Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories

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Professor Fann
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That Insane Scientist
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Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories Jul 28, 2009 3:54:26 GMT -5

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Post by Professor Fann on Jul 28, 2009 3:54:26 GMT -5

That's right. This thread is the gigantic, new startover and fresh, combo delicious bucket for my previous famous works - the An Axl Story series!

Firstly, a heads-up is that since after EraS has collapsed, and even now Ciel Network's Code Crush, the first site to ever host my fanfictions, has also crashed, as told by a friend, I guess that Zero Virus will be the only forums in the entire Internet to host my fanfictions.

So, I'm going to post the FIRST SERIES series chapters first, and then followed by the CONTINUATION series and then the EXISTPEACE series. While I'm quite content with this thre now, rumours going on in my head is that I'm planning out another THREE more An Axl Story series, to make the entire sage of Axl after the X8 game complete.

But ... that cannot be confirmed at this present point of time.

So therefore, I give to you firstly, AN AXL STORY FIRST SERIES, and it begins now. Thank you all and enjoy the story as things develop on their thread.

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For plot-wise clarification, please take note that this first chapter begins about 3 to 5 hours after Lumine's defeat on the Moon and more specifically, Axl's ending (that glowing purple shard in his head) of the Megaman X8 game, if anyone remembers.

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This is my first-ever fanfic written. I hope that whosoever who reads it will enjoy the story. This story is based on several Megaman X games and provides alternatives to whatever mysteries in the game unsolved. This fanfic is not intended to hurt anyone’s interests, only for enjoyment. This fanfic was inspired solely by myself, without the influence of others. All X series-related characters belong to Capcom and created by Japan’s Keiji Inafune, unless of which the reader is unfamiliar with.
-Written by M’siaFanWriter

An Axl Story First Series

Chapter One: Takeover

In the year 21XX AD, rebellious Reploids caused the human population to try migrating to the Moon for security. However Maverick Hunters X, Zero, Axl and friends put such activities to an end, simply by defeating Sigma and for the first time, Lumine. This marked the end of the so-called “new world” ideology. This happens when the government realised their stupidity of migrating to the Moon just to escape such rebellions. Peace can only be achieved by Earth’s proper being only.

Under the lead of the Prez Corp., the major investor of many social projects in the Federation, many companies demanded a ban to manufacturing new Reploids with ability to copy Reploids’ data. The Jakob Tower (the Orbital Elevator) and any facilities on the Moon were subjected to massive dismantling. Funds were instead used for improving the world’s terrible conditions. Thanks to Prez Corp’s marvellous contribution to technology, the Sigma virus was successfully eradicated around the world and any further attempts to recreate copy abilities in new Reploids were banned.

Back in the gigantic Hunters HQ, things were better, since there were less rebellions and sabotages. A sullen-looking Signas was walking with briefcases away from the HQ because he was fired by an overwhelming majority no-confidence vote and was replaced by X. However this wasn’t the case for Maverick Hunter Axl.

Axl had been in an unconscious state only for a day since a giant tentacle erupted from Lumine and shattered his head gem. There was a rumour that Axl had been infected with a virus from Lumine, just like the way Sigma was originally infected from Zero years ago. That has yet to be confirmed by Hunters scientists.

Outside the observation room, X and counterpart Alia watched a silent, sleeping Axl in the maintenance capsule. Since Axl’s acceptance as a Hunter, X has been constantly worried for Axl’s welfare. Watching an anxious X walking back and forth, Alia tries to calm him down.

“Aw come on X. Axl will probably be okay in a couple of hours or so. Then he’ll be active again on duty.” said Alia.

“No, this is not okay! A new virus program might even take over Axl and use it for rebellious purposes. Peace has finally stepped in the world and who knows, Axl’s body may be a source of outbreak!” X replied back. Alia could only sigh.

Meanwhile, in the capsule, an undetected data soul starts to activate itself and respond to its host.

In the computer brain of Axl, Axl wakes up and gets up, only to find himself surrounded by pitch-black darkness with various shapes of data flowing endlessly without any direction.

“Oh… where am I? Why can’t I open my eyes?” Axl groaned.

“That’s easy. Your physical mechanisms are temporarily inactive but your subconscious just started to be active. Good day, Axl.” A cold familiar voice replied behind him. Axl was shocked. “It can’t be!”

Axl turned around. A very familiar projection of a Reploid in white armour, a pile of purple hair covering the right eye and extended purple hair back of his hair, was standing a few feet away from Axl. It was Lumine.

“YOU!! The Director of Jakob we were supposed to protect!!” Axl yelled.

“EX-Director. If I am not mistaken, the government and other investors would have withdrawn from Jakob and started tearing it apart and I am fired. Why so tense, Axl? Can’t stand the leader of new generation Reploids?” Lumine taunted coldly.

“How in the world did you get here? In my head?” Axl yelled again.

“Well, I’d say that my data soul transfer program was successful. I have been electronically transferred to another Reploid that share the same structure and internal coding like me. It doesn’t have to be a head gem. As long as the tentacles get contact with the slightest electronic component, I can be transferred. Permanently.” Lumine sneered back.

An evil smile became an evil sulk when Lumine suddenly pounded on Axl onto the floor in the pitch-black space. Lumine released a bright red glare of light that caused Axl to scream all he could, under the boots of a Maverick.

“Aaaahhhhhh!! What are you doing?! Aaaahh! The pain!!” Axl painfully asked.

“Silly Axl. I’m taking over your control mechanisms. Then I will bust out of this place, wherever we are now, to further the rebellion against the old world!!” A cruel-looking Lumine said through sickening smiles.

Outside the maintenance capsule, shielded by a layer of thick glass, scientists busily pressed buttons and levers to try to calm down the turbulent shaking of the capsule. Jerky movements of an Axl in critical conditions shook the capsule heavily.

“Commander X, the subject is being taken over by an unknown program! It appears to be highly-rebellious and vies for control of subject’s body!”

“This isn’t good! With the subject’s abilities, the program attacking will permanently disable any means of communications we have!”

X and Alia lean on the thick layer of glass and watch the shaking increase more violently. Certain cracks were noticed on the capsule as violent hand movements hit harder and harder to break free of any locks.

“Axl! Put yourself together! Fight the program!” X yelled.

“Don’t give up! Come on!” Alia joined in the support call.

An extremely worried Zero barged into the laboratory. “What’s going on?”

“We don’t know for sure. Something is horribly wrong with Axl’s control systems!” Alia replied back, fixed on the violent capsule.

“Axl! Be strong!” Zero screamed all he could.

In Axl’s computer brain, the pain continued on Axl. Lumine who had his eyes shut, blinked them open. He looked at the poor suffering Axl.

“Hm. I am close to taking over your control mechanisms. Next is to make my physical features appear on this body and wake up.” Lumine sneered.

That sparked direct opposition from Axl against the now-powerful Lumine.

“Lumine, NO! You’re bring yourself terrible death!” Axl yelled out.

That instantly got Lumine’s attention. “Oh? And why should I not continue any further?” He asked back while outside, Axl’s appearance has begun to change.

“You have my assurance that X and Zero will do anything just to stop you from your nefarious ideals, even if it means blasting and slashing me to pieces!” Axl replied confidently. The pain decreased.

“That is not possible. You do realise I am having your body and life hostage, don’t you? They wouldn’t dare to take your life so easily.” Lumine countered.

“But, they can retrieve my brain back. It’s so hard, it can be scanned and my data soul, if that is what you call it, is retrieved in a new body. YOU will be discarded as trash by virus-resistant technology in the labs.” Axl said through gritted teeth.

“But I am not a virus, dear boy.” Lumine said.

“But you have the ability to spread to other electronic components, don’t you? The new Prez Corp technology will stop even that.” Axl said.

“Where did you get this information?” Lumine asked.

“X told me while you were ‘kidnapped’. Recently created technology to brain cleanse a corrupted data soul while recycling the body, creating a new personality.’

Lumine halted his waves of control-grasping moves and lifted his boot away from Axl’s head. Axl took relief while Lumine seemed to be taking second thoughts about his plans in near future. He then gazed on Axl.

“Alright. I’ll spare you for the meantime, only because you convinced me so. I will remain in standby, watching your every move. I will occasionally pop up to taunt you. BUT should you or anything else reveal my existence here, I assure you I will not hesitate to cause any trouble.” With that he disappeared and Axl got his control back.

Axl opened his eyes. His looks are now exactly the Axl he should look like. His status became normal but the scientists couldn’t trace the unknown program. But that didn’t matter. X and friends went in to embrace a weak Axl and sent him to the resting chamber where hunters rest. Axl wondered how he was to deal with his parasite in the future, just before he was handcuffed and slept.

Continued in Chapter 2

Notes:
Orbital Elevator has got to have some investors, right? Data soul is just a term I made to show that personalities could be transferred or downloaded into computer systems. A computer brain is another term made to show where the data souls reside, quite same as subconscious. Axl’s form can change because he has the copy ability thing. New era, new technology; anything is possible; to stop a virus from spreading without firewall use is possible.

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Well, I wrote this story WAY BACK in November 2004, so please excuse me if my story telling hugely contrasts with the Nighty and Fann Journey to NovemberFest story - in terms of story telling, plot and general tone of the story.

And now, Chapter 2.

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I repeat, all characters belong to Capcom unless those are of unfamiliarity to the reader and the story doesn’t hurt the interests of other writers.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Two: Jerkiness

Two days passed just like every other day. Only that certain things are different. News regarding Axl’s abnormal conditions two days earlier spread so far, out to the ranks of the majors. Axl felt this was much worse than the perception X had on him back in the times where Red Alert went Maverick.

He was being whispered about in that corridor of lockers. Tired with himself, he retreated to the resting chamber again. Walking around didn’t make him feel better. He had to be patient with Lumine’s constant teases and insults, seeking to undermine his confidence. But that didn’t matter.

All that Axl was concerned of was that Lumine had been in standby mode all this while, not trying to vie dominance over his control mechanisms. He could take on the insults from everyone else but taking over his body, he will definitely not tolerate.

Axl continued to rest his head on the table in his cubicle, supported by his arms. He didn’t have his usual mood of seeking inspirations from the Internet news clippings he put on the walls with duct tape.

In fact he didn’t feel like doing anything at all.

Although he had been given 5 days off, orders from the high ranks (mostly X, he’s the new Hunters Commander) he couldn’t find anything to keep him busy. Lumine was blabbering much insult on him.

“Well, judging by the situations, I’d say that Pallette must be your counterpart navigator. Have you been trying to get her attention lately?”

“Aw shaddup. She’s my navigator during missions and that’s it! Enough already Lumine! I’m tired of you. I don’t know why this must happen to me.” Axl blasted at him in his thoughts.

Conversations between the two usually happen in Axl’s computer brain since there is no such device as speakers integrated in him, so no one heard them.

“Axl, you already know the reason all this things happen to you.”

“Refresh my memory then.” Axl grew even more tired.

“It’s because of my presence, dear boy. My attempts to control you made you famous. It’s so hard to find any Reploid that have the same functions and structures like me these days. I had to make sure the ‘new world’ would not cease to exist.”

Axl had a sudden flashback to what Lumine said previously. “…should you…reveal my existence here…I will… any trouble by any means.”

“Hey that’s not what I said.” Lumine gave a slightly positive response.

“Prove me wrong.” Axl retorted.

“I never said ‘by any means’. Dear Axl, has your brain lost its memory? That’s so sad. Let me supply you with some of mine.” Lumine held out his left hand.

But Axl snapped it away. “I don’t help your help. Thanks but no thanks.”

“So sorry. I thought that while I remain in standby here, I could be of any ready assistance.” He sneered back.

Finally Axl decided not to care. Then the alarm rang.
“All Hunters proceed to the resting chamber immediately.” Just when Axl wanted to participate to rid himself of boredom, X confronted him.

“Axl you can’t leave. Your body needs rest.”

“X I’ve taken too much rest. Now just let me fight some Mavericks before I really die in this place.”

“Aw bully for the Commander.” Axl ignored Lumine.

“Axl are you sure you can handle this? You have 3 days off.”

“Well, bully for that leave notice. I’m healthy already. Just let me go.”

X closed his eyes to think. Even Lumine paused his insults. Axl was anxious to get into some action, if X gives his consent. Then X looked up.

“Alright. Go. Just be careful. Any trouble and I’d see that Alia teleports you immediately back to base.”

“I told you, I’m fine. Nothing will happen to me, promise.” He runs out.

In the command room, X watches Zero lead two Hunter units storm a weapons warehouse of the latest Reploid uprising. Axl was under top priority watch.

“X, relax will you? I’ll bring him back when he’s terribly injured.”

“Alright Alia. If you need me, I’m in my office.” X walks off.

It turns out that Axl was right after all. He made it through the mission without a single scratch, ending the new uprising with defeat of the Maverick leader, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he saw a bespectacled human of messy brown hair slip away. But he chose to ignore that.

“Congratulations Axl. You showed some strength back there. But you would have done better if I gave you some power support.”

“Stop your comments, Lumine. Don’t you dare try to stab me in the back.”

“Oh so sorry. I thought I was stabbing you right on your FACE all this while.” Lumine gave a light, evil laugh. Axl ignored him further and walked down the corridor, wanting to head for the medical facility for checkup, only to be stopped by Zero.

“X wants me to tell you that Pallette needs someone to help her arrange all Hunter record files and history. Go to the computer labs now.”

Axl gave a nod and started off but was paused by Zero.

“By the way, your performance just now was great. See ya.” Zero walked off.

At the computer labs, Axl faced his navigator in a room filled with a big stack of papers and barely anyone else. “Well don’t just stand there, Axl. Help me sort out the papers according to their respective Hunters. Got it?”

Axl nodded and set out to work. He concludes there’s got to be thousands of papers to hundreds of Hunters, after 32 minutes of sorting.

The situation gave Lumine a good chance to act. Something real bad.

Out of nowhere, Axl lost control over his hands and they began moving on its own, sorting papers at speed Axl couldn’t possibly reach.

“Hey! What are you doing? Give me my hands back!” Axl scowled.

“Oh I thought you needed help. I didn’t think a Reploid like you worked so slowly, even when it comes to sorting papers. I must say I am disappointed with you, dear boy.” Lumine gave a louder laugh.

True Lumine was. In 5 minutes ‘Axl’ had sorted out a thousand over papers linked to over 200 Hunters. Just when Axl got up, Lumine made him slip and fall flat on the floor.

A concerned Pallette immediately got up from her chair too to tend to him.
“Axl are you okay? Thanks for the paper-sorting by the way…”

Axl’s hands suddenly reached up to Pallette’s collar and seized it. A different looking Axl gazed upon her as he raised her up in the mid-air and laughed evilly.

“Axl… akk …what are you doing… stop it…urkkk…” Pallette hit ‘Axl’ repeatedly on his hands to release her. By now some Hunters have noticed this and barged in to help Pallette.

“Axl what are you!? Mad!? Release the navigator now!!”

In his computer brain, Axl was desperately trying to regain controls over his body from a raging Lumine with insanity.

“Lumine, stop this! I’ll be killed for this!”

“Oh do I ever want such a thing to happen to you.” An evil snicker was heard. Full of rage, Axl pounded on Lumine but Lumine disappeared, so Axl regain full control over his body.

His rocket legs suddenly fired out of control, releasing a choking Pallette while he flew towards the glass wall of the lab. The glass shattered to millions of pieces, shocking other passer-bys.

As if the trouble wasn’t enough, he crash-landed into another pile of lockers AFTER falling down two floors, denting along pipes and doors. Axl couldn’t bear any more pain. He could only curse his inhabitant before he eventually passed out. A huge crowd surrounding him was formed.

Nearby Reploid guards arrested the mangled Axl and decided to take this matter to Commander X. X thus couldn’t believe his eyes but he had no choice to resort to drastic measures to stop Axl and quickly sort out the damage he had done.

Axl had completely no idea what would be done to him; he was truly unconscious.

Continued in Chapter 3

Notes:
Poor Axl. But this is part of the plot. A Reploid having two data souls can switch personalities and the stronger personality will have control over the body. That also depends on free will, power and any other factors.

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Stuff. And without delay, Chapter 3.

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Once again, all charcters belong to Capcom, unless you’ re never seen them before and story doesn’t hurt others’ interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Three: Paleness

Axl has certainly gotten into a lot of misery lately although it is only 3 days since Lumine revealed himself. He tasted the insults and curses of many other Hunters, far worse than that of X’s refusal to accept him as a Hunter and having to battle Sigma. Today after the trouble he caused in the labs, thanks to Lumine, he was to experience something more dreadful.

Axl was being quarantined from any physical contact.

He had his systems restarted active again. Using enough energy, he forced his eyes to open to see his new surroundings. Though feeling very tired, he managed to look around. He appeared to be in a room filled with greyish cushions on floor, three walls and ceiling. But the other one wall was thick glass and the door thick steel.

Axl tried to reach his hands but he couldn’t. It seems his hands were bound to his body, not free. He tried getting up but imbalance made him fall down again. He looked on his body and was shocked.

He was strapped up with a white flexible titanium sheet, clung together by belts.

Immediately he looked at the wall of glass. Many machines with large screens displayed status charts and bars. Graphs of stability were plentiful. Scientists were busy tracing out the source of madness he caused in the HQ. Barely 2 feet away from the glass outside were X, Alia, Zero and Layer.

“Riight. Tell me again how we scan the unknown program inside Axl since that tentacle thing smashed his head gem.” Zero asked lazily, looking at the already-repaired head gem of Axl.

“Zero, heat and radar scanners are implanted in that observation room. They emit high frequency waves and reflect back, thus indicating Axl’s status. Another harmless laser is fired to try to detect the position and status of the unknown program. You should have paid attention to the scientists.” Alia sighed.

“Whatever, so long as the science can stop all the Maverick madness and powers my saber. I’m going for a security patrol around Big City.” Zero walked away fast.

“I hope this problem will be solved quickly. I may be new here but I am sure that Axl has never ever acted this strange before.” Layer said after a long silence.

“You’re right. I hope we get to ask Axl to reveal to us what is wrong with him. We are friends after all.” X folded his arms while Alia spoke to someone else on her communicator.

Though X and the two navigators cannot hear whatever Axl said in the outside, Axl can hear whatever they said in the quarantine room.

“Remember, dear Axl-” Lumine started.

“Yeah yeah, I know, I know, still clear in my head! Don’t reveal your existence or else you will cause destruction. Just stop bothering me. I’m so tired of you…” Axl lied himself on the cushioned floor to a near petrified posture.

Lumine only gave a small giggle, though small but full of evil. Axl cursed him back under a breath but then did nothing except lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling.

“Commander, the past 85 minutes he has shown no signs of any sudden erupting hostility. The subject has long remained stable ever since he crashed into the lockers on the 13th floor.” A fellow scientist reported.

“Yes thank you. I think we have had enough of that story. Alia you can resume your duties again. Layer here is enough.” X’s orders were final. Alia nodded and returned to her post.

Inside the room, an eruption was about to begin.

“Poor, poor dear Axl, haven’t you ever thought why your friends treat you so cruelly only 3 days since you got back from the Moon?” Lumine said.

“They are only treating me like this because of you! You purposely used my body to conduct your deceitful activities! I accept that! I understand their view of me! And I am going to continue keeping you in here since you are such an evil Reploid!!” Axl yelled out at him.

Lumine’s fists clenched more. Anger was rapidly rising from him. Finally he was no longer patient of his host.

“WHY YOU LITTLE!!” Lumine emitted tonnes of red glaring light from him and his eyes were glaring crimson from the anger. Axl was stunned from that and realising Lumine was attempting full force to gain control, he emitted his own blue light to fight the advancing Lumine.

Back outside, the charts, bars and graphs were suddenly out of range. The needles on all measuring meters bounces off the limits. The alarm rang out loudly, shocking X and Layer. The scientists busied themselves again, trying to clamp the increasingly volatile condition.

“The unknown program’s back! The subject is experiencing the rapid spread of its activities, whatever that is! We are now firing a laser that can suppress all activities of the subject!” The scientist increased a lever on a machine.

X and Layer looked on anxiously, hoping a calm to prevail. Despite the many complications present, it all happened in a petrified Axl on the floor.

The two personalities were fighting to reclaim the right to control the body. Fierce opposition continued on.

“You fool! I shall resume control of this body and with my powers, I am truly unstoppable! The new world will be created over a matter of time and you will submit to my rule!” Lumine said with evil eyes.

“Not if I can help it!! I will not surrender to you!” Axl emitted more of his blue light to counter Lumine’s advance.

Lumine smiled a little. “You’ve got some great courage and strength. But my powers are far greater than yours!!” Folding his hands crossed, he broke than cross and in turn released more powerful rays of speeding crimson light.

The power was clearly too much to resist. Axl began to be overpowered by the surge of Lumine’s power. Bit by bit, Axl began to bent more towards the ground of
the subconscious’ black-pitch floor.

“Grr… must stop Lumine… Aaaaaargghh!” Axl cannot take it anymore.

In the quarantine room, the petrified became un-petrified. ‘Axl’ was able to stand up properly and revealed his cold, cruel face. This is due to Lumine’s strong power able to quell Axl’s power that ‘Axl’ was able to take control.

“Hm? It seems here that you have some control over a certain area. What could it be?” Lumine stood next to an Axl hurt on the floor. Crimson waves are still flowing.

Axl turned up to him. “Well… I still can’t afford to let your physical looks…just so easily exposed now, can’t I? We had an agreement…”

Lumine looked on with a little self-realisation in him. After seconds of storing, he looked upwards.

“Hm. Quite right. No matter, I’m sure I can still afford to show my purple hair and eyes, can’t I?” Lumine-controlled Axl begins to release strength to break the titanium strap that has tied him up.

Some of Axl’s brown hair was turned into purple and expanded outwards to cover his right eye. A few seconds later, the titanium strap was torn to pieces. That alarmed X as he switched to battle mode with his Buster ready.

‘Axl’ first tried to escape by using his might to break through the 5-inch thick glass window. Repeated crashes made the glass crack and around 2 inches of thickness was reduced.

Realising it was futile, he turned to barge against the 2.5-inch thick metal door. The chances of success were much brighter there. He managed to create a dent, increasing as he continued to ram against it. X prepares to shoot in case the subject escapes.

“The laser has failed! The dominant program is the unknown one! Run for your lifes!!” All scientists ran away, fearing any attacks on them.

Lumine was close to escaping the quarantine room. Then he halted his steps. In the computer brain, Lumine stopped to talk to Axl for a moment before he made his escape.

“You see, dear boy. The new world is inevitable. Don’t worry I’ll spare you to be my assistant. Gwahahaha- what the?!” Lumine was utterly shocked. Axl turned around. A much brighter, stronger pink light appeared from nowhere, thus neutralizing Lumine’s crimson light. Lumine lost his control of Axl and was extremely tired.

“Grr…I will stop here. Mark my words, Axl. I will return after I have quelled that new aura!!” With that, he disappeared and Axl was back in position.

Layer saw a floating stunned purple-haired Axl fall to the floor and the purple turning to brown and not covering Axl’s face. Axl returned, extremely tired, and tried to open his eyes again. X has apparently knocked down the door and tended to him.

Axl was taken to his resting chamber and on-lookers were dispersed. Mechaniloid guards were stationed around his capsule to grab Axl when out of control. X seemed to be in deep thinking. The unknown program has disappeared again and security is increasingly in danger. What would he do?

Layer whispered suggestions to him and he was satisfied. “But we must first get others’ approval first. Then we’ll do what you say.” Both walked off to his office. As Axl lay asleep, secrets were unveiled and measures, more drastic than quarantine, were about to be taken to deal with the brown-haired Reploid.

Continued in Chapter 4.

Notes:
Reploids can be strapped up to restrict their movements, just like strapping human nutcases. When Lumine was electronically transferred, his powers can too as they are part of his data soul coding. Poor Axl, so much sleep.

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And that is all for now. Comments and criticisms are very much welcome. Please do stay tuned for the next 3 chapters. Thank you!

Marie
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What have I stumbled into.

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Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories Jul 28, 2009 19:52:58 GMT -5

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Post by Marie on Jul 28, 2009 19:52:58 GMT -5

Even though this story's almost five years old, I still love just as much when I first read it almost four years ago in Code Crush. This brings back memories now that I'm reading them again...

Heh heh, poor Axl for having to sleep so much due to all that mental exhaustion he has to go through.

Professor Fann
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Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories Jul 28, 2009 22:16:50 GMT -5

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Post by Professor Fann on Jul 28, 2009 22:16:50 GMT -5

Ah, I see. Thanks for coming here, EmerMarie. And seeing as such, I've decided to post up the next 3 chapters as well! Enjoy it all.

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Four: Research

Axl was once again thrown into a world of isolation and constant insults. The new incident three days earlier earned him a nasty reputation for being incontrollable and often seeks destruction. Axl was now accompanied by two big, strong, sturdy Mechaniloids to make sure he’s never out-of-control. Wherever he walked, other Hunters will hastily avoid him (except for his friends).

But he saw it as an advantage. He can finally be alone in a time when the other inhabitant is constantly insulting him. However, it has been three days Lumine did not constantly assault him. More accurately, Axl was teased lightly and treated with respect and nicely.

It all started with the quarantine incident back then. That made Axl raise up some important questions. What was that pink aura that prevented Lumine’s escape? Why would the guy suddenly treat him with respect? No constant insults? He wondered to himself. He also thought back of what Zero had said.

“Watch yourself. Act like this and you’ll face disciplinary action from US.”

Axl simply had to search for answers to fit the demand for his curiosity. Then that was when the white-purplish personality came in and gave pointers.

“Well, well, maybe this time I could be of some assistance for real.” The two were meeting face to face in Axl’s computer brain, Axl’s eye closed.

“Aw what do you want? You’ve stirred up enough trouble for me and made me waste my time and energy. Just leave me now, okay?” Axl sighed.

“Suit yourself, dear Axl.” He was about to disappear when he stopped walking and turned his head to the right. “If I were you, I would search for facts about my body’s origin.” He then truly disappeared.

Axl had always hated the library. So full of books, tables and chairs, books, librarians and books. The old means of publishing ideas of which mankind were able to advance. Judging circumstances, he had no choice but to do so. Off he went to the library with the big Mechaniloids.

Not far from the corridor corner was Zero. Seeing he got what he wanted, he whisked away to inform X.

“The library? Axl literally never goes to the library, ever. What could this mean?”

“I dunno, but I know we will find out soon. I’ll ask Layer to check out his every movements.” Zero exits the office of the Commander through the door.

“Axl at the library? And reading books? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t it odd that ever since the Mechaniloids were stationed at his side, he never acted weirdly? I have a feeling it’s not them that stopped his violent acts.”

Zero and Layer are in the surveillance room that monitors every camera.

“Yep, those machines are no match for Axl’s strength; if he acts violently he’s just blast their heads and of he goes. There is something weird going on around and that’s why I need you to monitor him. See you later.” Zero exits the room.

“Oookay, Axl let’s see what you’ll do in the library.”

At the library, the usual scene happens. All Reploids except the librarians quickly ushered out the other exit. Quickly grabbing books and stationeries, they didn’t watch a fight with the turbulent Axl. Soon the library was empty. The Mechaniloids couldn’t fit under the door, so they stayed outside.

“Wow, this is kind of a great convenience.” Axl said.

“I thought you hated books. Aren’t you scared of all these things, Axl?”

“Cut it out, Lumine. I’m not that scared. I just think it’s boring to pour time and energy over a collection of papers detailing so many ideas and concepts. But I gotta find out more of me. Hush, now let me do my research.”

Lumine tolerated the hush part and watched Axl pick up tonnes of books.

“‘Basic Guide to Robotic Structures’, ‘The Chemistry of Metals’, ‘Computer Science’, blah blah blah, I’m starting this thing. And don’t wish me any luck, Lumine, it’s not like something goes wrong just by reading.”

Lumine was highly surprised to get that reaction. He smiled and decided to bother him later, whish mostly means messing with Axl’s hands and fingers.

Layer was so bored watching Axl read, she swore she nearly fell on the floor due to the intense boredom and long-windedness of him reading books.

Some hours later, Axl felt he did not yield any result from the reading.

“Uhh… all I learnt is that Reploid switching data souls is extremely rare and that recycling Mavericks is a real serious business. Where do I look?”

Lumine answered his questions by secretly grasping control of Axl’s body, made Axl walk up to the computer and sit on the chair. He then released control.

“Hey what was that for?” Axl asked.

“If I were you, I’ll be more analytical of myself. I recommend you check the Hunters database for records on yourself and Zero.”
“How’s that going to help me? You seem to know everything, why not tell me?”

“There, there, dear Axl. You’ll find it out yourself and you’ll like it.”

Pressing on the mouse and keyboard, he glanced through various articles of Hunters and friends he knew. He read them all one by one and learnt many things.

A Dr. Light created X, meant to be model robot for robotkind. Dr Cain found him and used his structures as a basis for all future Reploids. A Dr. Wily was thought to be the creator of Zero, based on various accounts. Their respective counterparts are Alia and Layer, though Zero once befriended an Iris. Axl’s past is unknown, last seen raised in Red Alert before running away to the Hunters.

Axl then compared all various records and found only one similarity: all Reploids except for X and Zero were manufactured in gigantic Reploid factories belonging to Prez Corporation. Though independent scientists contributed a small percentage, the Prez Corp manufactured almost all Reploids and they were activated only after delivery to various destinations.

Axl was not intrigued by what he found. “So what if that Prez Corp creates most of the Reploids in the Federation? For all I know I may be a product of a minor independent scientist. How does this help me? It’s between independent works or a factory product. I’m getting no clear answer.”

Lumine stepped in the scene. “Keep looking, dear boy. You are going closer. And you are lucky to know this; this is highly-classified information.”

“But strange. I have memories above the factories. How come the others doesn’t know this? Do you know about this past yourself?”

Lumine paused for a while. “Actually, no. I only know that some bespectacled brown-haired guy said he created me. The next thing I knew I was in the Prez Corp and directing Jakob.”

Axl filled with curiousity looked for more info about Prez Corp. The owner of the corporation is a 48-year-old named Prez. He is a bespectacled man of no moustache with dark black hair and always wearing a suit. Deep interests in science spurred him to obtain the formula of X and mass manufacturing of Reploids. His contribution to the Federation’s clean development and outspoken criticism for negative personalities made him highly famous around the world. Last major social project was the Jakob project.

“The Jakob project? There’s something fishy going on around here and it all turns back to this Prez Corp.!” Axl was highly suspicious of Prez.

Lumine still remained silent. “Why not check about the Iris girl you saw earlier?”

Axl was surprised. “Why? Are you interested in her? She’s already dead.”

Lumine got a little irritated and swiftly got hold of Axl’s right hand. The surprised Axl wasn’t fast enough to avoid his right hand pinching his right cheek.

“Ouch, hey cut it out!!’ The librarian then hushed Axl to silence. Axl closed his eyes to see a smiling Lumine. “Hey that hurt. Let go of my face!”

“Don’t you ever tease me like that. It’s sensitive to me.”
“Hey you get to tease me all the time. Why can’t I have my own fun?”

Realising that Axl was right, Lumine let go of Axl’s face and asked him to look on info regarding Iris. Axl found it. Iris was Zero’s counterpart at least till she died in a space tragedy in the Final Weapon. She was created by the same corporation and activated in the HQ to be Colonel’s sister.

“Okay I’m gonna print out all those stuff and head back to the resting chamber. Do I have to print all the stuff regarding to Iris?” Axl asked.

“Trust me, you’ll need it in the future.” Lumine disappeared. A confused Axl just did what he said and then headed back to the resting chamber.

Later, Layer passed on the video of Axl in the library to X. “It is interesting to note that only two things make Axl very suspicious: he was quiet the whole time and the only time he said something was when he pinched his own cheek and yelled the pain out.” X was quiet and decided to discuss the matter tomorrow with the rest.

Back in the capsule, Axl realised that he didn’t care how Lumine became so suddenly nice to him; he really enjoyed it. That happiness eased his mind to sleep, besides the fact the two Mechaniloids were discharged of any duties.

Continued in Chapter 5.

Notes:
Axl and Lumine look great in being friends, especially after Lumine mysteriously befriended his host.

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And let us continue.

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t intend to hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Five: Conference

X, Zero, Layer, Alia and Pallette were gathered in X’s office to discuss two very important things that dominated gossips in the Hunter HQ.

“First the most important issue threatening the reputation of the Hunters: Axl.” X read out from his paper. “How are we going to solve the problem where a fellow Reploid’s behaviour turns from violent to normal and back to violent again?”

“X” said Zero, arms folded, leaning on his chair.. “You know the root cause of this problem. An unknown program trying to take over him and to proceed with its desired malicious activities. I am really starting to think that Lumine passed himself on to Axl’s body.”

“Yes, X. In the quarantine room, when Axl was just about to make it out, he was floating in the air, stunned while his purple hair and eyes turned back to Axl’s original looks. Besides, Axl hates the library, he’d never enter there; but he just did yesterday.” Layer presented her findings.

“It’s not like Axl to keep quiet all the time and suffer silently; the guy’s a regular bigmouth.” Alia’s comments made some giggles.

X made his verdict. “Yes I agree with you. But the current technology we have cannot trace that program. Without obtaining proper proof, other allegations will be useless!” The room became silent.

Layer seemed to figure out her own solutions because she stood up, saying “I’ll have a talk with the HQ scientists and help them design a machine that can extract every single personality from a Reploid, shown or hidden.”

Alia stood up next. “I’ll try to seek cooperation from the Prez Corporation. Their contribution to the Federation’s technology is as we know highly praised, they can send help.”

“I’ll try to obtain as much info from Axl as possible.” Pallette said.

“I’ll watch out for every move Axl makes and have them captured on camera.” Zero said. X was pleased to hear quick answers from his friends.

“Excellent. Alia, Layer please sit down for a little while more. The second issue is regarding the sudden decline of various Hunters’s quality of performance while quelling uprisings. This statistics show a significant rise in expenses for medication for various Hunters. The weird thing is that all this happen at the same time Axl’s behaviour rapidly switches. How serious do you all think the second case is?”

“Quite serious X.” was the common reply.

“Alright, I’ll have an investigation team drafted later today personally. Meeting dismissed. Zero, come along with me. We need to meet the representative of the Prez Corporation. He demands an explanation on Axl’s strange behaviour throughout this entire week.” X and Zero left by the main door.

“Do you notice that the Prez Corp is increasingly famous and, in our case, an increasing possibility of prime suspect?” Alia asked.

“Yeah, c’mon. We must save Axl before he plunges into any more troubles.” Pallette’s comments were agreed upon and the three navigators walked on.

Meanwhile, when all this was taking place, Axl was in the main gathering grounds, relaxing and enjoying a pleasant conversation with Lumine.

“Well, it’s been one week you have been with me. What do you want to do to celebrate?” Axl asked. Lumine was busy thinking then he sighed.

“My idea has affected numerous innocent Reploids to dedicate their time and energy to do something unrighteous. I don’t know how to repay your kindness for keeping my existence here secret.” Lumine gave him a bow in the computer brain.

Axl went forward to comfort the white data soul. “There there Lumine. As long as you know what’s right and wrong, I forgive you. Come let’s go do something fun.”

Lumine smiled back. Axl got up from his chair and walked towards the main plaza hall. Just then, X and Zero were walking hastily there too but they didn’t notice Axl, because Axl saw them first and hid behind a corner.

“Gee I wonder where would they be going? Let’s follow them.”

“No, Lumine that is called minding other’s business. Let’s move on.”

But the stubborn Lumine won’t give in so easily. As swift as sound he grasped Axl’s control mechanisms and made him walk, following behind the dynamic duo.

“Lumine, what are you doing? Stop this now!” A hiss from Axl only his inhabitant heard. Axl tried to regain some major limbs but Lumine snapped them away.

“Dear boy, believe me, this has got to be something about ‘your’ weird behaviour and the various destruction ‘you’ have caused.”

“Hey, you know you have done all those things-!” Lumine silenced Axl.

“QUIET. I’m trying to pay attention to what they are saying, please.” ‘Axl’ hid behind one of the pillars in the now-empty huge main plaza hall. The main plaza hall was brilliant yellow, red and grey mixed with tinted green windows unlike the rest of the HQ that is painted in dark grey and blue.

X and Zero now greeted a man in brown overcoat, his right hand with a heavy bag. ‘Axl’ tried to see the human’s identity by reaching his head further out a bit. ‘He’ was shocked once he recognized his identity.

The human was a bespectacled, serious-looking man with messy hair, a crooked nose and big blue eyes. Zero then led the way to X’s office.

Lumine was first the first time ever afraid. Still holding hard on Axl’s limbs, he ran away fast. Boarding one of the elevators in another hall, he pressed the button displaying the number ‘54’.

As soon as he reached there, he made another stairway up and arrived at the rooftop. Around the Hunter HQ were many other high-rise buildings and a near-even spread of green dots of what are actually trees. ‘Axl’ then leaned against a wall railing and gazed away. Axl demanded an explanation.

“What is going on? You can tell me anything now, now that we are friends.”
“Not everything, dear Axl, but this one I will. That man just now… was the one who claimed to be my creator.”

“WHAT? Then you should go meet him-” Axl stopped when he realised that would mean exposing Lumine and another dozen days of quarantine, or even expulsion.

“I’d rather not talk about it Axl dear boy. I had many horrible memories of him; all I can say is that I was finally happy at Jakob and happier with you, anything’s better than him…. Axl, call it a day off. Let’s go to your cubicle.”

Lumine released control, allowing Axl to move freely again.

Meanwhile in the main plaza hall, X and Zero were having a chat with the human Lumine claimed that he claimed to be Lumine’s creator.

“Good day to you all. I’m Human Consultant Bob, or you could just call me Bob. As you know, I’m representing the Prez Corp¬. which demands an explanation to various bizarre incidents concerning the prototype Axl.”

“Yes, Mr Bob, we are still doing some investigations-”

“It’s Bob. Well, if you please, show me the way to your office, Commander X.”

X and Zero exchanged faces. They started to get a bad feeling about Bob, but seeing that they were dealing with the representative of a corporation very famous and having strong ties with the Federation government, X decided to oblige.

In X’s office, Bob wanted to speak from the start. X had no choice but to allow him so and Zero looked like he was almost yawning out of boredom.

“As you all know, a few years ago, the Federation government has enlisted the help of the Prez Corp. in creating a new Reploid generation prototype that has the ability to ward off the Sigma Virus. Thus the Reploid, codenamed Axl was a top-secret joint project between the government and the corporation.”

“However, just when Axl was about to be awaken into the government’s hands, an illegal syndicate kidnapped Axl in what the public sees as ‘a legal member of the Red Alert’. Well, we all know how powerful they soon became and Sigma’s interfernce. It’s a good thing you Hunters had him safely in your hands.”

“With endless rebellions, the Corp invested in Jakob. But so sad that Lumine too was involved in the mad new world idea. The government had high hopes he would finish Jakob soon. Then, last Mr Prez heard; Axl was in a coma after being attacked by Lumine himself. And he went ahead and recycled all new generation Reploids and there’s where Axl acted quirkly. Well, then end of story. What are your explanations then?”

X hesitated but Zero told him to tell the truth. “We do not have any definite explanation for the moment. But we did witness an unidentified program spreading its power several times to try taking over Axl. So we are sure that’s the source of his rabid behaviour and we are currently constructing a machine that extracts all personalities, hidden or not.”

Bob seems not so happy and not worried too. “Well, there’s some development. Excellent. Carry on, sirs. We hope you can present a report to us and the government A.S.A.P. Good day.” He walked away, slightly gleeful to himself.

X and Zero again exchanged looks.

In Axl’s cubicle, he had a hard time pressing Lumine to tell him everything.

“Aw silly Axl. Thanks to you, I know almost everything. But you will have to find it out yourself. I’m not telling anything till the time is right.” He disappears.

“Grr…” Axl could only sort back his files he collected so far and stick up the Internet news clippings about ‘his’ rabid behaviour in the HQ, on the wall and went to sleep.

Continued in Chapter 6.

Notes:
First Lumine becomes afraid of something. Bob is a weird character too. How do they match?

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And the last chapter update for now.

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t intend to hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Six: Trouble

Two days later, things start to prove that the situations in the HQ have returned to normal. Papers were sent in and out without trouble and Axl did not go through any quarantines or mess-ups. In fact, Axl was pretty much okay himself; Lumine says it’s his nineth day in Axl, a good number in some cultures.

“Well, I’ve been here for nine days and counting. The first three days I pretty much screwed you up. I’m sorry…” Lumine looked downwards.

“Hey, it’s okay. As long as you don’t give me any trouble, friend.”

Lumine looked up, smiling. “Thank you dear Axl.” Finally Axl simply had to ask a question about an issue that irked him since the start.

“Why in the world do you always call me ‘dear Axl’, ‘dear boy’ and the other stuff? It’s really bugging me a lot.”

“You don’t need to know why. It’s private and I’m not telling you under any circumstances at all, dear boy.” Lumine said softly.

Axl decided to forget about it and return to his frustration to sort out all the information he collected so far. He glanced every one of them. The Prez Corp. – Prez – manufacturing and recycling – Iris – the Final Weapon – how are all these relevant to what he was looking for? And why did his Chameleon Chip had to exist? Where did the pink aura come from?

He then decided to take a walk and it the gathering grounds, it finally hit him an important piece of the mystery puzzle; there was another data soul in him. But who?

Then Lumine stepped in. “Dear boy, congratulations. You found the most vital part of the mystery to your origins. Indeed there is another data soul in you. With you. With us. All this while- Ow!” He felt a pang of pain on his back.

“Hey, Lumine you okay? Did I hurt you or something?”

“Em… I’m okay… just a pain somewhere in the body. I’ll go and fix it.” Lumine hastily disappeared from Axl in the computer brain. Axl has seen that all the time when he closed his his eyes to talk and SEE Lumine at the same time.

What Axl seems not to know was now what X and Zero knew.

“Poor guy… feel sorry for his experiences. First he nearly met his creator, then he got a glimpse of it before kidnapped by Red Alert. No wonder he deems Red Alert as his new home that time. The glimpse of an important clue to his past seemed so irrelevant he assumes he has no memory of the past…”

“I agree with you, X. Rabid behaviour after the Jakob. All these are too much for him. He deserves a break.” Zero only sighed, leaning on the wall.

“No matter, the important thing right now is to trace that unknown program, extract it and finish it off before Axl gets hurt. He must be struggling all this while to stop that program’s advances. Then, next is the discipline problem.”

The emergency alarm rang suddenly. “All Hunters proceed to the resting chamber immediately. There’s an imminent Mechaniloid attack.”

Once all Hunters have gathered, a voice booms out. “A giant cargo Mechaniloid has been seen rampaging in the dockyards of the east coast. All Hunters are required to arrive at the scene and stop all Reploids from any further destruction.”

Axl was in the chamber at the time but chose to stay at a corner.

“Why aren’t you mixing with other of your friends?”

“Hey you know it yourself. All other Hunters seem to think I can ‘go Maverick at will’ and they don’t want to be harmed. It’s best I stay alone.”

As soon as all other Hunters left the chamber, Axl followed behind. Zero halted him for a while.

“Hey Axl you okay? You can always skip. My permission.” Zero aid.

“Man, don’t be like X, killing me by boring me off! I’m fine, Zero, okay? Just let me play my role as a Hunter too.”

“That’s a good spirit. C’mon let’s go kick Maverick butt!”

X was in the Hunter command room watching all Hunters run like a colourful wave to the 90-foot-tall Mechaniloid and shooting chunks of Buster shots.

“X, it’s weird. I see Zero trying to slice off the Mechaniloid’s head but the scanners don’t show Axl anywhere.” Alia reported.

“But how? Zero said he was joining the fight too. Keep looking!”

Actually, Axl couldn’t be detected on the scanners because he was in an area beyond the range of the scanners. He had to deal with another problem at the moment.

Lumine was asking his permission for body control in a battle zone.

Standing in a clean dark corner alley, he was having silent conversations with his inhabitant about the possible problems when Lumine takes over.

“Hey, we were bound to an agreement okay? I can allow you in my hands but I don’t want your physical features shown.”

“That isn’t what I am arguing about, dear boy. Your friends are going to need my power to stop that Mechaniloid. MY scanners show that its head is not its weakness. A specific part of its face is the weakness. Your other friends think it’s the head!”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“My calculations say that with just a few shots at its face will reveal its collar gem and with one laser shots of mine, the Mechaniloid will be defeated and less destruction is caused! Please Axl, give me a chance to pay back my debts. Debts for you letting me stay in you.”

A decision was made. Axl stepped out of the dark alley not exactly Axl. Axl’s arms and torsos were a diluted grey texture, his eyes were a mixture of green and red and the same hair brown but a few blur spots of purple.

“LUMINE, YOU!!” Axl was about to rebut the Lumine in control.

“Don’t spoil it. It feels great to be in battle again, besides you guys.”

Axl knew he was referring to the fight between him, X and Zero and with Lumine. Now he didn’t care about that. All he cared was to see Axl’s performance in battle and prove to himself that Lumine is now very reliable.

‘Axl’ flew at an amazing speed and in a second, ‘he’ was already at a site where crates and tanks were burning, ships were split into half, a warehouse was half burning and noise of Buster shots were very loud. ‘He’ was 70 feet above ground.

“Axl?” Zero was astounded ‘Axl’ appeared from nowhere.

“X, Axl is back at the scene! There he is, in the air! Wow, I didn’t know Axl can fly for so long in the air…” Alia gazed the Reploid with awe in command room.

“Axl IS not supposed to fly in the air for so long! I’d like photo shots of those pronto and the time he flew into air measured!” X ordered Pallette to do so.

At the battle site, Lumine took out Axl’s guns and fired continuously at the Mechaniloid’s face until it bounced backwards. Just like Lumine predicted, its head falling back a little revealed a collar gem at its neck.

All other Hunters were stunned at the event and gazed up at the flying Reploid.

Lumine lifted Axl’s hand at the collar gem and his eyebrow was sharped downwards to his nose. Axl’s green-red eyes turned crimson instantly as ‘Axl’ yelled out a big scream.

“Hhuuuuuaaaaarrrrrrggggh!”

A ball of dark blue laser energy appeared from his hand and grew in diameter. When the diameter reached around 12 inches, he released at the energy being collected at the collar gem while yelling out.

The gem cracked and the entire Mechaniloid’s head and body interior exploded into oblivion. Most Hunters ducked and shielded themselves while the explosion happened. The remaining legs and lower body parts flew down on the grounds. Lumine then returned back Axl’s control mechanisms to him and his features returning to normal.

Axl, who couldn’t fly long, fell onto the rubble of steel and stone. Other Hunters immediately hailed him a hero and carried him in the air. All were cheering and praising ‘Axl’s’ strength. Zero was nowhere to be seen. A dark shadowy figure ran away.

Back in the command room, highly important data were processed. The results were laid on a table and the gang analysed it.

“Axl floated in the air for about 2 78 minutes and computer estimates the amount of energy used to destroy the Mechaniloid around 5.7 kilotonnes of bombs. We also obtained results from earlier incidents. When Axl tried to escape the quarantine, he used around 110 thousands pound of force alone to crack the glass.” Layer said.

“This all happened ever since we detected the unknown program in Axl. The first three days was chaos and it seems that Axl has embraced this program harmoniously in his systems. This is really serious X.” The others agreed with Alia.

“Well, this shows that whatever that has inhabited Axl is either a potential friend or an extremely dangerous foe! We gotta speed up this investigation!” X was a little traumatized by the explosions.

Continued in Chapter 7.

Notes:
Lumine’s dormant power in his codings of his data soul is unleashed through Axl. How scary. Guess he did all those for Axl. Technology is amazing.

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And that is all for now. Thanks for coming!

Marie Full Member Member is offline What have I stumbled into. Posts: 222 Mood:	Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories Jul 29, 2009 22:00:21 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Marie on Jul 29, 2009 22:00:21 GMT -5 Whee! More memories to behold! ...I have no idea what to say next since I've already read this for who knows how many times. On with the next batch, Dr. Fann!

Professor Fann
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That Insane Scientist
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Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories Aug 24, 2009 21:47:12 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Professor Fann on Aug 24, 2009 21:47:12 GMT -5

And again, delay and late update. Here we go. Three chapters instead.

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t intend to hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Ten: Progress

Axl woke up some time later. His body was apparently fully energized and to his shock, he was partially covered in snow. He quickly got up and shook all the snow off him. He retreated back to the staircase where he came from and shut his eyes.

Iris was asleep herself but Lumine had been shielding himself and her with his purple aura for quite some time. Axl wanted to know what happened.

“Well, Axl, apparently you slept in the snow for around 4 hours! Iris can’t stand the cold in the first 2-and-a-half hours so she called me here, while I was checking your body status. Fortunately you were immune to the snow so I didn’t shield you.”

“Hey, that’s not nice of you, Lumine!”

“What can I say, dear boy? She and I need heat the most.”

Then Iris woke up. She brushed herself and looked around. Lumine had already stopped emitting his aura since they were now close to the 54th floor.

“What time is it now? Axl must’ve slept very long.”

“Dear boy slept for about 4 hours so the time is close to 2 in the morning. I say we get some sleep in Axl’s resting pod.” Lumine shrugged.

“No, I say we go and visit dad.” Axl said suddenly.

“WHAT? In the middle of the morning?” Both said that together.

Iris voiced her protest the fastest. “Axl, father is still sleeping! Besides, he’s already having his fever for three days. You can’t expect him to recover so fast! He needs time of him own!”

“Well, the 24-hour store does sell thick towels. Just in case the weather at the balcony is very cold. I’ll keep you warm.” Axl thought that was wise of him.

Iris didn’t know what to do with Axl and her face turned red. “Uh! I just don’t know what to do with you! I’ll be somewhere else if you need me!”

Lumine shook his head at Axl. “Dear boy, you’ve really made her mad. Just do what you want to do. I will assist you if there are any problems.” He vanished off.

Axl went ahead and switched to human form before teleporting to the Big City Park. Once at the Park, he ran over to the nearest store and bought a lot of towels. People were wondering what a teen would do with so many towels in winter.

Axl then teleported over to Prez’s balcony and just as he expected, Prez had already locked the sliding door and was deep asleep in his bed. Axl dragged a chair from the balcony table, wiped the snow away and sat on it, wrapping himself with the towels thus fulfilling his words: Axl did feel warmer.

Eventually Axl fell asleep again; he felt a little tired. He felt it was the best method while waiting to see his ‘father’ as soon as possible. When he closed his eyes, he saw no one around.

“Guys? Where are you?” Axl walked around in his own head. Then he spotted a bright pinkish aura not far away from him at 11 o’clock. He ran there and was surprised to see a smiling Lumine and a curled up Iris.

“Lumine! What did you do to Iris? Zero’s gonna kill me if anything happened to her!” Lumine turned to look at him and laughed lightly.

“I never thought you’d be so interested about Iris. For once you cared for her welfare status, despite the fact you had always treated her so-and-so, dear boy.”

“Let’s put it this way…I make a suggestion for a little change in her features and she gladly accepted. All I did was enter her codes and made another feature code active. The old one was gaudy and detestable. Take a look yourself.”

Axl was shocked to see the new Iris. Her body design was mostly modified except for her skirt. Her hand and body looked slightly simpler and so does her leg armour. She no longer had a hat and her face looked livelier. On her body lay a triangular-sort napkin with the insignia ‘Iris’ on the lower right.

“Wow…you look better, Iris. More…beautiful.” Axl awed.

“Thank you. I had this feature before so I decided to have it activated. Till now, I still had no idea why I had chosen the older form during the Repliforce war. Still, this one is better. Oh, it is very warm around here. You wrapped towels?”

“Just like what I said.” Axl shrugged his shoulder at Iris.

“Hey, do you guys feel some poking here and there? Ow, now it’s a hard tapping on the shoulders! What is this?” Lumine smiled mischievously at Axl.

“Well Axl dear boy, try opening your sight.” He laughed more.

Axl woke up. He saw Prez holding hard on his arms now. Prez was wearing a thick overcoat to avoid the blistering cold. Axl smiled widely.

“Dad! You’re awake!” Axl got up and hugged Prez.

“Well, I woke up for a glass of water and then I spotted a yellow figure at the door. C’mon in. You must have something important in order to come at 4 in the morning. I’d let you have a nice cup of hot cocoa.”

Once in the master room, Axl put away his yellow towels and changed back to Reploid form. Axl sat on a nearby cushion and conveyed apologies. He couldn’t help but notice two separate stands not far away, one with a broken clay statue and the other a replica of it. Axl wanted to ask what is was but Prez’s health condition threw the topic away rather successfully, for a very long time.

“Sorry, dad. I was worried about your illness. I couldn’t stop worrying about you. I’m sorry. How are you?”

“There there, it’s okay. That’s very fast of you to check. I’m already on the way to recovery. My health has made some progress and I’m fine. It should be considered that I’ve stabilized but any moment it will strike. The doctors are still doing tests so I don’t know the source of my fever. Here, have your hot cocoa.”

Axl drank it slowly as it was very hot. Hot but delicious, the three thought. Finished drinking, he put the cup on the side table and again apologized.

“I’m sorry to bother to bother you at such hours. Well, I never had a real human family before, so…” Words couldn’t describe Axl’s feelings anymore.

“Oh silly Axl. Stop the apologies. It’s okay; I know how you feel. I lost my parents at a young age so I had difficult times myself.”

“Oh right. Dad, about the Jakob Project. When I was at Point Galapagos, I spotted a tall structure that looked like the Elevator. What was it?”

“That is one of my many facilities the government requested for the Project. Maybe by now you’ve known that it is a rocket base meant to transport humans to the Moon. Mathematically, its location matches to the distance of the Elevator’s top.”

“But as you know the Elevator is currently being dismantled. The rocket base is still working. I just had its design to the Elevator similar to show it’s for the Project but I am not changing the exterior design.”

Lumine remarked at Axl. “I told you so.”

Then Axl suddenly wobbled to become Lumine. Apparently his hair, long as almost half of his height, clashed with the cushions so he stood up instead.

“Father, forgive me for being rude but it seems that dear boy’s emotions fluctuated again just hours ago. Apparently Bob has returned from the City forests but he came to surrender. He brought along his portion of his army unit, the PB Force.”

“Bob surrendering? That’s great news but strange. It’ll take a miracle for him to voluntarily surrender.”

“Yes father. We all know that. Anyway, Axl and I raged but there were no fluctuations of emotions. It was only later while Axl was raging on himself that the emotions fluctuated again. I don’t know anything about this to help dear boy. May I have your opinion regarding this?”

Prez frowned and with his cane, he walked towards his computer. “Hm. This is rather strange. I don’t recall that ever happening twice to a Reploid, ever.”

He pressed on the mouse to open files regarding the past of the three. Many files were displayed with tonnes of tiny test and three large photos of them. Apparently Iris’ photo was that of her unwanted form but that didn’t bother anyone.

“Hm. Perhaps it’s a mixture of emotions that are in such quantity and degree that they are uncontrolled by any of you three. Judging by the comparisons you’ve provided, I’d say that this had something only to do with Axl, not anyone else.”

“Me?” Axl stuttered via Lumine but Iris hushed him.

“These things only happen when Axl alone rages for some sort of reason and particular event. Therefore Axl must be studied further, Lumine.”

Lumine remained silent. Prez looked at him with a sharp eye.

“Alright. I have a method. Lumine, Iris, it is both your duty to monitor Axl’s emotional performances and track down the source. If this happens the third time, quickly track down the program for this. If you can’t, it’s okay so you’ve done your best. If this happens the fourth time, whether you’ve found out the reason or not, come and report to me immediately. I’ll try to solve this problem too.”

“Dad, is this that serious?” Axl’s voice came from Lumine’s mouth.

“Oh most certainly it’s serious. I believe a Maverick Hunter should maintain stable emotions at all times. Or else it’ll affect your status as a reliable, strong Class S Hunter. Remember that the times where Lumine ran amok is now over, so most citizens will now think that you are now amok, Axl!”

All three were silent after listening to ‘dad’. Prez paused to drink some water.

“Alright that’s done. By the way, I’ve contacted the government and they were absolutely pleased to learn about Bob’s surrender. But it seems they were told that a Commander was considering a legal transfer of rights over command of the PB Force to the Maverick Hunters. He was planning on reprogramming them so they would serve the government instead of Bob.”

“That must be X. Always making the most out of things,” said Lumine.

“The officers said that they would no longer permit any other organization entrusted to maintain the Federation’s security besides their own armies and the Hunters. So they said that the PB Force would be considered illegal immediately.”

“How would X succeed in gaining the PB Force members?”

“It would be impossible. There are tonnes of legal framework to face but the main obstacle is dealing with the fact that PB Force belongs to a criminal. There are only two circumstances: either Bob miraculously dies in prison or that his sentences are done then only the government recognises that the PB Force belongs to the Hunters. But that will take another 40 years or less.”

“So X can’t possibly have the PB Force members under him.”

“Exactly. That is the situation as of now. Who knows, things may change in the future. Perhaps the process will be faster or the government will be kinder a little to let X have the PB Force. Who knows?”

Then Prez looked on his watch. “Fiddlesticks! Is that the time? It’s already nearly six! C’mon you all better get back to the HQ and get a good rest; you must have not slept properly! I’ll ring up a chauffeur at the ground floor to send you back! Oh by the way, thank you for your time here. Now I have to sleep! I’ve got another press conference at afternoon about my new land purchase!”

Lumine turned back into Axl and he walked to the right-side elevator and was immediately sent to the ground level after saying his goodbyes. Along the way, Iris met the two of them.

“Should we have told father about my new physical form?”

“Nah, we’ll deal with that later.” Lumine followed Axl’s words.

About 30 minutes later, Axl arrived back at the entrance of the HQ. Some nearby Reploid security guards recognised him immediately and approached him.

“Well, Axl! Where did you come from? And that’s one of those rare luxury limousines out of production! Whom were you meeting with?”

“Em…let’s put it this way. I had a talk with someone dear to me.”

Axl walked back into the main plaza hall and headed back to the resting chamber. On the way, Lumine taunted him. “Remember, dear boy. Lover girl and I are watching you.”

Axl smiled. “No problem. Just give me those stuns of yours when that happens. Ah, now it’s time to set the dial for three in the afternoon so we can have a great rest.”

Continued in Chapter 11.

Notes:
That was tough setting up the conditions for Bob and X. Kindly refer to Megaman Xtreme 2 to get an idea of Iris’ new look instead of that of X4. Also refer to X8 to see that tall structure at Noah’s Park, Point Galapagos.

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And more stuff.

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t intend to hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Eleven: Frustration

Three days later, the 48th day Lumine was with Axl. Earlier before, Iris told off Lumine for calling her ‘lover girl’ but Lumine defended it as appropriate. X had also learnt about the new conditions regarding the rights to transfer control of PB Force from Bob to the Hunters. But the officer added that the government will send X an official declaration regarding their final decision towards the PB Force.

Bob was locked up in the maximum-security prisons in the west wing, making Axl feel very comfortable. Zero had learnt about Iris’ new form and agreed that she had looked better. At the same time, there were other uprisings around Big City and the world, thus giving the impression that Bob didn’t start them.

Axl and inhabitants had the strongest doubts about that and the PB Force Reploids were frequently assigned to help the Hunters defeat many Mavericks and the head honchos. A poll showed that a minority of Hunters favoured PB Force aid in the Hunters though the law didn’t favour that. Bob’s image improved a little only.

Back to the 48th day. That snowy morning, the news screens in the central chamber reported that the government couldn’t trace Lumine ever since his attempt to revive the Elevator over a month ago, which stirred some gossip around Big City that Lumine had evaded the government’s attempts to arrest him.

The Prez Corp. decided not to comment since Prez already made it clear to all his people that Lumine’s current status not be revealed till the time was right. The Maverick Hunters too couldn’t be reached for comment. Lumine, deciding to ignore the news, made Axl move them over to his cubicle and play his favourite online game, thus earning 4th place.

“That’s an improvement! Alright! I must wrestle my way up to 1st place! Lumine, are you sure you’d rather watch me do this all day?”

“Anything’s better than that news about me, dear boy.”

Axl was true to his words. Axl managed to play the hardest he could and eventually score the highest on the Maverick Hunters online game. It was a new record because the score was so high no other Hunter could possibly reach it.

“Congratulations, Axl. I suppose you are done?” “No, Iris, I think I’ll go to the VR room and now beat Lumine’s previous score.” “See? That’s the problem isn’t it? You always while your time away but you never give others a chance to enjoy their own share of their time!” “Em…Iris? Is there something wrong?”

“Oh yes, there is something most definitely wrong around here! You are having way too much control over this body! Why can’t you give me or Lumine some time to spend around the Big City?”

“Count me out, Iris. I’m fine with wherever dear boy here goes. I just only wish to appear at the right time and the right situations.”

Iris was dumbstruck. “Grr! Alright! So, Axl why can’t you give me some time of my own to spend around the Big City by myself?”

Axl was feeling numb for some reason. “Iris, if you wanted to have control over this body for some time, all you had to do was ask, for legal permission.”

Iris stared bluntly at him. “Ask? That’s it?”

Lumine smiled mischievously at her. “If I know better of lover girl, she feels that she’s the rarest in having control to move around. She’s embarrassed to ask you for control, dear Axl, because she respects the fact you are leading us. Geez, Iris, don’t get so grumpy and frustrated, I’m sure dear Axl will allow you free movement if you asked.”

“Amazing. You’re absolutely correct.” Iris hung her head down. “Em…Axl, can I have the body for today? Just for today?”

Axl put his hand behind his head and scratched it for a while. “Sure.”

Iris looked up brightened. “Really? Oh thank you, thank you so much! I can’t wait to start a journey around the Big City now itself.”

“Yeah, Iris, but first I prefer it that we get out of the HQ before you do anything.”

Some time later, Axl walked out of the HQ and hid himself behind a pillar of the front entrance so no one could see him. In a split second, he switched over to human form and then wobbled to become Iris.

“Alright! Thank you Axl! I’ll have a wonderful time, I promise!” Iris said that to Axl in her mind. “Yeah sure whatever. What am I going to do while Iris enjoys herself?”

“Well, Axl, perhaps I can be of assistance. Let me show you a tour around your body mechanisms and teach you how to maintain them yourself. Don’t worry, dear boy, I’m the expert around here, you wouldn’t have much difficulty.”

“Em…okay. If you say so. It amazes me how you frequently maintain the stability around here.” Both of them vanished.

Iris simply walked away but was confronted by the two Reploid guards.

“Good day, miss. Your business with the Hunters is done, I assume?”

“You can say that.” She walked off joyfully. “Hm. Time to use some of the cash that Axl saved for three of us. Hey, the amount here is just enough for tonnes.”

During the next three hours, Iris toured around the three districts, two of which are neighbours of the district of the HQ, the other being the Hunter HQ’s district itself. She saw the most wonderful sights of the Big City Axl never showed her.

At the local giant shopping mall, she toured around the fashion shops and tried herself the latest beautiful textile products. She also asked the other two for opinions about the dresses, annoying Axl the most.

“Which one is better? This mixture of colours or the long purple one?”

“Huh…purple is not for you, Iris, so the mixture one is better.”

Axl was quite angry himself. “Iris, we are in the middle of body mechanism education here. Please call us if it’s really urgent.” They disappeared.

“Hm! Well, Axl was no help. I’ll just take the mixture dress.”

Iris also went to various stores selling the latest electronic gadgets, such as the portable printer, luxury phones, cameras, stylish laptops and computers; those which are more advance than that of the 21st century.

“Wow! The gadgets here are fabulous! Which one shall I buy?”

Lumine decided to answer that. “It’s okay, dear boy, I’ll handle this. Hm…you don’t need watches; we’ve got an automatic one in the brain. We don’t need the phones, laptops and computer; father has those already. So I think the camera would be best although father also has that.”

She then bought a cool multi-mega pixel camera and some accessories on Lumine’s advice. Then she went on for some exotic food.

“Wow! Does Iris have to add so much chilli and pepper to the soup? My tongue’s burning hotter than all that lava in the volcano facilities!”

“Dear Axl, I know, it’s way too spicy. Iris, could you lower down that spice intake? It’s more than we could take here.”

“Alright, sheesh. I’ll just take some of this iced fruit juice, if it’ll stop Axl from bickering so much.”

Later on she went on to the other districts’ cultural monuments of the world. She used her brand new camera to take snapshots of herself with the many beautiful statues of strong muscular men posing and some ancient home designs.

She also saw replicas of some of the world’s most famous architectural designs, which amazingly survived the Space Colony accident. She went on her way to the Big City Museum and awed at the amazing history of mankind.

Axl actually quite enjoyed the tour around the world’s history sort of thing but the only obstacle was the bright flash she used so he sort of passed out on the pitch-black floor.

“Axl! Dear boy! Wake up! Nice. Now I must try to wake him.”

Pretty much later in the day, more accurately close to evening, Iris had finished all her touring around some of Big City’s busiest districts. All the items that she had bought were put back in Axl’s cubicle in the HQ time and time again so in the end she was empty-handed.

“Well…the amount of cash here is only a few hundred left. I’m going for a last dinner first.” Axl was dumbstruck. “Iris spent most of my cash? Oh great. I have to ask dad for more then!”

“Easy, dear boy. I’m sure father will provide although I’m not sure how. Then again, lucky for you, the HQ didn’t call you for any missions today.”

Iris saw a splendid restaurant on the other end of the perpendicular side of a shop. She decided to take a shortcut by the dark alley but something wrong was going to happen. She was being followed.

As she walked on more and faster, she felt as though the alley became longer and longer. She started to run but ended up meeting three big burly humans.

They were so fat that their stomachs were clearly seen from their shirts. Their faces were also ugly too with the scars and the plasters and the knives they had in their hands. The jeans were all holed everywhere and appeared ghastly.

“Well…what do we have here? A cute little miss here so easily fell into our trap!” The first said.

“Let’s steal all her cash just like we always do!” The second snickered.

“Time for a little fun!” The third snickered. All three charged towards her.

“Oh no! Iris’ in trouble! I’m helping her!” Axl stopped Lumine.

“No you don’t. This is my responsibility now. Zero may trust you but he entrusted me even more for Iris’ security. Let me do it.”

Lumine was silent. “Okay, let’s see what you can do.”

Axl went ahead and rapidly grasped Iris’ control mechanisms but was careful not to reveal his physical appearances at all. Iris was stunned for a moment. Axl-controlled Iris suddenly jumped into the mid-air over the three men and landed behind them. They were surprised to see the active ‘girl’.

Axl gathered some strength in his hands and landed a heavy punch on the second guy’s back. He felt it so painful, his mouths dropped and tongue came out.

The third guy took his knife and charged it forward at Iris. But Axl knew better and jumped onto his right arm and jumped again to give him a terrible kick in the face. He fell down hard on the floor.

The first guy was more active so he charged at Iris with his knife in many directions. Of course Axl was also very fast and dodged all knife attacks sideways and made many somersault jumps backwards.

Axl dashed forward and used some might to kick the former at his knees, tripping him to the ground, and held his hands together and slammed them directly on the first guy’s head.

Then, the third guy also charged at Iris, this time with a trashcan compressed with his bare hands. He tried to smash Iris with it but Axl made her jump backward quite a distance, so the trashcan was smashed on the first guy’s head. He couldn’t bear the pain so he passed out.

Suddenly, the second guy grabbed both Iris’ hands and hung her in the air.

“Surprise! Now give her the spinning back kick!” The third guy charged quickly at Iris with his big, bare fists. He almost managed to hit Iris but Axl kicked back on the second guy’s bouncy stomach, bouncing Iris at her captor’s back, so the second guy received the third guy’s full blow on the stomach, knocking him out.

Iris landed safely on the ground, thanks to Axl. Now it was ‘Iris’ and the third guy on a one-to-one fight. Axl didn’t want to allow the remaining burly guy escape too so he darted towards him.

‘She’ kicked and punched the latter all too quick to be avoided. He was hurt everywhere around the waist, chest and legs. Axl delivered the final blow with a really hard punch on his cheeks. He couldn’t tolerate anymore and fell on the ground, unconscious.

Iris panted from the fight. The three burly men were all unconscious on the ground, with bruises and blue-blacks everywhere. Two of them had blood coming out of their teeth and their knives flung away.

Then five human policemen came just in time. One of them had a talk with Iris while the other four handcuffed the burly men and put them in the police cars.

“Wow, miss. Whoever saved you from these scum sure is strong. These men are wanted for robbing tens of people these few days. Some public citizen informed us you were in this alley. Thank goodness you came and allowed us to arrest them. We had tried to do that many times, but all with failure.”

“Er…sure. I’ll just go on with my walking then. By the way, I couldn’t see the person’s identity. He was cloaked up in all black.” Iris hurriedly walked away.

That evening was quite exciting. Iris had surrendered control back to Axl and in his mind, gave him a huge hug for saving her earlier and didn’t feel like eating at all. Lumine congratulated Axl with his regular cold tone for his great performance. Apparently two hours from the incident, the event was put on the Internet news agency and Zero saw it.

“You beat up these humans just to save Iris?”

“Em…yeah. I’m sorry if I caused any trouble.” Axl looked at the smiling Zero.

“No, actually you did the right thing. But wrong since a Reploid wasn’t supposed to injure a human. Still, I’ll have X let you off the hook this time. Thanks for saving Iris.” Zero walked away to his office.

“Well, Axl you had a great day. What are you going to do now?”

“Lumine, I’m going to take a rest in the warm central chamber. Fighting in the snow sure made me tired.” Axl retreated on a long cushion with other Hunters and slept there.

Continued in Chapter 12.

Notes:
Won’t this be happening if Iris were to be human on vacation? I was quite lazy to think up extra names here so the three burly men were just codenamed ‘first’, ‘second’ and ‘third’ guys.

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Not much excitement there, I admit ...

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All characters belong to Capcom, except for those you’ve never seen before and the story doesn’t intend to hurt anyone’s interests.
-M’siaFanWriter

Chapter Twelve: Approval

Five days later, Axl was doodling on paper in X’s office, sitting behind the Commander’s desk. Apparently the switch had begun where X now led his team of Hunters and police forces in the evening. X purposely forgot to tell something to Axl earlier: while Zero was gone, he had to assume Zero’s duties too.

The three navigators were certainly of great assistance, just like X promised. They too helped him to manage some of the HQ’s internal and external affairs. Lumine and Iris too were kind to assist him. Bored with himself, he refreshed some events while taking a walk to the west wing.

The past few days there had been riots in the mineral mines outside the Big City core and once again, Prez’s security was no match for berserk Mavericks. X and Zero were able to defeat most Mavericks but the final Mavericks were taken out altogether by the combined effort of Hunters and the PB Force, which were temporarily under X’s command till the government gave its final verdict.

A newer poll showed that majority Hunters favoured cooperation with the PB Force and Bob’s image as a repented man increased a lot. However, those with the strongest doubts over the issue were X, Zero and Axl and inhabitants.

A new crime took place in the government departments. Certain officers, registered as ‘on emergency leave’, were actually kidnapped by someone days and days ago. There were no traces of the culprit as video evidence was destroyed. Investigation had already taken place.

Axl had arrived at the west wing at a specific balcony overlooking the plastic prison house housing Bob, suspended in the mid air in a room walled by blue screens. He looked at Bob and in turn, Bob tried to befriend him. Axl rejected the conversation with harsh sign language, shocking nearby Pallette.

“Axl! That’s not nice of you to treat that imprisoned man like that!”

“Hm! What do you know about him? He doesn’t deserve any respect at all! He ought to be thrown down into a giant tank full of acid, or even down an erupting volcano for all I care!” Axl’s counter-talk stunned the navigator and his inhabitants.

“That’s not the Axl I know! You’ll usually talk lots of stuff but never talk anything about killing humans! You may be rude at certain times but not this rude!”

“Well times have changed! I beat the Mavericks who don’t know much about my past, but this guy not only caused my misery, but also was the cause of all Mavericks in the last 2 decades! Sorry if the old Axl was deactivated, I can’t help but fighting anyone including the humans who have disturbed much of the peace we need!”

Axl made a valid point. Although it was definitely wrong to hurt and kill humans, the overall part of his argument was correct. Both were silent.

Fortunately for Axl, Bob couldn’t hear what they were talking about so all he could assume that they were debating something hot. Then Axl hung his head down.

“Em…sorry. Got a little far-fetched back there. Just…just forget what I said. It’s time to head back for duties.” Axl walked back slowly. But Pallette was already convinced that Axl changed for the better of everything.

Lumine and Iris decided not to say anything to Axl since he was already in a bad mood. They didn’t bother to remind Axl that he was supposed to head back to Zero’s office this time so Axl walked and sat down in his cubicle.

Axl rested his head on the support of his two palms. He breathed heavy sighs and his thoughts were messed up. In his head, Lumine tried to see what was Axl thinking about so he went ahead to insert his hand behind Axl’s head and analyse thoughts. Oddly enough, a deflective shield activated and bounced back Lumine’s hand, surprising him till he flew on the pitch-black floor.

“Lumine, are you okay?” Iris ran forward to tend to him.

He shook him head a little. “Fine, but weird. This never happened before…”

Actually, Lumine was able to read thoughts all this while by simply inserting his hand inside either their heads and analyse specific data that code for thoughts. It was basically harmless and nerveless, meaning that neither of the two wouldn’t feel a hand in their heads; contrary to the one Iris did on him because it was about deleting codes.

This time, due to unknown circumstances, a deflective shield was unknowingly activated behind Axl’s head and rejected the foreign hand.

Then, the inhabitants knew why. The exact same phenomenon happened in the computer brain. The circuit component outlines were appearing again with their flashy waves of colour and the inactive data circulating the space like crazy.

“Oh great! Axl’s emotions are fluctuating again!”

The white Reploid was observing the degree of the phenomenon. “Hm. The degree of dear boy’s emotional fluctuations are the exact same just as the last one. The one where he raged to himself on the rooftop. No worries.”

“No worries?! How do you know they’re the same?”

“Huh…fine, I’ll just check it for your sake.” The raising of hand and the closing of eyes. This time a little red wave was emitted from his hand.

“Relax, it is exactly the same as the previous one. Same amount of hatred.”

“Aren’t you going to stun him?!”

“I don’t think so. I stunned him the previously time because the degree of his fluctuations at that time suddenly expanded which can result in malfunction in the body mechanisms. Besides, we’ve only experienced two different emotional fluctuations: the first was happiness, the second and current one is hatred.”

“But-” Iris didn’t protest any further.

“Relax, dear girl. I know what I’m doing. When a different fluctuation comes in then I’ll do something about it. Right now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to check on the body mechanism status to make sure we don’t blow up suddenly.”

Iris felt herself helpless and couldn’t decide on what to do alone. Axl’s emotions were still fluctuating a little, when suddenly…

“Hey, Axl!” The loud yell startled the trio-in-one Reploid so much that Axl fell down from his chair. He quickly got up and saw Zero.

“Axl, what are you doing here? You were supposed to be in X’s office, waiting for the government’s final verdict on Bob! Never mind that. The reply came already! X’s going to read it out in his office!”

Axl brightened up immediately. “Really? What’s it say?”

“Don’t know myself. C’mon let’s go!” Axl raced behind Zero to X’s office.

The two inhabitants confronted Axl. “The final verdict’s here?”

“Yeah, guys, maybe this time we can see Bob being punished for life in jail and X will have to wait for decades to get hold of the PB Force.”

“Well.” Lumine folded his arms. “Maybe things will get better around here. Except that dear Axl couldn’t control his emotions yet. That’ll spell more trouble for me.”

“Lumine!” Iris scolded him but Axl gave a small laugh.

“Hey, maybe you’re right. Oh, we’ve reached X’s office!”

The two Hunters and the three navigators found themselves looking at X who was messing his left palm on his forehead with his eyes close. He looked slightly regretted and was in deep thinking. His right hand held the final verdict.

“Hey, X, so what’s the final answer?” Axl broke the silence.

X appeared not to hear him, but looked up at the audience of five.

“Let’s read it in the west wing prisons.”

The six walked slowly toward the west wing, with X as the leader. Zero had no comment but the navigators were wondering what was X planning to do. Axl was anxious to hear the announcement of Bob’s soon-to-be imprisonment.

Many other Hunters, who were curious what was the answer from the government, also followed them. Finally X reached rested the isolated prison of Bob. He still preferred not to release the man, having him locked there, and switched on the speakers in the blue screen-filled room.

“It is my…honour…to announce that the Federation government has decided to release mister Bob of his currently-imposed 50 year sentence effective immediately.”

“WHAT?” Everyone was shocked except for a sad-looking X.

“The government feels that the recent riots quelled was due to the support to the PB Force contributed toward the Maverick Hunters, therefore they have decided that it was best that the Maverick Hunters accept the PB Force as new members and that mister Bob be pardoned of his previous crimes.”

“However the government also feels that the…Supreme Commander Maverick Hunter X can be held with the highest regard of…trust and respect…so… X is at the same time hereby allowed to do what he feels right towards mister Bob.”

“These amendments are effective immediately, without any excuse, until the government decides to alter their verdict towards the Supreme Commander. Signed, the Federation government.”

There was an instant uproar of cheers regarding the allowing of PB Force be absorbed into the Hunters but at the same time, expressed regret that Bob was freed. Axl took the paper away from X and read it himself, finding every word true.

X looked on a slightly cheerful but insane-looking Bob.

“Bob, I request from you the right to have every single member of the PB Force be assimilated into the Hunters, be reprogrammed and re-trained.”

Bob’s smile broke. “No! I will never allow such a thing!”

X looked up, slightly smiling. “And you shall remain imprisoned inside the west wing maximum security isolated prison because of this reason.”

Bob flew into an outrage. “This is preposterous! I demand my release now!”

Zero countered by saying: “Sorry, but the government feels that X has absolute rights over his decisions concerning you and your imprisonment here is final.”

The five retreated back to their proper positions amid a large crowd of noisy cheering and angry screams; five because Axl has already left the place.

Axl had once again retreated back to the highest rooftop where he could express his anger out without being told off by anyone.

“AAAAARRRGGGHHH! Why was that filthy man pardoned? Why?! Why can’t they just sentence him to death and maintain the peace already?!”

Iris was angry too but was helpless to stop Axl from raging. However she noticed that there was no emotional fluctuation this time and that Axl’s screams sounded odd.

It turned out that Lumine too yelled out all his might in anger just now at the same time as Axl yelled out. He was also upset about the final verdict.

He had decided not to stun Axl this time because he was now fully in Axl’s shoes, as he understood the pain and anger Axl felt. Lumine was kneeling downwards, panting heavily and then turned up to Axl and Iris.

“Dear boy, I truly know how you feel. So does Iris. No justice was done here and despite this, we still have to remain patient, as the proof of Bob’s actual motives will be revealed someday. I’m sorry, but we must wait some more until the right time has come.” Iris nodded at Axl.

“Axl, be strong. This advice of father is still clear in my ears. We will deliver our vengeance onto that human someday, in some way.” She rushed forward and gave Axl a big hug. Axl became more calm and relaxed.

Axl was back to becoming patient and calm. He opened his eyes again and witnessed the lighter snow falling on the ground. “Thank you, guys.”

He decided to head back to the resting chamber for some rest with some regrets too. “It’s a pity I left X’s office. Or else I could have read the disappointing news first.”

Lumine approached and calmed him. “No, not really, dear boy. If X wasn’t the first one to read the verdict, how would he continue to lock that trash up in the west wing?”

“Hm, you’re right. It does make a lot of sense, for now.”

“Hey! You mean that I was talking nonsense all this while?!”

The three all had a hearty laugh while Axl walked back to the resting chamber.

Continued in Chapter 13.

Notes:
Finally a logical explanation how Lumine can read minds. Thought that X was the most powerful Reploid around so he had all the power to will anything on Bob.

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And some new villain-related development.

Next time, it's another 3 more chapters.

Combo Bucket of An Axl Stories

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