Theta decided that Zero wasn’t such a bad driver after all. He simply had no grasp of the fine line between safe and unsafe, not to mention gravity. She didn’t mind his roller-coaster style of flying, but it made lab-spotting rather difficult. And his hair kept blocking her line of vision. In fact, her eyes were watering from all the hair getting into them.

She wiped her eyes again. "Zero, over there," she said, gesturing over her shoulder towards the left side of the glider. Without any warning, the glider dropped straight down and pulled out just in time to make an awe-inspiring landing on a patch of newly-emerged vegetation. Behind the glider stretched a streak of black where its mighty engines had cut short the lives of many youthful blades of grass.

The building they stood in front of was old and appeared to be empty. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that "INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN ROBOTICS" was printed on the front in large black letters, Zero would have thought they had arrived at a box factory. Even more prominent than the imposing grey building was the huge Golden Arches next doors. Underneath the dazzling W, a flashing sign read: Now serving DIGESTIBLE food.

"I shall never understand that human obsession with the Golden Arches. One of these days, I’m going to shoot down every one of those signs," Zero remarked.

Theta thought similarly of the fast food chain whose previous boast was "Less than 20% of our products are hazardous to your health." However, she kept silent and motioned for Zero to stand away from the lab door.

"This pile of rubble probably isn’t worth our time," Zero commented.

Theta aimed her arm cannon. "Never judge a book by its cover, my friend. A lab used by the people at NISAR always has the most advanced equipment and components."

"You have got to be joking. This is one of the NISAR labs?"

The glider had drifted closer. WHAT IS NYE-SAR?

"National Institute for Studies in Advanced Robotics," Zero answered. "Didn’t Dr. Cain tell you? He used to work there."

NISAR? I’VE NEVER HEARD OF IT. AND WHY HASN’T SHE BLOWN OPEN THE DOOR YET?

Theta was still holding her weapon ready. Zero turned in her direction. "Theta, what’s taking so long? Open the door."

"It’s not that I don’t want to, Zero, but your head is in the way," she replied in a patient tone, "please dispose of it."

Zero shrugged and stepped away. Theta charged up and was about to release a shot when the door burst open and a tiny boy ran out with his dog. Theta reached over and kept Zero from aiming his cannon. The boy stood and stared at the two big people in funny clothes in front of him. The dog began barking madly.

A woman in a lab coat came out of the building. "What's that, doggy? Little Timmy's in trouble?"

"Yes. In fact, little Timmy's about to look down the wrong end of an arm cannon," Zero replied, a little impatiently.

The glider swivelled to aim at the woman. "Let them go," Theta ordered. The glider scowled with its headlight, but it didn't fire.

The scientist ushered little Timmy and his dog back into the building, and gave a timid little smile before running inside herself.

"Well, that was awfully sweet of you," Zero said, dripping with sarcasm.

"I see no reason why we should waste our energy on a boy."

WHAT’S WITH THIS ‘SPARE THE CHILDREN’ MENTALITY? The glider flashed.

"Little Timmy can't do anything against us, and neither can that woman. Why cause unnecessary hysteria, especially when we're so close to our goal?"

IT SEEMS MORE AS THOUGH SHE’S AFRAID OF KILLING HUMANS.

"Then why should she be with the Mavericks?" Zero said.

SHE’S WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM, BUT IS AFRAID TO DO THE DIRTY WORK.

Theta merely gave them an icy glare.

"Either way, I guess we’ll have to find some other lab. Perhaps one that’s not occupied by innocent children?" Zero obviously was not very amused.

Just then, Theta received a message from the main camp. The voice of Toxic Seahorse reported, "we have just identified X coming your way. Eagle has decided to avoid any open hostilities and let you two handle him rather than sending help. So far as we can tell, he is alone. He should be there in ten minutes. Oh, by the way, Eagle says to be careful since X was very close to defeating you once and probably will be luckier this time."

Zero couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry, neither Eagle nor X can get rid of us that easily. You just run along now and get your materials." He had been waiting a long time to blast X into smithereens.

Theta merely shrugged. She wasn’t sure how Zero would hold out against X, but with the enemy pressing onwards, the forcefield couldn’t wait. However, before she could take one step, X zoomed up to them in his motorcycle. Apparently, Seahorse had overestimated his arrival time by some 1000%.

X carefully manoeuvred the motorcycle into the standard parking position next to a tree, then got off, ensuring that the vehicle was properly erect. This took a moment, during which time Zero and Theta felt it would be too easy to merely shoot him in the back. So, they waited with amused smirks on their faces as X finished the standard safety procedures.

"Has anyone ever told you that you drive like an old lady?" Theta asked X.

"That’s exactly what I told him earlier," Zero commented.

X chose not to answer. He could already tell that Theta had been working with Zero for too long. He calmly charged up his arm cannon as he approached them. The glider blinked its lights menacingly.

"Thank you, Tinky-Winky, for leading me to the Mavericks," X said.

Theta flashed Zero an "I-knew-it" look. Zero merely gaped in disbelief.

I DID NOTHING. I WOULD NEVER BETRAY YOU. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT, the glider protested its innocence.

Zero turned to X, expecting a response to the glider’s protest. Unfortunately, X, standing in front of the glider, was unable to read the glider’s message, and only gave a questioning stare. "It says it wasn’t working for you," Zero informed him lamely. "As well, it says its name is no longer Tinky-Winky," Zero added after looking at the screen some more.

"Ah, but you forget what a brilliant scientist Dr. Cain is. I easily tracked it down using this," X said, brandishing the Gameboy. Zero moaned quietly at the destruction of his precious antique toy. X continued, "now I’m afraid I’ll have to defeat Theta. First Sigma, now Theta; what is it with you Mavericks and Greek letters?"

"Actually, my name is based more on the variable in trigonometry than Greek. Anyhow, you won’t be fighting me," Theta said as she slowly backed away.

"I won’t allow you to escape so easily," X said, advancing.

"Watch me." With these words, Theta sprinted away.

"Let her go, your battle is with me," Zero said smugly.

Onwards to Chapter Eleven
Back to Commentary index
Back to site index