Xyber 9: Ignition of Revenge
3: Secrets Long Hidden
"Honk where are you boy? It's been to long buddy" Jack called desperate to see the little bull pig as he searched the small New Valley village for him. It had been a long while since Jack had seen Honk last.
"Honk!" sounded the little bull pig as he jumped into Jack's arms, knocking him flat on the ground.
"Ok ok, I missed you too!" Jack half laughed to Honk as he got up and began to climb to the tunnel entrance where his Skyfighter would fly out from.
"Well Xyber, that's everyone" Jack stated as he finished climbing up before he stood on the edge of the tunnel entrance to over look the Valley. "Now what were you saying about a fortress just outside the valley?"
"Not only is it well guarded, it is not any of Tatania's or Roselyn's fortresses as far as I can tell," Xyber said looking a little to the left to where the fortress was hidden from human site. "I think we should go check it out, since it is so close to the valley."
"We should" Jack spoke as he turned to his listening friends that were once again reunited.
"I can not go Jack; I got Machina to attend too and I need Mick and Willy's help too" Ikira answered looking sorry.
"You better bring back some treasure for me Jack" Mick muttered not really liking the fact that he has to help former Machina soldiers.
"I'll go, but only to keep you out of trouble" Ana announced like always.
"You keep me out of trouble enough already" Jack half complained with a smile.
"No I don't, if I did then you would not be in so many near death situations" Ana countered back with a smile before heading farther back into the tunnel.
A few hours later Jack and Ana where running along the corridors of the fortress in silence. It was tough getting in, and for some reason the soldiers looked a lot like Machine.
"Jack turn here. There are computers in there we could use" Xyber said looking at a door to Jack's right. Ana fell behind as they all entered the metal room.
"Jack!" Ana exclaimed looking at a diagram on one of the screens. It was a picture of a Machina looking soldier, at the bottom there was a computer code.
"Xyber?"
"All ready on it Jack, just plug me into a port" Xyber said as Jack slammed him into a port at the computer. "It says something about a virus… Oh dear!"
"What? Xyber!"
"Jack, Machestro has taken some rebel Machina and infected them with another virus. It makes them not only able to walk in the light, but they are stronger and bigger then the average Machina. This is obviously his back up plan because this is well planed out and they are like a whole different kind of Machina" Xyber stated with wildness in surprise.
"This be bad news for Ikira" Ana spoke knowingly, putting a hand on Jack's shoulder as he looked the documents over.
"I'm starting to think they wanted Ikira dead not Tatania" Jack explained, backing up from the computer. "Come on, let's get out of here now!"
They all bolted out of there like lightning, and straight into a couple of big Machina.
"Jack I do not think they are going to be so friendly and play very nice with us" Xyber half stuttered as he closed his dorm up in fear.
"Xyber you chicken!" Ana scolded the machine as her own fear began to show.
"Run!" Jack yelled pulling Ana down a different way in the hall.
"Jack, exit behind big Machina" Ana said as the rebel Machina chased them. A few shots from guns were fired missing the trio entirely.
"I know I know, but I don't feel like taking any risks today" Jack suddenly stopped, trying to decide which way to go as they came to a fork in the hall way.
"But you always take risks. What so different now?" Ana asked as she looked behind her with fear of the new Machina causing her to walk a little closer to Jack, "These Machina aren't so small anymore."
"That's why I don't want to take any risks" Jack stated.
"To your right Jack, there's a doorway to the outside" Xyber said with suddenness as he popped up from hiding.
"Decide to come out chicken?" Ana asked Xyber.
"If I'm a chicken then what does that make you. You're practically crowding against Jack" Xyber teased back.
"Jack be slow at running" Ana said before turning her head slightly.
"I bet…" Xyber trailed as they came outside into a sandstorm. Suddenly Jack slide, Ana caught him before he fell below into a hidden canyon.
"Call Scout!" Jack shouted to Xyber as Ana pulled him back up.
"Halt!" one of the two Machina yelled as they pointed guns at them through the sandstorm. "Surrender or die!"
"Well then I guess it will have to be die" Jack howled with both excitement and fear as he moved towards the left with Ana running to the right before she disappeared in the sand filled air.
"Jack, Scout is coming. It will be awhile though with all this sand."
"Fine Xyber, I just hope we can stay alive and together" Jack answered back noticing that Ana was not behind him.
One of the laser guns suddenly shot at Jack, making him fall and in the process loss Xyber by a broken strap.
"Xyber!" Jack yelled trying to find him.
"Jack!" Xyber shrilled in fear from the feet of one of the huge Machina.
"Help! Jack!" Ana screeched barely as one of the Machina held her tightly by the neck and dangled her over the edge of the ledge. Without thinking Jack suddenly dive rolled and grabbed Xyber, and then dashed for Ana.
"That was close; I thought that big bad Machina had me" Xyber sighed in relief as Jack carried him in his hand.
"Don't feel relieved just yet" Jack reminded Xyber and himself, seeing the Machina release a half choking Anakonda.
"Jack!" Ana shouted able to breathe again after she was released. Jack suddenly slid under the Machina, sliding off the ledge himself and grabbed Ana. Scout zoomed under them catching them all with relief just in time.
"Jack!" Ana growled making a face, "You…"
"You fool, you could have killed us" Jack mocked. Ana only pounded him on the back a little as he turned Scout around in the sandstorm, heading for the rebel Machina base again.
"Meet me on the other side. I'm blowing this place up" Jack announced handing Xyber to Ana.
"Jack!" Ana called to him as he jumped off Scout into the flying sands below.
"Looks like it's me and you" Xyber said looking at Ana as she took control of Scout. In minuets, they were at the other side hiding behind a rock waiting for Jack.
"It been to long" Ana whispered, peeping up over the rock trying to see through the flying sand. There were no more Machina guarding the entrance, all had ran inside quickly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he's fine" Xyber tried to reassure, "Ana may I ask you something?"
"What would a machine like you want to know?" Ana asked back, sliding back down the rock. She sat, tucking her knees close to her, and laid her head on her knees looking at Xyber stuck in the sand beside her.
"The reason why you yell at Jack a lot, does…" Xyber trailed off as Jack came bounding over the rock and landed between them, pulling Xyber from the ground.
"Come on lets get out of here" Jack shouted over the explosion of the fortress, startling both Ana and Xyber. They left the base blown up and broken as they raced to tell the others of their find.
