Generation

Log 32: Flicker

There were rapid shots fluttering throughout the room. It was no joke that Beep Boop was going all out. Every single bullet was infused by Critical, and a bullet was being shot out of all of his fingers almost every second.

However, Ichishojo wasn't backing down either. Her bullet analyzations were easier to discover, the trajectories laid out in front of her. The quantity of the bullets made it difficult for Beep Boop to intentionally make a stray. She shot out multiple air pressure shots that emerged from the holes within her chest, legs, arms, and shoulders.

"Don't melt it!" yelled Jules, warning Baxter on his use of his gloves, "That's still Dante! He's just under Total Control!"

"How am I supposed to help then?" asked Baxter in bewilderment.

Dante scrambled around, growling at the two and lunging. The terrifying jaw of Dante was a danger not only to Baxter, but Jules as well. This was a military dog after all, and Dante was sure to take off any limb that he would bite.

Jules extended her arm, trying to punch Dante from a distance, but Dante jumped away from the attack and came back, trying to bite the arm. Jules immediately slammed the extended arm to the ground to prevent Dante from biting the limb off. Baxter then ran up and kicked Dante, but it didn't seem like the kick had any effect.

Dante jumped at Baxter to bite his leg off, but Jules reached at him, grabbing the collar with her extended arm and throwing him away.

"Be more careful!" yelled Jules.

"What am I supposed to do?" asked Baxter.

—

"I'll have you know that I'm multitasking right now," said Beep Boop, trying to make conversation as his fingers rapidly shot out bullets, "Nishojo transferred some of her Total Control in my systems, so I'm currently also controlling the robot dog's actions."

"And your Critical?" asked Ichishojo, hitting the bullets away, "Have they gotten weaker?"

"Now why would I tell you everything?" laughed Beep Boop as the whole room began to crumble.

Ichishojo wasn't sure what was going on. It seemed like only the room was shaking, not the others. Suddenly, the holes scattered around the room due to the bullets that Ichishojo had deflected began to make some noise.

Shoompf shoompf shoompf!

All the bullets that Beep Boop had shot beforehand were still under his control.

This was a critical mistake that Ichishojo had overlooked. Ichishojo was riddled with bullets that Beep Boop had shot out. The smoke cleared from the heat of the bullets, Beep Boop finding out that Ichishojo was still standing.

"Robots can't feel pain," said Ichishojo, her eyes to the ground, a shadow hiding it, "So I wouldn't blame you if you didn't notice. I didn't really want to use it as it would give such a huge range.."

"Jules!" yelled Baxter, inspecting her machinery, "Are you alright?"

"How many stray bullet shots have I been hit by.." mumbled Jules, inspecting her machinery, "It's only a few minor bullets.. I'm grateful to have been a robot."

"Yeah, thanks for shielding me," said Baxter, "I would've seriously died."

"What happened to Dante?" asked Jules, looking around.

Dante was limping, whining as it's leg joint was shot. He had tried his best to dodge all of the bullets, but one managed to strike him. Dante truly was an amazing robot, despite having only been shot once.

"So.. have you finally noticed Beep Boop?" asked Ichishojo, "After all your messing around?"

Beep Boop had looked at his own body. There were multiple holes. He had been shot by his own bullets, more than he could count. Ichishojo had a pressure ability to shield her body with air, completely deflecting Beep Boop's bullets back to him. From the start, she had this ability. She was Beep Boop's natural enemy.

"Why did you hold back..?" mumbled Beep Boop, collapsing to the ground, the Total Control for Dante fading.

"I wanted to find a way to resolve this peacefully," replied Ichishojo, "You seem to be consumed by hatred, which makes things a little difficult. Why do you keep trying?"

"Humans and robots cannot cooperate with each other," said Beep Boop, "There's always going to be a mean human."

"Haven't you encountered a nice human before?"

Beep Boop thought back to his past life: Marrion, his family. He refused to admit it, but this was all just a front to take revenge for his loved ones.

"There are good humans in this world, whether you see them or not," explained Ichishojo, "I've learned that ever since I've been developed. Not only can robots change, but humans can change for the better as well."

Beep Boop chuckled, "Thank you for opening my eyes. I'm just so sad, aren't I? Nevertheless, I'm glad to see this world one last time. I'm sure to meet those I've been dying to meet. Oh, how happy I'll be.

It's funny. A robot with emotions? It's truly an extraordinary sight..."