Reaper of the Revolution

Of course it is… Cyrus sighed, blowing air out from between his lips as he looked back at Roscoe. So what’s the point here? Just keep throwing robots and drugged up fighters at me until I eventually get tired? From behind the door Cyrus could hear Roscoe chuckling as he shook his head, looking down at his feet. You came looking for someone who specialized in robotics. I am that someone you see, or at least, I’m in contact with someone who knows a thing or two about these ticking soldiers. I know about your wife and daughter, it was my boss who worked on them. Took them from the brain dead flesh bags they were and built them into something marvelous and terrifying. I have no doubt Avery showed you some pictures or at the very least described them to you as they are now.

Cyrus raised a single eyebrow in questioning concern, How do you- Know Dr. Avery? She worked for my boss, quite the brain on that one honestly. It’s a shame she developed a consciousness and decided she didn’t have the stomach for what the World Government desired. Naturally, we had to let her go, but not before she had done some extensive work with my boss on your wife and daughter. Cyrus turned as the walls lifted up again and he saw more robots file into the arena. Raising his weapon in preparation, Cyrus was about to slash at the one closest to him when Roscoe chimed in, Don’t mind them, they won’t bother you. They’re simply here to retrieve the dead and clean up the arena for our next bout. Cyrus watched them for a bit longer, cautious of Roscoe’s lies, but eventually turned back to the man behind the door, his haki still up and ready to warn him should anything come his way. As I was saying, and by the look on your face you clearly didn’t know, but Avery was the lead assistant on the little project with your lovely wife and sweet child. Granted she wasn’t the brains behind the operation, but she certainly did her fair share.

You keep mentioning this mysterious boss, care to share the name? Cyrus asked, knowing full well it was a slim chance at best. In response, Roscoe simply smirked through the bars of the door, Perhaps later, but right now we have a bit of a family reunion to get to. As if on Roscoe’s cue, the panels across the arena opened and Cyrus turned to face his worst nightmare. The cleaner robots had left moments before, leaving a spotless arena with hardly any left over blood stains and not a body or gear to be found. In their place walked in two people Cyrus never thought he’d see again. These were two people he had watched blow up in the house they had built together right in front of him. He had spent nights tossing and turning, replaying the same scene in his mind over and over again. Emma coming to the door with Charlie in her arms just as the mortar dropped into the house and detonated. The entire house had gone up in flames like a tinderbox, whatever hadn’t been blown out by the initial blast that is. Cyrus himself had been sent flying dozens of feet, rolling down a hill and knocked unconscious.

Joy, anxiety, fear, regret, love, and even hatred boiled up in Cyrus, flowing through him with no clear outlet. He was at a loss for words and actions, unsure of how to proceed. Tightening his grip on his cane, Cyrus turned back to Roscoe and said, I won’t fight them. You can kill me here, but I won’t hurt them. I refuse. From behind the door Cyrus could hear Roscoe sigh dramatically, Yes well, like any good villain I planned for this. Gentlemen! Roscoe yelled from behind the door. Up above in the ring around the arena there was a disturbance in the crowd, who quickly fell silent and backed away from the metal bars. As the drunken spectators fell back, armed Marines took their place and pointed their rifles down at the arena, down at Cyrus. However, one Marine had something else in his hands. A single revolver pressed to the temple of Cyrus’s marksman Zoe. Cyrus noticed she had looked better, with torn clothing and thing lines of blood coming down her right arm and face. A large purple egg was beginning to form on her face where she had clearly been hit by the butt of a rifle. The two made eye contact and Zoe lowered her head in shame, I’m sorry. You hadn’t reported in for nearly an entire day. I went out looking, not just for you, but for any leads too. Don’t be mad Cap, I was doing my job.

Cyrus shook his head, but said nothing as he stared at her. His mind was racing faster than he could form words. Why were there Marines here? How had Roscoe known who Zoe was and had her picked up? Were the others safe? Did Old Mei even still have the Dreadnaught docked on the island or had Zoe and Cyrus been left behind as instructed. Marines…you’re working for a Shichibukai, aren’t you? Cyrus said, beginning to put the pieces together, turning to face Roscoe behind the door. Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Well, mostly. I prefer to say I work under a Shichibukai, one of the most beautiful and powerful Warlords at the World Government’s disposal in fact. Even as Roscoe spoke, Cyrus was already beginning to put the words together. The Seven Warlords of the World Government were notorious throughout the seas, recognizable on sight by any average citizen. Cyrus had only ever seen one, the owner of this island in fact – Ren Actimel – in person before, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know of the others. Cyrus shook his head, as he finally understood just how deep this rabbit hole went. It began as a chuckle at first, but quickly grew to an all out belly laugh as he couldn’t believe just how screwed he was. For a moment, everyone else in the arena was silent, letting Cyrus have the mental break he so rightly deserved. His cyborg wife and child simply stood across from him, staring into him with lifeless eyes as they waited for their command.

Something the matter my friend? Roscoe finally asked as Cyrus’s laughter died down.
First of all Roscoe, fuck yourself; you’re no friend of mine. Nothing’s the matter really; it just came to me that instead of punching in the face of some geeky scientist, I’m going to have to take the head of a freaking Shichibukai. Cyrus sighed, shaking his head, Oh well, life’s just funny that way, huh? Cyrus asked no one in particular and fittingly was answered with silence from the gathered masses around him. Clearing his throat, Roscoe decided to break the awkward air, Yes well, I suppose you’re right. Speaking of which, it seems you have a choice Mr. Kincaid, do you wish to die in the past with your loved ones, Roscoe asked in reference to Emma and Charlotte standing before him, or live in the future with your possibilities? He said, motioning up to Zoe who struggled against the brute strength of the Marine holding her. So what? I either butcher my family, who let me remind you, I thought had already been butchered by the World Government all those years ago, or I die and you kill Zoe too? If I fight and win…what? Then you shoot Zoe anyway.
Please Mr. Kincaid, I like to play games and have my fun, but I’m nothing if not fair. If you win you and your friend up there are free to go. The mental scars you take with you will be more than enough of a victory for me. Now then, ladies, please help this fine gentleman with his decision. Cued, the Emma and Charlotte monstrosities suddenly jumped into action.

I assume there’s no point in even trying to pertain to whatever humanity they might have left in them, huh? Cyrus asked Roscoe sarcastically from over his shoulder, I’m afraid so Mr. Kincaid. Whatever humanity they once had is long dead. These are killing machines. Roscoe replied and Cyrus wanted to rip the bastards throat out just from his tone, as if he was getting some sick pleasure out of watching this spectacle. Within seconds the cyborgs were upon him, Charlie moving much faster than her mother, with titanium blades sprung from her arms. She began slashing at her father, wild like a wolverine, but Cyrus could tell the robot was already analyzing and calculating Cyrus’s movements even as he side stepped and swatted away the blades with his sheathed cane. The blades came one after the other but Cyrus continued to simply step back and fend them off. Several times he saw openings in the cyborg’s attack, but at the same time he saw the face of his daughter. The face of the little girl who would squeal with delight as Cyrus raised her onto his shoulders. With his haki heightening his awareness he could see Emma approaching him long before she even reached him, but he did nothing to protect himself as large round shields sprouted from her own forearms and she smashed her left arm into his chest, sending Cyrus flying off his feet and to the sandy metal ground below. The air was knocked out of his lungs and for a moment he was at peace. It’d only be a matter of time before the two were on him, Charlie’s little wrist blades tearing into him while Emma bashed his brains in with the titanium shields that had been installed in her. Cyrus closed his eyes and waited.

FIGHT YOU IDIOT!!
Cyrus opened his eyes, looking up at Zoe who stood high above him looking down at the scene below. Emma and Charlie were moving in for the kill, he could feel them without seeing them, and there was Zoe streaked with blood and tears in her eyes looking down at him. He had a crew that needed him, an entire island that depended on him. He once had a family, a small but happy family, but the World Government took that from him long ago. That was another lifetime and, surprisingly Roscoe was right, it was time to live for the future, not in the past.

Suddenly Charlie blurred into existence in front of him, blades aimed to puncture his chest but as they began to pierce the skin, they bounced off harmlessly. Cyrus had activated his Busoshoku Haki unconsciously, I’m meant to die someday, maybe it was even that day so long ago, but I know that right here, right now, today is not the day. Cyrus said as he swatted Charlie away with his cane and jumped to his feet. In one fluid motion he charged at Emma, sword raised to slash but at the last moment he unhooked the hidden sickle and attempted to disembowel his wife. The titanium/seastone reinforced sickle cut deep, revealing cogs and wires. The cyborg hardly seemed to notice however as she grabbed Cyrus by the shoulders and threw him across the arena with unimaginable strength. He hit the wall hard, coughing out blood as he did so. Then, like a bat out of hell, Cyrus’s daughter jumped back towards him, blades still out, but he was ready. Cutting the air with his sickle, Cyrus lit his sword aflame and slashed into the vacuum in front of him, causing an explosion as Charlie leaped through the air. The robot child was sent flying, much of her synthetic skin ablaze and melting off as she rolled through the sand.

Cyrus was about to turn his attention back to Emma when an ear-piercing shriek suddenly filled the arena. Covering his ears instinctively, Cyrus turned towards Charlie who currently had her mouth open releasing a weaponized sound blast and holding Cyrus firmly in place. The Marines above him dropped their weapons, covering their ears as well to escape the harsh noise. Even Zoe’s handler, Cyrus noted, seemed irritated by the shriek as he pulled the gun away from Zoe and tried to cover his own ears.

Off to Cyrus’s left, Emma’s long brown hair was beginning to rise up on end, as if effective by static electricity. However, Cyrus knew that that was unlikely as the air whipped forward of its own volition, sending brown needles at the revolutionary. Cyrus dodged, but time seemed to slow with the sound waves holding him in place. It was like moving through water, or syrup even. He managed to evade most of the needles, but not all as piercing pain shot through his right thigh and shoulder. Two needles had hit their mark, embedding themselves in his arm and leg. They hurt, but from what he could tell they hadn’t hit anything major. Not one to hesitate however, Cyrus continued running around the perimeter of the arena, with Emma in the center and Charlie now behind her from his vantage point at the far end. I’m sorry. Cyrus whispered beneath his breath as he sent four wind drills spiraling towards his wife and daughter. The firs two ripped Emma apart, sending limbs and machinery flying while the second two drilled into his baby daughter. Charlie’s mechanical head exploded like a piñata of wires and metal shrapnel while her body suddenly displaced a perfect hollow circle where her stomach once was.

A hushed silence fell over the arena as Cyrus stared at the remains of his family strewn about the arena floor. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to put down your own wife and child. Truly a sad moment. Roscoe said as the door swung open and he strolled out into the arena, key to the seastone bracelet in hand. Those things weren’t my family. My family died a long time ago. Cyrus spat back, not even trying to hide the contempt in his voice. Yes well, whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep through the night I suppose. Now then, I’m going to keep my word and take this nasty little piece of jewelry off your wrist but I have to remind you we still have your friend up there so don’t try anything. Roscoe said, unlocking the bracelet and taking it from Cyrus’s wrist. As promised, you’re free to go. Once you’ve left the perimeter we’ll let your friend go as well.

Cyrus looked up at Zoe, still in the clutches of her captors with the revolver pressed firmly to her forehead. ROOM! Cyrus yelled as a ROOM developed around the entire arena, reaching up to where the Marines and Zoe stood. You bastard. Kill her, kill her now! Roscoe commanded the Marines, but Cyrus was too quick for him as the rifles suddenly ripped free of the Marines’ hands and turned on their wielders, gunning the Marines down where they stood. The man holding Zoe would find his arm being forced upwards, gun to his own temple as Cyrus pulled the trigger of the gun and painted the wall with the man’s greymatter. The rifles slid through the bars of the cage above the arena and floated down so they were surrounding Roscoe. Your boss, where is she?
Alright, alright, let’s just put the guns down. You made your show, we can ta- Cyrus pulled the trigger of the rifle pointing at Roscoe’s left kneecap. The bullet nearly ripped the scrawny man’s entire leg off as he fell to the floor screaming. You know what’s awful about getting shot in the hip? Cyrus asked quietly, crouching down to Roscoe’s level as he lay screaming in agony, When you get shot in the hip, it’s a pain like no other. All those tiny little nerves clustered together. They blossom into a garden of pain unlike you’ve ever experienced. Afterwards, if you manage to recover, you walk with a constant limp for the rest of your days. Nasty business really. Now then, where is Jane D. Punk?
Go to hell. Roscoe spat, grabbing at his knee. His face was red with rage and pain, covered in sweat and Cyrus could tell he was getting ready to go into shock.

Cyrus pulled the trigger of the next rifle, taking a solid chunk of hip along with it. Roscoe screamed even louder this time before becoming very, very still as he succumbed to shock from the pain. Rubbing his hands together, Cyrus placed one thumb above the man’s heart and another just below it and to the right. Stay with me you old bastard. Cyrus said before delivering a counter shock to restart Roscoe’s heart. Almost immediately Roscoe’s eyes snapped open and the screams continued. Make it STOPPPPP! Roscoe bellowed.
Where is Jane D. Punk? Cyrus demanded.
Bal-bal…Baltigo. The Red City. She’s in the Red City. Roscoe finally spat out between screams.
Cyrus nodded, And how do I get out of here?
Stairs, other end of the h-hallway. Up, right, second…second…left.
Thank you. Cyrus said before moving a third rifle to Roscoe’s forehead and ending the pathetic man’s miserable life.

Dropping the ROOM, Cyrus looked up at Zoe and said simply, We’re heading for Baltigo. Make your way back to the ship, I’ll be there in two hours. I need to check in with someone in Alabasta first. With that, Cyrus walked through the door he had entered the arena and headed for the exit. Zoe, already being on the upper level did the same, stunned into silence by the same cruelty and darkness she had witnessed in her captain way back on Drum.

Spoiler: