The Cyber Age

Chapter 11: The Battle

As Braden fell, he experienced something horrifying.
Doubt. What if this really was real, and he just committed suicide?
What if?
That was the question.
What if.
In a split second, Braden hit the ground with full force, immediately breaking his back. Braden was taken by surprise by the sudden stop, at each vertebrae disconnecting simultaneously. It was excruciating. Braden wanted to yell, but couldn't. He was in way too much pain. He knew he was hemorrhaging; he felt his chest filling with blood. He was distant. His vision was getting fuzzier by the second. His heart slowed. He heard distant screams of agony, which he assumed was his family in shock of his suicidal attempt. Then cd the doubt again.
What if.
This was awful, because Braden felt as if this really was real now. But what's done is done, and he could only hope for the best. Soon enough his vision failed entirely, and his heart went from slow, to stopped.
Braden was dead.

Seconds after Braden died, he opened his eyes. And to his surprise and fortune, he was back in RuPERT's giant room. He awoke to Kendall, Brent, and Tristan fighting RuPERT with everything they could. Braden was so relieved. He was alive! But first thing's first.
"Hey!" Braden yelled at the top of his lungs. Everyone turned to him, including RuPERT. "What is it, sleepy boy?" Said RuPERT. "I'm back!" Yelled Braden in a taunting tone. "So I see, Braden Vyne." Replied RuPERT. RuPERT stepped closer to Braden, shaking the room with every step he took. "So," RuPERT started. "You all escaped my prison. You have proven yourselves." Said RuPERT. "But that was not merely the entire challenge. I have a new proposal, though. A fight. To the death. Four humans against a robot. Are you up to it?" Said RuPERT. The other three looked doubtful, but Braden immediately said, "Heck yes."
"Perfect. Let us begin." Said RuPERT. And without a word, the battle began.

Braden didn't know what to do. How do you fight a fifty-foot tall robot?
Here's the answer: You don't.
You play a video game, or watch TV instead. Braden didn't realize how lazy his train of thought sounded. He needed to get out more.
Before he knew it, RuPERT went in to stomp on Braden. "Braden!" Yelled Kendall, as she sprinted in and pushed him out of the way.
Now that was close. He almost got squished. RuPERT let out a cry of frustration, and punched a wall, leaving a ginormous hole in the wall.
Yikes.
Braden signaled at Brent and Tristan to come over. They both immediately ran over to him and Kendall, avoiding RuPERT's attacks. "What's the plan?!" Said Brent.
That was an amazing question. What was the plan? "Well..." Braden started. "Um.... Brent, go look in the closet. Maybe theirs something in there we can use. If there isn't, go look anywhere, and everywhere else." Said Braden. "The rest of us will hold him off until you get back."
Brent hurried off to the closet, while still avoiding RuPERT's attempts of murder. "Everyone stick together, and try to dodge his attacks best as possible." Said Tristan. Braden and Kendall understood, and they went in.

Tristan started by jumping on RuPERT's foot, looking for wires he could pull. He found a big blue one, and yanked it. RuPERT fell back, and let out a cry of anger. "You think you can outfight me? Fools!" RuPERT yelled. Immediately, RuPERT shape-shifted into something bigger, something more terrifying. It was then when Braden realized, that if Brent didn't come back with something great, then they were doomed.

Brent rummaged through the closet hopelessly, looking for something. Nothing. He found only janitorial supplies. Crap. What was he gonna do? Brent left the closet. He looked around the giant room for other closets or exits, and he found only a door at the far end of the room. So he sprinted. It didn't take a second for RuPERT to notice Brent. Immediately, RuPERT charged at him. Brent kept running. RuPERT tried to step on him, twice, but Brent dodged both times. He made it to the door just in time though. Otherwise he'd be dead, due to the fact that the last blow RuPERT attempted would've been indeed fatal. Brent opened the door, and found a hallway. One of the rooms off the hallway had a nuclear wearing symbol on it. Perfect. This was probably exactly what they needed to get RuPERT. Brent opened the door in a rush, and to his luck, he found loads of C4. Finally. Something that they all had experience in.

Braden couldn't take it anymore. If Brent didn't find something soon, they wouldn't be able to hold out. "Guys!" Yelled Brent, as he ran in with about six boxes in his arms. It was labeled, "C4". The very thoughts that ran through Brent's mind then ran through Braden's. Brent set down the boxes next to everyone. RuPERT was at the other side of the room, getting ready for something huge. Braden could tell. "This is what we use." Said Brent. "Great. But, how do we get out before it goes off?" Said Braden. Brent instantly looked depressed.
"We don't." Said Brent.
Strangely, a peace came over Braden when he heard those words. He had lost everything. He just wanted to see his mom and dad, and now he could.
"Alright then. Let's do it." Said Braden, accepting the defeat. Brent pulled out a lighter from his back pocket. He ignited the flames, and just then, RuPERT charged. He was probably running at sixty miles an hour. But the second he got close to them, Brent dropped the lighter straight into the opened box of C4, incinerating the entire room.
Destroying RuPERT, and themselves.

Braden felt strange. He didn't feel dead, he felt like he was asleep. Was it possible that was all a simulation?
Braden awoke, and he turned around. Back in the office room. He found Tim on the couch.
"What happened?" Said Braden.
"You did it." Said Tim.
"You passed the group test."