Chapter 3:

New Encounters

Steel Massimo and Axl had just finished recovering the rest of the civilians. They rested themselves before they could continue on to report to base. "Man, we're off the hook today, aren't we Massimo? Too bad there isn't any mavericks behind the alien outbreak." Axl said as he twirls his dual pistols. It's not like every day he gets worked up on beating mavericks.

"Try not to get too cocky on this one Axl—hmm?" Massimo paused as he noticed something up ahead. "That's strange." He said.

"Huh?"

Both hunters stood up and hid to take a closer look to see a boy who appears to be a red-head, 14-years-old. And a man who is blonde in an unfamiliar uniform, with two robotic legs. They are talking to each other. They don't seem to be human.

"What are civilians doing here. Shouldn't they be getting out of here?" Axl asked.

"Something about those two doesn't seem right. If they weren't evacuating, then they're not human." Massimo theorized.

"Do you think they're mutants, aliens, or just new-gen reploids that shapeshifted into humans?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely not that, we'll just have to find out ourselves." Massimo took out his Massive Lance (axe), ready for battle. Axl then summoned dual pistols.

They jumped out of hiding and began the ambush. Axl fires his bullets 5 times at the boy, but he evaded it and took out his pistols and fires him back. Axl is shocked to see a kid being skillful with guns. Massimo charged at the man and swung his axe, but that man then popped out a blade attached to his left wrist and countered it with it and pushed each other back, turns out he is a cyborg. Not something you see every day.

Axl and the red-head then had a Mexican stand-off. The boy then takes out for what it appears to be coins and shout out, "Storm Waltz!" and shot fired his guns with these coins to deflect the bullets from below and began raining down on Axl as he covered his head in defense. Meanwhile, Massimo and the cyborg kept clashing each other's weapons. "Come on, is that all you got?" The cyborg finally spoked.

"We're just getting started!" Steel Massimo said boldly and pushes him back. The cyborg then rushed towards him and lands a powerful kick on Massimo.

"Stop it right now!" A voice interrupted their battle. Running towards them is a young girl with short pink hair, golden eyes, wearing dark-blue uniform with white flappers behind her back and a cap.

"MOMO?!" The red-head gasped. The girl called MOMO, sighed in relief. For any other reason, human, reploid or not, they are not enemies.

"These people are not the enemy Jr., there's no way they could be involved in this. Please, let's talk things out." MOMO convinced the boy and the cyborg to stand down. Just as they put away their weapons, the five of them are starting a conversation of what's going on.

"Well that sums it up, anyway I'm Gaignun Kukai Jr. of the Kukai Foundation." The red head makes the introduction.

"I am Ziggurat 8, but you can call me Ziggy. That was pretty impressive skills you and that spikey-haired kid pulled off back there." Said the cyborg.

"I'm the 100-series Realian prototype, MOMO. Please to meet you." The girl said pleasantly. Massimo and Axl are confused with the term "Realian." Probably a new type of reploid if that's what they think. If not, what is a realian? MOMO may not be the actual human.

"We're Maverick Hunters Steel Massimo and Axl, we're really sorry about this. You see we're on a mission to evacuate the civilians from the city when it was under attack of those unknown beings. Though I'm surprised that you managed to survive this riot." Massimo explained.

"I know it's gonna sound off, but what planet are we on?" Jr. asked. Looking around like he never been to a place like this before. "You're right, that does sound off. You're actually on Earth. What do you think we are, aliens?" Axl replied. This however earns shocking gasps from Jr., MOMO. "That's impossible, Earth disappeared 4000 years ago!" MOMO cried.

"Wait a minute—What?!"

"Come again?"

"That's strange. Just a few hours ago it was 1:15 p.m., and it still stays the same. And the date shows it is August 18, 20XX." Ziggy said as he shows the exact date and time on his pocket monitors. "Come to think of it, ours is March 10, 22XX, 11:28 a.m." Steel Massimo also showed it on his monitors. "Hold the phone!" Axl called. "Zigg, the year you're from is 20XX, Massimo and I are in 22XX. Right?

"Yes, but what are you getting to Axl?" Ziggy asked.

"I think what Axl is trying to say is that if we're from a different time and year, and our Earth has disappeared for 4000 years. Let's just say that there is a dimensional paradox that involves the gnosis, freezing time as a result." Jr. added. "I'll bet whoever is causing both of our worlds to be merged in the first place and created this "virus" combined with the gnosis. Turning the Reploids into gnosis. Might be trying to link with U-DO." Now that he mentioned it, "Gnosis huh? Are they an alien specimen you are familiar with? And who or what's U-DO?" Massimo asked. This is gonna take a while to explain. Although they got company as gnosis reinforcements arrived and surrounded them.

"Oh, come on! How many of them are here?!" Axl complained.

"Even if we strike now, we are not able to do harm on them!" Massimo pointed out, then MOMO steps in. Massimo and Axl found themselves dumbfounded. "MOMO stay back!" Massimo warned, although MOMO wasn't listening as she had the upper hand when she released the same energy wave as KOS-MOS that began to expose the gnosis. "Whoa! What was that?!" Axl gasped. MOMO then turns back to face the group. "The Hilbert Effect, it's a power that realians, such as myself will be able to break the gnosis' imaginary space to make contact with them. Now's your chance to attack!" MOMO explained.

"How about this?!" Axl fired multiple bullets at 3 gnosis and they shatter like space dust or glass. Steel Massimo took down 7 gnosis with his Massive Lance. Looks like the Hilbert Effect works. Ziggy swung his blade at the gnosis into halves. Destroying them in the process. Jr. leaped in midair and shouts out "Mystic Nocturne!" Shooting the one bullet that blows up several of them.

After they're done clearing out the path, the group took a break, but it won't last long. Axl gets contacted by X. "Axl, this is X. Do you copy? Respond."

"I copied X, the civilians in our current area have been evacuated."

"Good work, we will arrive shortly with a cargo ship."

"Great, while you and Zero are busy in another area, Massimo and I have made some friends on the way. These guys are awesome kicking alien butt. I'll be sure to bring them along for you to meet them."

"Okay, we'll see you at the east section." X has broken contact. Axl and Massimo then turns to the three.

"You know, since we're all in the same mission, how' bout you come with us? We'll find a way to prevent the "Gnosis-virus" from spreading both of our worlds together." Massimo offered.

"Sure, after all we are gonna return the favor for aiding us back there." Jr. agreed.

"Of course, we would be more than happy to assist you." MOMO jumped for joy, while Ziggy nodded in agreement. And so, Maverick Hunters' Axl and Steel Massimo have found new friends and allies form a different dimension. But what lies ahead of their path? Who knows? The Question is; Will there be time to stop the mysterious figure from creating more of the gnosis-virus? Will they find their missing allies?


Author's Note: Find out on chapter 4 where Cinnamon encounters the rest of the characters from Xenosaga.