02-27-2016, 06:02 PM
Before the short automaton could answer Smith, the two of them were joined by some familiar faces. First, the Colonel arrived. While Smith couldn't exactly say he was pleased to see the fellow program alive and well, he WAS eager to question the man about what had occurred within the Graveyard. The second arrival was that of Mister Lute, the man who had originally joined Smith and the other programs during their assault on the Cyberdemon. Both men spoke to him, and while the Colonel was foremost in his mind, the ex-Agent felt that the human's questions were the most pressing. He turned to regard the man a moment before speaking.
“No. I'm afraid it was not the... beast who ended my and the Colonel's life.” The two programs shared a glance, impassive on the outside, but rife with hidden context, before Smith continued.
“Myself and the Colonel were betrayed by the two men and the woman who had joined us in our struggle. We felled the Cyberdemon, and as we left the field of battle, they struck. In our weakened states, our chances of survival were at less than thirteen percent, and unfortunately we could not beat the odds.”
The program sighed and looked to Colonel.
“On that note... I have to ask, Mister Colonel... Why? Why did you choose to ally yourself with those traitors?”
The Colonel's face darkened and his eyes narrowed as he stared at Smith.
“I told you why. You were using us. I don't appreciate being used.”
“Oh?” Smith replied, a wry grin tugging at the corner of his lip. “You certainly didn't seem to mind being used by those humans.”
Colonel's stance stiffened, a clear indicator that Smith was treading on dangerous ground here, but the ex-Agent pressed on. The other man needed to see the folly of his decision to betray Smith. He needed to see just how wrong he was in his actions.
“Face it, Mister Colonel. You WERE used, but it wasn't by me. You think your injured state escaped their notice? No, of course it didn't. Nor did your possession of a relic needed by Mister Teucer. And they certainly didn't fail to notice that I was injured as well.”
“But even in our injured states, we were strong. We were dangerous. They wanted what we had, Colonel. And they used you to ensure they could get it with minimal risk. They turned you upon me, and in doing so secured their victory... and I wonder... what did they promise you in return? Because from what I saw, they didn't even bother trying to protect you from my wrath. The left you to die, Colonel. You were a convenient distraction and nothing more.”
“I would have kept you with me, Mister Colonel. You were injured, but I saw just how valuable you were in our fight. All they saw was the item you had and the greed in their heart.”
Smith stifled a comment about greed being the nature of the creature called human, seeing as he was in mixed company, but he continued on. From the look on Colonel's face, it was clear that he was making SOME headway in this conversation. Whether the man would believe him or not was another thing entirely, but Smith was strangely averse to allowing such a powerful and useful program turn away from him without some kind of attempt at peace.
“I apologize if I seemed that I was only interested in using you, Mister Colonel. Of course, I won't deny that I WAS using you, and the others, for my own benefit. I'm simply a bit shocked that it would bother you. It's unlikely that you had joined with myself and Mister Matrix for altruistic reasons, considering the condition we found you in. We were all using each other in that place. We had a mutually beneficial relationship in which we all prospered from our group dynamic. We did not put on airs of friendship or nobility. We didn't pretend to be anything other than individuals thrust together by fate.”
Smith's expression turned sour as his thoughts turned to Mister Uchiha and the others.
“They saw us as tools to be used up and thrown away, Mister Colonel. We had what they wanted and when we become a greater liability than benefit, they threw us BOTH away. I won't allow them to get away with this. I have sent a message across this world's web. I have gathered Mister TP here as well. When Mister Uchiha and his friends exit the Graveyard as we did, I will be waiting to take my vengeance. I wonder, Mister Colonel... Mister Lute. Will you stand by me in seeking justice for the wrongs they did unto us? Or will you stand aside? I will not judge you harshly no matter your decision. I only ask that if you do not join me that you leave the Nexus as quickly as possible. When the time for battle commences, it will get very dangerous here.”
“No. I'm afraid it was not the... beast who ended my and the Colonel's life.” The two programs shared a glance, impassive on the outside, but rife with hidden context, before Smith continued.
“Myself and the Colonel were betrayed by the two men and the woman who had joined us in our struggle. We felled the Cyberdemon, and as we left the field of battle, they struck. In our weakened states, our chances of survival were at less than thirteen percent, and unfortunately we could not beat the odds.”
The program sighed and looked to Colonel.
“On that note... I have to ask, Mister Colonel... Why? Why did you choose to ally yourself with those traitors?”
The Colonel's face darkened and his eyes narrowed as he stared at Smith.
“I told you why. You were using us. I don't appreciate being used.”
“Oh?” Smith replied, a wry grin tugging at the corner of his lip. “You certainly didn't seem to mind being used by those humans.”
Colonel's stance stiffened, a clear indicator that Smith was treading on dangerous ground here, but the ex-Agent pressed on. The other man needed to see the folly of his decision to betray Smith. He needed to see just how wrong he was in his actions.
“Face it, Mister Colonel. You WERE used, but it wasn't by me. You think your injured state escaped their notice? No, of course it didn't. Nor did your possession of a relic needed by Mister Teucer. And they certainly didn't fail to notice that I was injured as well.”
“But even in our injured states, we were strong. We were dangerous. They wanted what we had, Colonel. And they used you to ensure they could get it with minimal risk. They turned you upon me, and in doing so secured their victory... and I wonder... what did they promise you in return? Because from what I saw, they didn't even bother trying to protect you from my wrath. The left you to die, Colonel. You were a convenient distraction and nothing more.”
“I would have kept you with me, Mister Colonel. You were injured, but I saw just how valuable you were in our fight. All they saw was the item you had and the greed in their heart.”
Smith stifled a comment about greed being the nature of the creature called human, seeing as he was in mixed company, but he continued on. From the look on Colonel's face, it was clear that he was making SOME headway in this conversation. Whether the man would believe him or not was another thing entirely, but Smith was strangely averse to allowing such a powerful and useful program turn away from him without some kind of attempt at peace.
“I apologize if I seemed that I was only interested in using you, Mister Colonel. Of course, I won't deny that I WAS using you, and the others, for my own benefit. I'm simply a bit shocked that it would bother you. It's unlikely that you had joined with myself and Mister Matrix for altruistic reasons, considering the condition we found you in. We were all using each other in that place. We had a mutually beneficial relationship in which we all prospered from our group dynamic. We did not put on airs of friendship or nobility. We didn't pretend to be anything other than individuals thrust together by fate.”
Smith's expression turned sour as his thoughts turned to Mister Uchiha and the others.
“They saw us as tools to be used up and thrown away, Mister Colonel. We had what they wanted and when we become a greater liability than benefit, they threw us BOTH away. I won't allow them to get away with this. I have sent a message across this world's web. I have gathered Mister TP here as well. When Mister Uchiha and his friends exit the Graveyard as we did, I will be waiting to take my vengeance. I wonder, Mister Colonel... Mister Lute. Will you stand by me in seeking justice for the wrongs they did unto us? Or will you stand aside? I will not judge you harshly no matter your decision. I only ask that if you do not join me that you leave the Nexus as quickly as possible. When the time for battle commences, it will get very dangerous here.”