Repliwolves

Part Three: Truth

Heart lead the group to an alley, where they were now resting. All Repliwolves were exhausted. Light and her friends were licking the wounds they had, but soon, they to had succumbed to sleep. Heart was weakened by the wounds he had, and there was no doubt in his mind they'd either become infected or scar over, but he didn't even care.

Ever since the raid, his mind had been elsewhere. It didn't bother him that they hadn't been seen, nor did it satisfy his longing for comfort. He wanted to find where Axl and his friends were and feel safe there. Yet, he hadn't even worked up the courage to ask a reploid.

At that moment, a reploid stick his head down the alleyway. Heart growled slightly and the reploid squealed in fright and ran off. Heart knew he had made a mistake, soon, there would be enemies. Enemies that would rip everyone into pieces. Heart snarled and clenched a paw. No, he wouldn't let that happen. These were his friends, his family, and he'd die for them if he had to.

His wounds stung, and Heart forced himself to lie down. A pebble clattered on the sidewalk and Heart opened his eyes, fighting through the pain. "Heh heh, well well well," a voice said from around the corner. Heart tensed and stood up on stiff legs.

"Hello Heart, I've heard so much about you," the voice said again. "Who are you?" Heart demanded. "You know me by the name of Vile," the voice took a slithery turn. Heart's eyes widened as the reploid with the T-shaped visor stepped into the alley. His weapon was pointed at Heart's chest, ready to kill. Hands clutched his neck, and Heart was slammed into one of the walls, the hands tightening around his throat.

"Wow, those injuries look like they hurt a lot. Why not come with me and get help?" Vile hissed through what sounded like clenched mechanics. Heart couldn't feel his legs, tail or lower half. He could hardly move, could hardly bring his front paws to try and pry Vile's hands off his neck.

"Vile, why, why are you doing this?" Heart managed to choke out through the pressure. Vile scoffed and squeezed tighter. Heart could hear his circuits locking up, triggering his wheezing mechanisms. "This is what the great Repliwolf leader has to offer?" Vile said with a hint of malice and disappointment. "Come on! Fight me! Claw my armor!"

Heart reached a paw out to fight, but between the pressure and the pain, it was too hard to focus. He let his paw drop. Vile laughed maniacally and pushed Heart further into the wall.

"Vile please! I can tell you're pain! Please come with me and we'll get you help!" Heart begged through the sound of his mechanisms being crushed in the metal and rock. "Like...LIKE YOU COULD HELP ME! HA! THAT'S RICH!" Vile chortled. His laugh chilled Hearts fluid. He remembered that laugh the night of the raid, the time when his brothers were bleeding out onto the pavement. And, when Poison was bitten by Quick. Heart could be remember the laughing he had heard as Poison howled and screamed in pain.

Growling, he kicked Vile's abdomen, knocking him back. Vile looked shocked, but if he was injured, he didn't show it. Standing up, he aimed his weapon at Heart.

"IT WAS YOU! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TURNED POISON! THE ONE WHO SHOT AND KILLED MY BROTHERS!" Heart screamed, not caring how loud he was. "AND WHEN POISON WAS IN PAIN, YOU SAT THERE....AND YOU LAUGHED! YOU LAUGHED AS HE SCREAMED IN AGONY!" Heart continued. Vile stuttered and took a step back.

"LEAVE ME AND MY FAMILY ALONE! NEVER COME NEAR US AGAIN!" Heart ordered, rage building up inside him. Vile aimed and fired. Heart leapt out the way of the blast, but the he could feel the heat on his tail.

Heart's eyes were clouded with tears, and he reach to wipe them away. "We're going to take you to the Maverick Hunters, get the help we need, and let them deal with you," he growled. "I'll make sure of it."

Heart finished clearing his vision, shocked when Vile didn't answer. The reploid stood there, the silence enfolding him. Heart didn't like it. Then, Vile reached for his weapon, pulling it down.

"What do you know?" Vile questioned, his voice icy cold. "You're nothing, but a waste of machinery, circuits and metal. I'm going to take great pleasure in retiring you."

Heart tensed as the weapon pointed at his chest. Something rose up through his chest and into his throat. A blast of blue light exited his mouth as the bullet penetrated his chest. Heart could hear Vile scream in shock. Then he crumpled onto the alley's floor.

Heart blinked to clear his mind, pain welling in his chest. In front of him, slumped Vile, who was writhing. The reploid had a massive hole in his chest, and Heart could see through it. There was the sound of voices nearby and Heart smiled, recognizing Axl's

"I'll...kill...you...wretch," Vile said between coughs. Heart sighed softly. There was nothing Vile could do now. The pain was slowly vanishing, replaced by numbness, and darkness entered the corners of Heart's vision.

"You're going to die alone...just like the Maverick you are. I hope it was worth it," Heart whimpered weakly and quietly. His eyes closed and the last thing he saw was Axl leaning down to investigate Heart himself. "Heart...can you hear me? Everything will be alright," Axl whispered into Heart's ear. Then, Heart lost consciousness.