Crumbling Foundations
Master Zik heard once: pain is the worst friend, but the greatest teacher.
Many life lessons proved that statement true again and again. In his youth, he had to learn many painful lessons due to his youthful pride making him commit many errors despite the best efforts of his master.
Even in his twilight years, he still had many learn, as his most recent wounds proved. But he eventually understood them, and grew into a fearsome Zeti that would eventually form the Deadly Six and then pass the mantle of leader to his finest disciple, Zavok.
Since he began training him, Zik saw in Zavok the potential to surpass him even in his prime. He was a machine, in the lack of a better term. Other members of the Six could surpass him in certain areas - Zomom was better in taking hits, Zor was sneakier and more attuned to the mystical side of their species, Zeena had potential to be better than Zavok when wielding weapons if she put the effort and Zazz had a talent for piloting and thinking out of the box despite his punkish mind.
Zavok though? The true physical prime of their species, having good ability with their control of machines and the charisma and power to keep their rowdy bunch together. A perfect leader...
Well, almost. For he suffered from the same issues Zik suffered back then.
"Why did you lose?" he asked for the twentieth time.
Currently, the Deadly Six's leader was sitting with his legs crossed, taking deep breaths. His body was covered in bondage and his wounded eye was covered by an eyepatch. It would heal eventually, but it was a close call. Whatever weapon that tanned girl had packed enough of a punch it nearly brought permanent damage to it.
"...I focused too much on Eggman-"
THUNK! The staff of Zik slammed on his disciple's head.
"That too, but you already said that and I said it was wrong. Again."
"I didn't cover the Metal Sonics-"
THUNK!
"Again."
"I should have focused on the minions first-"
THUNK!
"And leave yourself vulnerable to the Death Egg Robot?! Fool, fool, fool!"
They had been at that game since Zavok felt good enough to walk outside of the infirmary. Zik wanted that lesson to stay in his disciple's head for a long time.
"It's exactly what I said before, Zavok! You lost yourself to your wrath back then!" Master Zik said. "You attacked while Eggman had all the cards and we had nil! It was a wonder we managed to mount such a strong assault when he had the field rigged at his favor from start!"
Zavok growled.
"And we can't let that man get too much moment," he said. "If he ever finds the Cacophonic Conch, then we're doomed."
"The Conch is still in the Hex, you fool!" Zik said. "Even if Eggman had the means to reach there, it would take too long for it to make a difference in our battle! And don't use such excuses to attempt to sneak out of punishment, this is serious! We lost two of our own kinsman due to your recklessness!"
"Zeena and Zomom lost because they were weak!" Zavok insisted. "Exactly like it happened back then-"
THUNK!
"We all lost when the hedgehog was in the Lost Hex, imbecile! Does that make you weak too?!" Zik said. "A leader must be cool under pressure and not let their emotions drive their actions - exactly what you did!"
"The continued existence of that man is a threat to everything we worked for so far!" Zavok roared back.
Master and disciple stared at each other for a tense moment...before Zavok's visible eye softened.
"I'm sorry, Master...I just feel so tired," he said. "If it weren't for Zazz and Zor, we would be in quite a pickle. Did you train them?"
"...I expected the best, preparing for the worst," the minuscule Zeti said. "Zavok, your emotions are a powerful fuel to crush our foes, but it can be used against you if you're not prepared. Calm thought it's what will lead us to victory. Now, relax here. Become one with the world around you...become one with destruction, for this is the natural path of all worlds."
The hulking red giant did as asked, closing his eyes, and taking deep breaths...his breathing stabilized. His body relaxed.
Perhaps the lesson did enter through his ears, after all...
And then peace was broken.
"We have a problem," Zor began, hopping into the room.
Zavok's eyes snapped wide open.
"This surely can be left for later," Zik began, only for Zor to cut him off.
"It's the Thorndykes. They are gone."
That caught their attention.
"WHAT?!" Zavok roared, lifting from the ground and marching to his fellow Zeti.
"Our cameras only caught it this morning," their spymaster said. "The place we kept the old man and his brat got totally detonated from night to day. All I managed to recover was a clip of a Blowfish crossing our airspace, going in..." he gulped. "In Eggman territory."
Zavok opened his mouth and closed, and then opened it.
"That...that old fart!" he said. "He must have sent some sort of message with his location! That-" then the eyes of the leader of the Deadly Six widened. "...the code. The code we were using to keep everything under our control. Eggman now can do whatever he wants with it."
The eyes of the other two Zeti widened.
"No...this means..." Zik mumbled.
Their cyberspace was completely vulnerable. Ready for Eggman to take over back to himself.
The old Zeti glanced at Zavok. His expression morphed into one of rage...and Zik knew.
He would have to do his damn best to stop his disciple from committing a foolish mistake.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN!"
