A soft blanket of snow coated the city around the Maverick Hunter HQ, many people in the city ran about in the snow enjoying the gifts of winter.

X stood at the large window at the head of the building looking at all the people enjoying the winter. Another hunter walked up to his side and looked out the window as well.

"…What's bothering you?" the hunter asked.

"…Something doesn't feel right…"

"How so?"

"It feels like…something bad is going to happen…something, powerful…."

"You've got a point…it sure has been quiet around here since Alia's attack…did you recognize the maverick that attacked her?"

"…No, I've never seen someone who looked like that before…"

The two hunters looked out upon the city one last time before X glanced at the hunter by him.

"Do you think Alia will be ok?" X asked.

The other hunter shrugged and turned to X.

"I wish I knew…"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three mavericks stood before a large ruined lab. Each of the mavericks there had strange, almost pointed heads, two large wings that enveloped them, wings of pure steel, and claw like hands and feet.

One of the mavericks was red, purple, and yellow. The other two where black and purple.

The two mavericks of the same color knelt before the other. The one with the different colors had a large string of medals on his chest, and two large bat-like ears on his head.

"Sir, I am pleased to report that our recon of the Maverick Hunter HQ was a success."

"And I am proud to state that my scouting of the Sky Lagoon was good as well."

"Excellent…" the other figure said slowly.

"What are we to do now sir?" the other two asked in unison.

"…I have no need of you know, but soon I shall. Go, rest, be ready when I call for you."

"As you wish sir."

The two mavericks left the room and the larger leader turned toward a large broken computer screen. With a claw-like hand he pressed a button and a dark figure appeared on the screen, the maverick bowed to him and began to speak.

"All of our recon jobs have been a success."

"Excellent work Nocturne, and what of the girl?"

"Oh the Maverick Hunters? I wouldn't worry about them master, let's just say that they will be quite busy soon…"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero and X sat in Signas's office.

"X, Zero, I have good news. Alia should be waking up soon."

Zero and X both un-tensed a bit, they had both been worried about her. Signas smiled when he saw the two of them relax and continued with his news.

"I also have more news. Axl, as we know had been gone for a while on his own agenda; well he should be back tomorrow."

"Good." Zero said.

"Also I have some not so good news…"

"Yes?" X asked after Signas had paused for quite some time.

"The maverick that attacked Alia, we have lost his signal…I'm sorry but we have no idea who, or where, it, or they, are."

X sighed. Zero fidgeted in the chair slightly.

"You're dismissed." Signas said, afterward X and Zero stood and left the room.

Once outside Zero looked over at his best friend.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Zero asked as the two walked off down the hall.

"…I think I may go and see how Alia is doing." X said after a moment of thought.

"M'k…ARGH!"

"What is it?" X asked after Zero had his little outburst.

"Sometimes I wish that there was at least something we could fight! I hate sitting on my ass doing nothing!"

"How about you wait till Axl gets back and go fight him in the training room."

"Great…more waiting!"

Zero didn't always hate peace, but he had a point. Things had been quiet recently…too quite.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X walked toward the door to the room where Alia was when he heard a voice.

"You know X can be quite stubborn sometimes, but remember you need to help keep him in line. Hahaha…"

X walked through the already open door and saw Dr. Cain sitting next to Alia talking to her.

"Ah, hello X" Dr. Cain said as he continued to look at Alia.

"Hello Doctor…I thought she was awake when I heard you talking to her…"

"No…I was just hoping that maybe if I talked to her she would wake…"

X grabbed another chair and sat next to Alia on the opposite side as Dr. Cain.

"X…I know you're worried about her." Dr. Cain said, X was about to speak when Dr. Cain continued.

"But I want you to be careful out there X. If someone could drain Alia's energy and hurt her as much as it did you could be next."

"Doctor…"

"And X…"

"Yes?"

"I want you to remember that you're not alone in all this…fighting Mavericks, wanting peace, you're not alone X. Remember that you have friends that will stand by you and be there for you. Alia is one of those friends…"

"…..Thank you…and…I'm going to find who attacked her."

"I know you will…just remember to be careful."

With that Dr. Cain slowly stood from his seat and walked toward the exit.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have more paperwork to attend to."