Project Renegade: Genesis

Get Up

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Sapphire spun from a brutal roundhouse. She phased through the ground just as Ruby's fist came crashing down.

Ruby stopped. Her fist remained buried inside Sapphire's transparent body. Sapphire grimaced as her phase flickered violently.

She jumped back. Ruby's head suddenly snapped forward, her neck stretching like a whip.

BAM!

The headbutt smashed into Sapphire's mask. Her mask completely shattered, blood spilling down her forehead. Ruby's arms transformed into razor-sharp blades. 

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Sapphire's shoulders, knees, and sides were carved open. She collapsed, clutching her wounds as blood pooled beneath her.

Ruby stood over her.

"Our data suggested you were some form of leader. By assumption, we viewed you as the strongest." 

Ruby's crimson eye narrowed.

"That appears to be false."

"Don't you remember anything..." Sapphire coughed. "Or has he removed that part of you too? The only thing left is your face."

"Any memory of my life past a certain year has been removed. I am simply a machine."

"We always were. You're just more literal now."

"I don't understand."

Sapphire watched as her tears fell onto the blood beneath her, creating tiny ripples. She clenched her fist and forced herself upright.

"I miss you so much, Aliyah. I'm so sorry I left you behind."

"Like I've said..."

"I get it. You're not the same. Let's stop wasting time."

Ruby summoned an army of blades. They came crashing down. Sapphire phased at the last second, barely escaping as the blades slammed into the street.

She jumped down the road. The blades followed. They tore through cars, buildings, and everything in their path. A green streak suddenly pierced the night sky.

"I told them to stay away." Sapphire grimaced.

BOOM!

Michelle slammed into Ruby with enough force to detonate the street beneath them. Concrete erupted.

Smoldering chunks of asphalt rained down as Ruby lay twisted inside the crater, her limbs bent at unnatural angles. Wires violently burst from her spine and hoisted her from the wreckage.

"Lady Sapphire!" Michelle rushed to her side. "You're... what the hell?"

Sapphire looked at Ruby.

"It's okay... just a family quarrel."

"WHAT?!"

"Oh yeah, you guys..." Sapphire's knees buckled, "Fucking hell."

"Ray says if we take her out, she might shut down the robots."

"I guessed as much. Just stay close."

"You got it. You won't be mad if I..."

"She's not my sister. Do what you must."

Michelle dashed forward. Ruby did the same. They collided. Ruby slithered around Michelle, coiling her body tightly around her.

Michelle's aura exploded outward at the last second, blasting Ruby away. She caught Ruby by the face. With a furious shout, Michelle ripped her head clean from her shoulders.