"Fix-It? What are you doing here?" Calhoun, gripping blaster, turned and hissed at the handyman. Felix recoiled after hopping in her direction, Tamora's intimidating form bending over his.
"I was waiting at the gate for an awful long time, darlin.' I just wanted to see if everything was alright." Felix straightened himself and noticed the commotion within the 'Hero's Duty' headquarters. Dozens of marines were stomping down the halls, investigating vents on the floor and walls, searching rooms; some keeping a sharp eye on the ceiling tiles above them, weapons at the ready. "I…I seem to have come at a bad time…"
"A Cy-bug was spotted during perimeter check and was tracked back to the base. Which means you need to get out of here, now," the statuesque blond spoke with an urgency Felix had witnessed before back in 'Sugar Rush,' years ago. Before he could say anything, Tamora barked at one of her men. "MARKOWSKI!"
The dangers of the present situation were sinking in, and Felix started to feel anxious. He stepped closer to his wife while his eyes tentatively surveyed the area, knowing he was much safer around her. The little handyman nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the loud thunking of a soldier's boots heading towards them.
"Yes Ma'am," Markowski stood at attention in front of the couple, saluting to his superior.
"I want you to escort Felix out of here. Once he's on the train, you are to report back to me. Think you can handle it, soldier?" Calhoun had her doubts about Markowski's overall capabilities as a space marine, but she figured this task would be easy enough for him not to screw up.
"Ma'am yes ma'am! This way sir." Markowski gave another salute, and both he and the 8-bit began down the central corridor of the military base. Felix glanced back and over his shoulder to his wife, his thoughts filled with worry. He knew she could take care of herself in dangerous situations…but he just had this awful feeling that something was going to go wrong.
Unbeknownst to the two men, the stray bug everyone was searching for followed them at a distance as they walked; its pointed legs making a slight tik-tik-tik against the floor of the vents it hid in. It's green, glowing eyes peered through the grating, all four of them fixated on one thing only: Felix's hammer. It had a heavenly, golden glow, and light danced on its surface whenever the small man attached to it moved. The incredible glint from the golden tool was captivating to the creature, and it grew more and more eager to have it as its own, but it would wait for just the right moment to attack.
Sergeant Calhoun growled as she performed percussive maintenance on her personal radar. The darn thing rarely ever worked, and this was a time where she desperately needed it to. There was no sign of the blasted bug anywhere! Anger finally getting the best of her, she threw the device against a wall, which seemed to do wonders, as it beeped to life. Raising a brow, the blond picked the device back up and peered at its screen through her bangs. She was nearly petrified at what she saw. All of the color draining from her face, she shouted orders to her men, directing them to the train station. As she ran, leading the pack, Tamora fought off the oncoming flashbacks of her previous loss of a loved one. She couldn't bear the thought of losing another. No. She wouldn't let it happen again.
"Here you are, sir. Have a safe trip home." Markowski walked with Felix down the stairs within the station and onto the platform, the train was sitting there, doors open wide.
"Thank you!" Felix hopped the last few steps and turned to face the marine. "And I wish you the best of luck with the-" The sound of groaning metal slowly filled the station, growing louder and louder. "Cy…bug?"
A screech pierced the air, forcing the handyman to cover his ears, and the grating of a vent fell to the floor and tumbled loudly down the stairs at his feet. Upon looking up, Felix froze, eyes wide. A Cybug, having grown too large to fit into the ventilation any longer, ripped at the square hole in the ceiling with its legs. It finally freed itself, and landed at the top of the stairway, cracking the tiling with its weight.
"BUG!" Markowski panicked, fumbled with his gun and began to shoot frantically at the offending creature. Swift, the Cybug unfurled its wings and flew upwards, dodging the deadly lasers before slamming into the marine, effectively knocking him, as well as Felix to the ground. His head pounding, the little handyman heard a scream as he slowly lifted himself back onto his feet.
"M-Markowski?" Felix looked up and gasped at the sight of the marine, who laid motionless on the floor a few feet away. Forgetting the Cybug, Felix removed his hammer from his belt and ran to the fallen soldier. He was about to strike Markowski with his magic hammer when the marine's body, and his gun, slowly faded out of existence. He had died, and was sent back to spawn.
Felix was alone.
Terrified that the bug had already killed his escort, Felix whipped around, spotting the creature staring at him as it slowly crawled on the roof of the high-speed train. Felix was frozen stiff as the Cybug let out another ear shattering screech and lunged towards his right arm. The handyman was able to pull his wits together just at the last second, and the hopped up and over the bug, still wielding his hammer.
The bug hissed angrily and the sharpened gears in its mouth roared to life, ready to devour. Felix gave a startled shout and ran, only to have the Cybug land itself in front of him to block his path. Ending the chase, the Cybug collided with the handyman, knocking the wind out of him. As he fell to the floor, Felix watched as his hammer slide away from his reach. The bug began to crawl towards it, but Felix, using all the strength he had, struck its head with the heel of his boot, buying him some time to get up. As soon as he was on his feet, he was off them again as the Cybug hooked a sharp limb on his pant leg and dragged him back down. Felix reached for the hammer and his fingers desperately pulled its handle into his grip. Successful, Felix swung his arm upwards to strike. But the Cybug had the upper hand.
Felix let out an agonizing scream as his forearm disappeared into the bugs mouth, trying desperately to pull it out, but the rows upon rows of spinning, inward pointing teeth made it nearly impossible.
That's when Calhoun and her men came onto the scene.