Silver and Natalia - Mentor

Part two of "Silver and Natalia"
Enjoy
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For several long hours we remained motionless outside the boundaries of our home…or what once was. We had left so quickly during the attack we never were able to see just what damage had been done, and from what we saw now, it was rather awful to witness. The once proud structure that stood high above all in this silent wasteland was nothing more than shattered glass, steel and concrete litter around a dusty landscape. It wasn’t very concerning for me…but Silver, something about this was rather hard for him. He just stood at the gate, staring at the ruin. I have to admit I don’t know him very well even after the past months we have traveled together, but seeing him standing there, something told me he lost more than just a home.
“Are…you alright?” I ask, taking the courage to ask, he looked at me for a moment, then back to the ruin
“It’s hard to simply forget what is lost, especially when it’s important to you” he replied almost monotone
“What do you mean?” I replied
“To you, this may have just been a home, but for me, there was more than just board that I am upset to lose” he pauses “People…people who I cared for were lost, innocent lives that need not have died by that incident” Silver seemed to clench his fist a bit “People that had a life to live, children that have yet to even understand what the world was they were born into…all…cast into darkness like a breath to a flame” he sighs, looking down. I really can’t say much towards him, I feel hurt for even asking. All I could do was stay by his side, which I did, hoping to comfort him.

We went into the ruin by Silver wish; he seemed intent on looking through what was left of that once proud building for any clues to what he could find out to why it happened. We know the Super Zombie was responsible, but when he died, and that metal piece seemed to “jump” from his body, more questions seemed to arise; what was that, why was it inside him, and was it controlling him? The last question was what we both believed to be the only real answer, when a piece of metal jumps from a corpse and slithers away like a snake, something is up. I figured something bigger was going on, and Silver did too, it was probably why he wanted to scouted the ruins, maybe clues could be uncovered as to what, or who, was really responsible.

Despite the damage above, Silver seemed to be rather giddy. He began to dig deep into the main floor of the building. The zombies and mutants had destroyed everything above…but as Silver soon showed, they had not destroyed everything below. Silver motioned to me that there were a few facilities under the main structure. These were meant for special projects such as himself, and with how much protection and secrecy they had, the crazed beast would never have found it. At first, I didn’t believe him, built after he tossed aside a few heaps of steel, there was a door, laid flat on the ground with a key pad that still seemed to glow with power. For a few seconds I looked in awe at the door…I never even knew it was there and even under the rubble I doubt the zombies or mutants would have seen it. The wolf tapped in a code and the door slowly hissed open, exposing a long, darkening staircase below ground.

There are many secrets in the world, many kept hidden from prying eyes. Those of great important that should never be learnt by those who do not need it. As Silver escorted me down these stairs, I couldn’t help but feel that this was a secret I was being granted passage to see. Its not often you get to see what is always below your feet, secrets kept underground tend to be quite important, I remember as my master told me, beneath the ground lies a world of secrecy and discovery, and this was probably what he meant.

When you first see something like this, an underground facility and all that, no matter how simplistic, it always gives a sense of awe when you walk inside. This facility wasn’t anything fancy, a long hallway with several rooms lining both sides with one large door at the end. As the robot escorted me down the stairs, we continued till we reached that door. He turned to me “What you will see…is something few get to” he muttered as he tapped a code into a hidden panel. The door opened with a hiss, steam swept past us as I felt a sudden chill run across my shoulders. Something…something no one was to ever see was in there, that feeling just rippled down my spine but it seems that Silver wished for me to see it. As we proceeded, we found weapons of unique and interesting designs, as well as many computers, most glowing dimly for who knows how long. As we walked to the end of the room, there was a large pedestal and atop it, a rather small crystal with a dull gray color. For awhile it was quite mesmerizing to look at, a faint little jewel so rearly seen, it was captivating, and I nearly took it, until Silver swatted my hand aside
“Do not touch” he whispers, not forcefully, but concerning “there is a dangerous power within, and with one touch shall release it” he says as he walks over, tapping a few buttons nearby as a screen next to the pedestal suddenly comes to life.

“Silver…” came a voice from a static filled screen “if….you are playing this message, then the wheels of fate are turning, we are no longer present in your time, and the world as we know it will soon cease to be as is. Yet this was meant to come, to reset the world to what it once was.”

“Reset the world?” I repeat as I watch Silver studying the screen, the way he seemed to be looking at it was…confusing. There was nothing there, but, it was like he saw something I missed. I felt envious, wanting to know what he was seeing.

“The creature that wishes to do this was…one of our older creations. It seems living beings as destroyers, creatures that wish nothing more than to rip this world asunder, and thus…sees it fit that the world can do without us.” It pauses for a moment “It will be trying to work its way to destroying opposite that may wish to stop it, but…we succeeded in keeping you from its grasp. Your…work is to stop it, the world does need to be reset, but the way it should be, not by means of this creature”
A small chip suddenly extended from the screen “This disk…holds everything you will need to know, and with luck…you have recruited the Wind Tiger into your ranks”
”Wind Tiger?” I repeat again as Silver seems to stare at me, was….that me?
“Silver….be warned that our creation does know of you, but to keep her from finding you, we grant you this crystal before you…it will mask you and anyone near you from being seen, as well…it shall give you the one chance to level the field against her. This crystal must be secret and kept well guarded for without it, we shall surely be destroyed”

Silver turns back to the crystal, it gleamed in the dull light that surrounded it
”Good Luck…and Good hunting” were the final words before the screen fuzzed and went blank. Silver slowly extended a hand to touch the crystal; it glowed, and then slowly attached to his paw. He looked at it, for a while he was not sure were to put it, then, surprisingly, on his left chest a small compartment open, reveling a small space designed specifically for it. As the robot studies the crystal, he slowly brings it near the alcove; the crystal shimmers then quickly inserts itself into the hovel. The robot keel’s over, I nearly scream as he does as a rough sounding growl escaped his vocal box as he goes to his knees. His body begins to shift, the blue armor becomes dark black, black as night and also expands in size. I can’t help but worry, I don’t wish to see Silver like this, but the pain, and he seems to be in so much pain. I want to rush over, to hug him and hold him…but…but I can’t. As I continue to watch, I can see Silvers once thin, lithe robot body morph and change by the crystal and began to pound on more armor to the body. He became bulkier on the chest, but still seemed to retain the elegance in his original look. After almost a full minute, Silver raises himself again. His eyes glowed deep gray as his black armor shimmers against the faint light. I stare in awe…his body looks…so well formed for a robot…I find myself blushing as I eye him up and down.

“We are ready…” he mutters as he turns to the door. His back had two large ports, each empty. That however changed; whatever the crystal had done, Silver knew exactly how it made his suit work. As he leaves the room, I really couldn’t find the words to say about what had just happened, I felt…so shocked at what happened. He turns to me, pointing to the Armory “Gather what you wish” he said “but pack light”.
Dumbfounded….I can’t really explain how I feel, Silver changed into this new…robot and he seems to not care about how much pain it took, or how I felt worried he might…might have been killed or something. I feel rather insulted, surely he must have noticed, but…I can’t continue, he keeps staring at me, wanting me to take what I want. I slowly walk into the main hall then into the Armory.

Weapons…if we haven’t seen enough out there, surely there was plenty more in here. The walls were lined with various weapons, from guns, to missiles, to laser rifles and even emplaced weapon systems. I scan around…normally I would be giddy but….I look back at Silver….does he not feel pain…does he really not feel emotion?
Ever since we left, Silver…seemed to show no emotion, even in the dire times we traveled he just…kept going. I don’t know if he does or doesn’t or just hides it well, but…I can’t help but feel that this wolf is running himself so hard that he doesn’t care about how people see him. I turn
“Do you not care…?” I say rather bluntly, he looks cold at me
“What…about?” he asks, monotone. I growl and stamp my foot
“Shut up, you know…what I mean.” Fists clenching now…I didn’t notice but they were “you…could have died…why did you just listen to what they said!”
Silver keeps watching me, I couldn’t tell anymore what he felt, and his face…seemed to always show uncaring. I close my eyes
”You’re a jerk!” I bark and rush out.

--

“You didn’t have to do that” Silver remarks as he approaches behind me, I had rushed out of the bunker and made at least several steps before falling to my face, crying into the dirt. I wept for what felt like an hour but…according to Silver, was only around 5 minutes. Again, I got angry; whipping up I lunged at him, slamming a fist on his chest
“Jerk…Jerk…JERK!” I scream in tears…heavy tears as I suddenly collapse onto his chest, weeping harder. He simply…stands there, I get even angrier…I want to slash him, destroy him…I should have done it at the start…
“Don’t…cry” he whispered

For a long moment…I stop…I look up at him
“W-what?” I asked between sniffles
“Don’t…cry…it doesn’t suit you” he repeats, still monotone, but…this time there was something behind it
“Why…why should you care, you don’t even know how I feel; you don’t know emotions you jerk”
The wolf shakes his head “I may…not know emotions as you do, but…I can still tell when someone is upset”
“So why did you act so normal right after that happened, why did you listen to your masters when that might have killed you”
He looks at me again “because…I trust they understand that I know what im getting into….my masters made me for the purpose of what they say, they never told me, but…the moment I saw that video…I knew I needed to, that is why I did it.”
”And what about me…I was…so worried” I lean closer again
“Because I know you were strong, and…seeing me weak would not have been well for you”
”WELL!?” I exclaim “Seeing you nearly keel over and see you not even notice is well for me?!”
I sigh…but…smile this time
“You have a lot to learn…dummy” I nudge him…I couldn’t explain it but…I felt a bit better, there…just seemed to be an aura around him…comforting, slightly…but it was still uplifting. Brushing away my tears I keep close as he suddenly taps my shoulder
“I got you something” he adds, handing me a pair of sleek SMG’s. My eyes light up again, I nearly forgot to raid the armory…yet…he was kind enough to do it for me
“Though you might like them” he says as I nod and turn around
“Alright…dummy…lets go…and while were at it, I got to teach you a few things about being a gentleman okay?” I demand, he simply nods and I sigh “No…you gotta say “yes ma’am...talk or something!” giggling I pull Silver along, we had much to do…and the path ahead was long enough to teach him.