Chapter 1: The Mission
Author's Note: This is based on the Megaman X world (Yes, I do mean to spell it like that, rather than Mega Man X as I've seen elsewhere).
Chapter One: The Mission
Megaman X, of just X to his friends, had just come out of Colonel's office at Hunter Headquarters. He was dreading what he'd just been told to do. He and Zero, his best friend and also a Reploid, had just been given a mission. It wasn't the mission itself that bothered X. No, it was telling Zero about the mission that caused the feeling of dread.
Why couldn't it be the usual go-here-kick-Maverick-ass mission? X lamented to himself. Or even a -go-see-if-Mavericks-are-here mission. Why, why did it have to be a -
"Hey, X!" Zero's shouted greeting made Z turn around. "I just saw you come out of Colonel's office. What's up?" X gave his friend a big smile.
"We're been assigned a mission."
"Great! I was getting bored. Who's ass do we have to kick this time?"
"Well, it depends on who shows up. We've got to be at our destination in half an hour, so lets go. I'll fill you in on the way." Zero nodded and they headed down the hall.
I think it'd be best to tell him after we're gone...
"X?"
"Hum?"
"I'm gonna kick your ass for this." X sighed. That was the fifteenth time Zero had said that in the thirty minutes they had been riding on their motorcycles towards their destination.
"I know, Zero."
"I mean, why? Why an escort mission? I hate those! I won't even play those boards in video games!"
"I know, Zero. But Colonel thinks this will be important. He said Hunter morale is low, and that this band can remind everyone of what we're fighting for. They've toured other bases, and have gotten a good response. Plus, since they've been to some of the more remote areas, they might have news or information that we don't."
"And the Mavericks might attack...why?"
"Seems one of them is a powerful Reploid, one the Mavericks would love to get their hands on. So we're to make sure that doesn't happen."
"Maybe they will attack. Then at least I'd have some fun." X just sighed again, then looked ahead.
"There they are." Ahead waited a heavily armored van, obviously civilian-owned, protected by no less than ten Hunters, half of which were members of the closest base to the HQ, by their badges. X had never seen the other five before. One, seated inside and driving, had a distinct Goth appearance to him, with a skull on his chest. One standing next to the only door into the van wore armor that was very ornate and mostly gold with blue accents, with a helmet that had two fins on the side like an Egyptian headdress. The one seated casually on the roof seemed normal enough by his armor, save for the large ring on the front, and the dual chakkrums hanging at each hip, slender disks with razor-sharp edges designed to slice when thrown like a Frisbee. A fourth cautiously peeked around the far side of the van, his armor all blues and greens like the water, smooth like a ricer-polished stone. The last of the unfamiliar Reploids had brightly colored armor that seemed as if each piece was a different hue, and almost glowed it was so intense.
"Quite a bodyguard for a bunch of musicians," Zero commented softly, sounding a bit suspicious all of the sudden. And X agreed; it did look suspicious. So much protection just seemed like overkill. But he just stopped his cycle and climbed off. Zero remained where he was, bike on idle and eyes trained on their surroundings, watching for trouble.
"I see Colonel sent us the best," the leader of the identifiable Hunters, the one with the headdress, said as X approached, saluting as he spoke. "All went quietly and smoothly for us."
"Good to hear," X replied. He moved to the door, the one standing nearby moving to let him by so he could speak with the occupants. The blue Hunter smiled, then knocked on the door. "This is Megaman X from Hunter HQ. Zero and I will be your escorts from here on in." He heard a rush of whispered voices, one sounding very excited, and then all fell silent. A panel in the door slid open, allowing a woman with beautiful blue eyes and blond hair to peek out. Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she regained her cool.
"I am very glad to see you," she said. X blinked.
"You are?"
"Oh, um... yes, of course. How would I not be glad, as we'll be protected by the best?" She moved around a bit to get a look at Zero, then looked back at X. "Thank you, Megaman X."
"Just X is fine. It's what all my friends call me." Her eyes smiled, giving X a feeling of deja vu.
"X, then. Than you, X. And thank Zero for us too."
"I will." Another smile, and the panel slid closed. X turned to the Reploid he'd spoken to previously. "Anything else we should know?"
"Other than five of us are staying," the one by the door said, "not really." X blinked in surprise.
"Huh?" The other laughed.
"Five of us - Diadem, Fatalis, Naki, Neon, and I - are members of the band too. We just also have some Hunter training."
"Oh. Well then, lets move out." Five Reploids teleported back to their home base, X climbed back onto his cycle, and the headed out. X and Zero kept to a slower pace, to allow those on and around the van to keep up. The blue Hunter noticed Zero no longer looked bored. Rather he looked intrigued. Who exactly was in that protected van? There were no windows, save the panel in the door. All X himself knew was that is held at least three people - he'd clearly heard three different voices - and that one was a female. But the rest was a mystery. Human or Reploid? Who were the other two? And was one this powerful Reploid the Mavericks wanted?
After about ten minutes, Zero pulled up alongside X.
"I'm gonna cruise up ahead. Remember that blasted five-story we passed? If there was an ambush anywhere, that'd be it."
"Okay." Zero revved up his cycle and sped on. X slowed down to cruise near the door, giving him better coverage of both his and Zero's area.
Twenty minutes to go, he thought. Surely the Mavericks aren't that crazy to attack us so close to HQ! Even as the thought left his head, he saw Zero racing back at top speed.
"Mavericks right on my tail!" he shouted.
"What? Dammit!" X looked to the five. "Get ready." Apparently they'd expected this, for the leader instantly left up on top of the transport and trained his handheld blaster on the area up the road. Two took up positions on the left, two on the right. Zero made a pass in front, turning his cycle to face the path ahead, drawing his lightsaber and preparing for battle. X readied his own arm X-Buster, and began charging it up.
Within minutes ten Mavericks crested the small hill. X and one of the Mavericks fired at the same time. X's shot plowed through the enemy's shot and subsequently hit him, as it had been charged. Zero revved his engine a couple of times in challenge, then shot forward, going melee on the Mavericks. Shots fired back and forth.
"There's some in the alley!" shouted the one on top, turning to the side to fire. X paused to switch on his com link to the base.
"This is X calling Hunter HQ. We need help!"
"Where are you?" Colonel's voice replied.
"Twenty minutes out. At least twenty Mavs have us pinned down!"
"Hold on." The connection went dead as it was turned off at the other end.
"Help's on the way!" X called, hoping to encourage the defenders.
"Hope it gets here soon." X backed up a bit, to give more firing room, and heard from inside a clear, unfamiliar voice speaking.
"I'm not going to let them die while I sit in here!"
"I'm with ya!" came a second voice, and the door opened. Out came what looked to be two teenage boys, both standing near the same height and about two inched shorter than X himself. They were clearly related, and were each holding handheld blasters. One appeared to be older, and was perhaps a bit taller, but not by more than half an inch, and had unruly black hair, wearing basic blue jeans and a zipped up coat with a flame pattern all over it. It seemed he was wearing something around his neck, but at that exact moment X couldn't tell what. The other had brown hair, just a wild, and over the jeans he wore a jacket with a starry pattern. They began firing at the attacking Mavericks with great skill and accuracy. Again, X felt that Deja vu sensation.
"There they are!" one Maverick shouted. "Destroy everyone else, but take those two alive!"
"You have to catch us first!" shouted the one in the star coat ad he dodged a blast with an inhumanly-high back flip. X might have pegged him for the powerful Reploid, save for the other doing the same a second later.
They've both got to be Reploids, X thought. And that thought was nearly his undoing, as he failed to see the shot soaring towards him
X 'offed' as he was knocked flat from behind. The shot soared away from the battle, hit the ground and exploded. X peered up to see what he'd call a Reploid malamute dog, growling at the Mavericks. It leapt at the nearest one and began to tear into them.
"You okay?" Zero called over.
"Yeah!" He hopped to his feet and began firing again. A minute later, Hunters teleported in, a good thirty. Battered and outnumbered, the remaining Mavericks retreated, teleporting away... all five of them.
"Yeah! We gave them a pounding!" Zero cheered. X looked around, to see the two new Reploids with the dog, the one in the star jacket kneeling to pet it.
"Good boy," he was praising softly. The one in red saw X watching, and nudged the other, who stood. Together they approached, the star one with a funny look in his eyes.
"You're good," said the fire one.
"Same for you, both of you," X replied. "Those Mavericks won't forget today for a long time." The one in the star jacket started to speak, but it seemed his brother read his thoughts, for he caught his upper arm and gave it a squeeze.
"We'd better get going before they come back." The one in blue nodded, and they returned to the transport with the dog, the younger one stealing a final look back at X.
"What was that about?" Zero asked as he approached his best friend.
"I - don't know." X paused for a moment more, then shook his head to clear it. "Lets move out." The transport and its escorts resumed their path, and fortunately that one assault was the only appearance the Mavericks made. Colonel was waiting to greet them in the safety of Hunter HQ.
"Everyone safe and sound," Zero reported with a salute. "And fifteen Mavericks out of commission."
"Good job, as I expected." The transport door opened, and the two boys, the lady who seemed to be related to them as well, and the dog stepped out. They approached Colonel.
"Thank you for sending us such excellent protectors," said the one in the flame jacket as he shook Colonel's hand. "We couldn't have been in better hands."
"I'm glad you made it here safely as well. I'm Colonel."
"I'm Albastru, and these are my brother Felsen, our sister Listina, and Stormloop." The dog barked and wagged its tail, watching as Colonel shook hands with the others, then sat up and lifted a paw to shake as well. Colonel chuckled and obliged, and all within the immediate area heard a click noise. Colonel paused, then released Stormloop's paw. In his palm rested a small gray computer chip. He smiled and held it up between forefinger and thumb for all to see.
"Not a scratch," he commented.
"What's that?" asked X.
"A very valuable chip historically speaking," answered Colonel. "This is a data memory chip, X, one created over one hundred years ago... by your creator."
"By Dr. Light?" X gasped, looking at the chip in a new light.
"Yes. word filtered through the bases that one of the great doctor's chips had been found, and I thought you'd like to know it was safely away from Maverick hands." He handed it over to X, who cradled it in his palm very gently. Zero peered around his buddy's arm at it.
"It's untouched," Zero whispered, as if he didn't want to even breath on it too hard. "No wear or tear. I'd say it was made just a short while ago, if I didn't believe you, Colonel."
"Until we decide what to do with it," Colonel finished, "it's in your safe keeping, X, as is only right." X just nodded, as Colonel led the band members off to get them settled in.