A Nightmare's Honor

Consequences

{M} Professor Red POV:

[Professor.]

My head shot upward to meet the Assistant's tan-ish orange eyes. "Yes? What is so important that you feel the need to interrupt my paperwork?"

[Apologies, Professor, but there is something I must inquire of. When was the last time you fed the... visitor?]

"There isn't a 'last time'."

[You mean to say that he has yet to be given food or water?]

"...Yes. Perhaps it will better him. Besides, this can show me how food affects a Yellow Steve's energy. Or, more accurately, a lack of food."

[My apologies once more, Professor, but it is against my code and the code of all Steves to refuse food and water in this way. To continue doing so would be a violation of said code, which I cannot do in this scenario. Either you will give him food and water, or I will. It is irrelevant who does it, so long as it is done.]

I muttered in annoyance under my breath, then sighed. "Fine. You can do that while I continue working on these papers, then," I waved him off.

[Very well then, Professor.] The Assistant gave a short bow, then left.

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes, the detailed report for the Energy files..."

About five minutes later, four sets of footsteps came thudding down the stairs- one pair was especially loud and fast, as though the person were angrily stomping. What now?

"Professor Red!" the Red Leader called out loudly.

I felt my blood chill suddenly as I shivered. Uh oh... This isn't good. He sounds furious...

"Y-yes?" I answered him as he finally came into view on the spiraling staircase. He was quickly followed by a nervous Red Apprentice and two Yellow Elites. Crud. Okay, this is definitely not good.

"Tell me, Professor, when exactly did the Yellow Apprentice leave here?" the Red Leader asked me, his expression hard and his voice cold.

I subconsciously gulped. "Before sunset, Red Le-"

The Red Leader's face was suddenly inches from mine, every part of him furious, from his posture to his scowl to his glaring eyes.

"This was your last chance, Professor, and you broke my trust. Tell me where he is, now."

The Assistant suddenly entered the room, giving a quick bow to the Red Leader. [Is something wrong, Red Leader? Your blood levels indicate you are upset about something.]

Seeing the Assistant and hearing his name, he quickly focused his attention on them. "Ah, perfect timing, Assistant. I need to know where the Yellow Apprentice is."

[Apologies, Red Leader, but I don't quite understand what you are asking. After all, he would be outside the range of my sensors.]

I gave an inward sigh of relief, relaxing ever so slightly. This would be bad if I hadn't changed his coding...

The Red Leader stared hard at the Assistant for a long moment, then approached them. "...May I look at your wiring for a moment?"

[Of course.]

For the love of salmon, please don't notice the change. I subconsciously held my breath as the Red Leader inspected the Assistant's wiring. He mumbled something under his breath as he moved some wires around. Crud.

The Red Leader, for a split second, had a content look on his face when he finished the rewiring. "There we go. Now tell me, Assistant, where is the Yellow Apprentice?"

[He-]

I quickly interrupted him, attempting to hide my nervousness and mistake. "Now, I really don't think this is necessary! The Assistant-"

One of the Yellow Elites stopped me mid-sentence, their voice seeming to be higher than an average Steve's. Perhaps he's a young one? Strange, considering he's an Elite... "-is going to show us where the Yellow Apprentice is while you shut up. And I swear, if you hurt him in any way..." the Elite trailed off ominously, and I gulped.

The second Elite elbowed the first and whispered something I could just barely make out. "Threatening a mad scientist isn't your best plan," he said, mumbling something afterward that may have been the first Elite's name.

[As I was saying previously, he is within a hidden room tucked away in the Professor's secret lab. I can lead you all there, if you'll please follow me.]

I have to get there before they do! Without a moment's hesitation, I bolted toward the stairs, smacked a lever down, then fled into the secret lab. I heard a few shouts of surprise as I quickly left them, but it was mere seconds later when I heard footsteps catching up to me. Drat. Of course it had to be Yellow Elites. I'll never outrun them at this pace... I fumbled my special crossbow out of its hiding place, loaded it with fireworks, then threw my arm out behind me. The closest person couldn't be more than three blocks away. The Red Leader and Red Apprentice would be too slow and therefore too far from the blast to be damaged, but the explosion would hinder the Elites, if at least for a little while. After all, they were Elites, and few things ever fazed people like them.

Gasping for breath as I raced down the stairs to the secret lab, I fired the crossbow, then dove down the rest of the stairs, the harsh, sudden heat oppressive for a split moment. Stumbling to my feet, I finally reached the main entrance of the secret lab, then slammed the palm of my hand onto the first button within reach. The door slammed shut behind me with a resonating clunk, and less than a second later, I heard the person who had been directly behind me run straight into the metal wall between us.

That won't stop them for long! I quickly reloaded my crossbow, tucked it away, then ran to the room. On my way, I grabbed whatever tools I saw fit to be weapons, including a large, heavy wrench, and stood in front of the locked door where the Yellow Apprentice was being held. They're not going to take him... No, they can't! They can't take him from here!!