Post by Drayconis on Jul 2, 2006 1:46:59 GMT -5
Raykan turned and looked over the valley. So much death and destruction.... He remembered a time, a time that didn’t feel like it had been so long ago, when in fact it had been over a hundred years ago. It had seemed simpler back then, but then memories change with time, even for a reploid like him. He turned away from the site of battle and towards his companions. There was Drayconis, sharpening his word, and Sim looking as he always did, bitter. Lastly, the most... unique of the travelers, a met, a met named Bob.
Drayconis stood up, “hey Raykan, when are we gonna get to that resistance base. I wanna actually make our presence known and fight! I want the chance to get back at that pink armored bastard who did this to me.” He said, in reference to the large scar, running from his chin over his left eye and up to his forehead.
Sim to spoke, “I find myself agreeing with Dray, I want the chance to be part of the fight to strike back at those who took our world away. Our loved ones... Our friends. We need to be more proactive. The new resistance leader sounds capable enough to finally be a threat to this, Neo-Arcadia. Unlike the previous ones.”
Raykan sighed, “I know... But they don’t exactly have the base’s address in the phone book directory. I haven’t the faintest idea where to look... Bob, you have any idea’s?”
Bob popped up, stared at the group and let out a long high pitched whistle, Raykan sighed, “Dancing monkeys will NOT help in this situation Bob, try again.” Bob let out a short irritated beep and plopped down hiding.
Dray sighed, “He’s sorry Bob, we do respect you... “
Raykan laughed a bit, “Well rumor has it they’re in the east, we might as well head that way.” No one spoke, just packed up and headed off, Bob waddling faithfully behind them.
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Lord Zero looked out the window of his throne room. The resistance had become more capable under its new leader. This must be put to a stop... He turns and looks at his 4 generals, Harpuia, Fefnir Leviathan and Phantom. All very capable... very destructive beings. "Harpuia, any news from the aerial forces?"
Harpuia nodded, "yes sir, it's been reported Ciel has taken a small band of her fighters in search of something... or rather someone."
"You mean..."
"Yes, I refer to X, it appears they have a good lead on his location." Harpuia said softly.
"Follow them! But too not attack unless they have found him... Then bring them back to me. And I shall deal with them personally." Then he dismissed them with a wave of his hand, and continued in his brooding.
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Ciel ran through the sewers, Dam those Neo Arcadians. I didn’t think they'd find us... But I'm so close to him... Surely I can make it in time, or all those deaths will have been for nothing. She had left with a group of 20, now it was just her.
. Her friend Milan had been the last to die, murdered by one of those giant golems... She ran harder, falling through a part of the floor where it had rotted badly. She stood up; the room was filled in a quiet almost eerie darkness. She looked up as a small red light came on from the center of the room. She slowly walked forward, almost gasping as she saw where the light was coming from. The center Ruby red gem on X's forehead. A computerized voice softly announced, "Reactivation Sequence Initiated."
A central column, with cables leading into X's body started to glow, slowly X started to wake up and open his eyes. "Where... Where am I?"
Ciel straightened a bit, "I'm not quite sure what you'd call this place... But I've come to get your aid. We’re in trou-" She was interrupted as group of Arcadians dropped down. Instinctively X pulled out his Buster and started to fire away.
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Bob started to frantically beep. Raykan turned, "Blaster signals coming from where? Wait, what type of buster did you just say? WHAT!" He whirled around, "We're going NOW people! Let’s move!"
The group ran *and waddled* in the direction X and Ciel were...
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X was handling these "Arcadians" just fine, but still, they had to leave before they we're over whelmed. Ciel ran up ahead of him in the corridor they were in. The wall beside her dissolved into nothingness and a massive Golem reached out and grabbed her. "X save me! Hellllp!" The Golem had orders to capture her alive, or she would have already been dead.
X managed to chase it into a large pit, with them at the bottom. He charged a shot and fired at the monstrosity head. Nothing happened. That was RARELY a good sign.
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Raykan and the others stopped at the edge of this huge pit, looking down they saw, and had a hard time believing, X. They thought he had died years ago... But, more urgently was the golem holding Ciel. "X, Catch!" screamed Raykan, as he pulled out the spare beam saber he carried with him, and threw it down.
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"X, Catch!"
X looked up and saw the falling saber, he back flipped, onto the side of the wall and pushed off, grabbing the saber in mid-air, igniting it's brilliant blue blade. Fly towards the golem, he slashed the chest armor leaving a deep gash. "GrrraarrgglllaH!" was all the Golem had to say. Dropping Ciel, it charged forward shooting eyebeams at X.
X jumped and rolled to side as the golem slammed into the wall behind him. Jumping up he was about to stab the golems back when its right hand back handed him and sent him flying into a wall. Slowly floating over, the golem picked him up and started to squeeze X. Who promptly stabbed his saber into the golems hand, causing it to release him. At about this time Dray had climbed down and picked up Ciel, then climbed back up taking her to safety. Freed from having to watch her, X ran and dashed under the golem stabbing up wards. The golem slowly spun around trying to find the now-quick moving X. Eye beams raked the walls making criss-cross patterns in the walls as he sought his target. But X was to quick for him, charging up an X buster he shot at the first gash he made in its armor, damaging its internal cooling unit. The more it moved and fired the more it over heated its core. Slowly it lost its Eye beams, yet continued to try and destroy X; slowly growing a brighter and brighter red.
Dray tossed a rope down for X, who grabbed it and quickly climbed up, just as the GOlem's core overloaded, destroying it, and caving in the pit. X looked up; "Do I know you?"
Dray smiled at him, "Its a long story. C'mon, the others are waiting." With that he turned and walked towards Raykan, Sim and Ciel. X just shrugged and followed.
Zero turned on his generals, his eyes blazing. “One simple task! That’s all I had you do! One bloody thing! She was out numbered! Out gunned! And yet she escapes and lives!”
Fefnir cowered behind Harpuia, “Well... you uh... You see X helped her and...”
Zero turned on him, “A hundred year old reploid! With barely any weapons! Defeated your force! You call that an excuse! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT WORMS!” HE turned his back on the four as they fled the room. HE stared once again out the window. “X... Alive and fighting... This... Complicates things.”
Chapter 2
Drayconis, Ciel and X reached Raykan and Sim as they finished the last of the Zero clones. Ciel stood awestruck as she watched the 2 tear through 2 squads. “Who... who are you?” She managed to stammer out.
Raykan turned as the last clone exploded. “My name, is Raykan... No....” HE stood up tall as he deactivated his visicore, and once dormant pride showed itself on his face. “I am Colonel Raykan, commander of the 89th squad of the Maverick Hunters. Also known as the Hell’s Fear.” Even though his armor was ancient worn and battered, and was worn thin. HE managed to look dignified and proud of whom he was.
Sim to stood tall; “I am Major Simotech, Sim for short. Second in command of the squad Hell’s Fear, of the maverick hunters.” HE saluted with his long Katana.
Drayconis sighed and looked at the 2. “I’m Drayconis, Dray for short. Ex-member of the long gone maverick hunters. The short guy there is Bob.” Bob whistled a bit. “Yeah I think she knows you’re a met. Pretty easy to tell man.” He looked over at Sim and Raykan who looked back at him. “Oh all right, I’m Commander Drayconis, combat specialist of Hell’s Fear. But none of that matters now...” A saddened look falls on the faces of the 3.
X pipes up, “Why does the term Maverick hunters sound familiar?”
Raykan looks at him, “Oh great... memory loss... Ain’t that just dandy. It sounds familiar because you used to lead them, all those years ago.”
Ciel interrupted, “Wait... you 3,”
“Four, don’t forget Bob,” said Dray.
Ciel looked at him, “Riiiight... Anyways... You three were... Maverick Hunters? I thought they all died... Well... Except for Zero and X.”
Sim sighed. “They did, we were lucky to be out on extended patrol when the human governments betrayed us. When they... They came and slaughtered all those at our bases. Even the humans that were they’re... Not even they were spared.” A lone tear ran down his cheek.
Raykan came up behind Sim and rested a hand on his shoulder while Dray continued. “We had heard X survived, but we only gave the rumors credit as just that, rumors. Looks like we were wrong for once.”
Ciel looked at Sim before turning back to Dray, “So... You seem to have reason to hate Neo Arcadia more then us... Why haven’t you been fighting them?”
Dray laughed, “We study history, we watched how the first 5 resistances failed. But... As reploids we have the unique ability to wait... We we’re actually on our way to find you. You’re the first resistance group that has had decent organization, and you stand a chance of succeeding.”
At this Sim stood up, wiping his eye with one arm and returning to his calm self. “That and we’ve waited a hundred years, its time to fight.”
Ciel smiled a bit. “Good, I know the others will be glad to have you. You have more experience then all of us combined. Now. To focus on another matter...” She turned towards X. “The offer to join us is open to you as well.”
X paused and looked thoughtful for a moment. “I will... It seems... To be the right thing to do. That and these 3...” He motioned at Drayconis, Sim and Raykan. “Might be able to help me regain some of my memory, and I feel I should trust them. So yes, I will join you.” HE fiddled slightly with the deactivated saber at his waist, then looked at Dray. “Oh... this is yours.” He made to reach and give it back.
Dray stopped him, “It’s yours, blue was never my color. Besides I have my own blade...” He reached down and activated his own blade, which burned a brilliant green. “See?”
X laughed a bit, “Well thank you.” He turned to Ciel. “We should go before they send more people.”
Ciel straightened, “Right, transports this way.” She turned and walked down a small bath in the tree’s towards a hover transport, Sim, X and Raykan followed behind her.
Bob beeped ecstatically. Dray turned, “Yes it’s exciting, and no nobody cares whether or not you wanna join, you follow me wherever I go anyways.” More beeps and a long whistle. “Watch it short stuff! My plan worked fine; he caught the saber didn’t he? And NO it would not have been better with dancing monkeys, no stop your blabbering and lets go.” Dray turned and followed the others, Bob waddling happily behind him.
Zero however, was not so happy. He stood in his chamber staring out the window, looking upon the capitol of his domain. Tall skyscrapers reached out touching the clouds and streets were packed with people. They looked like ants to him, as he stood in the top floor of the tallest building in the exact center of the city. Truly, there lives meant nothing more to him then those of ants. He was out to protect humanity as a whole, so sacrificing a few was a small cost to him. Humanity had to remain safe, and he felt he alone was the only one who could keep them so. Why, wasn’t that the reason he had been brought back from death? To protect humanity from a greater threat, that of the reploids. Even though he himself was a reploid, he had been remade into something more... something... god like. It was through his power that the humans enjoyed this peace, it was through him that the cities had been rebuilt and been made prosperous, it was through him alone! Now some pathetic band of resistance felt that this peace was less important then their own cause. What ungrateful bastards!
“What worms... They dare believe they can over throw their god? After all I’ve done for them? I shall show them what happens when you anger a god... But.... Maybe I can show him the real truth, out of all those alive he would under stand surely. X... You will understand, we fought together, did so much for humans, you surely will understand....” Zero spoke to himself. Turning as he did back towards his towering throne, sitting in it and resting his head upon his hand. Staring out into the sky.
Chapter 3
Drayconis looked bored as he walked around the hunter base. X had been sent out to liberate a recycling plant, and hopefully rescue some reploid while he was there. Raykan and Sim were off scouting an enemy convoy line and if possible take it out. Dray sighed, he and Bob had been left back at base. The convoy was a 2-man mission, 3 might attract security. Dray wandered aimlessly, looking at the plain lifeless walls before stumbling into Ciel’s lab. “Oh, sorry for intruding Ciel, I was just wandering...”
Ciel smiled at him, “It’s ok. I could use a break from work right now. Say, Dray. You seem... different then the rest. Why is that?”
Dray looked hesitantly at her, “Well... truth be told I wasn’t always a pleasant person. For 10 years I was a horrible killer, The Bastard Drayconis they called me. The Butcher too was another name. I really don’t remember those days.”
Ciel looked at him curiously, “Oh? Why is that?” She sat back and rested her hands on her desk.
Dray leaned against the wall before continuing, “an accident happened at the maverick base I was staying in, I ended up losing an arm and taking heavy damage to other areas of my body. Unfortunately, I was forced to turn the hunters for help. While there they managed to fix the heavy damage to my mind caused by a far older accident, one that turned me maverick in the first place. The cost for this healing was a split personality and memory loss.”
“Really, that’s fascinating.” She said in all sincerity.
“Yeah well, I’ll save the rest of the story, how I lost my split personality, and how I met Bob for another time. Say... dinner in my quarters? I installed a small kitchen there. I don’t have to eat... But to help avoid detection I modified my body to be able to use food as an energy source, so people couldn’t pick me up on scanners. I also installed taste buds so I can enjoy the food I eat.”
She raised one eyebrow, “Did you just ask me out on a date?”
“Well... How you choose to view it is up to you.”
She smiled, “It is a date, and I accept. Now unfortunately I have a briefing to attend to, see you later.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek as she ran out.
Dray stood there, Bob doing a cat call. “Holy... Well... Oh shut up Bob.” He turned and pushed Bob’s helmut down over his head, drowning out the sound. “I can’t believe she said yes... It has been a good day.” He exited the room humming softly to himself. Bob walking rather awkwardly behind him.
Meanwhile, X stood up looking at Azure Falcon. “You bastard! Trying to kill these innocent reploids! I’ll shut you and this plant down for good!” The soft humming of the plant’s machines could be heard in the background.
Falcon just laughed and flew up above X’s head. “Ka ha ha ha! You? A worthless old relic defeat me? Not likely!” HE flew up to the roof of the factory and dived down towards X, smacking the blue reploid into a wall. “Ka ha ha ha !!!”
X grunted as he hit the wall, then started to charge up his buster, dashing under another one of Falcon’s swoops he turned and fired the charged shot nailing teh reploid bird in the back, screeching Falcon veered around before he hit the wall, “Ka, It’ll take more then that blue boy!” He brouth his hings together and fired of streams of electric bolts off towards X.
X back flipped and ran up the wall 2 steps before pushing off, somersaulting in mid air and drawing is bright blue saber. “You talk far to much.” Flying in mid-air he stabbed Falcon right in the chest piercing the giant bird’s core.
“Ka! I... I cannot.... SKRAAA!” Falcon tried to fly up but exploded just before reaching the roof.
X looked at the fallen body and noticed a small elemental chip near the core area. “Hmm, lightning chip, this’ll be useful.” HE reached and plucked it out before jumping down off the platform and looked towards the captured reploid. “Hey, your free now. Head up back to base I’ll meet you there in a second. The reploid nodded and ran off. X sighed and walked over to a wall and leaned up against it. Why am I doing this? Well, it is for a good cause, it seems to be the right thing to do. But every time someone mentions that Lord Zero, I have flashback... A red reploid with long golden hair... A... a friend. But then the memory vanishes. Dreams to, that red reploid is there... But... That tall one bald a name... Sigma. Why do I wake up fearful of him? If only I could remember... But those 3, Raykan, Sim and Dray. They seem to know me, and I feel like I should know them. But at least I get to know them again. He stood up straight and whispered, “Oh well. Nothing to do now but keep on living, maybe I’ll find my answers in time. Until then...” He looked up at the sky then ‘ported back to base.
Chapter 4
X sighed as he walked around the base’s outer walls. He was bored and he knew it. He had wanted to talk to Ciel when he got back but she had been in some briefing. When he managed to catch her on her way out she stammered and claimed she had another appointment to keep. So here he was. Bored as hell sitting on the roof staring into the desert. He sat up a bit. He thought he could make out a dust cloud in the distance. He pulled out a small pair of binoculars and sure enough, there was a steadily growing larger dust cloud. He jumped down grabbing his saber from his bet and ran to investigate.
Raykan and Sim were moving towards the base as fast as they could. They had managed to steal some Neo Arcadian military plans and were being pursued by 4 dropships, each carrying a squad of Zero clones. If the data hadn’t been time sensitive in nature they would’ve stopped to fight. Sim looked ahead and spotted X dashing to meet them. “Raykan,” he turned to his long time friend. “X is coming, you and him take these bozo’s out while I get back to base. As Sim spoke he could see X getting closer and fast.
Raykan slowed down and spun around and activated his Visicore. The long green blade on the polearm like weapon glowed fiercely in the desert. Just as he began to dash forward he saw X run past him and take a flying leap of an unusually large rock. Activating his own blue saber X stabbed it into the guy thingypit of the first Dropship, causing it to crash into the ground. Taking a leap off the falling ship he nailed the second. Turning briefly to see Raykan following suit. Taking down a third dropship. The fourth one managed to land. As the occupants tried to get out, the met a quick and fierce end to X and Raykan’s blades.
“Well, that got me out of my slump,” said a now slightly more chipper X.
Raykan laughed, “Welcome help you can be assured. I thank you.”
X laughed as the started to walk towards the base, “Well, Ciel was busy doing... I dunno what.”
Raykan smiled at that, “I was wondering, you normally follow her like a puppy in love.” Seeing X blush he knew he hit the mark. “So you like her eh?”
X nodded, “Yeah... I mean she was the first thing I’ve seen in over a hundred years or so I’m told. She’s smart. Beautiful...”
Raykan laughed, “You told her?”
X blushed again. “Well... she’s always busy...”
Raykan, “You may wanna tell her before someone else goes for her, but then. There aren’t many options with your quality, so you should be safe. “
X laughed at this, “Yeah your right, but I still am going to wait for the right moment.”
Unfortunately for X, someone had already made his move. And it was paying off for him rather well.
Drayconis laughed again as he cleaned up his and Ciel’s plates. “Looks like me and my friends should’ve joined you guys earlier.”
Ciel stood up to help; “Mmm, but you sound like you guys have had it pretty interesting. I mean fighting your own demented self in a weird twist of meta-physics. And Bob, I mean, you had Bob travelling with you.” Bob currently was steaming outside the locked door to Dray’s room.
Dray turned around; “This is true. You know... You look really sexy in those jeans.”
Ciel blushed, “Well you did say come casual.”
Dray smiled, “That I did. Damn me and my weakness for blonde women with a pony tail.”
Ciel smiled and moved closer to him, “And damn my weakness for tall guys with green hair.” They moved steadily closer until their lips almost touched, sensing that he was allowed to Dray started to close the remaining distance.
It was about then Bob managed to hack the lock on the door just as X and Raykan were walking by. X turned and saw Ciel, HIS Ciel (well, that’s how he thought of her in his mind.) Kissing Drayconis. “Oh MY GOD! You’re! And She is! And OH MY GOD!” X ran screaming down the hall towards his room.
Raykan sighed and looked at the bewildered couple, “Well damn... I was wrong.” Bob just beeped in a laughing tone.
Zero stood atop his command center, letting the wind flow through his long blonde hair, when Harpuia walked up behind him. “The resistance has the false data sir. Just as you expected.”
Zero hopped of his perch and faced Harpuia, “Good. Get ready for the feint attack. Have... Fefnir lead it. Take 10 squads with him. I want you to send a sub-commander of your choosing to attack their main base. Ready the attacks to happen at the same time, in a week from now, I want to give them time to grow a little soft. Cease all main offensive actions for now. Have Leviathan strengthen Outer Heaven’s defenses. In case they decide t be proactive for once.” Harpuia went off silently, knowing better then to question the word of Lord Zero.
Zero turned towards the wind, “X.... Soon I shall come for you. Unless you come to me first. Maybe if I’ve captured one of your new friends... heh... I must tell Harpuia to try to grab a prisoner. But... that can wait. For now... I shall enjoy this moment, even God’s are allowed a break.” He laughed at this. Laughing into the wind.
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PLease review it! I like feedback and when I pdate teh new chapter will always go in the first post, righto I'm off then.
Drayconis stood up, “hey Raykan, when are we gonna get to that resistance base. I wanna actually make our presence known and fight! I want the chance to get back at that pink armored bastard who did this to me.” He said, in reference to the large scar, running from his chin over his left eye and up to his forehead.
Sim to spoke, “I find myself agreeing with Dray, I want the chance to be part of the fight to strike back at those who took our world away. Our loved ones... Our friends. We need to be more proactive. The new resistance leader sounds capable enough to finally be a threat to this, Neo-Arcadia. Unlike the previous ones.”
Raykan sighed, “I know... But they don’t exactly have the base’s address in the phone book directory. I haven’t the faintest idea where to look... Bob, you have any idea’s?”
Bob popped up, stared at the group and let out a long high pitched whistle, Raykan sighed, “Dancing monkeys will NOT help in this situation Bob, try again.” Bob let out a short irritated beep and plopped down hiding.
Dray sighed, “He’s sorry Bob, we do respect you... “
Raykan laughed a bit, “Well rumor has it they’re in the east, we might as well head that way.” No one spoke, just packed up and headed off, Bob waddling faithfully behind them.
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Lord Zero looked out the window of his throne room. The resistance had become more capable under its new leader. This must be put to a stop... He turns and looks at his 4 generals, Harpuia, Fefnir Leviathan and Phantom. All very capable... very destructive beings. "Harpuia, any news from the aerial forces?"
Harpuia nodded, "yes sir, it's been reported Ciel has taken a small band of her fighters in search of something... or rather someone."
"You mean..."
"Yes, I refer to X, it appears they have a good lead on his location." Harpuia said softly.
"Follow them! But too not attack unless they have found him... Then bring them back to me. And I shall deal with them personally." Then he dismissed them with a wave of his hand, and continued in his brooding.
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Ciel ran through the sewers, Dam those Neo Arcadians. I didn’t think they'd find us... But I'm so close to him... Surely I can make it in time, or all those deaths will have been for nothing. She had left with a group of 20, now it was just her.
. Her friend Milan had been the last to die, murdered by one of those giant golems... She ran harder, falling through a part of the floor where it had rotted badly. She stood up; the room was filled in a quiet almost eerie darkness. She looked up as a small red light came on from the center of the room. She slowly walked forward, almost gasping as she saw where the light was coming from. The center Ruby red gem on X's forehead. A computerized voice softly announced, "Reactivation Sequence Initiated."
A central column, with cables leading into X's body started to glow, slowly X started to wake up and open his eyes. "Where... Where am I?"
Ciel straightened a bit, "I'm not quite sure what you'd call this place... But I've come to get your aid. We’re in trou-" She was interrupted as group of Arcadians dropped down. Instinctively X pulled out his Buster and started to fire away.
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Bob started to frantically beep. Raykan turned, "Blaster signals coming from where? Wait, what type of buster did you just say? WHAT!" He whirled around, "We're going NOW people! Let’s move!"
The group ran *and waddled* in the direction X and Ciel were...
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X was handling these "Arcadians" just fine, but still, they had to leave before they we're over whelmed. Ciel ran up ahead of him in the corridor they were in. The wall beside her dissolved into nothingness and a massive Golem reached out and grabbed her. "X save me! Hellllp!" The Golem had orders to capture her alive, or she would have already been dead.
X managed to chase it into a large pit, with them at the bottom. He charged a shot and fired at the monstrosity head. Nothing happened. That was RARELY a good sign.
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Raykan and the others stopped at the edge of this huge pit, looking down they saw, and had a hard time believing, X. They thought he had died years ago... But, more urgently was the golem holding Ciel. "X, Catch!" screamed Raykan, as he pulled out the spare beam saber he carried with him, and threw it down.
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"X, Catch!"
X looked up and saw the falling saber, he back flipped, onto the side of the wall and pushed off, grabbing the saber in mid-air, igniting it's brilliant blue blade. Fly towards the golem, he slashed the chest armor leaving a deep gash. "GrrraarrgglllaH!" was all the Golem had to say. Dropping Ciel, it charged forward shooting eyebeams at X.
X jumped and rolled to side as the golem slammed into the wall behind him. Jumping up he was about to stab the golems back when its right hand back handed him and sent him flying into a wall. Slowly floating over, the golem picked him up and started to squeeze X. Who promptly stabbed his saber into the golems hand, causing it to release him. At about this time Dray had climbed down and picked up Ciel, then climbed back up taking her to safety. Freed from having to watch her, X ran and dashed under the golem stabbing up wards. The golem slowly spun around trying to find the now-quick moving X. Eye beams raked the walls making criss-cross patterns in the walls as he sought his target. But X was to quick for him, charging up an X buster he shot at the first gash he made in its armor, damaging its internal cooling unit. The more it moved and fired the more it over heated its core. Slowly it lost its Eye beams, yet continued to try and destroy X; slowly growing a brighter and brighter red.
Dray tossed a rope down for X, who grabbed it and quickly climbed up, just as the GOlem's core overloaded, destroying it, and caving in the pit. X looked up; "Do I know you?"
Dray smiled at him, "Its a long story. C'mon, the others are waiting." With that he turned and walked towards Raykan, Sim and Ciel. X just shrugged and followed.
Zero turned on his generals, his eyes blazing. “One simple task! That’s all I had you do! One bloody thing! She was out numbered! Out gunned! And yet she escapes and lives!”
Fefnir cowered behind Harpuia, “Well... you uh... You see X helped her and...”
Zero turned on him, “A hundred year old reploid! With barely any weapons! Defeated your force! You call that an excuse! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT WORMS!” HE turned his back on the four as they fled the room. HE stared once again out the window. “X... Alive and fighting... This... Complicates things.”
Chapter 2
Drayconis, Ciel and X reached Raykan and Sim as they finished the last of the Zero clones. Ciel stood awestruck as she watched the 2 tear through 2 squads. “Who... who are you?” She managed to stammer out.
Raykan turned as the last clone exploded. “My name, is Raykan... No....” HE stood up tall as he deactivated his visicore, and once dormant pride showed itself on his face. “I am Colonel Raykan, commander of the 89th squad of the Maverick Hunters. Also known as the Hell’s Fear.” Even though his armor was ancient worn and battered, and was worn thin. HE managed to look dignified and proud of whom he was.
Sim to stood tall; “I am Major Simotech, Sim for short. Second in command of the squad Hell’s Fear, of the maverick hunters.” HE saluted with his long Katana.
Drayconis sighed and looked at the 2. “I’m Drayconis, Dray for short. Ex-member of the long gone maverick hunters. The short guy there is Bob.” Bob whistled a bit. “Yeah I think she knows you’re a met. Pretty easy to tell man.” He looked over at Sim and Raykan who looked back at him. “Oh all right, I’m Commander Drayconis, combat specialist of Hell’s Fear. But none of that matters now...” A saddened look falls on the faces of the 3.
X pipes up, “Why does the term Maverick hunters sound familiar?”
Raykan looks at him, “Oh great... memory loss... Ain’t that just dandy. It sounds familiar because you used to lead them, all those years ago.”
Ciel interrupted, “Wait... you 3,”
“Four, don’t forget Bob,” said Dray.
Ciel looked at him, “Riiiight... Anyways... You three were... Maverick Hunters? I thought they all died... Well... Except for Zero and X.”
Sim sighed. “They did, we were lucky to be out on extended patrol when the human governments betrayed us. When they... They came and slaughtered all those at our bases. Even the humans that were they’re... Not even they were spared.” A lone tear ran down his cheek.
Raykan came up behind Sim and rested a hand on his shoulder while Dray continued. “We had heard X survived, but we only gave the rumors credit as just that, rumors. Looks like we were wrong for once.”
Ciel looked at Sim before turning back to Dray, “So... You seem to have reason to hate Neo Arcadia more then us... Why haven’t you been fighting them?”
Dray laughed, “We study history, we watched how the first 5 resistances failed. But... As reploids we have the unique ability to wait... We we’re actually on our way to find you. You’re the first resistance group that has had decent organization, and you stand a chance of succeeding.”
At this Sim stood up, wiping his eye with one arm and returning to his calm self. “That and we’ve waited a hundred years, its time to fight.”
Ciel smiled a bit. “Good, I know the others will be glad to have you. You have more experience then all of us combined. Now. To focus on another matter...” She turned towards X. “The offer to join us is open to you as well.”
X paused and looked thoughtful for a moment. “I will... It seems... To be the right thing to do. That and these 3...” He motioned at Drayconis, Sim and Raykan. “Might be able to help me regain some of my memory, and I feel I should trust them. So yes, I will join you.” HE fiddled slightly with the deactivated saber at his waist, then looked at Dray. “Oh... this is yours.” He made to reach and give it back.
Dray stopped him, “It’s yours, blue was never my color. Besides I have my own blade...” He reached down and activated his own blade, which burned a brilliant green. “See?”
X laughed a bit, “Well thank you.” He turned to Ciel. “We should go before they send more people.”
Ciel straightened, “Right, transports this way.” She turned and walked down a small bath in the tree’s towards a hover transport, Sim, X and Raykan followed behind her.
Bob beeped ecstatically. Dray turned, “Yes it’s exciting, and no nobody cares whether or not you wanna join, you follow me wherever I go anyways.” More beeps and a long whistle. “Watch it short stuff! My plan worked fine; he caught the saber didn’t he? And NO it would not have been better with dancing monkeys, no stop your blabbering and lets go.” Dray turned and followed the others, Bob waddling happily behind him.
Zero however, was not so happy. He stood in his chamber staring out the window, looking upon the capitol of his domain. Tall skyscrapers reached out touching the clouds and streets were packed with people. They looked like ants to him, as he stood in the top floor of the tallest building in the exact center of the city. Truly, there lives meant nothing more to him then those of ants. He was out to protect humanity as a whole, so sacrificing a few was a small cost to him. Humanity had to remain safe, and he felt he alone was the only one who could keep them so. Why, wasn’t that the reason he had been brought back from death? To protect humanity from a greater threat, that of the reploids. Even though he himself was a reploid, he had been remade into something more... something... god like. It was through his power that the humans enjoyed this peace, it was through him that the cities had been rebuilt and been made prosperous, it was through him alone! Now some pathetic band of resistance felt that this peace was less important then their own cause. What ungrateful bastards!
“What worms... They dare believe they can over throw their god? After all I’ve done for them? I shall show them what happens when you anger a god... But.... Maybe I can show him the real truth, out of all those alive he would under stand surely. X... You will understand, we fought together, did so much for humans, you surely will understand....” Zero spoke to himself. Turning as he did back towards his towering throne, sitting in it and resting his head upon his hand. Staring out into the sky.
Chapter 3
Drayconis looked bored as he walked around the hunter base. X had been sent out to liberate a recycling plant, and hopefully rescue some reploid while he was there. Raykan and Sim were off scouting an enemy convoy line and if possible take it out. Dray sighed, he and Bob had been left back at base. The convoy was a 2-man mission, 3 might attract security. Dray wandered aimlessly, looking at the plain lifeless walls before stumbling into Ciel’s lab. “Oh, sorry for intruding Ciel, I was just wandering...”
Ciel smiled at him, “It’s ok. I could use a break from work right now. Say, Dray. You seem... different then the rest. Why is that?”
Dray looked hesitantly at her, “Well... truth be told I wasn’t always a pleasant person. For 10 years I was a horrible killer, The Bastard Drayconis they called me. The Butcher too was another name. I really don’t remember those days.”
Ciel looked at him curiously, “Oh? Why is that?” She sat back and rested her hands on her desk.
Dray leaned against the wall before continuing, “an accident happened at the maverick base I was staying in, I ended up losing an arm and taking heavy damage to other areas of my body. Unfortunately, I was forced to turn the hunters for help. While there they managed to fix the heavy damage to my mind caused by a far older accident, one that turned me maverick in the first place. The cost for this healing was a split personality and memory loss.”
“Really, that’s fascinating.” She said in all sincerity.
“Yeah well, I’ll save the rest of the story, how I lost my split personality, and how I met Bob for another time. Say... dinner in my quarters? I installed a small kitchen there. I don’t have to eat... But to help avoid detection I modified my body to be able to use food as an energy source, so people couldn’t pick me up on scanners. I also installed taste buds so I can enjoy the food I eat.”
She raised one eyebrow, “Did you just ask me out on a date?”
“Well... How you choose to view it is up to you.”
She smiled, “It is a date, and I accept. Now unfortunately I have a briefing to attend to, see you later.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek as she ran out.
Dray stood there, Bob doing a cat call. “Holy... Well... Oh shut up Bob.” He turned and pushed Bob’s helmut down over his head, drowning out the sound. “I can’t believe she said yes... It has been a good day.” He exited the room humming softly to himself. Bob walking rather awkwardly behind him.
Meanwhile, X stood up looking at Azure Falcon. “You bastard! Trying to kill these innocent reploids! I’ll shut you and this plant down for good!” The soft humming of the plant’s machines could be heard in the background.
Falcon just laughed and flew up above X’s head. “Ka ha ha ha! You? A worthless old relic defeat me? Not likely!” HE flew up to the roof of the factory and dived down towards X, smacking the blue reploid into a wall. “Ka ha ha ha !!!”
X grunted as he hit the wall, then started to charge up his buster, dashing under another one of Falcon’s swoops he turned and fired the charged shot nailing teh reploid bird in the back, screeching Falcon veered around before he hit the wall, “Ka, It’ll take more then that blue boy!” He brouth his hings together and fired of streams of electric bolts off towards X.
X back flipped and ran up the wall 2 steps before pushing off, somersaulting in mid air and drawing is bright blue saber. “You talk far to much.” Flying in mid-air he stabbed Falcon right in the chest piercing the giant bird’s core.
“Ka! I... I cannot.... SKRAAA!” Falcon tried to fly up but exploded just before reaching the roof.
X looked at the fallen body and noticed a small elemental chip near the core area. “Hmm, lightning chip, this’ll be useful.” HE reached and plucked it out before jumping down off the platform and looked towards the captured reploid. “Hey, your free now. Head up back to base I’ll meet you there in a second. The reploid nodded and ran off. X sighed and walked over to a wall and leaned up against it. Why am I doing this? Well, it is for a good cause, it seems to be the right thing to do. But every time someone mentions that Lord Zero, I have flashback... A red reploid with long golden hair... A... a friend. But then the memory vanishes. Dreams to, that red reploid is there... But... That tall one bald a name... Sigma. Why do I wake up fearful of him? If only I could remember... But those 3, Raykan, Sim and Dray. They seem to know me, and I feel like I should know them. But at least I get to know them again. He stood up straight and whispered, “Oh well. Nothing to do now but keep on living, maybe I’ll find my answers in time. Until then...” He looked up at the sky then ‘ported back to base.
Chapter 4
X sighed as he walked around the base’s outer walls. He was bored and he knew it. He had wanted to talk to Ciel when he got back but she had been in some briefing. When he managed to catch her on her way out she stammered and claimed she had another appointment to keep. So here he was. Bored as hell sitting on the roof staring into the desert. He sat up a bit. He thought he could make out a dust cloud in the distance. He pulled out a small pair of binoculars and sure enough, there was a steadily growing larger dust cloud. He jumped down grabbing his saber from his bet and ran to investigate.
Raykan and Sim were moving towards the base as fast as they could. They had managed to steal some Neo Arcadian military plans and were being pursued by 4 dropships, each carrying a squad of Zero clones. If the data hadn’t been time sensitive in nature they would’ve stopped to fight. Sim looked ahead and spotted X dashing to meet them. “Raykan,” he turned to his long time friend. “X is coming, you and him take these bozo’s out while I get back to base. As Sim spoke he could see X getting closer and fast.
Raykan slowed down and spun around and activated his Visicore. The long green blade on the polearm like weapon glowed fiercely in the desert. Just as he began to dash forward he saw X run past him and take a flying leap of an unusually large rock. Activating his own blue saber X stabbed it into the guy thingypit of the first Dropship, causing it to crash into the ground. Taking a leap off the falling ship he nailed the second. Turning briefly to see Raykan following suit. Taking down a third dropship. The fourth one managed to land. As the occupants tried to get out, the met a quick and fierce end to X and Raykan’s blades.
“Well, that got me out of my slump,” said a now slightly more chipper X.
Raykan laughed, “Welcome help you can be assured. I thank you.”
X laughed as the started to walk towards the base, “Well, Ciel was busy doing... I dunno what.”
Raykan smiled at that, “I was wondering, you normally follow her like a puppy in love.” Seeing X blush he knew he hit the mark. “So you like her eh?”
X nodded, “Yeah... I mean she was the first thing I’ve seen in over a hundred years or so I’m told. She’s smart. Beautiful...”
Raykan laughed, “You told her?”
X blushed again. “Well... she’s always busy...”
Raykan, “You may wanna tell her before someone else goes for her, but then. There aren’t many options with your quality, so you should be safe. “
X laughed at this, “Yeah your right, but I still am going to wait for the right moment.”
Unfortunately for X, someone had already made his move. And it was paying off for him rather well.
Drayconis laughed again as he cleaned up his and Ciel’s plates. “Looks like me and my friends should’ve joined you guys earlier.”
Ciel stood up to help; “Mmm, but you sound like you guys have had it pretty interesting. I mean fighting your own demented self in a weird twist of meta-physics. And Bob, I mean, you had Bob travelling with you.” Bob currently was steaming outside the locked door to Dray’s room.
Dray turned around; “This is true. You know... You look really sexy in those jeans.”
Ciel blushed, “Well you did say come casual.”
Dray smiled, “That I did. Damn me and my weakness for blonde women with a pony tail.”
Ciel smiled and moved closer to him, “And damn my weakness for tall guys with green hair.” They moved steadily closer until their lips almost touched, sensing that he was allowed to Dray started to close the remaining distance.
It was about then Bob managed to hack the lock on the door just as X and Raykan were walking by. X turned and saw Ciel, HIS Ciel (well, that’s how he thought of her in his mind.) Kissing Drayconis. “Oh MY GOD! You’re! And She is! And OH MY GOD!” X ran screaming down the hall towards his room.
Raykan sighed and looked at the bewildered couple, “Well damn... I was wrong.” Bob just beeped in a laughing tone.
Zero stood atop his command center, letting the wind flow through his long blonde hair, when Harpuia walked up behind him. “The resistance has the false data sir. Just as you expected.”
Zero hopped of his perch and faced Harpuia, “Good. Get ready for the feint attack. Have... Fefnir lead it. Take 10 squads with him. I want you to send a sub-commander of your choosing to attack their main base. Ready the attacks to happen at the same time, in a week from now, I want to give them time to grow a little soft. Cease all main offensive actions for now. Have Leviathan strengthen Outer Heaven’s defenses. In case they decide t be proactive for once.” Harpuia went off silently, knowing better then to question the word of Lord Zero.
Zero turned towards the wind, “X.... Soon I shall come for you. Unless you come to me first. Maybe if I’ve captured one of your new friends... heh... I must tell Harpuia to try to grab a prisoner. But... that can wait. For now... I shall enjoy this moment, even God’s are allowed a break.” He laughed at this. Laughing into the wind.
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PLease review it! I like feedback and when I pdate teh new chapter will always go in the first post, righto I'm off then.