm temperatures left in Bass's wake.
Even in the wake of Bass' presence leaving the area, the flares left behind spark and glow, casting their own flickering light around the room, until at long last, they finally fizzle out and die, plunging it back into it's previous state of lighting.
Snake Man settles to the bottom once more, brooding in a sullen manner about certain leadership types. The warm temperature is having its effect on him though, and between thinking and brooding, he drifts off to sleep again.