(30 hours remain)

In the underground section of Babylon City, Cobra arrived at Babylon Tower.

Or at least it's an underground section.

Cobra:(sigh)...

He had to fight his way through many Monsters, and the fatigue of battling the last few Zodiacs was getting to him.

Cobra: Anyone wanna fight me before I go in?

....

....

.....

He entered through the front door of Babylon Tower, finding the eight Zodiac waiting for him.

(Goat)

Goat: Hello my fellow Zodiac!

Cobra:(puts a hand on whip)

Goat:(waves small white flag)

Goat: I'm here for diplomacy.

Cobra:(Glares) I gave you all a chance...

Goat: Call it peer pressure or tactical acting. But I couldn't at the time.

Goat: Now that we're alone...

Cobra:...

Cobra: You don't want to be King?

Goat: No. You can have the title.

Cobra: I don't want it.

Goat:(shrugs)

Cobra: So, are you going to come with me or what?

Goat: Before you jump to giving me off to the Doctor, I have something to show you.

Cobra: What's that?

Goat: What started all this in the first place?

Cobra:?

Goat: Come. Follow me as I take you to a rare kind of Monster.

(Opening Theme)

Descending further into the depths of Babylon within an elevator, Goat and Cobra began talking.

Cobra: You don't have to wait for dramatic timing. Get to talking.

Goat: We took over the city. Do you know why?

Cobra: Ransome? Publicity?

Goat: Ox brought us together. He had a tip that turned out to be true.

Cobra: What kind of tip?

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open to reveal a laboratory with some type of tube in the center going all the way to the ceiling.

Cobra: Ugh!

A pain pulsed in Cobra's head.

Goat: In that "Tube" is a danger level SSS.

Cobra: A triple S?

Goat: Babylon Tower was built around this Monster. To use its power.

Goat: That pain you're feeling... It's the Monster trying to read your mind.

Cobra: You're saying it's psychic?

Goat: It's more than that... It's managed to take control of people.

Goat: That power is precisely why our government built this tower.

Goat: So they could take control of any enemy that threatens them.

Cobra: That's insane... If it's true...

Cobra: Then it has to die.

He approaches the tube.

Cobra: If even one corrupt person gets their hands on it... Let alone if it takes control of others first-

(SLAM)

He walked straight into a wall to the left of the tube.

Cobra: The hell?

Goat: There lies the reason we must determine a King.

Goat: Based on the pattern of growth, it's still in its infancy.

Goat: And what monsters share amongst each other, is the sense of respect for an alfa.

Goat: Thanks to the Zodiac project, the monsters see us twelve as just another breed of them.

Cobra: It feels as if we were made to control this Babylon monster.

Goat: Perhaps one of us was. But not all twelve divisions. I know for certain that each Zodiac was made for something specific.

Goat: Though my theory isn't supported by evidence. Simply a "gut" feeling.

Cobra:...

Goat: Is something wrong?

Cobra: No, I was just thinking how I would have punched you if you had said "A Goat feeling".

Cobra: Anyway. I say we just blow this place up. Psychic redirection can suck it against a bomb.

Goat: Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Cobra: Got something more to add?

Goat: I would just like you to consider the good.

Cobra: The good?

Goat: If we took control of the Babylon monster. We could do so much...

Goat: End racism, and sexism.

Cobra: Both problems, that can easily be solved by caring less.

Cobra: Poverty, pollution, world hunger. What the hell is mind control going to do to that?

Cobra: Are we going to make the starving children believe they aren't dying of starvation?

Goat: Erase evil. The rich will be compelled to do more.

Cobra: At the cost of free will?

Goat: The strong-willed would be immune. And deservedly so.

Goat: The strong survive in nature. That's how it is. That's how we are.

Cobra: We?

Goat: The Zodiac. The Twelve of us.

Goat: The Doctors experiment changed us more than physically.

Goat: And I'm not talking about the trauma of the procedure.

Goat: We instinctually desire an alfa, a King. Some more than others... But it is there.

Goat: Even in you.

Cobra:... Okay. This conversation has completely derailed!

Cobra: I'm blowing that monster up. End of story.

Goat: Then become king.

Cobra: I'm going to pass.

Pulling out a compact bow, an arrow extends from his wrist-mounted quiver into his hand as he aims.

Goat: I urge you to reconsider.

Cobra places his hand on his whip, like a cowboy preparing to shoot.

Cobra: What gives? I thought you just wanted to talk.

Goat: As I said... We instinctually desire an alfa... Even I.

Goat: I will not let you make such an important decision.

Goat: Unless you become King.

Cobra: Pass.

Pulling out his whip, Cobra cracks it towards Goat who fires an arrow with a little shake.

Cobra believed his whip would smash the arrow until it curved around his weapon, leaving a trajectory that ended in his neck.

Cobra:?!

With his left hand, Cobra tried to catch the arrow.

(THUNK)

Cobra:!

He did catch the arrow, but that only stopped it from going completely through. The barbed arrows tip still pierced into the side of Cobra's neck.

Cobra: Son of a!

Distracted by the first arrow, Cobra wasn't able to help his whip land, allowing Goat to fire again.

Cobra: Tch!

Ripping the arrow out of his neck with a little bit of flesh, Cobra threw it at the second arrow.

(CLA-CLANG)

Retracting his whip, Cobra placed pressure on his neck wound.

Cobra: Curving arrows... Neat trick.

Cobra: Unexpected, like a gun in a knife fight. But that trick won't work twice.

Goat:(draws bow) The night is young and the battle has just begun with me having the advantage.

Cobra: Two can play the random man!

Pulling out his whip, Cobra ties it around his neck and down his arm, both placing pressure on his neck wound and giving him some slight armor.

Goat:?

Cobra rushes straight towards Goat.

(Vs Goat)

(Fump)

Goat fires another arrow at the ground, which curves towards Cobra's stomach.

Cobra: SIYAH!

Kicking the arrow, Cobra sensed the danger from Goat's second arrow.

(Fump)

Rolling to his left, Cobra backhanded the second arrow which curved with his whip-wrapped arm after activating the stiffener on it.

(CLANG)

Goat: Interesting... I guess I'll use armor-piercing arrows.

Cobra: Armor-piercing arrows-

(FUMP)

The next arrow he fired launched like a rocket, speeding off faster than a bullet, giving Cobra no time to react.

(BOOOOM)

Cobra:(smirks)

Goat:?

The arrow curved to the right, exploding into the wall away from the center tube which housed the Babylon monster, that Cobra was in front of.

Goat: I see... You intentionally rolled in front of the pod, so the Babylon monster's psychic defense would make me miss.

Cobra:(mind) Nope, dumb luck. I was totally going to die if it weren't for this monster behind me.

Cobra: You might sound smart. But I am actually clever.

Cobra:(mind) Most of the time...

With him in front of the tube, Cobra could race head-first at Goat without much worry of "armor-piercing arrows".

(Fump, fump, fump)

Cobra: Tch!

Tackling Goat into the elevator, it automatically closes and goes up, as the two Zodiacs brawl it out.

Goat/Cobra: Hgh!

Goat swung his bow like a bat, Cobra used his whip-wrapped arm and the stiffener to block.

(CLANG)

Knocking his bow away, Cobra cracks his knuckles across Goat's face.

Goat takes his bow and gives a heavy swing to Cobra who deflects it with a combination of both arms, letting Goat slip an arrow into his hand and go for the gut.

Cobra: Tch!

Crouching, the Serpent Zodiac blocks the arrow with the stiff whip around his neck.

(CLANG)

Leaning forward, Cobra leaps up and head-butts Goat in the face,

Goat: Ugh!

(Fump)

Shooting an arrow before Cobra could pin him, it begins ricocheting all around in the elevator provoking Cobra to step back.

Cobra: Is it made of rubber?! Why does it keep bouncing!?

(Fump)

(Fump)

Goat fired two more.

Cobra: Why....?!

Goat: We'll now see who can think faster.

As the two fought in this confined space, they were forced to keep track of three bouncing arrows.

Trading blows, Cobra eventually got hit in the back of his leg.

Cobra: Ugh!?

Goat: It's over!

Cobra: Not yet!

(Clang)

(Shunk, Shunk)

Goat: Ugh!

Deflecting an arrow with his whip brace, Cobra got two arrows in Goat.

Cobra: How do you like a taste of your own arrows?

(DING)

The elevator opened as Goat headbutted Cobra out of it.

Cobra: Gha!

Throwing his leg back, Cobra kicked a wall, stopping his stumble.

Goat:(heavy sigh)... As I said... It's over.

Exiting the elevator, it closes as Goat crushes a keycard in front of Cobra.

Goat: You said you were cleaver... Well....

Cobra:?

Goat: Now the only way to get down there and destroy the Babylon monster is to fight your way up the tower.

Goat: And take the second keycard from Ox.

Goat: You'll come back down as a King or fall trying.

Cobra: Tch! Enough of this King shit! We aren't beasts! We don't need to fight for some vital the government wanted to give one of us!

Goat: It's much more than that!

Goat: This goes beyond what the damn government wanted...

Goat: The title of King is about determining what will become of Zodiac.

Goat: You might have found some type of career. A life that allows you to ignore the animal inside.

Goat: But most of us aren't that lucky.

Goat: Most of us suffered so much just to have nothing.

Cobra: Write a book. Government secrets sell like hotcakes.

Goat: Tell me Cobra... Are you satisfied with whatever paycheck you were given to do this?

Goat: Is it enough to make you whole? Or do you still have that hollowness?

Cobra: Shut the hell up! Your nonsense is pissing me off!

He stomps his way towards Goat.

Goat: It's not nonsense. I cannot speak for Tiger and Rat, but the others have it too.

Goat: A hollow feeling. A desire for more. You have it, don't you?! Why wouldn't you? Or are you just as special as that name-

(WACK)

Cobra knocks Goat unconscious, before falling onto one knee.

Cobra: Son of a bitch...

He glances at a distant reflection, noticing a few arrows in his back. The ones Goat fired before getting tackled into the elevator, he curved to hit him in the back.

Cobra:(heavy breathing)...

Cobra:(mind) Goverment mind control plot... Crazy experiments duking it out for a leadership role.

Cobra: Should have asked for more...

Robin: You can call it quits whenever you want, bra.

Cobra:?

Cobra: I've come this far. Might as well see it through to the end.

Robin: A'right. Here, let me see your whip holster. The upgrade is ready.

Handing him the holster, Robin equips it with the retractable blades.

Robin: Here you go. Let it rip.

Cobra: Thanks.

Robin: I'll give you a bonus.

He hands Cobra a half-used med kit.

Cobra:...

Robin: I thought I should let you know if you fall... I'll be doing the same to you as the others.

(CLICK)

(KATCHHH)

Taking a picture of Goat, with blood on him, Robin throws him over his shoulder.

Cobra: Uh-huh...

Robin: Any more requests? Or is whatever fine?

Cobra: I dunno... Tell her to send nudes.

Cobra: I've been getting some real sexual frustration vibes from the others.

Cobra: So maybe I could use them to distract the remaining whatever.

Robin:(looks around)...

Robin:(whispers) Do you seriously want some, because I can get you...

Cobra:...

Robin: Joking! You were joking. Ha ha! Me too- let's never talk to anyone about this.

Robin: Especially the doc. She'd kill me.

Robin: Later snake-gator. I'll bring you something nice next time.

The two head off in separate directions. Robin disappears with Goat and Cobra walking into a familiar face.

Jade: Howdy.

Mittens: Meow.

Cobra:...

(Ending Theme)

(The Eight Zodiac: Goat)

Subject 371 of the Goat Zodiac formula.

Height: 183 cm Weight: 96 kg

Age: 29 Zodiac: Goat

Stats:

Strength: C

Speed: C

Durability: C

Intelligence: S+

Archery: SSS?

Special skills: Archery, Biotics, robotics, chemistry, psychology, foot archery, super harden skull.

Likes: Therapy, V-Tubers, mint hot chocolate, and mountain views.

Dislikes: Flat earthers, being wrong, enemies of the Zodiac.