Chapter 1: Infiltrating Giga City
The reformed Hero Alliance was currently flying through the lanes between as Anna and Vera picked up a signal.
"Me and Vera managed to trace back the signal from X and it's pointing to here." Anna said as she pulled up a screen and patched it through to the others.
"Whoa… that's one hell of a ruined city." Akane said.
"Apparently, they're called the Lagrano Ruins and are part of an island called Giga City." Anna said.
"Why would X want to meet us here? Unless he was in a hurry and was in the middle of a mission, I doubt this would be the right meeting place." Hope said.
"Well something must be up, let's head down there and try to meet up with him." Ace said.
"We're on our way X." Hope said.
(MMXCM-Lagrano Ruins)
Down on the ground while the ships were landing, three Cybernetic soldiers were running to get into the Ruins themselves.
"So...that was Master X and Zero from 100 years ago." Harpuia said.
"Yeah, but who was that other guy with them?" Leviathan asked.
"Probably someone assigned to assist them. Though, I'm not so sure about that one." David said.
"It says here his name is Shadow. He's a Maverick Hunter like X and Zero. Appears he was selected for the mission too." Hope said.
Just then an explosion was heard, coming from the ruins.
"Well that didn't sound good."
"Let's go!" Ace said as everyone headed into the tower ruins.
Inside, X was separated from Zero and Shadow.
"Looks like I'm cut off from you and Shadow, Zero. I'll head through the door in front of me and meet up with you in the connecting room." X said.
"Finders keepers for any goodies!" Zero said.
As the footsteps of Zero and Shadow were heard disappearing, X moved to the door in front of him before he turned around and pointed his buster at a familiar former bounty hunter.
"These ruins ain't no place for strangers." He said.
"Who are you?" X asked.
"Chill X. It's just us." Jexi said stepping out.
"It's been a while since that Ultron Sigma and Dragon incident." David said.
"A very long while by my standards." X said.
"What took you guys so long? I was the first one here when you told me you got the call from Mr. Maverick hunter here." The bounty hunter said.
"Sorry, Connor. We had a few things to take care of." David said. "Namely, the damages to the Furious Sports stadium."
"Been there, done that. Only replace the word stadium with hotel." Connor said.
"So this is X." Ace said.
"That he is." Connor said tipping his hat. "I'm Connor trav. Me and this Nephilim are… kinda a new faces to you."
"It's an honor to meet you, X. My name is Ace Neptune." Ace said as he introduced himself.
"Same. Now come along quietly." X said.
"So what's going on?" Hope asked.
"The mission is a hunt for a ruthless maverick named Epsilon. He's been sighted in these ruins." Connor said. "My team's up in the West Tower, which I guess is through… that door."
"That's where Zero and that new Hunter are, right?" David asked.
"They should be at the top." Ace said.
"Which is where we're going." Hope said.
"Right. We'll have to go up through the East Tower to get to them." X said.
"Yeah, we should also investigate a bit as we head to the top." Al said.
"Speaking of which, Sectonia. I notice your appearance has changed since we last met." X said.
"It's kind of a long story." Sectonia said.
"Hey guys, I think I may have found something." Ace said as he looked at a few containment pods.
"These pods… No doubt about it, they contained Mavericks." Vera said.
"Wild Jango, Mach Jentra, Dr. Psyche, and Silver Horn." Spade said as he read the names on the pods.
"Definitely people we don't want to meet in a dark alley." Shuichi said.
"With names like those, they could be considered Mutos Reploids." Phantom said. "Think they're connected to Epsilon?"
"Most likely. They all say they were created by the Rebellion Army, whatever that is." David said.
"And there might be more than just these 4 we found, let's continue on and meet up with Zero." Ace said.
"We better hurry then." Izuku said as they hurried off as he noticed a strange emblem on the ground. "The heck is this?"
"What is it, Izuku?" Ace asked.
"It's nothing." Izuku said pocketing the emblem before rejoining the others. "So...they say it's just the Rebellion Army right?"
"Um… Guys? You might want to take a look at this." David said as he showed them a particular pod.
"This pod… it's Epsilon's!" Hope said.
"So he was created here too. It's possible he may be the leader of the Rebellion Army." Mari said.
"Uh… I think that part was established already." Petra said.
"Yes. But now it's our job to put an end to him." Connor said.
The groups continued on as they saw Zero waiting for them.
"Good to see you, X. Hope too, huh? Wow… that's quite the entourage." Zero said.
"I said I was bringing a friend… but I forgot about the others that were gonna help us with a problem." Hope said.
"Don't blame him. He is a bit of a scatterbrained degenerate." Skyler said.
"You're Skyler. You're with the Freedom Seekers. We've heard a lot about your efforts." X said.
Just then an explosion was heard as everyone turned to see a giant robotic hippo with a missile on top.
"Who the heck is this?" Zero asked.
"I've seen that thing in my brother's workshops. That's a Hippopressor!" Damien said.
W-A-R-N-I-N-G
Warning! Warning! Warning!
(MMXCM-Standby Zero)
"Flux actually had a heavy artillery Maverick like a Hippopressor in his ship?" Hope asked.
"Well… yeah, I mean, he used to send out Mavericks to Lyoko back in the day." Damien said.
"Looks like this guy was put on the bench until now." David said.
"Here it comes! Ravaging Tiger!" Ace yelled as he did a spin slash in the air and sent a lightning bolt down on it. "There's a crack forming on its head, it must be the weak point."
"Okay. Let's finish it then." Connor said drawing his gun and firing a bullet into the crack. "Thunder Bullet!" He said as the Hippopressor was surging with electricity before it exploded.
"Hardly a fight." Zero said.
(Music End)
"You haven't lost your touch, Connor." Spectra smiled.
"I can tell you haven't either. But where in the world have you been?" Connor asked.
"That's classified." Motor said.
"Meaning no business of yours. Rororororo!" Rotom laughed.
"Saw that coming. But, I get the surprise of being introduced to two new groups. The Freedom Seekers, I know a little. Love their whole work, they really help when it counts. And of course, it's an Honor to meet you in person, Miss Illuma." Connor said.
"Fresh but keep it professional." Illuma said keeping her rapier drawn.
"Trust us, Connor. You don't want to make her mad." David said.
"And the Wanderers, I've only heard ghost stories about. The world, everyone… they think you're all dead. Well… the Vexos anyway." Connor said. "Are you all ghosts?"
"Not quite." Volt said. "We're very much alive."
"Yeah, without me, they'd all be dead." Hoopa said. "So you should be thanking me. Hoopapapa!"
"Ignore him, he's always like that." Ace whispered to Connor.
"Ego problem, got it." Connor whispered back.
"By the way, Shadow went on ahead, so let's meet up with them." Zero said as everyone continued up and saw Shadow waiting for them along with the rest of Team Revival.
"Took you long enough." Volta said.
"Had to make sure I met up with everybody." Connor said. "Now, where's Epsilon?" he asked drawing his revolvers.
"Right...here." A voice said as a large reploid with a cloak over his body appeared, along with four others.
"So, you're Epsilon, the head honcho of this whole organization, right?" David asked.
"Yes, along with someone among you." Epsilon said.
"David, watch out!" Ace said as he blocked an attack from Shadow.
"I knew something was off about this one." David said. "So, Shadow really was one of them."
"Yes. He was our vision. Just as these people have." Epsilon said as an army of people were coming out.
"Wait...those tags on them. They were prisoners from the prison that blew up." Connor said.
"Dammit. We're cornered like rats! Any suggestions?" Ace asked.
"So Flux and his Universal Villains escaped and joined the Rebellion?" Hope asked.
"Not quite. I'm afraid the Universal Villains have new leadership." A voice said as a cloaked figure walked out.
"And just who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?" David asked.
"Ah. The famous Demon Slayer of Akihabara. From the world I helped master ruin." they said.
"Master? Wait...It can't be." Hope said as the figure removed their hood to reveal a face like Hope's.
"It's been some time...Hope." He said.
"Despair…" Hope said staring at him.
"He's baaaaaaack." Nana shivered.
"Such hatred and agony, who is he?" Ace asked.
"This is Despair. From what Hope told us, this is his clone." Sectonia said.
"Reuniclus made him when the Haltmann company was taking over Kirby's world. He was the first one made until he went rogue and joined several villain organizations before going into business for himself." Connor said.
"I didn't recall something like that happening." Sectonia said.
"Yeah… That's because it happened some time after you died." Dan said.
"..." Ace stayed silent as he and the others noticed they were surrounded. "Dammit! Any ideas, Jexi?"
"I'm afraid escape is not an option. But it could be...if you join us." Despair said.
"Anna! Transport us out!" Ace said through his comm.
"Oh...She won't be helping any of you. I'm jamming your signals and blocking all teleportation and escape magic." Despair said.
"Dammit! Should I summon an Eidolon?" Ace asked
"Likely won't help. I know Despair. He's likely got a counter for whatever we come up with." Hope said.
"Well…. I've got an idea." Connor said. "Jump!"
He then leaped off the edge of the top of the tower into the darkness.
"Go! Go! Go!" Ace said to the others as they began to jump off.
"Damn it." Despair said. "Well...I can get a shot off one of them." he said as his robotic arm morphed into a cannon as he fired, hitting Zero in the back sending him flying elsewhere.
"Zero!" Ace said before he jumped into the darkness.
"Shall we go after them?" A prisoner asked.
"No. Let them escape for now. We still have our own plans to attend to." Despair said.
End of Chapter 1