(I actually have a whole plot set up for this, which I will post here, but until then, have this little snippet with no context~)

(Also, takes place IRL)

You've got to be kidding me... Vikk growled, watching the hulking metal beast towering in front of him, swinging its head towards him with a loud metallic screech that echoed deafeningly around him. Vikk didn't even flinch, his eyes narrowed as he stared the mechanical creature right in the eyes, unafraid.

"Who are you?" Vikk called out, venom lacing his voice. "I know this beast has a pilot. You don't scare me."

The mech stilled, before a voice rang out, amplified through the beast itself. "You've run out of places to run, Vikk! There's no escape now!"

There was a flicker of suprise in Vikk's eyes, but other than that he didn't react, instead, a small frown tugged at his lips. "Jerome... How are you still alive?"

He could envision the look of fury on his former friend's face as he spoke. "You shouldn't have left me there, expecting me to bleed out. Some of the soldiers you left alive found me. They gave me this..." The beast's claws dug into the ground, as if it were reflecting it's pilot's rage. "...to help me kill you."

Vikk scowled, with a tone akin to disappointment in his voice. "Now I get it... Revenge? I'll be leaving this place with the Crystal, even if it means having to fight you.

You really think that you'll actually be able to stop me?"

"No. I know I can't beat you, but at least I can buy them some time." Jerome continued, realization dawning on Vikk's face.

"The Crystal!" Vikk yelled, anger flashing in his eyes, "What did you guys do with the Crystal?!"

"Simon and Preston should be long gone with it by now. You know that we're the only three left, right?!"

Jerome's voice was quivering now, shaking with rage and dripping with the tears that Vikk could practically envision streaming down his face.

"I didn't want to do it." Vikk said, trying to keep his voice from shaking as the memories flashed in the back of his head (too much blood, too much blood-). "They could've-"

"No, no, SHUT UP!!!" Jerome screamed, "Don't you DARE say that they had the choice!!! Did you give Rob a choice before you dropped that building right on top of him?! Did you give Harry a choice before you left those creatures to tear him apart?!"

(Vikk was trying to keep a straight face, but it felt as if Jerome's screams were tearing right into his heart-)

"...and Tobi?! He didn't even try to fight you, and yet you still shot him in the back! And remember Lachlan!? He still fucking believed in you!!! He still thought that you were being controlled and that we could help you even after you killed them, and what did you do?!?!?"

(Vikk remembered. He remembered Lachlan pulling him into an embrace, he remembered the look of trust and hope in his best friend's eyes, he remembered feeling something strange coming over him before-)

"... He had faith in you and you returned his embrace by tearing a hole in his chest!!! And then-" (Jerome's voice choked) "there was Mitch. Do you know how I found out about that?! I was only out for a day, but I came out of that comatose you left me in only to find out that you fucking murdered my best friend!"

With Jerome's last scream, silence finally fell upon them, and Vikk's eyes were wide as he took shuddering breaths. He could still hear Jerome's quiet sobs.

"Jerome..."

Vikk finally broke the silence. "I'm so sorry, but it's too late now. My master won't want to stop now, and neither do I. If you still insist to fight, then I will strike you down!"

(There was no time for remorse now.)

The metal beast roared as Jerome let out a war cry, shifting into a position to charge.

"I know I won't be able to stop you, but I'm ready to die trying." Jerome hissed, "But I'm still going to try and drag you down to hell with me."

(And when the dust settled, Vikk stood silent over the body of whom he used to call his friend, blood on his arms and his eyes glowing a haunting white. Despite his anger and disdain towards him, Vikk hoped that Jerome would find Mitch and the others wherever he was now. Just two more to go.)