#program: leto

What if Ozymandias is kind of short in his maneuver form? Not super short like Meggy and the plumbers but like, somewhere around Tari's height. Root had to get it from somewhere after all.

Meanwhile Leto, in true Siren fashion, is freakin' huge, even when she's at human-passing size like she usually is in that form.

When she eventually takes a break from beating herself against the brick wall that is getting the Nerima Wrecking Crew to actually listen to someone and actually explores the server she's invested herself in things are going to get very messy very quickly. I mean we've seen what she's like when something catches her interest so imagine it with something that actually fits her elemental affinity. And can't talk back.

*stares in horror*

See, in order for Stockman to actually be useful he needs a lab to do his mad scientist stuff, preferably somewhere the group can lay low, so they looked around and found an abandoned server styled as a laboratory that may or may not have been one of Worm's old hideouts, not that any of them have any idea about that of course. They've also managed to cobble together a technically functional body for him that mostly just consists of a big jar and some spindly metal limbs. Crude, but it'll work well enough for now.

Disc comes into the picture when a burning, mangled, vaguely humanoid mass of code stumbles through a portal into one of the server's common areas. Initially they see it as a security threat, but when he utterly fails to do anything but sit there and look like an on-fire corpse they calm down, and Leto notices the unusual mix of different codes and the fact that his soul is barely clinging to it (dude finally got his wish and Cheated Death, unfortunately for him), decides he's Interesting, and asks Stockman to see if he can make anything out of the mess.

And so Disc slowly comes to on a hard metal table in a strange room, still in pain but in a very...different way from before he passed out, "Wh...where?" his voice sounds foreign to him, though he can't put his finger on why.

"Ah, so there is still a mind in there. My condolences."

As you might expect, Disc is pretty damn shocked and confused about waking up in what looks like some kind of nightmare hospital staffed by a disembodied brain, and Stockman's explanation alleviates some of the confusion but not really any of the shock, especially when he finds out what Stockman had to do to him to make the death-cheating actually stick. Basically, he had to stitch together whatever was left of his original code and his Damien disguise's code into a functional vessel, somehow using the code of Vitality's firefox flames to thread the conflicting codes together and fill in the many, many gaps. The result is a hulking werecoyote/zombie/lava monster thing with Disc's mind and a terrible hollow feeling where his source code used to be.

"Not a pretty sight, I'm afraid."

Disc-or whoever he is now-simply shrugs, "Hey, anything's better than dying."

Stockman lets out a cross between a huff and a chuckle, "Oh, to still be so naive."

Disc eyes the brain in confusion.

"Take it from someone with experience; getting ripped from the jaws of death may seem like a blessing the first few times, but after a dozen or so the pieces left behind start to wear on you." he stares forlornly at lone of his jar's claws where a human hand should be, though it's a bit hard to tell given the single lidless eyeball.

Disc isn't sure how to take that, and so just looks over himself some more, doing his best to get used to his new body, "what am I supposed to be, anyway?"

"Well, where I'm from you'd likely be considered a mutant, though it somewhat depends on the continuity."

"Wait, you're that Stockman? Aren't you supposed to be a fly?"

"Again, depends on the continuity. I personally am one hundred percent human...well, genetically at least."

"Huh."

"...You know, there's... well, I'm not sure if it qualifies as a tradition or just a pattern, but mutated sapients in my franchise often take up pseudonyms when they turn. Not as much a thing in my version since our mutegen worked differently, but still. I've got some ideas if you're interested."

"...Sure, why not. It'll probably keep the Admins off my back at least."

----

And so Leto and Lumi are introduced to the newest member of their little team; Rahzar.

(yes I know TMNT '03 technically had a Rahzar in Turtles Forever but he only showed up in like two scenes as a random Foot Mook and I can't remember if he was even namedropped.)

(and yes, Disc is still too much of his usual dumbass self to realize that being bound to an unrecognizable lifeless shell of himself and owing his survival to a madman and the worst Program on the 'net is probably going to be a fate worse than death. Even when warned by said madman who's been dealing with nearly that exact fate for most of the show he's from.)

The same is probably true for Firewalls since they're specifically designed as defense systems, though obviously to a much lesser degree.

Ooooo!! I like that a lot.

Lily: Will Root be okay?

Lil Coding, shining his spear: She won't be when I find her.

----

Tulip: It’s like riding a bike or severe childhood trauma.

Tulip: You never really lose it.

----

Vitality: Can we talk about something else and stop talking about dresses and nine inch heels?

Sparks: No. We’re gonna talk about them because while wearing those very things, you leaped over this bar counter, sprinted down an alley, and jumped off a car to subdue someone like you were Wonder Woman.

----

*everyone arguing*

Meggy: If you need me, I'll be right here doing the "Glad I'm an only child dance."

----

Ash: Oh my god, you’re rich.

Tulip: No. My parents were rich.

Ash: So? They'll be considered legally dead in a year.

----

Luigi: Are you through with your shenanigans?

Mario: Nope. I think I am going to shenan-again.

----

Bob: Boopkins, make some ocean noises so I can get to sleep.

Boopkins: Whoosh.

Bob: More like a French beach.

Boopkins: Le whoosh.

----

SMG3: If you're going to be happy in life, SMG4, you have to not care what people say about you. Like truly not care.

SMG3: That's what I keep trying to explain to the president on Twitter, but he blocked me.

----

Lumi: What exactly is our plan?

Leto: Use Root to injure her friends, free Ozymandias, kill Root, and then kill Ozymandias.

Lumi: I.. think that's not a plan. That's a wishlist.

----

Meggy: Wait, who are fighting?

Mario: Anyone who's not a primary color.

----

Domain: Wow, you talk a lot.

Forum: We’ve known each other for two decades, dating for thirteen of those years, and you're only just realizing this?

----

King Damien: Lumiere, how many people of you killed?

Lumiere: Like.. one?

Damien: Wimp… How about you, Fluerette? How many people?

Queen Fluerette: Thousands, many my own people...

Damien: YES! I knew I’d find a powerful ally eventually!

Arle: I would rather have a moment in the moon, the superior of the sky circles.  

Shantae: .. please don't ever refer to them as 'sky circles' again.

----

A!Andrew: If I'm dead, what are you doing here?

Aite: I forgot to give you an ass-whooping, so I came back.

----

Saiko: There's plenty of fish in the sea. But you know what else there is? Trash. There is a lot of trash in the sea.

Meggy: Not sure if you got cheated on or you're just trying to raise awareness about pollution.

----

SMG4, to SMG3: What’s in the suitcase?

SMG3: Vodka.

SMG4: You brought an entire suitcase full of vodka?

SMG3: No, there are mixers as well. Im not a savage.

----

Root: Tired of everyone telling me I've 'lost too much blood' and 'need to go to the hospital'. It's my severe head injury not yours. Stay out of it.

----

SMG4: Do you believe in true love?

SMG3: I believe you’re a true pain in my ass.

----

Ozymandias: You punched me in the face!

Leto: You bit my tail!

Ozymandias: You punched me in the face!

Leto: YOU BIT MY FUCKING TAIL!

----

Nimbus: Do I look nice?

Ambrosia: You look like you're about to set someone on fire.

Nimbus: Perfect.

----

Cursor: Are you ever going to listen to me?

Lag: Possibly.

Cursor: When?

Lag: When you’re right.

----

Ozymandias: 'Revenge' sounds so mean.

Ozymandias: That's why I prefer to call it 'returning the favour'.

----

SMG10: Are you alright? you didn't sleep at all last night.

Tulip: I got a solid eight minutes.

Tulip: Not consecutively but still it is fine. You're not even that blurry.

----

Vee: So... what’s going on?

Elanore: You want the long version or the short version?

Vee: The short one.

Elanore: Everything sucks.

Vee: Oh. Well, yeah, that’s definitely not an optimal situation.

----

Ozymandias: How dare you mock me in such a manner!

Root: Well, then how would you like me to mock you? I take requests!

----

Nimbus: Ew. What kind of tea is this?

Tulip: I boiled gatorade.

---

Laharl: Clownery. Tomfoolery. Absolute fuckery, I am going to revoke your life privileges.

----

Abyssal: Sometimes, the best way to scare your opponent is just to walk straight at them menacingly. That way, they can't even tell you have a brain the size of a walnut.

----

Root: *flicks out her tongue and tastes the air*

Lil Coding: Well damn, does it taste good?

----

Leto: You have two choices. One: I fling you into a bottomless pit. Two: I curse you.

Queen Melody: Actually, there's a third choice.

Leto: There is?

Melody: Yes. I could beat you to a bloody pulp.

Leto: ...I see. And which of the three will you choose?

Melody: Guess.

----

Tulip, to the Elanore and Tama: Remember to get something to eat, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep!

Ash: When was the last time you did any of that?

Tulip: This isn’t about me.

----

Plurality, after arriving at the Mushroom Kingdom: Day one of eating every plant I see.

Plurality: Something bad is happening.

----

SMG3, at Starbucks: Can I get a venti caramel macchiato with seven espresso shots?

"She's definitely been acting weird, yeah." Lil Coding nods. "I heard from Sig that apparently she hasn't been hanging out much with him either."

"She hasn't been hanging out with anyone!" She laments, throwing her hands into the air. "I didn't even see her at school today!"

"No one has seen her at school for, like.. weeks." Her brother remarks. "Principal Guy asked me about it a while ago. He thinks she's sick or something."

"Maybe she is? Maybe there's something wrong with her code." Lily places a hand to her forehead. She glances at her brother, and one of his ears flick in the direction of the forest. "Maybe we should ask one of our grandpas to message Vitality-?"

"Duck!" Lil Coding suddenly shouts.

"Wh-? Duck isn't here-"

Her brother grabs her shoulders and ducks with her, as five cats shoot over their heads.

"GET BACK HERE YOU-! Oh shit-"

The familiar voice of Root makes the brother and sister stand up and look over. Lily blinks, and the horns, tail, claws, and rapier of the virus are gone. "He-Hey guys!" Root grins nervously. "Didn't.. see you there!"

"Root, we live here." Lil Coding narrows his eyes. "You- You live with us."

"That.." Root blinks. "Oh, yeah. I.. kinda forgot."

While the Code Manifestation's eye twitches a bit, Lily turns her head to look at the cats. There's five of them, like she thought, one white, one red, one blue, one green, and one purple. They're all panting, looking like they'd bene running for hours.

"Root, were you chasing these poor cats?" Lily asks, her pupils wide a bit as she looks at Root. "Why?"

"No reason." Root snips, her voice sharper than usual. "Just let me deal with them."

"Let you- What?!" The young hybrid looks at the Virus as if she's lost her mind. And honestly, it feels like she has. "They haven't done anything!"

"Yes, they have!" Root narrows her eyes. "They've-" She cuts herself off as if realizing something. "Listen, just.. just let me deal with them, okay? You don't need to worry about it."

Lily shifts on her feet a little. The panting of the cats behind her stopped by now, but she could practically feel their nervous and worried stares.

A river of cold washes over her as something connects.

"Were you going to hurt them?!" Lily asks, her voice rising. Panic grips her heart. No, Root wouldn't. She wouldn't hurt innocent beings, once with practically no defense!

But the other's silence is defeaning.

There's the familiar spark of code, and she can see the flash of Lil Coding's spear.

As if on instinct - like she was trained - Root's rapier appears in hers.

"Root.." Lily whispers. "Why.. what.."

"Don't worry about it." Root grits her teeth. "Just let me deal with them. I'm not going to have them mess all this up!"

"Mess what up?" Lil Coding demands, taking a step in front of his sister when Root herself took a step forward.

"She's-!" One of the cats tries to speak up, but the ground rumbles, silver roots shoot up and wrap around the cats.

The cats cry in pain, and Lily's heart both stops and wrenches. "Root, stop!"

Her friend (is this even her friend? Is this someone else?) rushes past them. She raises her rapier to slash down, and it's only because Lil Coding is quick enough to block Root's attack that the cats turn to liquid and get themselves free.

"Okay, Root, this can stop now!" Lil Coding grunts as he struggles against the strength Root was pressing down with. "This messed up joke has gone on long enough!"

"This isn't a joke!" Root snaps. "I'm doing this for all of us, LC!"

"Doing what?!"

"Keeping us safe!"

Lily can't focus. Her heart is pounding.

(In the castle, SMG4 looks out a window, concerned. "Does anyone else hear shouting?"

Meggy looks up from trying to get a dumbbell off of Mario's chest. "Is it Lils and LC?"

"Maybe..?" 4 frowns. "But they should've come in by now..")

"Root, please!" Lily pleads as the virus and code manifestation part. She tries to ignore how Root looks almost hungry, ready for Lil Coding to lunge. "Let's just talk or something!"

"You wouldn't get it." Root glares. Lily can't help but take a step back. "Just stay out of it, let me deal with those cats, and we'll act like this never happened."

This wasn't Root. This can't be Root. Root wouldn't be this cold, Root wouldn't have that battle-hungry look in her eyes.

Her Root wouldn't hurt innocent beings.

This isn't her Root.

"You can't be Root, you can't be." Lily whispers. She shakes her head. "You.. Root wouldn't.."

"I am Root!" The virus places a hand on her chest. "Is it that hard to believe that my attitude changed a bit?!"

"Hehe, I am Groot- Ow!"

"Not the time, Red!"

"Like this?!" Lil Coding demands. "Yeah, kinda!"

("Okay, I hear it now." Meggy remarks as Tari pokes her head out of the gaming room. "That sounds like Root too."

"What the hell.." 4 rubs his face before heading to the front doors. "They better not be fighting over something stupid, I swear..")

"Root, please!" Lily can feel tears pricking in her eyes. "What is all this about?!" Her breath hitches. "You've been so avoidant for weeks! You haven't been hanging out with any of us, brushing us off and saying you had more important things to do, and just.. you aren't talking to us!"

Root falters, and Lily pushes forward. "I know we all suck at communication, but this is.. We can tell there's something more to this! Please!"

Her friend (her love) hesitates. "I.. I'm just.."

"She's been training with a weird snake thing to keep you guys safe, and the snake has turned her into a battle-hungry monster by manipulating her and gaslighting her!"

All eyes lock onto the red cat, whose chest was heaving.

"Man that felt good to say."

Lily felt chills run down her spine as she looked at Root.

Root wasn't there.

The virus had rushed past too quickly, her horns curling, claws extended, tail lashing, ready to claw the poor cat. "Coral isn't manipulating me, you INSIGNIFICANT PEST!"

Lily didn't even think.

The bracelet of pearls forms into her trident, she swings it at an angle, and the space between the two prongs catches Root's rapier.

But she can hardly keep her grip. Root's strength is pressing down, almost crushingly.

"When did you..?!" Root looks surprised.

"You'd know if you were actually aROUND!" Lily cries as she wrenches the other's rapier from the prongs of her trident.

There's the tip-tip-tap of rain gently falling.

It lands on Lil Coding's skin and he hisses. It lands on Root's skin, and she doesn't even flinch.

"What's happened to you.." Lily whispers, tears pricking. "Tell me it isn't true, tell me.. Please.. I.."

"Kids?"

"It's to keep everyone safe." Root clenches her free hand. "To keep all of us safe. They're spies."

"Root, look at you!" Lily's choking up now. "You're trying to hurt cats who've done nothing wrong!"

"They were spying on my training!" The virus snarls, her tail lashing.

"Were you ever going to tell us?!" The siren demands, tears welling in her eyes. She was wondering why her trident hadn't vanished by now. "Were you ever going to tell us you were training with someone to make you like this?! To make you so mean!?"

"I'm not mean! I'm fine! I'm normal!" The offshot snaps, her voice rising.

"Kids?!" 4's voice grows closer, and there's multiple pairs of footsteps.

"You're not! You're not Root-!"

Just as the group from the castle approaches, Root had lunged forward, her rapier clashing against Lily's trident.

"I am Root," the offshoot of Ozymandias seethes, voice dangerous. "And I'm taking a lot of offense to the fact that you think you even have a right to try and tell me what I can't do."

"I'LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!" Lil Coding shouts as he tackles Root. Lily's trident vanishes in a flurry of bubbles as she stumbles and falls.

Root had been living a double life. She'd been lying about it.

.. did she just try to kill Lily, too?

There's a hand on her shoulder, and the dam breaks.

"ANYONE ELSE?!" Lily demands, tears falling from her face. The rain falls harder. "ANYONE ELSE LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE?! HUH?!"

"There's no one else living a double life, Lily." The soft voice of her dad breaks through the ringing of her hearing.

Her face scrunches up before she buries her face into her dad's chest and gently thumps her fist against his chest. She's too upset. "I HATE HER! I HATE HER I HATE HER! WHY?! WHY IS SHE LIKE THIS NOW?!" Her voice breaks into sobs and a whimper. "Why.."

4 had no answer. All he could do was hug her tighter.

"Uhm.. is.. this a bad time to bring up what we came here for..?" The white came from the group of five speaks up.

○●○

"FUCK!" Root shouts as she appears back in Wave-Mania. "SON OF A BITCH!" She spins around and punches a wall.

They just didn't understand! They didn't get it!

"Root? What's happened?" Coral's voice asks, followed by her footsteps.

"It's- Ugh!" Root sneers. "It's my friends. They aren't listening! They think that I've changed or something, and they wouldn't let me get rid of those cats." She scowls. "Lil Coding chased me into my portal."

"Did he get here?" Alarm flashes across Coral's face.

"No. It closed in his face." There's a smirk of satisfaction. Far from Root's old attitude.

Coral hides her smile with a hum. "Well, we are due for an early open today. How do you feel about some fighting?"

"Sure." Root nods. She then hesitates. "Uh.. do you.. think I could stay here? I don't want to see them until they realize I'm just training to protect them."

Coral smiles now. "Of course. I think Bioluminescent has been making an outfit for you. Why don't you go check it out?"

"Sweet!" The offshoot of Ozymandias smiles and rushes off.

"What am I doing..?"

Root frowns when she hears Bioluminescent. The Moderator seems almost resigned, guilty maybe.

The offshoot rounds the corner, and spots Bioluminescent with her head hung. "Uh.. Bioluminescent?"

"Huh?!" The cat quickly shoots up and turns around. She smiles at seeing Root and gently rubs her eyes. "Oh, hello, Root! It's good to see you!"

"Are.. Are you okay?" Root asks as she walks over to a coat hanger, which she then takes off her cloak and hangs it on a hook. "Were you..?"

"Just a tough day." Bioluminescent waves her off, smiling still. "Some rude Programs, nothing new." The Moderator floats over. "How have you been?"

The virus pauses before looking down. "I.. not good." She closes her eyes. "There was an outbreak of badgers today, and E. Gadd thought it'd be a good idea for me to get rid of them. Because, you know.. snake." She shrugs. "But then I.. I.."

She starts to shake, and Bioluminescent frowns. She floats over and gently places her paws on Root's shoulder. "Deep breaths. Tell me what happened."

"I was so violent." Root whispers. "I.. I was enjoying it. Tearing them all down, defeating them. And I.. Meggy, she.." Her breath hitches. "She was just checking on me and pointing out how excessive it was. And I snapped at her, told her to just mind her business, because she wasn't the one to get rid of all the badgers!" Her voice crescendoed before it softened. "And I.. I realized and said I was sorry, that I just got stressed from having to get rid of all those badgers but.."

"My training was supposed to make me less like Ozymandias, not more!" Root cries. "Am I not training enough?! What am I doing wrong?!"

Bioluminescent opens her mouth to say something, but of course, Coral walks over and kneels down.

"Oh, Root dear, it's alright." The Admin soothes her.

"Coral.." Root rubs her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I.."

"Sh, it's not your fault." Coral cuts her off. "Come now dear, I have some new moves I want to show you today. Maybe it'll help you blow off some steam?"

Root nods and follows Coral as the Admin gets up and walks, her horns, tail, and clawed hands forming.

Bioluminescent followed them until they began descending to the arena. Wave-Mania had closed just a few hours ago, so there was no one around. Instead, Bioluminescent heads on up to one of the many viewing areas.

There, her disguse falls, and Lumi hunches over.

"What am I doing..?" She whispers, her ears flat. "Root is a kid..! And I'm just.. oh god.."

Her eyes glance behind her, and her hackles raise.

The Purple One stares down at her, their expression one of pity.

Lumi turns her head away.

"You aren't real, you aren't real, you aren't real! I saw Leto throw you out, I saw it-" She mutters, clenching her teeth.

Lumi.

"No." Lumi lowers her head in shame. "Please."

Lumi, you can still fix this. You can get her out.

"No.. No I.." She drags her front paws down her face. "I can't, I can't. Leto.." She shudders out a breath. "Leto is helping me.. I can't.. I can't forget that."

Lumi..

"Go away..!" She hisses quietly, turning her head back to glare at The Purple One.

They're gone when she looks back.

She swallows thickly and walks back up to the railing, and assumes her Moderator disguise.

Bioluminescent watches the sparing match below, and exhales.

She couldn't forget. This was Leto helping them. This was Leto helping.