Disclaimer: The disclaimer is in chapter one and that should be enough.
Megaman Armada
Chapter 2
Webs of Deception
X walked through the door and came to a grey and dimly lit room. There, in the centre of the room, a familiar red form stood.
"Zero!" X cheered and ran to his friend.
"There you are X", Zero said and grinned. "Where's Shadow?"
"He went on ahead. To scout."
"Oh, ok..." X found Zero looking at him strangely.
"What is it?" he asked.
"X, I think..." Zero was interrupted by the wall falling in.
The two Maverick Hunters turned around to face a possible threat. Through the rubble stomped a mechanical hippo with a missile planted on its back. The hippo's armor was a mix of light blue and yellow.
"And who might this be?" Zero asked, pulling his sabre out.
"It's probably one of the reploids that went Maverick", X said. "A friendly reploid does not just burst through a wall like that." He readied his buster.
"I don't think I should fire it yet..." he mumbled. "That missile looks threatening."
"Don't worry about it", Zero said. "I got it covered." With that Zero dashed towards the Maverick.
Zero had been improving his technique, X noticed as he marvelled at the speed Zero used to slice the straps holding the missile to the Maverick's back. The missile crashed down on the floor with so much noise that X could not help but flinch. Zero really should be more careful. That thing could explode.
X did not dwell on the matter, though. He quickly loaded his buster cannon. When he decided that he had gathered enough power he released it as a powerful blast that shot through the Maverick's body. The blast left the Maverick with one third of his body missing. Zero finished the Maverick off by thrusting his beam sabre through the Maverick's head. The red Hunter then leaped back right before the remains of the Maverick exploded into tiny bits.
"Good work, Zero", X said to his partner. "Your skills just keep improving."
"Thanks X", Zero said with a grin. "I have to do something to keep up with your growing strength." X smiled at his friend but it soon faded.
"We have to find Shadow!" X suddenly shouted. "Who knows what might have happened to him!"
"It's ok, X", Zero assured him. "We'll find him." With that the duo continued on their way up the stairs Shadow had used.
The staircase the hunters used was in the worst condition so far; the outside wall was completely torn off. Fortunately for the duo the storm had calmed down the clouds were slowly beginning to part.
Soon the two rushed through a door that led them to a completely destroyed floor. There was no roof left and only a few bricks reminded there had been any walls. A bit ahead of them was Shadow, standing with his back to them.
"Shadow!" X shouted out. "Are you alright?" Shadow turned his head to look at the two newcomers.
"I'm fine", he said. "But it appears that we have a problem..."
When Shadow said that both X and Zero's attention was drawn to a reploid standing on the other side of the floor. He was built heavy and his whole body was covered in a cloak. Stern eyes looked at all three of the Maverick Hunters from behind an orange visor. Dark skin glistened in the moonlight.
X's eyes widened as he recognized the reploid from the briefing files.
"Epsilon?" he gasped out. The cold eyes focused entirely on the blue-armored hunter.
"The one and only", Epsilon spoke in a deep voice. "I am the leader of the force known as the Rebellion Army."
"Wow", Zero said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You mean the great commander came to only greet us?" X bit his lip nervously. Why did Zero always have to irritate the bad guys?
Epsilon did not seem to register Zero's tone.
"I have heard many things about you", he spoke, completely ignoring Zero's comment. "The great Maverick Hunters, X and Zero. It is said your power is unmatched, that you're invincible." Epsilon lifted his hand, like he was offering it for them to take.
"Wouldn't you join in our fight?" Epsilon asked in his smooth voice. "Wouldn't you fight for a common vision?"
"And what might this vision be?" X asked. "Some maverick-like attempt to gain more power?"
"We don't give a damn about your vision, Epsilon!" Zero shouted out. "No one cares about what Mavericks think, get over it!"
Epsilon's eyes narrowed at Zero's words.
"Fine", he growled in a dangerous tone. "If you are not my friends then you are my enemies. And I destroy my enemies."
Zero let out a loud laugh at this. The laugh held more insult to it than real humour.
"Can't you count, Maverick?" he growled. "It's three against one, buddy!" Epsilon did not seem troubled with these odds.
"I wonder..." he said. "If it really is so..."
X saw something in the corner of his eye and turned right in time to see Shadow lift the beam sword on his arm, right next to Zero's head.
"N-no way!" the blue hunter gasped. "Shadow?"
"Shadow is a believer", Epsilon spoke sternly. "He understands our goals. So, X and Zero? Do you still decline my offer?"
Zero smirked cockily at the Maverick commander.
"You want my final answer, Epsilon?" he asked. "Alright then!" He dashed forward and was quickly out of Shadow's range. X knew what was coming and quickly charged a shot to fire at Epsilon. He launched the energy he managed to gather and Zero moved in right after the blast, slicing Epsilon with his Z-sabre.
X gasped when he saw Epsilon's hand block his shot and a blue laser whip wrapped around Zero's weapon arm. A female reploid with dark pink armor and large wings was holding the other end of the whip, keeping Zero in place.
"Now now, that won't do", she purred at the dark red hunter. "You should really show the commander more respect."
Just then movement caught X's gaze and he turned to see a reploid in pale armor and long blue hair, a black mask concealing his face. The new reploid raised his hand and a large double-bladed beam sword appeared in his hand. He then pulled his hand back. X knew what was coming.
"Zero!" X shouted out, shooting at the whip holding Zero. Zero managed to break free and jump aside just in time to avoid the blade weapon thrown at him. But while Zero was still in the air Shadow fired the cannons implanted on his back at the hunter. Zero let out a pained shout and fell off the edge of the building.
A shout for Zero's name escaped X's mouth once more when he darted after his friend. X was forced to freeze in his tracks, however, when many shots were launched on the stone in front of him. X lifted his gaze to see a round reploid in green armor floating in the air, spinning around.
X realized he was surrounded when Epsilon laughed.
"Join us, X", the Maverick spoke. "Be one of us."
"I will never be one of you!" X shouted out, readying his buster cannon. He turned his head to look at Shadow, whose once blue eyes had turned blood red and who was chuckling softly, revealing his now sharp teeth.
"Shadow..." X spoke remorsefully. "I can't forgive you for what you did."
There was no way X could defeat all five Mavericks at the same time. He decided that he should probably shoot at the floor beneath them and escape in the blast. But just as he moved his buster to shoot down, he was grabbed from behind.
"Let go of me!" X shouted out, struggling against the hold a larger reploid had on his weapon arm and around his upper stomach.
"I am truly sorry", came a soft voice from behind X. "But I can't let you escape."
A sound of laughter drew X's attention back on the round, green Maverick that had just landed.
"Good job, Scarface", the green-armored reploid spoke in a whiny voice. "Can't have 'im escaping, now can we?"
"But now that we have him, what do we do with him?" came the female Maverick's voice from above them.
The green Maverick laughed again, his whole body tilting backwards as he did so.
"How 'bout we send 'im to the BOW camp? That oughta change his mind, eh?" For some reason X felt his capturer, Scarface, move uncomfortably. The movement was discreet, but from his position against the other's chest X could feel it clearly.
"If you truly think such a rash course of action is in order", Scarface spoke carefully. The green blob laughed again.
"Nothin' less fo' our enemies, no sirree", he said.
"A few weeks with Silver Horn and he'll be begging to join us", the female cadre said.
"Sir?" Scarface asked.
Epsilon was quiet for a long while before replying.
"Send him to Tianna", was the short command. This sent the green-armored Maverick into another fit of laughter and caused Scarface to flinch. But the tall Maverick did not protest, which spoke much about his dedication towards Epsilon. X knew, that out of all the Mavericks he would have to wipe out to get to Epsilon, Scarface would be the toughest to beat.
Suddenly the female Maverick's voice snapped X out of his musings.
"We should have him unconscious during the transportation. He'll be less trouble that way." As if waiting for that to be said, the green Maverick stepped forward and gleefully and enthusiastically knocked X out.
To be continued...
