Chapter 50 - Volume 2 Finale

            Thursday morning, Simon lets himself sleep into his new alarm of 7 AM and not 6. He’d feel a lot better if not for Siro’s video last night.

            Simon walks to school for the first time in his life, holding onto an umbrella in case it rains again.

            As he walks, Zoey comes up behind him with a bounce in her step.

            “Hey,” she says with a bright smile.

            “Oh, uh, hey,” he says, not so brightly.

            He’s obviously not in a good mood. He didn’t say anything at all on the ride home, and Zoey wasn’t sure to say to him then. She still isn’t sure what to say now.

            “So,” she says. “I guess you got up alright for your first day without band class.”

            “Yeah,” he says. “I almost brought my clarinet with me out of habit.”

            Zoey giggles, but he barely even chuckles.

            “Today’s our last day of training,” Simon says. “I’d suggest skipping school so we could use the whole day, but we’d need to keep up appearances, huh?”

            “Yeah, I definitely can’t afford to miss a day in Science class,” Zoey says. “But we’ll just have to work extra, extra hard after school today.”

            “Yeah,” he nods.

            He still sounds gloomy, and that worries Zoey.

 

            History class passes by, and then Science. He doesn’t expect Cyndi to talk to him, so he just sits and ignores her.

            “Um…” Cyndi speaks up. “Could we talk during lunch?”

            Simon and Zoey are both surprised, and Zoey looks at him for his response.

            “Y-Yeah, sure,” he says.

 

            Simon and Cyndi hang back as the rest of the class leaves for lunch. Zoey really wants to hear what they talk about, but she reluctantly leaves the room. She does wait by the stairs, though.

            “So, I saw the other videos from Siro,” Cyndi says. “But I don’t hold anything he did against you. I’ve gotten past that.”

            “Oh,” he says with nervous nodding. “Thanks, I guess.”

            “Yeah,” Cyndi says as she nervously plays with her shirt hem. “And so, I know the fight is coming tomorrow and I just… A-Are you making progress in getting the other Codes back?”

            “Y-Yeah, pretty sure,” he lies.

            Judging from Cyndi’s expression, she doesn’t believe him.

            “Do you have to fight him?” Cyndi asks.

            “What? Of course I do. He called me out. I’m not going to hide like a coward.”

            “You wouldn’t be a coward!” she says. “He doesn’t really know you’re alive! No one does! He and the world can just keep thinking you’re dead!”

            “Is that really what a hero would do?” Simon counters. “Hide behind a lie?”

            “But you can’t win!” she says. “He has all of the Codes… and all of your anger! How are you supposed to beat him?”

            Simon’s quiet a moment before he says, “I don’t know. But I have to try.”

            He grabs his things and heads for the door.

            “Simon, please!” Cyndi begs as he’s about to step out of the room. “I’m just… I’m just afraid of what’ll happen to you.”

            Simon stops and hears Cyndi sniffle back tears. He feels his heart tighten while he looks down at the floor. He can’t get anything else out as he grips the door handle, so he just pushes his way out into the hallway.

            PE goes smoothly as far as Coach keeping Robby and Simon apart. Simon puts his anger into his work-outs, running a bit too hard in the jog around the field, but gritting his teeth as he starts feeling the pain in his side. He drinks up a lot of water at the fountain, ignoring those criticizing him for going so fast in the run.

            Simon continues to use his aggression in the kickback machine, but with the padded arm in knee-thrusting position. He raises the arm up all the way, even with all 15 weights on it for 150 pounds total. He pictures ramming his knee into Siro as motivation.

            As everyone changes between classes, Simon goes to the restroom to run cool water and splash it on his face and hair. He uses his shirt to dry himself before stuffing it in his plastic bag to bring home. He doesn’t plan on needing it tomorrow.

 

            Simon’s very quiet during Pre-Calc. Zoey wants to say something, but what is there to say? All there’s left to do is train and hope they have a breakthrough in his Codes.

 

            The Spektrum bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid Jeff’s fast strikes, but the leg sweep catches him. The Spektrum gets up before Jeff stomps and boots him back in the chest. Jeff rolls through the impact to get back to his feet.

            “Aoi!” Jeff shouts.

            Seth jumps in and boots back, but The Spektrum catches it. He twists Seth’s foot and gets him down to a knee, but Seth rolls through. The Spektrum holds on with Code Black’s grip strength, but he doesn’t want to be Code Black, so he switches back to Silver. Seth uses both feet to push him away and Silver’s grip isn’t enough so The Spektrum tumbles and rolls.

            Seth and The Spektrum circle with dukes up. The Spektrum swings a one-two combination but Seth guards easily. Seth swings a kick but The Spektrum swats it away with both hands, to follow it up with a “European” uppercut that hits Seth under the chin with the bicep and inner elbow rather than the fist. Seth wobbles, checks his chin, but comes back with a boot. The Spektrum simply moves his head to the side to get under the leg. He goes up along Seth’s leg to then drive him down to the mat.

            But again, he’s become Code Black without meaning to. He switches to Silver before pushing forward for a pinfall, but Seth pushes him away again.

            “Aka!” Seth shouts.

            Jeff jumps back in and throws middle kick after kick after kick. The Spektrum keeps his guard up on that side, and his forearms start getting worn out. Jeff kicks again, and The Spektrum staggers. But he sees the sweep coming and jumps over it this time. As Jeff stands back up, The Spektrum yanks him down by his shoulders. Jeff hits the mat but kips right back up. Jeff turns around in time to see The Spektrum’s spinning clothesline! Jeff back handsprings to avoid it, then keeps flipping to drop onto The Spektrum!

            Jeff rolls The Spektrum over for a cover, but Code Black reaches up for a Triangle Hold! He drags Jeff in between his legs by way of Jeff’s arm, but he stops himself before completing the hold. The Spektrum backs off and gets to his feet with a frustrated growling sound. He looks at himself as he manually changes to Silver, but he keeps automatically changing to Black.

            “I don’t think you’re powers have done that before,” Jeff says.

            “It’s like you’re glitching out,” Seth says.

            “Why aren’t my powers listening to me?!” Simon growls. “I don’t want Code Black, I want Code Silver!”

            He keeps changing back and forth, Silver, Black, Silver, Black, no matter how fast he orders the change, it just changes back again and it infuriates him to the point of clenching his eyes shut and gripping his head in his hands.

            “It’s because you’re fighting it,” Zoey says as she walks over. “Simon, look at me.”

            Zoey holds his face in her hands. He calms, though still Code Black. He lets his hands drop away slowly as he opens his eyes again. The red eye softens as he looks into Zoey’s golden yellow eyes.

            “I know you don’t want to be angry,” Zoey says. “No one should want to be angry. But anger isn’t a sin. Even Jesus got angry, but at the right things at the right times. The sin is in the misuse of your anger. And while I haven’t known you for long, I’ve never seen you misuse it.”

            Her words only make him think back to how he treated Christian.

            “That’s because you haven’t seen everything,” he says.

            He pulls away, and Zoey’s cat ears give away her sadness as they droop.

 

            When they drive back to San Leandro, Seth drops Simon off first before going to Zoey’s house.

            “It’s a bit obvious to point out,” Seth says as they pull up, “but he doesn’t have any of his Codes back.”

            “Yes, that’s very obvious,” Zoey says.

            “Which means he’s basically going 5v2,” Jeff says.

            “Well, not exactly,” Zoey says. “But yes, he is at a disadvantage, but that’s not-”

            “Promise us you’ll have your phone ready to call one of us,” Seth says.

            She looks at both of her cousins in turn.

            “You think he won’t win,” she says, getting upset.

            “That’s not-”

            “He’s going to win,” she interrupts Seth. “He has to win!”

            “But what if he doesn’t win?” Jeff counters. “Whether it’s really close or a blow-out, a loss is a loss. And if The Spektrum loses, we need to be ready.”

            Zoey looks at her cousins’ serious and somber faces. Her cat ears would be drooping again if they were still out.

            “He will win,” she insists. “He will.”

            With that, Zoey gets out of the car in a huff.

 

            After dinner, Simon works up the courage to bring it up to his parents, and the words to say. But before he can say anything to them, his parents walk up to him.

            “Simon,” his mother says. “You’re not going to school tomorrow.”

            “What?” he asks back. “Why not?”

            “Because we know about the fight that’s coming,” his dad says.

            “Then why are you keeping me away?” Simon asks. “Siro wants a fight, I’ll give him a fight.”

            “But you don’t have to,” his dad counters. “Everyone thinks The Spektrum died, so just let them think that.”

            “That’s not going to stop him,” Simon says. “He’s me! I’m honestly surprised he hasn’t just shown up here! Siro wants this fight, I want this fight, and there’s no other way to get past this.”

            “Yes there is,” his mother says. “You can let someone else fight him!”

            “I’m not going to do that,” Simon says, getting angry. “This is my fight! I’m fighting him, that’s it.”

            “No you’re not, and that’s final,” his mom says in a huff.

            “It’s not final at all,” Simon says as he stands up. “You’re not going to keep me here. Both of you have to go to work, Dad has to get James and Josh to school, so I’m going to meet Siro. You can call in that Simon’s going to miss tomorrow, but The Spektrum’s going to fight.”

            “Wait, why would you need to be called in sick tomorrow?” his dad asks. “You’re still going to class after, aren’t you?”

            Simon’s jaw clenches tight, and he doesn’t say what’s on his mind.

            “Simon,” his mom says. “You’re still going to class, aren’t you?”

            His jaw clenches again, but he forces it to open.

            “Just make the call,” he says. “I can’t worry about anything else.”

            His parents look at each other, and while dad is starting to waver, mom stands firm.

            “No,” she says. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating. This is why I don’t want you going tomorrow.”

            “You can’t stop me,” Simon says.

            “I can’t?” his mom counters, walking back over, eyebrows raised.

            Simon Activates Silver and sternly stares at his mother. His dad sighs and looks over at his wife.

            “Mel,” he says. “There’s no way around this.”

            Mrs. Michaels looks at her husband, then at her son.

            “Fine,” she sighs. “But! It’s all or nothing. If you’re going to go fight him, you promise me you go to class. You promise me that.”

            She starts getting emotional, knowing what a promise like that implies.

            “I promise, Mom,” Simon says.

 

            The next morning, Simon gets up at 7 with his alarm, but he doesn’t rush getting ready. Despite the promise he made, there’s no point in worrying about anything after the fight with Siro, because there might not be anything after.

            Simon waits for his dad to take his brothers to school before he heads out for San Leandro High. Again, he doesn’t rush. In fact, for the first time in a long time, Simon feels at ease.

            Since he’s already running behind schedule, Simon goes to his locker. He stuffs his things inside, but feels uneasy. He might not be coming back for them.

            As for Zoey, she wonders where Simon is as she walks into History. There’s no way Simon is backing out of the fight, so he should be here by now. Unless…!

            Zoey hurries to the window and looks outside at the Quad.

            “Zoey, please sit down,” Ms. B says. “Class is about to begin.”

            Zoey ignores the teacher as she spots Simon walking out from A Hall. Except he’s not Simon anymore, he’s already Code Silver.

            “You’re doing this now?!” she whispers.

            The Spektrum walks out onto the grass. He stops when he reaches the center of the rectangle and looks up to the sky. He takes a deep breath in and out before taking another big breath in.

            “SIRO!!” he shouts as loud as he can.

            Everyone in the main building and Science Wing hear The Spektrum, and they clamber to the windows. Alex and a few others want to watch out the same window as Zoey, but she absent-mindedly swipes at them, her eyes not looking away from The Spektrum. The other students grumble and pout as they have to crowd around the second window with others.

            “SIRO!” The Spektrum shouts again. “You wanted this fight, so I’m here to give you this fight!”

            Students from the outer rooms, the rooms that face the street or the rest of campus, want to join the other rooms, despite the orders and protests from their teachers. The teachers of the inner rooms also protest but they can’t keep all the students from barging into the room. Other students just spill out of the halls, and start crowding at the edge between concrete and grass.

            Reciprocity Inc’s agents are both shocked and angry hearing about this development from the principal.

            “What’s he doing alive?!” Fast Pace shouts in anger as he and Mountain grab their gear.

            “He was always alive,” Mountain says.

            “What? Since when?!”

            “Since the same day he died.”

            “And you knew?! How did you know?!”

            “Do you want to argue about this or do you want to do our jobs?” Mountain retorts, starting to actually show emotion.

            Fast Pace keeps quiet after that as the two head for the garage.

            Back at SLHS, everyone watches in excited shock that The Spektrum is once again standing in the middle of the Quad’s grassy field.

            Cyndi goes across the hall from her class to Ms. B’s room, where many students have already gotten in. Cyndi pushes her way through the crowd to get to the window, ignoring that she could easily go to another room or even downstairs and outside. She sees Zoey at the window, mostly by herself. Zoey continues to swat mindlessly just so she can have the window to herself.

            “Zoey,” Cyndi says.

            Zoey manages to look away from The Spektrum to see Cyndi there. The two don’t say a word as they stare into each other’s eyes for only a few seconds. Zoey looks back outside as she scoots over and lets Cyndi be next to her at the window.

            The students outside want to get closer, and they all watch each other as they start to step onto the grass. But they back up the moment Zorb’s teleporter sends someone down with another *WHOOMF* and bright light. And when the beam stops, Siro Black is there.

            “So I was right,” Siro says. “Perpekto! <Perfect!>”

            Siro walks over but The Spektrum stays where he stands. Siro stops when they’re only 10 feet apart. It’s at this moment that they both feel a tingling in their arms. Both of them are surprised, because they hadn’t felt that in weeks. They both look at their arms, then look at each other, each realizing the other felt the same thing.

            “C’mon, then!” The Spektrum shouts at Siro. “Let’s have this fight!”

            “This match is set for one fall, and is a singles match between The Spektrum and Siro!”

       Everyone is shocked at once again hearing a computerized voice echoing through the air but without a source.

            “Computer!?” Siro and The Spektrum both shout.

            “NOW you’re back?!” Siro asks the air around him.

            “Wait, ‘match’?” The Spektrum says. “What do you mean by that?”

            The mysterious voice doesn’t respond, which only annoys The Spektrum and Siro. Then a bell rings! But not the school bell, more like a boxing or wrestling bell. The students are confused about where all this sound is coming from if not the school’s PA speakers, but Siro and The Spektrum simply glare at each other.

            The two circle each other slowly as everyone’s attention returns to them. They go clockwise, eyes locked as they keep the 10 foot gap between them.

            “C-C’mon, Spektrum!” someone in the crowd says.

            “Yeah!” another says. “Spektruuum!”

            “Spektrum! Spektrum!” a few others echo here and there, but without coordination.

            “Zoey,” Cyndi manages to say. “This is happening, right? This isn’t a nightmare, is it? We’re actually seeing them about to fight?”

            “Yes,” Zoey says as she nods.

            Cyndi’s anxiety forces out a sound somewhere between a whine and a groan as she starts to frown.

            Siro and The Spektrum stop short of completely trading positions, and finally close the gap! They tie up collar and elbow, like an actual wrestling match!

            Silver’s strength gives The Spektrum an edge, and he starts pushing Siro back.    Siro stands his ground and turns Silver to now be dead even with The Spektrum. The deadlock forces the two to break, and Siro is confused. They both side step and circle again before tying up a second time. Siro goes Yellow to slip his arm around for a headlock, and he grinds and twists The Spektrum’s head as he pulls on it. The Spektrum uses Silver’s strength to lift Siro, but Siro shifts his weight to throw The Spektrum down in a headlock takeover.

            Siro pulls harder on The Spektrum’s head, straining the neck. The Spektrum reaches up with his arms to pull Siro back, and gets a leg up to pull Siro down more. But Siro pops out and lunges to get the headlock back. The Spektrum manages to twist his body and get his feet under him. He stands up as Siro grinds on the headlock, and The Spektrum starts throwing forearm shots into Siro’s back. Silver’s strength in those strikes is definitely too much for Yellow, but Siro turns Blue to take the hits. Siro then punches The Spektrum through the headlock, and The Spektrum goes staggering away.

            Siro is still confused as he looks at Code Silver shaking his head to regain focus. Sure, Silver was always our utility Code since strength goes a long way, he thinks to himself. But why hasn’t he switched to Red for his speed or Yellow for his skill? He wouldn’t have ended up in that headlock at all with those.

            Siro shakes off his questions with a snarling exhale through his nose. He storms over to The Spektrum and also turns Silver. Siro throws a big haymaker right hand but The Spektrum ducks it. The Spektrum comes back with body shots, but Siro turns Blue to take them easily. Siro turns Red and thrusts his knee, and it catches The Spektrum under the chin! The Spektrum shoots right up and sways back as people let out an, “Ooh…” from the impact.

            The Spektrum steadies himself and gets his guard up. Siro snarls again, but he doesn’t bother raising his hands at all. The Spektrum jabs but Siro easily evades by simply stepping back. The Spektrum steps forward and jabs more, but Siro keeps stepping back. The Spektrum suddenly swings with the right, but Siro saw that coming as he turns Yellow! Siro grabs the arm and uses it to judo throw The Spektrum over his shoulder and onto the ground with a thump.

            Siro keeps hold of the arm by the wrist. He pushes The Spektrum’s hand back and pulls on the fingers, attempting to tear the muscles from fingertips to the wrist. The Spektrum grunts from the pain, but he scoots and crawls on his back until he can get his feet planted again. With Siro holding onto his arm, The Spektrum uses his core muscles to lift his body up! He then “Irish whips” Siro, and the ropes appear! Siro rebounds off them and The Spektrum clotheslines him down!

            Everyone cheers as The Spektrum stands tall! But this only pisses Siro off. He gets up in a huff and runs at The Spektrum, but The Spektrum tosses him over the ropes! But since it’s not a wrestling ring, Siro doesn’t really fall any farther down than taking that clothesline. Siro gets up even angrier, but as he stands, The Spektrum uses the middle rope to sling himself shoulder first into Siro’s stomach!

            Siro doubles over, and then The Spektrum gets his head under Siro to shovel him up and over, back to the other side of the ropes. Siro falls on the ground for a third time, and is seething inside his mask.

            “Guess I’m not as tough as I thought,” The Spektrum taunts.

            More students are flooding the Quad, and many of them in PE uniforms, not caring what the gym teachers want.

            Siro kips up as Red and jumps back for the Red Light!

            “No you don’t!” The Spektrum says as he catches Siro and keeps him up.

            The Spektrum puts Siro against the ropes for more body shots! Red isn’t as tough so the fists to his stomach start knocking the wind out of him.

            “Ropebreak. Ropebreak. Five. Four.”

            “What?” The Spektrum mutters.

            Siro drives his elbow backwards into The Spektrum’s cheek. The Spektrum staggers back a step, and Siro goes Silver to get up under him for a spine buster! The crowds react to the impact of hitting the dirt and grass.

            Siro starts throwing big haymakers from all sides, but The Spektrum shields his head with his arms. Siro goes Black and grabs The Spektrum’s right arm and pulls on it, wanting an armbar, but The Spektrum holds it off by gripping hands together. Siro kicks The Spektrum in the ribs, and again, and again, then stomps and stomps and stomps. The Spektrum’s grip loosens, and Siro pulls his arm to full extension!

            The Spektrum grunts and shouts in pain as Siro uses his own body to push the elbow against its natural direction. The Spektrum tries to sit up but Siro keeps him down with his legs. The Spektrum punches at the legs with his free arm while also pushing back with his own legs. Siro sits up just enough to stomp The Spektrum with his heel! And again and again and again!

            The crowds watching outside as well as the students inside the buildings are all feeling tense.

            “C’mon, Spektrum!” someone shouts.

            “Spektrum, c’mon!” another shouts. “Get up!”

            “Fight back!” a third says.

            Siro keeps stomping and The Spektrum stops throwing punches back. Siro extends again, and The Spektrum’s elbow is again agonizingly bent. The Spektrum grits his teeth as he makes a desperate push with his legs and free hand, and he manages to stand! He leans on Siro now for a standing cover!

            “One!”

            Siro immediately pushes back with his abs to get his shoulders up, but that just helps The Spektrum dead lift him off the ground with the trapped arm! The Spektrum gets Siro all the way up, and throws him down with a powerbomb! A powerbomb may be Blue’s finisher, but that doesn’t mean Silver can’t do one of his own!

            The crowds all cheer for The Spektrum, but Siro still holds onto the arm! Siro drags The Spektrum down into the triangle hold! Siro wraps his legs around The Spektrum’s arm and head to squeeze them like an anaconda! The Spektrum sees Siro Black’s red eye glaring back with burning anger.

            The Spektrum stays on his feet, but it’s getting harder to breathe as his neck is constricted from having Siro’s legs and his own shoulder pressed against it. His vision starts fading and his legs feel week. He starts slowing drifting down to his knees.

            “Fight, Spektrum!” those in the crowd start shouting. “Fight!”

            “Spektrum! Spektrum! Spektrum!” the crowd starts chanting in unison.

            “C’mon…!” Zoey says against the window. “C’mon!”

            The Spektrum can barely hear the voices around him, but he looks up to see students in the windows across the way. They’re all watching so intently, cheering him on as they pound the glass. The Spektrum grits his teeth and stands back up. Breathing through his nose, The Spektrum manages the air needed, and he slowly but steadily dead lifts Siro again!

            But Siro is ready this time. He lets go of the arm as he changes back to Red, and he huricanranas The Spektrum away! The Spektrum lands hard on his back on the dirt, and the ropes appear again.

            While everyone watching reacts to the rough landing, Siro is still confused as to why The Spektrum hasn’t changed from Silver. There’s no way Silver’s increased ego would make The Spektrum so proud as to stubbornly stick to one Code. The Spektrum not using Red, Yellow or Blue confuses and annoys Siro.

            At the same time, The Spektrum sits up as he wonders why the ropes appeared when he didn’t consciously call on them. And thinking back, he didn’t call upon them earlier when he Irish Whipped Siro, they just showed up.

            Why did I whip Siro in the first place? The Spektrum thinks.

            Siro storms over to where The Spektrum sits and swiftly kicks him in the back! The Spektrum arches in reaction, and he crawls closer to the ropes. Siro kicks him hard in the ribs against the ropes, but The Spektrum keeps moving along them as he lets air out through grit teeth.

            “Where do you think you’re going?” Siro chuckles condescendingly. “Those ropes are just going to go on forever.”

            The Spektrum chuckles, too, which also annoys Siro. But he continues to stalk The Spektrum, all the way to the corner.

            “A corner?!” Siro says.

            The Spektrum stands up, grabs Siro and puts him in that corner to start throwing body shot after body shot!

            “Corner trapping,” Computer says now. “Five. Four. Three.”

            Siro is still shocked by this discovery as The Spektrum punches left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, then tops it off with a BIG right haymaker to his head!

            Siro staggers away, but The Spektrum grabs him around the collar.

            “Oh no, you don’t,” he says as he brings Siro back to the corner. “We’re going to try an old favorite first!”

            The Spektrum has Siro by his head and bounces him off the top turnbuckle! And then again! And again!

            “Corner trapping,” Computer says again. “Five. Four. Three.”

            The Spektrum ignores Computer as he bumps Siro a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth, and a seventh time! But Siro sticks his foot into the second buckle to block the eighth! Siro brushes The Spektrum off with his arm while pushing off with his foot, then twists his body for a CLUBBING clothesline!

            “NO!” Zoey shouts with the impact.

            Siro rests on his knees while The Spektrum sputters and coughs on his side. Despite nearly decapitating The Spektrum, Siro is starting to shake with rage.

            “Where are the other Codes?!” he shouts as he drags The Spektrum back up.

            Siro reaches his leg back and RAMS his knee into The Spektrum’s stomach!

            “Why aren’t you using Code Blue to take the hit?!” Siro shouts before again ramming his knee in!

            The Spektrum doubles over, and Siro grabs him around the waist for a gut wrench lift.

            “Why aren’t you using Red,” he grunts as he gets The Spektrum up onto his shoulder, “to run around me? Or Yellow to counter and escape?!”

            Siro shifts The Spektrum’s weight around to bend him backwards against his shoulder. Siro holds onto The Spektrum’s chin to create more pull against The Spektrum’s spine. Then with arms pulling on The Spektrum’s shoulders, Siro flings him forward to throw him face first on the ground! Everyone reacts to the *THUD* The Spektrum hits the ground with.

            “And where was Black to counter my Triangle Hold?” Siro shouts as he looms over The Spektrum. “Why aren’t you changing colors?!”

            The Spektrum takes a moment to breathe clearly before answering, “You’re me, and I’m pretty smart. Can’t you figure it out?”

            Siro isn’t sure what it could be, but then he thinks about the obvious. And he starts to laugh.

            “You don’t have them anymore,” he says. “You came back to life, having to start from scratch.”

            He laughs a little more, but then he is suddenly furious again as he reaches down and yanks The Spektrum back up! Siro again rams his knee into The Spektrum’s stomach, doubling him over! Siro then puts a foot on the back of The Spektrum’s head, pushing his face into the grass and dirt.

            “This was supposed to be the greatest fight either of us has ever had!!” Siro shouts. “But we’ve been robbed of it by some twist of fate. But, it also seems like things turned out how they should, don’t you think?”

            Siro stomps The Spektrum’s head! The Spektrum flops and flounders forward, and a hand reaches back to clutch where Siro’s foot landed.

            “This is proof!” Siro says with arms stretched out to the sides. “This proves I am the TRUE us! I am the REAL Spektrum! I am what we were always meant to be!!”

            Siro jumps and lands with his knee in The Spektrum’s back! The Spektrum grunts as he tries to push up, but Siro pulls back on The Spektrum’s arms.

            “You got reset to nothing because you are nothing!” Siro shouts as he thrashes The Spektrum around.

            The Spektrum growls in pain right up until Siro lets go. Siro then hammers away with his right hand, hitting The Spektrum in the back of the head, back of the neck and back of the shoulders.

            The Spektrum does what he can to cover up with his arms, but Siro grabs an arm and stands up. Siro turns Silver and YANKS The Spektrum right off the ground by that one arm, right into a side suplex! The Spektrum lands on his head and shoulders with another thud!

            “You are as weak as I remember!” Siro shouts as he stands back up. “You have always been weak from the day you were born!! You’re the weakness that I am sooo glad to be rid of!”

            Siro kneels down by The Spektrum to then hammer him in the stomach! The Spektrum sits up from the hit to immediately get SLAPPED across the face! The Spektrum still groans from the stomach shot as he braces himself from falling over. But then he starts glitching again, Code Black wanting to come out but The Spektrum forcing himself back to Silver.

            “Stop it…!” he growls at himself as he grips the grass under his hand.

            “So you do have another Code,” Siro says. “And yet you refuse to use it? Why?”

            The Spektrum clenches his jaw, refusing to answer but still glitching.

            “Why?” Siro asks again. “Why aren’t you using Code Black when you have him?!”

            “Because of you!!” The Spektrum shouts, looking up at Siro. “I don’t want to be like YOU!!”

            Siro rams his knee into The Spektrum’s face with that same thrust as before, the same thrust as for Hardwire. The Spektrum sways, vision blurry from getting a knee to the nose, and Siro grabs the arm and drags The Spektrum around on the dirt by it.

            “Where are you?!” Siro grumbles under his breath as he looks around at all the windows. “You must be watching.”

            Siro turns Yellow and uses Analysis to scan the many faces of students.

            On the upper level of C Hall, he spots Cyndi watching, hands clasped together over her mouth while her eyes start to tear up. Next to her is an Asian girl with pig tails, and Analysis uses a facial recognition system of sorts to uncover that that’s Catgirl. He shakes off his surprise to get to his point.

            “Cynthia Simmons,” Siro says loudly, “president of our fan club, and the girl who had the one and only interview with us. I bet you’re the most shocked to know The Spektrum lived!”

            Cyndi is even closer to tears hearing Siro speak to her.

            “Well, it’s a shame he wasn’t man enough to let you know he lived, huh!?” Siro says. “I saw the touching tribute to us, by the way! I saw it when I put Hardwire in that coma. And I saw his handwriting. OUR handwriting! I can’t believe he signed the thing without telling you who he was!”

            Everyone starts murmuring in reaction to this reveal. They all wonder who it could be that was at the vigil, hiding in plain sight.

            “I can’t believe we’d be so cowardly as to leave her wallowing in sadness,” Siro says as he looks down at The Spektrum.

            “Oh but wait!” Siro says as he looks back up at Cyndi. “You weren’t sad very long, were you!?”

            Now everyone is confused at this new direction.

            “Cyndi, you sure moved on from The Spektrum’s death quickly,” Siro says. “I saw you on New Year’s Eve! You were so happy to run off to your boyfriend that night!”

            The crowds all react to this drama bomb, but The Spektrum and Cyndi are most shocked.

            “He was watching us that night?!” Cyndi whispers as The Spektrum thinks it.

            “So maybe you won’t be so sad when The Spektrum loses again,” Siro says. “And this time, he’ll stay dead!!”

            Siro starts stomping away on The Spektrum’s shoulder! He stomps and stomps and stomps and stomps, and the crowds start panicking and even screaming. Siro won’t stop! The Spektrum tries to use his free arm to catch Siro’s foot, but Siro just grabs the arm instead, and now The Spektrum is defenseless as Siro stomps away at shoulders, head, neck and chest, all in random order.

            Cyndi breaks and runs from the window, sobbing.

            “Cyndi?!” Zoey says.

            Zoey chases after Cyndi, just like a few days ago.

            “Cyndi!” Zoey shouts as Cyndi goes out the door. “Get back here!”

            “No! No!” Cyndi shouts back as she turns back around, face all red and scrunched from her crying. “I can’t… I can’t watch him die again! He’s basically killing himself!”

            Cyndi sobs more as she tries to come to terms with it all.

            “Don’t you get it!?” Zoey shouts at Cyndi, getting angry. “He’s holding back because he doesn’t want to be like Siro! Because of how you feel about his anger! I know you don’t want to deal with his baggage, but if he keeps holding back, then he, is, going, to, die!”

            Zoey grabs Cyndi by her shoulders.

            “Do you not care for him?” Zoey says.

            “O-Of course I do!” Cyndi says.

            “Then stop running away! If you want him to change, then don’t abandon him! Stay by his side!”

            Cyndi grits her teeth and squeezes her eyes shut while her hands are on the sides of her head as she struggles with her own emotions.

            Back outside, Siro has stopped stomping The Spektrum, only because he has to catch his breath. The Spektrum has stopped glitching and is set on Silver. He coughs and spits blood from his busted lip. His bloody saliva stains his silver shirt.

            “Time to be finally rid of our weakness,” Siro says.

            He drags The Spektrum to the ropes and sits The Spektrum against them, The Spektrum’s arms resting around the middle one. Siro then turns Silver and runs to the far side, a full 20 feet.

            So this is it, then? The Spektrum thinks as Siro rebounds off the ropes. Well, I knew this wasn’t going to work out in my favor. Sorry for not doing better, Zoey. Sorry for lying to you, Cyndi. Sorry, Mom and Dad, for not keeping that promise. Sorry for my last words being so half-hearted.

            Siro closes in, but then someone runs out of the door in the corner of the Quad.

            “SPEKTRUUUM!!” Cyndi shouts as she runs outside. “FIIIGHT!!”

            Siro and The Spektrum are both shocked to see Cyndi running out. Zoey hurries after, having chased Cyndi all the way down the hall and down the stairs that led into B Hall and to the door. And without even meaning to, Zoey transformed into Catgirl, her black cat ears and tail standing out against her pink hair and outfit.

            Siro refocuses as he still runs at The Spektrum. He thrusts his knee in, but The Spektrum catches it! As Code Black!

            The Spektrum Code Black has both arms wrapped around Siro’s leg. He stands up, and his red eye glares bright. Siro swings big slapping palm strikes, hitting The Spektrum twice, three times, four times, but The Spektrum just tanks it all. The Spektrum snarls as he spins and falls, twisting Siro’s leg in the “dragon screw”! Siro lets out a bark of pain as he falls to his knees.

            The Spektrum pulls Siro’s leg straight up to then bring it down and smash the knee into the dirt! Siro kicks at The Spektrum with his free leg but The Spektrum easily avoids getting hit while dragging Siro around now.

            The Spektrum puts a foot on Siro’s leg as he pulls it back up, so that he can stomp it down into the dirt! Siro writhes, clutching his knee. Siro hobbles up to his feet and heads for ropes but The Spektrum follows right after. Siro leans on the ropes and turns around, only to get a big right hand to the chin!

            Siro flounders against the ropes but The Spektrum keeps him upright with body shots, and then European uppercuts! He hits Siro once, twice, three times, Siro flopping against the ropes and basically being propelled into the next by the ropes! The Spektrum then scoops Siro onto his shoulder, Siro’s head facing forward. The Spektrum goes to a corner and tosses Siro off his shoulder! Siro’s head smacks the top turnbuckle and he staggers about. But The Spektrum runs to the far side, rebounds and runs back, to BOOT Siro off his feet!

            “YES!” Zoey shouts from the far corner. “Get him!”

            The Spektrum drags Siro up again, but Siro turns Yellow to break free. Siro back hand CHOPS The Spektrum in the chest, but The Spektrum simply scowls and overhand CHOPS Siro right back! Siro feels the air go out of him, but he stays standing as he scowls back at The Spektrum. But before he can do anything, The Spektrum rocks him with another European uppercut!

            Siro staggers back into the corner, and The Spektrum grabs his arm. The Spektrum comes in close, to then use full extension and whip Siro at the opposite corner! Zoey and Cyndi take a step back as Siro makes contact with the turnbuckles, and The Spektrum sandwiches him against them with a ferocious full body tackle! Then The Spektrum whips Siro back the other way, and tackles him again! The Spektrum then runs corner to corner without Siro, and comes back, only for Siro to bicycle pump his legs and hit The Spektrum with his knee!

            “No…!” Zoey shouts as she and the crowds react negatively.

            “SAPAT! <ENOUGH!>” Siro shouts, back in Black.

            Siro hobbles over and reaches down. He grabs and pulls The Spektrum back up by his throat! Siro lifts The Spektrum for a choke slam, but The Spektrum grips Siro’s arm! Siro lets out another pained sound as he lets go of The Spektrum. The Spektrum is safe on his feet as he grabs Siro’s middle and ring fingers and pulls them backwards as hard as he can! Siro kneels from the pain, and The Spektrum kicks him, shin to chest! Air leaves Siro’s lungs again, but The Spektrum kicks him again! And again, and again!

            The Spektrum yanks Siro up to his feet before he reels back his head. Siro sees that coming, and reels back to match. Black collides with Black, forehead to forehead, and red eye glares bright at bright glaring red eye!

            The two push each other away, and Siro punches Spektrum first. The Spektrum comes back with a punch of his own almost immediately. Siro staggers half a step but throws another punch. The Spektrum comes back immediately! The Spektrum punches, and punches, and punches, and has Siro on the ropes, literally. The Spektrum whips but Siro reverses and sends The Spektrum to ropes. Siro prepares a clothesline but The Spektrum LEAPS to come in with a flying clothesline! The Spektrum topples Siro over, but both get up fast, and they both BOOT each other in the face! They both fall to the ground as the crowds explode with cheers and wild reactions.

            “SPEKTRUM! SPEKTRUM!” repeats in a thunderous roar.

            “FIGHT-O!!” Zoey shouts.

            “C’mon, Spektrum!” Cyndi says. “Get up!”

            The Spektrum and Siro slowly sit up, and they glare at each other. As they stand up, they head for each other and get in each other’s face. They grind foreheads, red eyes glowing brighter. Siro lets out a hissing sound that grows into a growl while The Spektrum simply grits and bares his teeth

            Siro throws a haymaker and hits The Spektrum, but The Spektrum immediately hits back, for Siro to also hit back immediately. The Spektrum punches, Siro punches, The Spektrum punches, Siro punches. The Spektrum, Siro, The Spektrum, Siro, again and again, faster and faster, all big right hands!

            The Spektrum hits again, and Siro staggers for just a moment, before coming back with a right-left-right! The Spektrum staggers now, but comes right back with a standard uppercut! Siro staggers again, but comes back with a roundhouse kick! Only for The Spektrum to catch the leg! And give it another dragon screw! Siro writhes but The Spektrum stays on the leg to drag Siro around for a single leg Boston Crab! Siro scrambles in a panic to get to the ropes! He remembers this being what he/The Spektrum used to tear up Zorb’s leg muscles!

            Siro grabs the rope with both hands and pulls himself over.

            “Ropebreak,” Computer says again. “Five. Four. Three. Two.”

            The Spektrum feels a strange energy building as Computer passes three and he lets go of Siro’s leg. Siro himself is curious about that energy as he drags himself up by the ropes.

            The terminology of “ropebreak” is from the pro-wrestling video games, because it’s taken from real-life pro-wrestling. The ropes are a boundary that cancels any pinfall or submission, but that’s the extent of the game. But it seems Computer wants to apply the rules of real pro-wrestling. Though, that’s an oxymoron, since pro-wrestling is scripted. But the point being, it seems the rules of a real pro-wrestling match are being applied to this match.

            Siro and The Spektrum reset, dukes up as they circle. The tension mounts and both Zoey and Cyndi feel so anxious.

            Like a sudden spark, the two start throwing punches! The Spektrum hits a one-two and a body shot but Siro comes back with a right cross then a left, and a body shot of his own. The Spektrum kicks Siro’s leg from the side, then throws another European Uppercut.

            “C’mon!” The Spektrum eggs Siro on as he staggers. “I thought you were the strong one!”

            Siro spins back to kick The Spektrum in the stomach! Then he front kicks to stand The Spektrum back up, then turns Code Yellow to aim and thrust, to hit the FLASH KICK!

            “NOOO!” Catgirl Zoey shouts as The Spektrum falls back.

            Siro quickly covers for the pin!

            “ONE! TWO!”

            The Spektrum basically spasms to kick out of the cover!

            “WHAT!?” Siro shouts in rage as everyone else is thunderously cheering.

            Siro is breathing heavily as he slowly turns. He glares at The Spektrum as he kneels over him.

            “The only upside to this,” Siro growls, “is that I now know I can survive my own Finisher.”

            The Spektrum suddenly sits up and grabs Siro by the throat! Siro panics as The Spektrum stands up, but Siro knows The Spektrum wants the Choke Slam. The Spektrum lifts but Siro kicks him in the hip. Siro lands on his feet and pulls on The Spektrum’s arm to bring him back down for the Triangle!

            Though he’s bent over, The Spektrum doesn’t dead lift Siro again, but grabs the leg he was working on a moment ago. The Spektrum uses his own armpit to trap Siro’s leg, and uses the fact Siro hasn’t let go of his arm to pull him up. Siro’s leg hurts being in that position and The Spektrum makes it by returning all those stomps from before! The Spektrum stomps Siro’s ribs again and again and again, until Siro releases his arm.      The Spektrum uses both arms to YANK on Siro’s leg, then spins and falls for a grounded dragon screw! Siro lets out a grunt from the pain, but The Spektrum keeps hold of the leg to give another one! Siro starts to worry that his knee is torn up, but The Spektrum shows no mercy as he drags Siro around in the dirt by that leg.

            The Spektrum turns Siro onto his stomach and hooks right legs together. The Spektrum falls back, hyper extending Siro’s leg to the right! Siro arches back in pain, but The Spektrum just stands back up. The Spektrum again uses an armpit to trap Siro’s ankle, and then stands on the back of Siro’s knee. The Spektrum falls back again to put pressure on ankle and knee at the same time, in the Calf Killer!

            Siro shouts in pain as he feels something wrong in his knee! He reaches for the ropes as The Spektrum pulls on the leg as hard as he can! Zoey and Cyndi back up as the two start inching their way over to their corner. Siro claws through the dirt and grass to grab for the rope. The Spektrum leans forward to then lean back and use that momentum to bring Siro’s leg up off the ground! Siro lets out the loudest yell yet, but he uses that same momentum to get to the ropes!

            “Ropebreak,” Computer says. “Ropebreak.”

            The Spektrum refuses to let go, even as Siro wraps his arms around the bottom rope.

            “Five,” Computer begins to count. “Four. Three.”

            The Spektrum feels that energy building, but he still refuses to let go!

            “LET GO!” Siro shouts at him. “LET GO OF ME!”

            The Spektrum still refuses!

            “Two,” Computer continues. “One!”

            The energy that built up discharges with a *ZAP* and The Spektrum is forced to let go of Siro. The wrestling bell rings again as The Spektrum shakes the numbness out of his arms.

            “The Spektrum is disqualified!” Computer announces. “Your winner: Siro!”

            The crowds are in an uproar! They’re shocked to hear The Spektrum lost!

            “Coward!” Siro shouts at The Spektrum. “You did that on purpose!”

            Siro stands up with help from the ropes and angrily limps over to where The Spektrum sits. The Spektrum gets up as best as he can with his arms still tingling, but Siro SLAPS him back down!

            “Hey!” Catgirl shouts.

            Catgirl goes up to the ropes and looks to the gaps between them. She sticks a leg between the top and middle rope, but that middle rope is a bit high compared to her 5’4” stature. She stands on her toes to get through, and then heads for Siro as he looms over The Spektrum.

            “Stop it!” Catgirl shouts as she storms over.

            Siro turns around to glare at her, but she just pushes him aside. He hobbles and limps to steady himself while she helps The Spektrum back up.

            “You won, so just stop it already,” she says to Siro.

            “He let me win!” Siro growls back. “He took the easy way out because he knew he was losing!”

            “Then take the win and go away!” she shouts. “Or you’ll have to fight me next!”

            The Spektrum worries about what Siro will do, but Siro doesn’t budge. Siro breathes heavily as he glares at The Spektrum and Catgirl. He can only shout and roar in frustration before another *WHOOMF* flash of light takes him away.

            With Siro gone, The Spektrum looks over to Cyndi. Now that the ropes are gone, Cyndi slowly walks up to The Spektrum and Catgirl. Some people in the crowd want to hurry over to The Spektrum, but others keep them back.

            Cyndi stands in front of The Spektrum a moment, staring up at him. The Spektrum, still in Code Black, isn’t sure where to look, but he can’t bring himself to look in her eyes. Which is why her hug surprises him so much.

            “Cyndi…?” he says softly.

            “I’m sorry,” she says, fighting back more tears. “I’m so sorry.”

            She sniffles before backing up.

            “I’m sorry for everything,” she says, wiping a tear away.

            “It’s… It’s okay,” The Spektrum says.

            “I should’ve been by your side on this from the start,” Cyndi says. “But I think this just shows that we’re not right for each other.”

            “What…?” Catgirl says, looking between the two of them.

            “You’re my friend, and I care about you,” Cyndi says, tearing up again. “I just don’t think we can be… more than friends.”

            Cyndi then glances at Zoey.

            “But I know there is someone who is better for you,” Cyndi says.

            Cyndi walks back the way she came and goes back inside C Hall. Zoey looks at The Spektrum, and though he sighs, he seems okay with this. Then he looks at her, that red eye actually soft and tender.

            “Do you… know who Cyndi meant by that?” he asks.

            “W-What?” Zoey says, ears perking up. “N-No! Not at all!”

            She then looks around at the crowds as they slowly move in closer.

            “But,” she says, speaking a little louder. “I think we should focus on celebrating, because The Spektrum is back!”

            Zoey lifts The Spektrum’s hand in victory, even though he got disqualified, and the fans cheer all the same!

            “Spektrum! Spektrum!” they chant. “Spektrum! Spektrum! Spek…”

            They stop, because they realize who is standing by his side.

            “Wait, you’re Catgirl!” someone up front says as they point.

            “Why’s Catgirl in San Leandro?!” someone else asks.

            Zoey looks around in confusion.

            “H-How do they know I’m Catgirl?!” she asks The Spektrum.

            “Because your ears are out!” he says back. “And your tail!”

            “Huh?” she says, bringing her hands up to her head.

            She feels her cat ears! Then she looks down and sees her tail!

            “Huuuh?!” she says in shock.

            “You only just noticed?!” The Spektrum says.

            The crowds crowd the two heroes as Zoey tries to remember when she transformed. The Spektrum returns to Code Silver and holds his arms out so the adoring public doesn’t smother the two of them while they all take pictures, record video and even try to touch them on the arms.

            “Everyone please back up,” The Spektrum says. “If you want us to pose for pictures, we’ll pose for pictures.”

            The crowds like the sound of that, and so they do give The Spektrum and Catgirl plenty of room.

            “Wait,” she says. “Pose?”

            “Yeah, c’mon,” he says. “You’ve gotta have an idea in your head.”

            She smirks, because of course she does.

            The two stand back to back, and Catgirl puts up her cat paw fists, one above her head and the other by her chin. The Spektrum makes L’s with his fingers and thumbs, to then put them together, right over left, like a zigzag across his chest. Both smile as everyone takes pictures from all sides.

            The Spektrum looks over his shoulder at Catgirl as she looks back at him, and the two smile.

            “Raise my hand again?” he asks.

            She rolls her eyes but smirks and chuckles. She takes his arm by the wrist and raises it again, and the crowds cheer.

            “So glad I came to school today,” he says with a big grin, which makes Catgirl laugh.