Return of the Jet

[swimstud600]

Yep, I'm gonna be starting my second fanfic very soon. I've got most of it planned out. I'm also going to be pulling some ZV people into it, I know I did last time for one chapter but this time some of you will have a larger impact on the story.
Some cameos I've been thinking about include Dray and Hell's Fear, Nightmare and SpEX, Tony and Fusion if they consent and as many other Maverick Hunters as I can get.

But yeah, story coming. Soon.

[swimstud600]

If you haven't read Book One "Get it Together Rookies!" read that first.

Prolegue
---------------------------

It has been 2 years since the death of X. Through hard effort by the surviving hunters, Maverick Hunter Headquarters was slowly rebuilt and its numbers began to grow once again. New rookies began to fill positions and life gradually returned to normal.
With Signas gone, the administration duties fell on the sholders of Alia and Zero. With Zero occupied and X and Axl destroyed, there were few hunters strong enough to handle the maverick threat. Thus, the lives of many depended on a few. The world needed new heros.
Perhaps it was fate when the hunters stumbled upon a Dr. Light capsole. The old doctor was able to provide the necessary plans to rebuild Megaman X.
Unfortunately, only the finest materials could be used, materials that were hard to come by. They'd become even more scarce as of late, the mavericks always showing up to claim the rare metals just as the hunters do. The mavericks had been fairly inactive since the defeat of maverick X, just a few problems here and there from time to time but nothing serious. So it came as a surprise for the hunters when they began cropping up again, always near the parts. It was not uncommon for fights to break out between the two groups everytime a new part was located. The mavericks were becoming a serious hinderance in the revival of Megaman X.
But gathering parts was not the only task of a Maverick Hunter. They still went on regular missions and helped to keep the world safe. This is the story of one of those hunters. He is about to embark on a mission that will impact his life, and the world. Forever.

[swimstud600]

It was a cold morning. Steam rosefrom the machines as they guarded the compound. Heavily armed, they patrolled the grounds and terminated all life forms on sight. It was a day just like any other for them. Then a purple flash streaked out of the sky knocking the commander down. The maverick looked up to a flash of blue and the hum of twin energy sabers. The flash whipped the sabers out of the dead maverick and plunged them into another. He struck quickly, in and out, in and out until all the units lay deactivated around him.
"This is Jet, talk to me Alia." Then he whirled around and blasted a group of onrushing mavericks with his arm cannon.
"Didn't quite catch that Alia, sorry."
"Not a problem," laughed the navigator. "I see you found the compound okay. We've identified this as a maverick stronghold and have reason to believe most of the parts to rebuild X are being shipped here. Your mission is to find out whats going on inside there and if possible, recover some parts."
"Gotcha, I'm on it," Jet replied. He strode to the heavy steel door and burried his sabers into it, slowly cutting his way in.

It was dark inside but his mechanical eye enabled him to see well enough. As he opened the door at the end of the dark hallway, his senses were met with the sights, sounds and smells of factory. The small operation looked surprisingly productive he thought, surveying a conveyor belt carrying parts. As he followed the conveyor along, he was led to a warm, smokey area.
"Ore processing," Jet mused. "These maverick scum are busy making something."

He didn't have long to ponder however, he'd caught sight of movement behind him via a machine's reflection. He dodged as a maverick leaped at him with a blowtorch and ran it through with a saber as it lay on the floor. Then he noticed it wasn't alone. Various mavericks had appeared behind him, each with makeshift construction weapons.
"Crude," he thought, "but probably not pleasent to touch." He ran for it, occasionally firing blasts over his head at the mavericks. The one holding the welding tool fell down taking out another with its weapon. But there were a lot of them and they continued the pursuit. Jet dashed down a hallway hoping to lose them, instead he met another group. Doubleing back, he runs down a different hallway, this one wasn't blocked by a group of mavericks. He runs to the door at the far end and kicks it open. Running inside, he turns and takes advantage of the bottleneck the mavericks are trapped in and fires a few drills, followed by a gigantic tire down the hallway taking them all out.

Turning to face the room he'd kicked in, he suddenly realized that he wasn't alone. Staring into his eyes was an irritated looking maverick. He had grey armor which was covered with blue gems. Something about him seemed... familiar, Jet couldn't recall where but he'd had the strangest feeling they'd met before.
"Get the prototype out of here," the maverick growled suddenly to a pair of grunts behind him. Only then did Jet notice the mysterious figure floating in a tank behind them. The grunts hurried to obey the order.

"Is it fear of me," Jet wondered, "or of this guy.." He moved to stop them from leaving but the lead maverick pulled out dual sabers and stepped in the way.
"You will not take another step," he growled, "Jet the Maverick Hunter.."
"Good so you've heard of me then," Jet smiled. "Nothing bad I hope?"
"Silence! I know all about you, filthy hunter. I've wanted revenge on you for 2 years and now I will have it!"
"You talk big," sneered Jet. "Who are you to think you can prevail against me?"
"You pathetic fool, I should have ended your life in the bar of Lancing. I am Faustus, servent of the late Maverick Lord, Dagmor!"
"Oh so you were the one wrapped up in a cloak. I paid you good money to lead me into a trap. Listen Lackey, if I beat your boss then what chance do you have against me?"
"You are weak," snarled Faustus, "If Bloodline hadn't been there you'd have been slaughtered!"
"Care to test that?" Jet retorted. With a loud battle cry, both lunged at the other.

Jet was surprised at the ferocity of Faustus' blow and although he blocked it, it forced him off balance. Faustus slashed from the ground up, forcing Jet to leap back. Jet pulled out his arm cannon and prepared to shoot but Faustus quickly dashed into him, knocking him over. Deactivating one saber, Faustus concentrated a ball of energy in his hand and hurled it at Jet. Still on the ground, Jet rolls backwards and leaps onto the wall behind him. Faustus hurled another energy ball but as he leaped off the wall Jet sliced it to pieces. He hurled his other blade at Faustus who phased out and appeared on the other side of the room with 2 large cannons in his arms. Jet fired his buster and there was an explosion of energy in the center of the room. Before, Faustus ccould fire again, Jet blasted him with Innundation, the small flood slamming him against the back wall and the enhanced water damaging his systems. While he was down, Jet used Solar Lash, whipping Faustus and then charging the beam to encircle and slowly crush his helpless foe.

"I'm not the rookie I once was," Jet declared. "Now tell me whats going on here, what are you building with those parts? Its clear you aren't simply hording them so we can't get them."
"I'll tell you nothing," Faustus snarled. He pressed a button on his wrist and teleported out. At the same time the door on the far end of the room burst open and reinforcements poured in.
"They're decently spread out this time," thought Jet. "It'd be hard to hit them all."

Suddenly the door behind him began to shake. WHAM! BAM! BOOM!! And the door exploded inwards. Jet instincively ducked. The metal projectile sailed over him and crushed a few of the mavericks. Jet peered through the dust and smoke to look at the source of the destruction.
The figure swung his sword through the air and let out a yell "Darkness Flame!" Purple flames erupted out of the air and showered the mavericks. As they stumbled around on fire, the figure pulled out a heavy machine gun and poured lead on the mavericks as he and Jet backed out the door.

As they ran along, Jet was glad he'd enlisted the help of mercenary, Space Explorer X. Jet had wanted to attack the factory from multiple points and since the hunters couldn't spare troops at the moment, he'd turned to Sub, who in turn, put him in contact with NightmareMegaManZero and his friend SpEX.

"Where's Nightmare at?" Jet asked.
"He went ahead of me," replied SpEX, "We found a high security area with a door even I couldn't break down. Nightmare turned into a puddle of goo and went into a narrow air vent, he's going to find a way to the other side and unlock the door for us."
"Nice, thats handy." Jet was impressed, clearly these mercenaries knew what they were doing.
SpEX led Jet to the high security area and as he said, the door was now opened. Nightmare however wasn't waiting for him.
SpEX was unconcerned though, "He must have gone ahead, don't worry about it, he can take care of himself." Jet had little doubt of Nightmare's safety, the whole factory seemed to be deserted at this point.
"Faustus must have evacuated the troops when he took off," Jet thought.

Jet and SpEX rounded a corner and came to a large open room with a computer terminal in the center of it. At the computer terminal stood NightmareMegaManZero.
"But," Jet thought, "wasn't he more purple before?" Indeed, his color looked a bit lighter, a sort of bluish purple.
SpEX had clearly noticed also. "Hey pal, why so blue?" he said jokingly giving him a playful slap on the back of the head.
A cracking sound followed and Nightmare's head fell off.

End of Chapter 1

[swimstud600]

Chapter 1 is now up! I strongly encourage you to reread chapters 4 and 5 of "Get it Together Rookies!" because this chapter and indeed, the fanfic as a whole will reference back to them many times.
As some of you know, pay attention to detail. What seems insignificant in Chapter 1 (or even in the last book) will probably come back to play a large role later. I like to keep my readers on their toes.

[Drayconis]

I like, i like... Await even more

[swimstud600]

A message for Dray and anyone else if there are others who still read. Lazy people won't look at anything unless they can see it, no appreciation for literature anymore.. *grumbles*

Anyway, swimming and and a small writers cramp are impeding chapter 2. We're coming down to the end of swimming and I'm not getting a break, they're working me to death and I've gotta balance homework and trying to get enough sleep as well. And I haven't seen Kaitlyn all week either <.<
So yeah, I have no idea when the next one'll come out but I don't think it'll be soon.

[Drayconis]

words cannot expres my delight in saying this...

Hurry up man! its been over a month! I'm waiting here! (for all those times you bug me about RMZR and CoF)

[swimstud600]

%C12

Nightmare's head hit the floor, shattering into pieces.
"Holy crap!" Jet cried out, "You just killed Nightmare!"
SpEX shook his head, unconcerned. "Its not that easy to kill him, this isn't the first time he's lost a body part. The head can fuse back on later. What I'm worried about is this," he said, pointing to his paw. Clumps of fur had been ripped out and were now stuck to Nightmare.
"His liquid-like body is now solid ice," SpEX continued.
"But how could that have happe- oh crap, run SpEX!" It was too late, large doors at both ends of the room came crashing down, sealing them in. Jet fired a few shots and tried slashing at the door with no luck. SpEX couldn't break it down either.
"Crud," muttered Jet, "I should've seen a trap. A single computer terminal doesn't need a room this big."
"And now," said Faustus as he rounded the corner and peered into the transparent prison, "You'll get to experience the same as him!"
Suddenly it began to get very cold. It was like a walk in refrigerator but much colder. Then the turrets lowered from the ceiling. Immediately Jet raised his arm cannon and began blasting as many as he could. But there were to many turrets and they were on every side.
"Ack! Ex hate ice..." came a voice from behind him. A turret had shot a beam of ice at SpEX who was now frozen solid. By the time Jet realized what was happening, another beam had frozen his leg to the ground and was now working its way up.
Faustus was laughing, "What fools, all of them with the same weakness.." That was the last thing Jet remembered.

When Jet awoke they were movingh. They were in a large vehicle of some sort. Evidently, they were being transported somewhere. Jet nudged SpEx who awoke startled.
"Its ok, calm down."
"Its so cold.." SpEX whispered. Their current cell was indeed, also cold. The floor was coated with ice and there was a big metal door sealing them in like cargo. Jet wondered where they were being taken.
"Omigosh where is it!?" screamed SpEX. He was crawling around on his hands and knees close to Nightmare's body. He looked up at Jet, "The heads gone!"
"But why would he.. unless... he's following Dagmor's old plan!" realized Jet.
"Excuse me?"
"When I fought Dagmor 2 years ago he said he was going to use our bodies as designs for new soldiers. Faustus is going to do the same. He took Nightmare's head somewhere to analyze it, he wants Nightmare's shape changing powers. Thats probably where we're going too."
Suddenly the truck screeched to a halt sending the captives flying forward.
"Oww..." moaned SpEX, rubbing his head. Suddenly the air was filled with sounds of energy blasts, followed by screams of pain and agony. Then it was quiet. Jet and SpEX listened silently for a minute or two, then the door swung open.
"Ne, Ne, Neoforte?" SpEX stammered, still cold. The purple clad reploid strode into the room
"Saved you again cat," he smirked. His smile froze when he noticed Nightmare. Neoforte quickly picked up the body and hurried outside, Jet and SpEX followed, filling him in on what had happened. As they told their story, Nightmare's body gradually thawed out. He got to his feet shakily and held his hands out in front of him.
"Then we must get the head back," declared Neoforte as Nightmare ran into a nearby tree.
"You should get back to HQ though," SpEX said. "We can handle this ourselves and we know how busy the hunters are nowadays."
"If you guys are sure, I probably should check in," Jet decided. SpEX and Neoforte headed off, Nightmare fell in the dirt trying to follow. Desperately trying not to laugh, Neoforte took Nightmare's hand and the three departed. After they were gone Jet radioed Alia.
"Negitive, do not return," she said. "There is a train station 3 miles east of your position. We have intel that Faustus is transporting a large group of humans somewhere. Intercept the train before it leaves and free the captives."
"On my way," Jet replied.

End of Chapter 2

[swimstud600]

I decided to split what I wrote into 2 chapters, I've got 3 pages of material left, that'll be chapter 3 once I get more time to type. For now, I'm going to bed. I know theres not a lot of action but thats a difference you'll have to get used to, unlike my last fanfic, every chapter is not going to have a boss. Just one of many differences you'll find from "Get it together rookies."

[Drayconis]

O NOES HIS HEAD IS MISSING! hehe.. awesome man... dang now gotta write chappy 2..

[swimstud600]

I'm leaving that open ended, letting Nightmare decide how he gets his head back. Who knows, maybe he'll make a comic or something. If he and SpEX and Neoforte make another appearance he'll be back to normal. Its for him to make up whatever little adventure the missing head'll lead to.

[swimstud600]

Better pick it up Dray
----------------------------------------

The station's big gates proved no deterrence to Jet as he streaked over them. Upon reaching the center of the complex he saw not one but four different trains, all getting set to depart in different directions.
Jet hovered, "Alia, I'm not gonna be able to handle this alone.."
"Point taken," replied Alia, "I've got Tank, Ne0 and Fusion on call, they can take care of the other three trains. You focus on the one heading east."
"Can do," replied Jet, still watching the trains. "They're leaving the station now, I'm moving to intercept!"

The wind was against Jet as he sped after his train, slowing him down considerably. Flying lower, he was able to use the train to block out most of it. He silently boarded the back car and quickly disbatched the mavericks inside. He was about to enter the next compartment and search the train car by car but Alia had other plans.
"Get to the front of the train," she said, "Your first priority should be the breaks!"
"If I take out the breaks I lose the element of surprise," countered Jet, "They'd know something was wrong."
"You have no choice," Alia insisted. "You're already halfway to another maverick base, you have to free the captives before you get there."
"Makes sense.." Jet conceded, "Don't want to fight more mavericks than I have to I suppose.. especially when civilians are present."
He quickly climbed to the top of the train and made his way to the engine car. Using his sabers Jet sliced a hole in the roof and dropped down.
"Eh?" grunted the conducter as he took a boot to the head. Jet drove his saber into the conducter and engaged the breaks. Then he slashed the controls ensuring that this particular train wouldn't be moving for quite some time. As soon as he did this alarms went off. Flashing lights and sirens screamed a "Code Red." Jet readied himself knowing that at any moment the door would burst open and mavericks would flood in to kill him. A minute passed. Then another. Curious, Jet cautiously opened the door and peered into the adjacent car. It was empty. Dashing through, he opened the door and stepped into the next. Not a maverick to be found. Jet dashed from one car to the next until he found the jail car. It was also empty. Wondering where the guards and prisoners were, Jet decided he must have gotten a decoy train. Jet opened the door to the next car. Except the next car was about 500 yards down the track, it had been disconnected. And the mavericks from the front of the train were booking it as fast as they could to the back cars.

Jet leapt to the ground and primed his arm cannon. He took aim and fired sending a maverick into the dirt. Noticing this, the other mavericks turned and charged at Jet. Laughing at the stupidity of maverick grunts, Jet proceded to fire shot after shot, picking them off one by one. When they were about 50 yards away, Jet pulled out his sabers and flew at what mavericks were left. The remaining mavericks fell as Jet reached the back cars of the train.

He opened the door and a maverick jumped on him. Instinctively, Jet threw it to the ground and prepared to blast it when he realized it was already dead. He turned around and found a pistol in his face.
"Who are you??" demanded the girl.
"The captive humans I assume, I'm Jet," said Jet. "I'm a maverick hunter come to free you. Though I see you managed to get out by yourselves."
The girl turned and gave an 'all clear' whistle. The other humans began to emerge from a ceiling duct.
The pieces fell into place inside Jet's head. "Thats why the mavericks didn't come to the engine room, they assumed I was the conducter stopping the train so they could go after you all. I'm sorry about that, I had no idea you were going to disconnect the back cars. Especially not at the same moment I killed the engines."
The girl's eyes widened. "That was you?" She laughed, "Yeah, we thought the mavericks were being smart for a change, the train stopped and they came pouring out after us. Thanks for stopping them by the way, I don't know what we'd have done if they'd made it here."
"My pleasure," replied Jet. "Now lets get you out of here before the maverick base realizes the train isn't coming and sends troops."
He turned and spoke into his communicator, "Alia? Area is secure, have a dropship sent for the captives."
"Roger," Alia replied, "Dropship on the way."
Turning back to the girl and her companions, Jet informed them that the dropship would be there in minutes. The former prisoners let out a loud cheer, the girl ran forward and hugged Jet around the middle. "Thank you so much," she sobbed, "We never dreamt of being rescued.."
Jet was a little taken back by this degree of emotion and awkwardly patted her back. "Er.. just doing my job miss.."
She looked up. "Oh, I haven't told you my name yet! I'm Alice.."

End of Chapter 3

[swimstud600]

Upon returning to MHHQ, the humans were released and free to go where they pleased. It was uncanny how fast the group scattered Jet thought. He didn't think long though, Alice attracted his attention.
"You're free to go," Jet told her.
Alice bit her lip. "..I'm not quite sure how to say this but.."
"Go on," Jet prodded her.
"I haven't got a place of my own and I've no family anymore.. killed by mavericks. And I.. I'm afraid to be alone.. They might come back for me.."
Jet took the evening off and took Alice out to dinner to discuss the matter at length. Upon returning to MHHQ Jet spoke to Alia and Zero about Alice's situation. It was agreed that Alice would be trained in as a navigator and allowed to stay.

-------------------- 8 months pass --------------------------------

"Left! He went left!" cried Alice.
Swerving in between cars, Jet turned the corner and sped after the fleeing maverick. The pursued tried desperately to shake his pursuer but Jet had proven more stubborn than expected. The maverick signaled his three lackey's to fall back and slow Jet down. As the first grunt got close Jet rammed him, sending him over the side of the overpass.
"Blitz to base," cried Jet's quarry, "Blitz to base!!"
Faustus' face appeared on his communicator. "What is it?"
"I can't shake him, I need more backup!"
"Damn you Jet," muttered Faustus as he broke communication.
BLAM. BLAM. Jet was fireing blasts at Blitz, trying to disable the vehicle. Suddenly his own ride chaser was rocked with energy blasts, Blitz's lackey's were still after him. Jet hit his breaks stopping dead in the road. The grunts shot past on either side of Jet who decapitated both with one swing of his sword. This however cost him all his speed.
"Alice, I hope you've still got him.."
"No worries, I've still got a lock on him. Head right, theres a shortcut you can use to catch up to him through that construction site."

Blitz made it to the freeway and sped up. He looked around but didn't see his pursuer. Blitz was about to breathe a sigh of relief when an engine roared and Jet's ride chaser hit a dirt mound boosting him onto the freeway. Blitz cursed but could do nothing.
"Jet!" It was Alice, "You've got incoming fighters!"
Jet looked skyward, "crap, I see them. Nothing I can do about it right now though."
Jet had almost caught Blitz when a maverick fighter dropped down, flying straight at him fireing its guns. He swerved out of the way quickly, almost getting hit by oncoming traffic. Shaking it off, Jet aligned himself once again behind the fleeing maverick.
"Jet-" began Alice.
"I see them."
Seconds later a bomb fell directly in front of his bike. As Jet drove over it the bomb detonated, propelling him and his smoking chaser into the air. Releasing his wrecked vehicle, Jet unsheathed his sword. A maverick fighter was streaking towards him, intending to smear him like a fly on its windshield. Jet swung, slicing the fighter in two. He landed safely in the back of a pickup truck and watched as the fighter blew apart.
"Hey Gawain," Jet called to the driver, "Lets catch that scum!"
"Yessir," Gawain replied, stepping down on the accelerator.
"He's nearing the ambush point," continued Jet. "Lancelot, Galahad, are you in position?" There was silence over the comm. "Lancelot! Galahad!" Jet tried again. "Respond!"
"I'm not picking up their beacons anywhere," Alice informed him.
Jet was forced to watch helplessly as the maverick sped past the ambush point unharmed.
Jet swore. "What happened to those two," he wondered aloud, "They used to be the most dependable hunters in the unit.."
He didn't dwell on this long however, several bombs were dropped a few hundered yards ahead of them destroying the bridge. Jet swore again.
"Speed up!" he yelled as he climbed to the front of the truck. "Alice.." he said eyeing the gap, "Be very, very ready.."
"I'll get him out, don't worry," she replied, "Just get that maverick."
As the truck careened into the pit Jet pushed off the front, shooting into the sky. The truck landed, exploding in a fire ball. Unlookers would see that there was no body, a few witnesses would swear the driver had disappeared seconds before the crash..

Jet landed on the hood of another car and pushed off again, using his thrusters for even greater speeds. As momentum slowed he came down, startling another driver and shoving off again. After a few leaps, he'd caught up to Blitz. Shoving off the final car, he swumg his sword like a baseball bat. At that moment Blitz had turned around to check where Jet was. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Jet flying at him at such speeds, ready to strike. Instinctively he sped up causing Jet to hit the back of the bike rather than his head. The bike kept moving though and Jet clung to the back with one hand. Blitz ignited his saber and prepared to knock him off but Jet still held a saber in his right. He hung on, swinging futily at Blitz who laughed and prepared to remove Jet's arm. He swung his sword. Jet gripped his handhold and gave a powerful tug, he flew over the blade, flipping once, twice and finally stomping down on the front of Blitz's ride chaser.
"WHAAAA!" Blitz cried, waving his arms wildly before landing in a heap in the street. Very slowly, he picked himself up off the ground. BEEP BEEP! "AHHHH!!" he yelled before the semi barreled into him. Jet steered the chaser over to the side of the road as Blitz exploded. He paused and opened up a compartment in the ride chaser.
"Alice, let Alia know we were right. I've got the parts."
"Ok. Now lets get you back to base," she replied as she input the coordinates. An instant later Jet was standing behind her with a severely damaged ride chaser and the parts.
"That was quick," said Jet, "You're getting good at this."
Alice blushed. "Thanks," she said, "Shall we go see Alia together then?"
"Why not?" replied Jet, taking her arm and headed toward the commander's room.

End of Chapter 4

[Drayconis]

baarrrrg i'm 3 chapters behind now damnit. ah well good work man.

hehe... Jets agot a giwl fwieeennnnd

[swimstud600]

Now that the carnival is done I can post in this. Kick me in the shorts if I don't update by this weekend.