Underdepth

Chapter 16: What E.C.H.O. Really means.

Back at Mindy's castle in the dungeon. Cassie had her makeup kit out. Mia was trying to find a way out. Trying to heat up the cell bars. "At this rate, we're never gonna get out of here... Moms gonna kill me...." Regita at least tried destroying the cell with HER scythe. It didn't work, the bars were too strong. She threw her scythe down in frustration and crossed her arms "This sucks! None of us have a way of getting out." Cassia was too busy calming herself down, applying makeup to herself. It's the only thing that keeps her sane in this situation. Noila quietly observed while folding his hands disappointingly. "Is there any reason in particular as to why you keep putting on make up at a time like this?" "It calms me down! Do you want any?" "No thanks, I'm-" she dabbed some blush on his cheeks. Noila balled up his fists. Cassia, why tho. WHY. "Oops! Tee Hee! Sorry, force of habit. Plsdonthurtme"

Back to the problem at hand. E.C.H.O. looked at Marie intensely. There was nowhere for her to run this time. Julius just walked away. He couldn't interfere. "I'M GIVING YOU ONE LAST CHANCE! SURRENDER OR FACE MY WRATH!" Recluse was still on the phone "Marie? Marie, what's going on!?" "I-I'll call you back..." she hung up. E.C.H.O. readies an attack. "SO.... THAT'S HOW IT IS THEN... LEMME REMIND YOU WHAT MY NAME REALLY MEANS!

EXTERMINATION
CONTROL
HUNTING
OPERATOR.

AND I'M GOING TO LIVE UP TO THAT TITLE!" He extended his tail and used it to attempt to smash Marie in the ground, but she dodged out the way in time.
"Wait! Maybe we don't have to fight! Um.... We can share food!" "I'M A ROBOT! I DON'T EAT FOOD! NOW FIGHT ME!" His eyes started charging up a laser beam. She saw them turn red and immediately booked it to the other side of the treadmill puzzle. E.C.H.O. shot the laser out his eyes and followed Marie with it "OH SNAP!!! I'M OUT OF HERE!" She kept running away from the laser "YOU CAN'T RUN FROM MY LASER FOREVER, HUMAN." unfortunately, his laser ran out of... Well... Power. "Um... How about we tell each other stories!? That sounds fun, right!?" "THE ONLY STORY I WANNA HEAR IS HOW YOU END UP SURRENDERING! NOW F I G H T" his legs turned orange and cyan. She memorized this before. Orange/Move. Cyan/Don't Move. E.C.H.O. kicked with his cyan leg first. She flinched a tiny bit, but luckily survived. Invincibility frames, baby. He kicked with his Orange leg twice. She moved left and right. Memorization really helps. "Please... Just listen... I-" "NO, YOU LISTEN. DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID! FIGHT ME OR D I E" E.C.H.O. shot the laser again. This time at full power. She successfully dodged it, but it hit her leg, leaving her at 15 HP. luckily it wasn't a fatal wound. "AH! WAIT, PLEASE.... I can.... We can be friends! There's no reason to fight at all!" "YES. THERE IS. I DON'T WANT TO KILL... yOU.... WITH... OUT KnOWING....

............

You didn't even h a t e me...." E.C.H.O. was going for one final strike. But he instead.... Didn't. "I don't understand. Why don't you wanna fight me...? After all the hell we put you through. Especially me.... Why?" "Because, E.C.H.O... I know that not all robots wanna take over the world!" "Wow, thanks. That was really....

...... Bittersweet. But I understand. Why did I even take up this job? And for what? So I can take an innocent six year old to the queen? No... I quit. I can't keep this up anymore." Marie smiled "Really? For me?" "Well, I guess you can say that. Just don't mention it to any body- DAH, OKAY, WHY ARE YOU HUGGING ME." Marie was giggling while hugging E.C.H.O. it looked so adorable. "Okay. You can let me go now. Lemme go- you're not letting me go until I give you a hug, aren't you?" "Nuh Uh." "Fine... Just one hug." E.C.H.O. hugged her while looking away. "There. Happy?" "Mm Hmm!" "Alright then. Lets get you home. Or, to Peppi, rather. She probably misses you more than anything. *Sigh...* wish I had that feeling.

So uh, you gonna walk? Or....?" "Can you please carry me?" "C'mon! I-" "Pwease..?" She made innocent puppy dog eyes. "FINE! FINE! I DO EVERYTHING!"

..... Julius SAW everything from a distance. He was about to make a cake for himself, since he had the whisk in the batter. He aggressively spun the whisk around "AHA! TRAITOR!" Their eyes widened. "Listen, Julius. I can explain-" "Ya better start explainin'!" "Uh...."

E.C.H.O. and Marie were in a lot of trouble.