If you have read Part One and Part Two, CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to Part Three of The Story of Cyntax! We last left off where Echo, had just fallen ill with an unnaturally fast-acting cancer, and while everyone was in shock, E-404 had begun to develop a plan that would not necessarily save Echo’s life...but give her a new one. E-404 had an ability that made her unique...the ability to tear the soul from one's body and put it in another. Often she’d used this for her victims to keep them alive in a permanent state of agony. But there was a way–a theory–that E-404 had never tried testing...how to transfer the soul comfortably to a new body. Rending a soul from one's body–you can imagine it was very painful–but in order to do it painlessly the person needed to die first. E-404 tested this on a few rats since their souls were similar to humans, and discovered it was indeed painless, and was confronted with a horrible ideal. One she could barely consider but must do if she wished to keep her daughter Echo forevermore. Echo needed to die a natural death, like the rats. E-404 did not want to see Echo die, but knew it was necessary meanwhile Freak kept Echo company. Freak, having been Echo’s first and only best friend, deeply loved her and cared for her, sometimes more than just as a friend or even sibling. Because here's a shocker for you, Freak was in love with Echo, but never gained the nerve to tell her, even now when she was sick. So he did as he could to ease her discomfort, staying by her side as days went by, and then weeks and then months...Freak stayed there, a silent sentry as Echo slowly deteriorated to the disease. Meanwhile, while the Factory became more dreary and depressing someone was out celebrating. Pretender. He was delighted to know that his genetically modified virus was working PERFECTLY! Soon this human would kick the bucket and no longer pose a threat to his plans! This was his factory his home his KINGDOM. And he REFUSED to have a meddling HUMAN in it. However, despite all Pretender’s calculations and algorithms telling him the possible outcomes of each AIs reaction and how’d they handle this, he was uneasy about E-404. E-404 had ALWAYS been an unpredictable for-his arch nemesis, his equal, his counterpart. Like her, he also had reality altering powers...but it was a shared power, between him and E-404. If E-404 ever lost her powers, he had no idea what would happen to him. Maybe he’d keep them, or lose them...either way, he was afraid she might pull something unexpected. And since almost no one except a select few AIs knew of his existence, Hush, Legs, Freak, Thing, Object, and the rest of the “24 Horrors” project were forced into his service. Except Freak, he volunteered so Echo could have the protection of TWO POWERFUL AIs, and not one. Pretender could only cross his fingers and hope as he celebrated with a few drinks, cackling madly away. Meanwhile, E-404 worked in her private lab, assembling a body of sorts into a 5’10’ frame. E-404 had just finished the arms and legs and was working on the chest and head biomechanics. She knew someone was trying to kill Echo...and it scared her that she didn’t know who. Not even Carnage, the great and mighty killer who wanted nothing more than to rend the worlds apart, wanted to lay a finger on the girl unless it was to give her a hug or something like that. Someone-or something-was eluding her. She’d known this for a while, ever since the time she first came into existence, that a presence watching her. No one else seemed to notice, or care. Not even Freak, who was quite literally all eyes and ears. While E-404 contemplated her gruesome plans for Echo’s future killer, Echo was now dealing with more of her body failing. It’d been two years, and Echo was not as fit, nor lean, as she was before. She was much more translucent frail and much less talkative. Everyone was now not worried just for Echo but for Freak as well. He had not moved from his seat within Echo’s room for two years straight, and dust was slowly collecting over him. There were rumors that Freak would most likely die from a broken heart if Echo died, as she was his only true friend in this cruel, dark underworld. Echo had always been there and eventually taught the stubborn, wary and overly cautious AI the meaning of trust, love, and a beneficial relationship, and each lesson, Freak took to heart. He admired her, he respected her, he cared for her, but most of all, he loved her. “Freak. You can’t watch over me forever. Everyone is concerned about you maybe go talk to someone? Surely I’m not your only friend?” Freak perked up and an idea popped into his head. He knew who to talk to. Pretender.
Cackling away as usual, laughing so high and loud to where his laughter bounced off the ceilings and echoed throughout the dome like room...was Pretender. “Oh oh oh, I can just TASTE THE MISERY ALLLLL THE WAY DOWN HERE!” He cackled, he wheezed, he laughed. But unfortunately, before the idiot could laugh himself to death,Pretender went quiet as a beep resonated through the room. Someone was approaching...his home. A servant most likely. “Oh dear me.” Pretender mutters as he presses a button and says aloud in the microphone, “Yes, whose this?” “Freak, sir. I have a...favor to ask of you.” Pretender licked his lips, pondering on this. What could Freak possibly want? “Come in, come in. Have a drink. Have anything...including the possibility of that..favor of yours.” Pretender’s home was a mess, with various disassembled energy weapons, body parts, and ominous crimson stains on the floor. Mechanical roaches of Pretenders design crawled across the floor, gnawing on the various disassembled pieces like they were bread crumbs. Freak walked in, his various eyes mostly shut, giving his body an odd pebbly texture. Only two on his face-if you could call it that-were open, and both had calf-brown irises. “Perhaps you’re here to become more powerful? Maybe even overthrow E-404–too rebellious? Or...no...don’t tell me...you’re here to ask me to heal that poor human of yours? It's beyond my power. She’s in Fate’s hands now.” “You promised to protect her.” Freak pointed out, causing Pretender to giggle gleefully before snorting. “Exactly. That was our deal. Not for me to come running whenever your girlfriend got an injury-or worse, second stage cancer.” Freak flinched. “She’s not my–” “Ah, none of that now. I’ve been in your head. I know you love the girl. And you’re here to ask me to save her. Well sorry-no can do. I promised to protect her, keep an eye on her. Not whatever that is, I know you’re not asking-no-DEMANDING me to do.” Freak narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Even after all I do for you? I’ve never asked for anything. Not. One. Things. And this isn’t for myself. It's for everyone who cares and wishes the girl was well. She’s been sick for TWO...YEARS...” Pretender's violet eyes glittered dangerously as he leaned forward and whispered, “How about this...for a favor. I don’t strike you down and leave your poor little girl...wondering what ever happened to the great and fabulous Freak who was nothing more than a show and tell incident. Remember who is in charge? I own you. Every-piece-and every-bit. So spare yourself the trouble and scram, before I show you what MY POWERS, ARE REALLY USED FOR!!!” At that shout, everything in the room started to levitate, except for Freak. “I’d insult you, but I’m afraid I would injure or enlarge your ego more,” Freak said bitterly before vanishing into thin air. “I BELIEVE THAT WAS AN INSULT? YES FREAKY, MY DEAR?” Pretender hollered after him tauntingly, as he let everything drop to the floor with various clangs, and bangs to clinks and tinks. (Link for Part Three #2) https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1096529388/