WHAT IF ... ? 136
Starring MACHINE MAN

By Revenger

Soul in the Machine-Part One
"An Offer Most Vile"

Log date-December 21, 1999
Entry Number-7374
Location-Miami, Florida
I am becoming increasingly frightened by the coming millennium. I find that I
am in much contrast with the rest of the human population. To them, the coming
of the year 2001 is the biggest event in their lifetimes, second only to that
of 2000. To me, sadly, it is the day of my doom.
As I observe the growing technological world, I find that it will take 20
years for it to become close to that of the world I came from. Judging from
the new laws of physics laid down by such geniuses as Reed Richards and Henry
Pym, when the day I was/will be created comes to head, I will be consumed by
entropy and cease to exist.
Perhaps I should have been more aggressive since the day I arrived in this
time. I should have tried harder to find a solution to my predicament, let
nothing stand in my way. Perhaps I should acquire a time machine from Four
Freedoms...no that would create an even larger time paradox.
My memory files show that some humans who have been faced with death in their
near futures, have gone through five steps before finally accepting their
fates and enjoying all moments of their. Perhaps if I began where they ended,
I could enjoy the remaining days of my life to the fullest.
I shall start now. I've always wanted to know what an apple tastes like.
End journal entry
*CLICK*
The dark, purple body of Machine Man slowly walks across the smooth, emerald
grass, towards a small apple tree. In the wake of his strides, thick
indentations are left in the bushy grass. A strong, warm gust of wins brushes
against his arm as he reaches up and plucks an apple from the tree.
*SLISH*
*SLISH*
Machine Man's head snaps completely around towards his back as two halves of
his apple fall towards the ground . A bright, silver streak catches the
halves and snaps back to it starting potion. The streak reveals itself as
along silver blade held by a man in black and white outfit. The man pulls his
sword towards the red light in the shadow of where his head should be.
*CRUNCH*
Man-Sorry old chap, but you know what they say, "Finders keepers".
Machine Man's crimson eyes squint and he snaps the rest of his body into
coordinates with his face.
Machine Man-Who are you?
Man-I'm sorry, please excuse me.
The man bows and lifts his black caspian hat of his head, exposing his long
black hair and odd face.
Man-Davis Bradley, agent of his highness, Kang the Conqueror, at your service.
Davis walks out of the shadows of the tree revealing his true form. He places
his hat back on his head and scratches his curly moustache and taps on his
large glass eye. He lifts up his sword, push back his black leather coat and
sheathes it . The blade scrapes against his sliver plated belt, creating small
sparks which brush against his baggy white shirt.
Machine Man-You are from the 16'th century, correct?
Davis-Aye, you mod'rn yella bellies seem to call my breed pirates.
Machine Man-What business does Kang have with me?
Davis-My lord, he be a generous man and he be paying attention to your
entroopic, er entopic...
Machine Man-Entropic.
Davis-What ever it be, my lord will shield ye from vanishing if ye 'ill serve him.
My files cover very little about Kang, other then what the Avengers have told
me. Apparently he is a time master from a future more distant then mine, who
is obsessed with conquering people and has wide variety of technology at his disposal.
Machine Man-How exactly would I serve him?
Davis-Oh an odd job here and there, you know maintain his kingdom, help him
fight enemies.
This sounds like a prosperous offer indeed, I doubt Kang will have much need
of robot who can just stretch his legs and arms. I will also be protected by
the entropy the threatens to consume me. This is perfect timing.
Machine Man-Mr. Bradley, you can tell Kang that he has a deal!
Machine Man out stretches his metallic arm and shakes hand with Davis's.
Davis-That's great. Now for your initiation.
Davis unsheathe his swords and out starches it towards the mall at the bottom
of the hill.
Davis-To prove your loyalty to master Kang, yo' gotta destroy that market
place donn'a there and make a least 100 body count. Not that you should let
that limit you.
A wicked smile curls onto to Davis's face, raising his moustache and making
it curve even more. The smile fades quickly and transforms into that of
puzzlement as he notices a deep, frown accompanied by squinted blood red eyes
that cover Machine Man faces.
Davis-W'as wrong? It's not like you can't do that...
Davis pats Machine Man stiff arm.
Davis-you got enough to level this whole town!
Davis moves his sword across the air, seeming as if he's covering all the
buildings. Machine Man shoves Davis hand away and retracts his arm. He grits
his teeth and mutters....
Machine Man-Never.
Davis-I was afraid this would happen, I really was beganing to like you and I
don't wanna run you through. This is your last chance...
*WHAM*
Davis is interrupted by the outstretched metallic hand of Machine Man
slamming against his jaw. Machine Man launches Davis into the air and over the
cliff, blood squirt out of Davis's lips as he flies up helplessly, like a rag doll.
Davis spins ravenously around and.....
*CLANGSLISH*
His gleaming white blade tears though Machine Man's arm, causing his flaming
wires to spew out. As Machine Man winces in pain, Davis is engulfed in white
light and vanishes.
*CLANGSLISH*
Davis's sword slices through Machine Man's back and is accompanied by a
bright flash of light and reappearing Davis. Davis spins and slices Machine
Man again, this time leaving him spiraling down towards the mall.
*CLANGWHAM*
The purple mini-cyclone of Machine Man smashes through the glass ceiling of
the mall and slams into the brown concrete of the floor, being driving several
feet down.
Machine Man's glowing eyes shine through the white dust as he slowly picks
himself up from the hole he has made. The customers of the mall all shout and
scream as Machine Man's purple form slowly comes into view.
WHAT'S HE DOING HERE!?
RUN MARTHA , ONE OF THEM FREAKS HAS BROUGHT HE'S FIGHT HERE!
IT'S ONE OF THEM MUTIES! RUN RUN!
There is another flash of light behind Machine Man and ....
*SLISHSLISH*
Davis's blade slice's into Machine Man's back and lunges forward launching
Machine Man through the large wall of the Food Market, and the wall behind
that, and the wall behind that, and the wall behind that.......
*WHAMWHAMWHAMWAMWHAMWHAMWHAMWHAMWHAMWHAMWHAM*
At the other end of the mall, Machine Man stumbles up and limps back towards
the hole he's made. Suddenly, a man in a red and yellow uniform carrying a bat
comes running out of the arcade behind Machine Man. As he runs towards him he
starts yelling....
Man-HEY INSPECTOR GADGET, GET OUTTA HERE! BRING YOUR FIGHT ELSEWHERE AWAY FROM
US NORMAL FOLK WITH JOBS.
Machine Man turns towards the man, bits of circuitry fall out of his body and
his exposed wires sizzle.
Machine Man- *tik* I'm sorry, ma-ma-my name is not Inspect *tik* Inspector
Gadget, my na-na-name is Machine Man. Pa-pa-please get away *tik* from this
a-a-rea you you are in da-da-dange.....
*WHAM*
The uniformed man slam his metal bat into Machine Man's faces, sending of
piece of his peach-colored fiber glass face to go flying away.
Man-SHUT UP YOU FREAK! I WILL NOT BE ORDERED AROUND BY TOASTER AND BUNCH OF
HOSES GLUED TOGETHER!
The man raises his bat, preparing for another strike but stop as a flash of
light heralds Davis's return.
Davis-Eh, thank's old fellow, you've done some o' my work for me.
The uniformed man swings his bat towards Davis's head.
*CLANGSLISH*
Davis slices the titanium alloy bat from the black handle and spins around ,
launching the uniformed man back towards the store in a maelstrom of crimson.
Davis-*Sigh* Why is it everyone today isn't listening to reason.
The Man-Dear Lord! Help me! Help me! I'm gushing blood!
Davis turns to Machine Man, digs his fingering his back and hoists him up off
the ground. He points his sword towards the back of Machine Man and waves it.
Davis-Say hello to your future self!
Machine Man slowly turns his head to see another Davis standing over a purple
and gray heap of machinery.
Davis-Now for my favorite part.
Davis tap a button on his belt and is consumed in a blue light. At a break
neck speed, he begins to slice and smash dozens of times, soon Machine Man is
consumed in the blue light too.
-35 Seconds Ago-
Davis throws Machine Man's tattered body on the floor, he looks up and waves
to his past self. Davis lifts up his sword above his head and place sit back
in his sheathe.
Davis-Oh why bother.
There is a flash of light and Davis is gone.
A half-an-hour goes by as ambulances come and people come out of their hiding
places. Machine Man is consumed by green, spider-like creatures, his
anti-bodies, and finally begins to move. He plants his remaining hand into
the ground and gradually pushes himself up. He turns towards the mountain from
which he fell and stagers towards it, ignoring the whispers of the people
around him.
Hours go by and Machine Man finally reaches his secluded lab/base/home. He
places his remaining hand onto a small box on the door, and it quickly slides
open. Machine Man staggers in and slowly goes past hundreds of monitors and
machinery. He reaches a black, curved board and flops onto it. On the side of
the board, he pushes a red button and instantly three wires emerge from the
chair and burrow into the back of his head.
Machine Man-E-E-ELIZABEH, what is the status of my body?
Elizabeth-Un-Repairable.
Machine Man-Even with the help of my anti-bodies?
Elizabeth-Un-Repairable.

-End of part one-
*Whew* That was harder than I expected . Well, after three revisions (I
originally intended this to be in-continuity, but the clashed with a future
issue of a certain series). As some of you may or may not know this is my
first story for MV1, (Heh, I can't even do the reflective right), and I intend
to do many more. Please send your critique and questions to me at
nltpinchuk@att.net Thank you for your time.

Revenger