Chương 84: Episode 29: Admiral Digitron

Inside the building, everything felt harsh and silent. Steel walls surrounded the room, while blue lights flickered overhead. The only noise came from Kai the Hric. Starla remained behind cybernetic bars, lying on the floor as Kai hopped around her, chirping while gently nudging her a few times. She gazed at the ceiling, her vision becoming hazy before focusing on the spinning fan above. Her thoughts wandered back to the last thing she remembered: the battle between Don and Don Black at the Waspinite Hive.

Still motionless, she clasped her hands together and swallowed, wondering what Don might be enduring, believing she was gone. She tried pushing those thoughts away, but they kept resurfacing. She wondered how he would react if she truly had died. Some memories brought comfort. Others were unbearable to face. Kai nudged her again. She released a quiet sigh and slowly pushed herself up, her feet meeting the cold steel floor. Facing the bars, she looked through them toward the metallic blue wall ahead.

Her eyes lifted toward the flickering light above, sparks of electricity snapping as it struggled to stay powered. She rolled her eyes.

"They're hunting both of us, but why me too? I don't want Don to be their only target, but what makes me important compared to him? I don't have Cosmonimbous." The cybernetic doors slid open. A man wearing a black suit and tie entered, adjusting his clothing as he walked inside. His long black pants matched his polished brown shoes, which reflected the room's faint lighting. Three metallic buttons decorated his suit, and his fingers casually fidgeted with them.

He stopped in front of Starla's cell, facing her through the glowing cyan barriers. Behind him, a massive glass window revealed a radiant metropolis stretching across the horizon. He watched her silently for a moment. Starla raised an eyebrow.

"What's with the staring?"

"Oh, I'm not here to stare," he replied, briefly glancing toward the window before returning his attention to her with a smile.

"I just never expected you to be here."

"You thought I was dead?"

"That's what I assumed. You got punched in the gut by a 120-year-old warlord." He stepped closer to the bars, placing his hands behind his back as his grin widened.

"It's nice to meet you… Starla, right?"

"You got the name right. What exactly do you want from me?" Kai hopped onto her shoulder, nuzzling against her ear. The moment he noticed the stranger, his behavior changed. His eyes glowed red, and his ears flared as he watched him carefully. The man glanced at Kai.

"Is that… your pet?"

"No. He belongs to a friend," she answered.

"Excuse me, do you even know who I am?"

"I don't know, uh… a dragon?" he guessed, giving her a doubtful look.

"Or maybe some girl pretending to be a princess?"

"I AM A PRINCESS!" Starla yelled.

"Princess of the Celestianites!"

"Celestianites, huh?" he muttered.

"Interesting. You don't exactly look like one." He leaned forward slightly.

"So what are you?" Starla glanced at her wings, noticing how the indigo and violet colors could create a different impression. She let out a frustrated breath.

"Have you never seen royalty before? Have you ever seen a Celestianite with indigo wings?!"

"Not… that I remember. Aren't they usually yellow and white?"

"Then start remembering," she fired back.

"My father wore violet, my brother dyed his horns purple, and I dyed my feathers indigo! My mother wears violet more often than yellow!" The man burst into laughter, clutching his chest before eventually calming down. His expression shifted.

"Our mistake, then. We thought you were one of them." Starla narrowed her eyes.

"Who's 'them'?" Kai jumped from her shoulder, gripping the bars and growling as he tried to bite through them.

"Who's them?" she repeated. The man blinked, clearly confused.

"You don't know?"

"Of course I don't freaking know. I just got here!" she snapped, stepping closer. She gripped the bars tightly.

"I can force you to give me answers because my astral energy is NOT a joke!" The man sighed, seemingly trying to understand her attitude. His eyes shifted toward a small glowing blue button beside the bars. He covered his face with his hand, walked over, and pressed it.

"I'm Shawn. Head of the F. A. T. E. Agency. Judging by your attitude, I can tell that you're not yet familiar with us." The barriers powered down. Starla adjusted her jacket as Kai leapt forward, but she quickly caught him and pulled him back, gently rubbing his head.

"It's okay… he won't hurt us…" She glared at Shawn, her eyes glowing faintly.

"Unless if he doesn't have a good reason for bringing us here." Before Shawn could answer, his communicator suddenly crackled. He pulled it out and held it to his ear as a frantic voice erupted from the device.

"Someone's heading toward your location. They're going to break through the windows!" Shawn's eyes widened.

"What? Who would…"

"JUST GET OUT OF THE ROOM!" The transmission ended. Both of them looked toward the window. Nothing. BOOOOM! A violent shockwave tore through the sky. Buildings in the distance began collapsing as explosions illuminated the city below, sending fire and twisted metal falling through the air. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Screams echoed throughout the streets. Kai remained clutched in Starla's arms as she tightened her hold around him.

Shawn reacted instantly, sprinting toward the exit. Starla shouted, "WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU…" She turned back toward the window. A cyborg ripped through the sky, jets blazing behind him. His fists were extended forward, and a cannon charged with lavender energy glowed as he shot toward the building at unbelievable speed. Starla looked back as Shawn struggled with the door. He glanced over his shoulder, panic spreading across his face.

"SHIT!" CRASH! The predator burst through the glass, slicing through the room— BAM! Shawn struck the wall, lifted by his throat as a metallic hand clamped around his neck. The cyborg stood tall, six feet of cybernetic plating, grip unrelenting. Starla stepped back, shaking, clutching Kai. The captive gasped, struggling to breathe as the attacker leaned in close.

"Yes…" the intruder whispered.

"Suffer…" The hold tightened. The concrete cracked behind Shawn.

"I've been suffering since YOU and your group turned my body into an UGLY MECHANICAL MESS!!" He squeezed harder, voice rising.

"I DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU—AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!"

"WE APOLOGIZE!" Shawn choked.

"JUST DROP ME THIS INSTANT!!"

"RRAH!" The beast smashed his victim against the structure—cracks split. He hurled him toward the prison. The princess looked back up. The towering silhouette slowly turned toward her, cape flaring behind him.

"Get out of here…" He leaned closer, her eyes glowing with an astral light.

"Or you'll end up like him…" Energy crackled in Starla's horns as it charged. She narrowed her gaze, staring into his violet optics.

"I've never met you… but you're going down first." BWAM! Power exploded. Metal shattered. The villain jerked backward and slammed against the exit, hands over his face as he tried to hold his eye, smashing his head from the sheer blindness. The girl quickly spun, spread her wings, and darted straight through the open framework, shooting into the sky with one arm forward and fist clenched while holding her pet tight, flying over the burning city below. She moved so fast her hair and jacket flailed— BWAM!

A shot hit her feathers. She shrieked and dropped. Everything blurred as she fell, her vision darting everywhere while her hand reached toward the ground. She held onto her companion as tightly as she could, gritting her teeth, eyes narrowing with determination as her head grew heavy. But before she hit the deck, someone caught her. She slowly opened her eyes.

She was in the arms of Don the Celestianite as he shot through the heavens, tearing across the metropolis while Nomanites screamed below, panic spreading as flames blazed beneath them. He quickly placed Starla on top of a roof, then landed nearby. He looked at her—then rushed forward, wrapping her in a tight hug. Starla pulled him even closer. Kai immediately leapt onto Don's head, nuzzling against him as if he refused to let go. Don wrapped his arms around Starla's back, his eyes shut as he breathed heavily.

"I-I thought you were dead…" he whispered.

"Damn… I missed you."

"I missed you too," Starla replied softly, closing her eyes. A violent explosion erupted from below. The two instantly broke apart and looked down from the top of the burning building. A wave of orange light washed over them as flames twisted and roared across the streets below. Standing atop a cybernetic pillar surrounded by destruction was Admiral Digitron. His cyan cape whipped violently through the heated air, sparks and embers swirling around him. Don's expression hardened.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Digitron slowly looked upward. His cracked eyes glowed with a pale lavender light as his cannons extended from his arms, humming with unstable energy.

"WHERE IS THE LOST GEM?! THE ARTIFACT THAT GRANTS THE LIFE OF THIS FUTILE CONTINENT?!"

"Lost Gem?" Don turned toward Starla.

"Isn't that what Dironyx is searching for?!"

"It is!" Starla answered.

"But why does he need it?!" Don clenched his fists.

"Dironyx couldn't possibly have more people working for him…" His eyes narrowed at Digitron.

"So this guy must be from somewhere else. But even if we don't know where the Lost Gem is, if he wants to find it…" His celestial energy flickered around his hands.

"We need to make sure he never does." Don stepped forward, glaring down at Digitron.

"We don't know where it is! So run back to wherever you came from!" Digitron let out a low, mocking laugh. He straightened his posture as his cape twisted behind him, his crooked eyes flashing with amusement.

"You've already pissed me off. You and your little sidekick." His voice grew colder.

"If I don't get the location of that rock, every living being in this metropolis will die. They'll rot beneath my command." Energy surged through his arms, crackling across his armor.

"If you even think about standing against me, remember this. I can weaken you whenever I want." His smile widened.

"ANY moment." Digitron activated his boosters, mechanical wings unfolding as flames erupted from his back.

"You'll never defeat me! I am DIGITRON! THE BADASS OF ALL ADMIRALS!" Don stared at him in silence.

"I see…" he muttered.

"He acts like a child. Way too arrogant and cocky. What is he, thirty?" He stepped forward. Celestial energy sparked around his legs before rushing upward, surging through his fists, arms, and eyes. Don placed a hand on Starla's shoulder.

"Go find the Nomanites. Save every single one." His gaze never left Digitron.

"I'll deal with this inconsiderate freak." Don looked down at Kai and gently picked him up, rubbing his head. A small, confident smile appeared as he pressed the Hric against his dried, bloodied nose.

"Go with Starla… I don't want you to die too." Kai nodded before jumping into Starla's arms. Starla turned to leave, but stopped. She looked back at Don, worry visible in her eyes.

"Don… promise me you'll be safe…" Don slowly turned toward her, his wings folding behind him.

"No. You be safe." His expression softened.

"I don't care if I die. Just do it." Starla turned away, waving one final time before spreading her wings. She bent her knees, launched into the air, and vanished into the darkness above. Don turned back toward Digitron. His arms lowered into a fighting stance, fists clenched tightly. He spat onto the cold metal beneath his feet.

"I promise you…" His eyes burned with determination.

"I might not win…" Skull Dragger's words echoed in his mind:"You're a monster…" Don slowly closed his eyes, then looked down at the burning city, and Digitron.

"But at least I'll do my best to save lives… the right way…"

DON'S POV Celestial energy spiraled around my fists as my wings snapped open, blasting me into the sky before I folded into a violent dive. Digitron charged with energy as the wind screamed past my ears.

"RAAAAAAGH!!" My fist smashed into his face, shattering metal shards outward. He staggered, and I landed beside him, skidding across the fractured street before boosting back to swing again. Digitron caught the punch and buried his fist deep into my gut, sending my body flying upward through the air. I flipped mid-spin, shook my head, and looked down just as Digitron fired another blast. A building collapsed, folding inward as tremors shook the earth and flaming debris smashed into nearby structures.

Glass shattered and smoke swallowed the skyline while terrified citizens sprinted through the streets. My fists shook with rage. Celestial energy detonated behind me, boosting my descent as I rocketed back down. Digitron flew up to meet me, claws outstretched for my chest. He caught my fist, but I slammed my knee straight into his chest, flinging him backward. He shot back forward, cracking a strike across my face followed by a sharp uppercut to my jaw.

My vision blurred as his haymaker launched me through a skyscraper, bursting glass and twisting metal. Blood sprayed from my mouth as I shot out the other side, caught myself mid-air, and bolted forward. Digitron met me head-on as our fists collided, detonating a shockwave that ripped through buildings and split the streets. I grabbed his arm, headbutted him, flashed behind his back to kick his side, and twisted mid-air.

"50-50-50 CELESTIAL DROPKICK!" My foot smashed into his face, launching him screaming through the clouds. I flashed above him, flipped upside down, and slammed both fists straight into his chest. Digitron spiraled downward, crashing into the blazing orange streets. I landed amidst the inferno, barely able to see through the firestorm. Digitron stood up, his fractured cybernetic eyes flickering bright blue. Celestial energy crackled around my arms as I locked onto his silhouette.

When he raised his cannon, my instincts kicked in. I blasted through the flames and punched him square in the face, driving him to the ground. I unleashed a barrage of punches, a spinning backhand, and a palm strike that detonated against his chest.

"ARGH!" Digitron shouted in a distorted metallic voice, staggering back into the flames while clutching his arm. My glowing eyes stayed fixed on him as my wings folded behind my back.

"Asking you to leave because people are getting hurt sounds unreasonable. You're a villain, you're gonna do it anyways, but that's why I'm here. I don't want to kill you." I reached a hand out to him.

"I've seen some stuff today, a lot of stuff. I regret those things, the things that I've done to make myself feel better, but they make me feel worse. All I'm asking is a truce, I was raised and taught better that violence isn't always the greatest response to chaos." Metallic chuckling echoed beneath his breath as flames roared around us and Nomanites screamed in the distance. Digitron turned around, his eyes and cannon glowing brighter.

"Just needed enough fucking time…" I frowned.

"Wait, what?" A blast erupted from his cannon, slamming into my chest and hurling me through the flames. I flew over piles of debris and smashed into an energy container filled with cyan liquid. Metal ruptured, showering the area in glowing fluid. Digitron rose screaming from the inferno, grabbing my face and slamming me deeper into the shattered tank. He clutched my skull tightly.

"You're starting to feel weak, PERFECT!" He hurled me aside, sending me crashing through a cybernetic house and rolling into the burning street. Digitron walked toward me with broken, clicking movements, then crouched beside my trembling frame. The blast had drained half my strength and durability. Digitron chuckled darkly.

"I can nullify… something that you can't fucking do, I WIN!"

"AND?!" My hook smashed into his face, followed by another that dented his metal skull inward. He grabbed both my fists, squeezing hard as my arms shook.

"GRAH!!" He rocketed into the sky, spinning wildly and swinging me through the air before throwing me through two buildings. As I tumbled through the clouds, Digitron appeared beside me, spiking me toward the streets. I bounced off the ground, only for him to swat me back up with a jaw-shattering uppercut. Blood sprayed as he flew above me and slammed me into the center of the city. I crashed through an energy fountain, splashing cyan liquid everywhere as terrified Nomanites scattered in panic.

I rolled across shattered pavement, coming to a halt against a pile of broken steel and brick. Digitron walked toward me, cyan liquid dripping from his armor and his torn cape whipping in the flames. He stared down at my broken body.

"I want to see your bitch-ass cry…"