XJ-0: Shooting Star, Part11

On Luminare, Zero paces around the observation room, as he face the mad General Balaam.

"You say the people of the world fear what XNA could do, and yet you've forged it for yourself.", Zero protests.

Balaam snarls at Zero's comment.

"I was once human! I have every right to bear this power!"

"You stole and murdered so you can feel important!"

"You are just as guilty, trying to keep this power! So afraid of being outclassed by anyone esle!"

"NO! Every hero in this world has already proven they can get along fine without me! They proved it when they beat you at the end of the war and destroyed Apocalyptron!"

"A pointless victory. They have no future."

Balaam raises his hands up and clenches his fists.

"When you are gone, I will use this XNA to take the future back from this new generation and put it back on its true course, under my direction to a perfect world!", Balaam cries out, "And you light will be extinguished forever!"

"The world is already changing.", says Zero, "What you don't realize is that there are many who shine as beacons of light in their own way, inspiring humanity in ways you will never be able to! Like stars in the sky, and I am only one of them. I will be the light I need to be, and give them the future that they deserve the chance to build!"

"Fool.", says Balaam condescendingly, "I've rewritten the XNA code, and have created a superior body that can more than match your abilities. "

Balaam floats down from the plat form. Plasma energy radiates around his fists. He dashes at Zero at super speed. Zero fires his optic beam, but Balaam blocks with his hand and grips Zero's head. Balaam throws Zero across the room, slamming him in the far wall. Balaam rushes to him again.

Zero bursts into super speed to match Balaam. He ducks as Balaam swings his fist. Zero then follows with an uppercut. Balaam raises his fist charged with plasma and swings them down. Zero dodges back and punches Balaam square in the forehead.

Balaam backs up holding his head. He glares at Zero. Balaam takes flight and fires plasma beams from his hands. Zero too takes flight and dodges the attacks.

"I've had these powers for years! You can't outmatch me!", yells Zero.

Zero rams into Balaam's gut. Zero grabs him by the neck and pummels his face, after which he throws Balaam to the ground.

"That was for the baby!"

Balaam nervously scrambles away near the observation glass.

Jessie has reached Luminare and forces the bay doors open. She can hear the fight, and follows the noise, running at high speed.

Zero keeps punching Balaam. Balaam finally leaps back to put some distance between them. He reaches behind and pulls out a gun.

"Seriously?", says Zero.

The gun opens to reveal an EMP blaster, surprising Zero.

Jessie enters the room just as Balaam pulls the trigger. Zero is hit.

"Aaaarrrrrgh!"

"Zero!", Jessie shouts.

Jessie quickly gets between Zero and Balaam. She slaps the gun out of Balaams hand and punches him down on his back.

"Say goodbye to your space station you monster!", Jessie yells.

She uses her x-ray scope to spot Luminare's core. She transforms her lazer blaster, and fires through the hulls, destroying the core. Alarms are triggered.

:SELF DESTRUCT IMMINENT

"No!", yells Balaam.

Jessie grabs Zero.

"Let me get you out of here."

"Y-you came here?"

Jessie smiles warmly.

"Yes, because I lo-"

Balaam grabs Jessie with his massive hand and tear her and Zero away from each other. He punches Zero down, and applies a crushing grip on Jessie.

She struggles in pain. The plasma energy disrupts her robonizer, causing her to return to her human state. Zero looks up in horror.

"Zero...", she utters weakly.

Balaam throws her through the observation glass at full force.

"JESSIE!!!!!", screams Zero.

She's gone, and Zero has no powers to save her.

Balaam floats towards the opening, and looks back at Zero.

"Say hello to your father for me."

Zero spots the EMP blaster near him. He picks it up and shoots Balaam with it. Balaam falls having lost his own powers and looks at Zero with shock.

"Let's dance.", says Zero.

Luminare explodes into chunks and pieces.