I added the chaotic look to Guardian HQ for last chapter in an attempt to produce a slightly lighter atmosphere before this, the main serious event. Somewhat like the calm before the storm.
The next chapter or two might take a bit longer, since I'm having trouble working a few kinks out of this one part. Hopefully, it won't take too long, but only time will tell.
Just FYI, I'm trying to make it easier to identify the various operators by how they refer to Prairie. Tulip calls her Ma'am, Marguerite calls her Commander, and Gardenia just calls her Prairie.
-Ainrhyr-
Disclaimer: See previous page.
Rise of the Chosen
Chapter Seven
Defense of Area D
The door hissed open, and Giro and Aile walked onto the bridge of Guardian HQ. Unlike most of the other rooms on the ship, the command bridge was both large and spacious. Near the front, where the massive window allowed everyone to see in front of the ship, an extravagant ring-shaped console was set up, right below the immense window, with plenty of room for the three female operators that now manned the consoles. Above the lower consoles, right in the exact center of the command center, was a slightly raised platform manned by a single, very detailed console, and two chairs. Sitting in the larger chair was Prairie, while her stuffed animal sat in the tiny chair next to hers.
Prairie turned when she heard the door hiss open. "Ah, you're here." Prairie turned the chair around, and stood up. "How do you like our HQ, Aile?"
Aile smiled politely. "Well, it's great. Not counting the rocket launcher incident."
Prairie rolled her eyes. "Well, unfortunately, you may never get used to Cedre."
She cleared her throat. "Now, our last greeting was a bit strained, so I feel I should properly introduce myself." She squared her shoulders, giving her a commanding, almost regal look. "I am Prairie, Commander of the independent volunteer defense taskforce, commonly known as the Guardians."
"Wait, what? You're commander of all the Guardians?" Given how respectfully the other Guardians referred to Prairie, Aile had figured she was someone of importance, but 'commander' was not high on her list of suspected titles.
Giro nodded. "Right. She's an important person, not to mention an important client. That's why I wanted you referring to her by title. Even if she doesn't like titles." He added, as Prairie shot him a glare.
"But, Prairie looks about my age." Aile protested.
Prairie gave her a faint smile. "Well, I'm older than I look, Aile."
"Even so, the Guardians have been around for more than a century!"
Prairie's smile faded. "That's a long story, and I should probably start at the beginning. A long time ago, about two centuries or so, there was a great war between reploids and humans. It ultimately resolved in the creation of a madman, who tried to destroy everyone that would not be subverted by his rule. A great hero destroyed him, and humans and reploids realized that they could not survive with such prejudice between their races, so they agreed to a truce. However, this madman had created thousands of robots, reploids, and mechaniloids for the sole purpose of sowing disorder in the world. They are the precursor to the mavericks we deal with today. Only… Nearly all of those mavericks were destroyed long ago. There should be no reason for the outbreaks we have today. The Guardians were created to discover the source of these maverick outbreaks, and eliminate it."
"One day, we discovered a research laboratory belonging to a… certain scientist."
Prairie looked away. "That scientist was the former Commander of the Guardians. She was also my Sis…" Aile realized that Prairie was trying to hide the tears threatening to form in her eyes. "She vanished years ago…"
"Oh…I'm sorry."
Giro attempted to diffuse the situation by changing the subject. "And if memory serves, you found the two Biometals at that lab, the second of which we ended up delivering to you."
Prairie's expression said she was thankful for the change in direction, and she met their eyes again. "Right. As I mentioned, the world back then was saved by a hero, but he wasn't the only one. Our data on them is incomplete, but we believe that the Biometals contain the essence, power, and possibly some memories of these great heroes. And since they were created around the time when mavericks were much more prominent, they might contain data that could tell us what is causing these outbreaks today."
"Speaking of, Aile." Giro spoke up. "You should probably take Model X to Fleuve, and see if he can't get any of said data out of it."
"Wait, Fleuve?" Aile recalled her earlier meeting with Fleuve, after she had defeated the snake mechaniloid. "But, what if he won't give it back?"
Giro rolled his eyes. "Aile, you're going to join the Guardians, right?" She nodded. "Then there's no reason why he'd keep it from you. Plus, even if you weren't going to join, and he kept the Biometal, it wouldn't do him any good."
"Why not?"
Prairie spoke up. "When you transformed with Model X, you and Model X formed a type of bond. It's the same bond Giro has with Model Z, the bond between a Chosen One and their Biometal, and we call this bond a Biomatch."
There was a flash, and Models X and Z appeared over their respective Chosen.
Correct. Model X spoke. And once we have formed a Biomatch, that bond is permanent. We cannot merge with any other Chosen, and our Chosen cannot merge with any other Biometal. At least, as far as we know.
And since this kind of bond can only be broken by the death of our Chosen, it would be useless to keep Model X from you, Aile. At this point, you and only you can use his power. Model Z concluded.
"Oh. I see."
Prairie nodded, and sat down. "Fleuve's personal lab is right next to the bridge. Take the Biometal there, and have him analyze it for any data we can use.
"Ma'am!" The purple-haired operator called out. "We've got another encryption deciphered. Only a couple more to go."
Prairie turned to them. "Good job, Tulip. You and Marguerite keep at it; I'll help you in a second. And I thought I told you to take a break, Gardenia. You've been at that console for several hours already. Go get some rest."
One of the blonde operators, who sported a red headset with antennae on the sides, started typing madly along with Tulip, while the other blonde operator gave a sigh and maneuvered her headset around the white bandana she wore.
Prairie turned to Giro and Aile. "Go on, get the Biometal analyzed. I'll be working on the board Aile brought back from Area B."
She turned and started typing at her own console, a rather pointed indication that they were dismissed.
Giro headed for the door, right behind the departing Gardenia. "Come on Aile."
"Ah, good, I have been waiting for you. Now, may I see this Biometal?"
Even if Giro, Prairie, and the Biometals said that Fleuve wouldn't just take the Biometal, Aile still felt a bit uneasy as she handed the scientist Model X.
Fleuve placed the Biometal into a small tube, and inserted it into one of the openings on his large computer. Reams of data immediately began pouring across the screen, and Fleuve began typing. It took about a minute, with Fleuve muttering, "Ah, excellent" every few seconds or so. Finally, the data stopped. "Data transfer complete. Much appreciated. You can take the Biometal back now."
Fleuve withdrew the cylinder, and Model X floated back to Aile.
The scientist continued typing at the computer, accenting his work with an odd frown here and there. "Hmm… It seems that most of the data is corrupt. However, it does have slightly more data than Model Z did."
Well, excuse me for being so badly damaged I could hardly think straight, let alone give you data you could use.
Fleuve glanced over at Model Z. "Hmm, you do seem to have recovered most of your components."
I believe that I have successfully repaired 88 percent of my physical damage since we last met. It has been more than a decade, after all.
"Then, perhaps I could analyze you again, and get someth-"
No.
Model Z spoke with such certainty, such force, that Aile chuckled under her breath.
Fleuve looked ready to argue the point, when a piercing alarm klaxon sounded.
"Attention! Mavericks have been detected approaching Area D! All Guardian ground forces move out to the designated areas. Mission objectives will be relayed to unit commanders upon arrival. I repeat…"
Giro jerked. "Area D…That's right next to Slither Inc.'s head office!"
Fleuve nodded. "Get to the bridge, Prairie might need your help for this!"
Prairie turned the moment they entered the bridge. Prairie looked like she was about to speak, but stopped when somebody ran into Aile from behind. The operator Gardenia caught Aile before she fell over, gave Prairie a scathing look, then dashed to her console.
Prairie gazed at her for a second before finally deciding it wasn't worth it, and turned back to the transporters. "Our enemy is on the move."
Giro blinked. "Wait, define 'enemy'."
"Well, remember what I said earlier? That there was no reason for the maverick outbreaks today? Well, it turns out that there was no reason. Simply put, they aren't mavericks. Embedded in the board Aile found is a control program of some kind. Somebody is controlling these so-called 'random maverick outbreaks'. My best guess is that their intention was to steal the Biometals."
"Commander!" Marguerite yelled. "The Mavericks have entered Area D-1! They're moving towards Area C, and fast!"
"What!?" Aile ran up next to Prairie's chair. "What about Slither's security force? Where are they?"
"Hold on…" Tulip typed away for a second. "They're being redeployed to the border between Area C and Area D, but it's taking time. The bulk of their units are scattered all over the city."
"Prairie, the vanguard of our ground forces have made contact with the mavericks in Area D-1. They've reported that they are exchanging fire." Gardenia reported.
"Put the vanguard on the main comm."
A screen appeared in the middle of the main viewport, and a Guardian soldier appeared on it. Given the look on his face, and the chaos in the background, the situation wasn't pretty. "HQ, Maquereau reporting! The mavericks are approaching the residential area, and they just keep coming! We're exchanging fire on the highway, but we can't hold them off forever! I've got about 20 soldiers, and this highway is 50 meters wide! If they manage to flank us again, we'll have no choice but to pull back!"
"Hold them as long as you can, Maquereau. Pull out if the situation gets out of control."
Maquereau flinched as something exploded behind him. "Ma'am, that might not be too long from now! You'd better get the main force in here quick, or we'll lose our defensive position! Vanguard out!"
The screen went blank, and vanished. Prairie turned to her operators. "Marguerite, what's the status of the force from the main base?"
"Main base?" Aile whispered to Giro.
"They rebuilt it about two years after it, uh, burned down. The bulk of the Guardian force stays there."
"Oh."
"Unknown, Commander. They're moving into Area D from Area B, but they're encountering some opposition from the Slither units already in the area. Apparently, the defense force is shooting anything that carries a weapon. We'll only be able to get about 80 personnel safely into Area D before Slither's main force shows up…"
An alarm suddenly sounded. Tulip abruptly stopped typing and turned to Prairie. "Ma'am, the Vanguard has lost their first position. They're being forced back to their second defensive position."
"How many soldiers from the main force are in Area D?"
"Thirty-one, Ma'am. They're already moving to support the vanguard, but that might not be enough."
Suddenly, another alarm sounded. Gardenia typed madly, then her eyes widened. "Prairie, there are two other maverick battalions moving on Innerpeace from Areas E and F! Slither's security force is being rerouted to Area E, and our main force is requesting orders concerning the enemies in Area F!"
Prairie sighed. "Area B is indefensible. Send as many soldiers to the border between Areas B and F as necessary, and send the remainder to Area D to assist the vanguard."
"Prairie, the main force is reporting that they will need the entire main force to defend Area B!"
Prairie paused. "…How close are we to Area D?"
Gardenia checked. "Um…8766 kilometers. Given our speed, not extremely far."
Prairie nodded. "Set course for Area D, maximum thrust. Make our altitude 250 meters. Order the main force to the Area B/F border." Prairie suddenly sighed, and picked up the comm. "Silure, please bring me the failsafe bypass codes for the weapon systems."
All typing ceased, as all three operators turned to gape at Prairie. The weapons of Guardian HQ would probably be enough to destroy the entire maverick force, but they would probably destroy Area D in the process. There was a reason there were failsafe codes, after all.
Prairie coolly met the gazes of all three operators. "At this point, we have little choice. Either we destroy the mavericks with what we have, or we risk losing Innerpeace. Contact the vanguard, and tell them to be prepared to evacuate the area."
A beep drew Marguerite back to her console, and she blinked. "Um, Commander? Aile just transferred to Area D."
"WHAT!?" Giro spun around, and realized that she was no longer there.
Prairie had a similar reaction. "Hail her right now! Tell her to get back here immediately!"
"Ma'am, her Biometal is squelching our signal! We can't reach her!"
Giro facepalmed. He knew what was driving her actions, but that didn't make it any less annoying. "Why can't she ever be patient?" He then charged off the bridge towards the transerver, completely ignoring his own words.
Prairie just sat there, her eye twitching madly. Then, she sighed heavily. "Silure? Nevermind about the codes." She put down the comm. and started massaging her forehead. "Ugh, I had expected something like this from Giro, but Aile?"
The operators glanced at each other, shared equal smirks, and went back to typing.
Maquereau cursed as yet another one of his flank soldiers went down. He was down to about 25 soldiers out of both the original vanguard of twenty, and the thirty one from the main. Plus, the mavericks had begun to flank them again. "Fall back! Fall back to the third defensive position!"
Some of them started to. Most stubbornly refused to go however, and continued firing into the numerous hordes of mavericks coming at them like a tidal wave. They only had the third defensive position left before Area C itself.
"Dammit, I said fall ba-"Maquereau was suddenly cut off by a huge blue-white energy ball, which lanced into the maverick flank and tore it to shreds.
The vanguard started cheering as Aile dashed towards them and the mavericks threatening to overwhelm them, X-Buster firing all the way. "Maquereau, right? Good to see you've recovered from earlier! How can I help?"
Maquereau smiled despite himself. "Good to see you too, Aile! If you can overtake their right flank, we might be able to retake this position!"
Aile nodded, and headed for the right. Maquereau yelled over the squad's comm. "Okay, guys, new plan! We're fighting alongside the Chosen One, so don't disappoint! All units flank left! Let's retake this position!"
There was a universal yell of approval, and the Guardians surged forward.
"Ma'am, Aile has linked up with the vanguard! They're fighting to retake the second defensive position."
Prairie nodded. "Good to hear. How long until we can get them some reinforcements?"
"The main force reports that they're successfully containing the enemies in Area F. They should be able to send about 50 troops in ten minutes or so."
"Prairie, I've picked up Giro's signal. He's moving towards the enemy."
"How long until he reaches Maquereau and Aile?"
"He should intercept the vanguard in about 22 seconds."
"Contact Maquereau. Tell him to push the mavericks back to the D-1/D-2 border, and tell him to hold them there until reinforcements arrive."
"Aile!"
Aile risked a glance behind her, and saw Giro rampaging towards her, cutting down mavericks effortlessly with his saber. "Giro, I…"
"I know, I know, you didn't want anyone to end up like your mother did. I understand. But next time, let me know first! I swore I'd protect you, and I can't do that if you go running off on me!" He flashed her a devil-may-care smirk, reminiscent of a younger, wilder Giro. "I'm going ahead to thin their numbers a bit! You follow, and pick up what I miss, okay?"
And he charged ahead, effortlessly cutting straight through the center of the enemy ranks with his sword.
"Go on, Aile!" Maquereau yelled. "We can take care of them here if you cut them off at the source!"
She nodded, and followed Giro's swathe of destruction to Area D-2.
"Prairie, the vanguard has successfully repelled the enemy threat from Area D-1. However, they report that Aile and Giro continued into Area D-2."
"What? Contact Giro, and tell him to return to the vanguard, and tell him to bring Aile with him."
Suddenly, there was a piercing whine across the bridge. Tulip immediately squelched the source of the noise. Then, her eyes widened considerably. "Ma'am, someone's jamming us! We can't contact the ground forces, or Giro!"
"WHAT!?" Prairie stood up abruptly. "Can we break through it!?"
"Umm, I'm not sure. Maybe."
Prairie sat down, and transferred some of their tactical network to her console. "All three of you work on breaking through that interference. I'll try to figure out who is jamming us. Get on it!"
All was silent on the bridge, save for frenzied typing.
Giro winced, then rolled sideways to evade a plasma shot, as a whine came over his comm. "Model Z, what is that?"
Hmm…Someone is jamming our frequency. I might be able to scrub the signal, but that would take time and focus, and we are hard-pressed for both.
"Don't bother. Someone intended to cut us off when Aile and I headed this way, and they succeeded. A well sprung trap indeed, but this could go both ways. Prairie said someone was turning the wheels of these mavericks, and this might just be the best way to find out who that someone is. Cut the comm. off for now, and let me know if the interference fades."
Understood. The whine ceased as Z cut the connection.
The mavericks were thinning out, and it was steadily becoming easier to mow through them. In addition, the highway narrowed as one approached Slither Inc.'s head office, which he could spot up ahead, making it a bit easier to kill more mavericks in a single slash.
Suddenly, he was alone. The mavericks had seemingly vanished, leaving him alone in front of the Slither Inc. building. But he knew from experience that it was never that easy…
"Greetings, Chosen of Model Z."
Giro turned slowly. There on his right were three figures. The one in the rear commanded respect, seeing as he towered over his two companions, although he didn't seem geared for combat. The girl on his right was wearing armor and had a staff of some kind, but she made no move to attack him. The final figure commanded his attention, though, since he was walking towards Giro with a massive beam scythe held to his side.
"I've been hoping to have the opportunity to fight you and your champion, Model Z. My name is Prometheus. I've been dying for a challenge, so you'd better live up to my expectations."
Slowly, Giro held his saber to a ready position, and his opponent did likewise with his scythe. Then, with twin yells, the two warriors launched themselves at each other.
"Whoa!"
Aile dove to one side, barely dodging the purple bolts of energy fired at her. Her attacker, a giant robotic bee about ten times her size, seemed undaunted by the apparent miss, and fired again. Aile managed to shoot out a bolt of plasma at the giant mechaniloid, throwing off it's aim, but inflicting relatively little damage.
Aile, aim for the propellers.
Holding the mechaniloid in the air were twin propellers on it's back/top. Aile jumped and fired her stored charge shot at the objects in question, deforming one and outright destroying the other. Now grounded, the mechaniloid could no longer use it's weapons, since they were located on it's underside. But Aile climbed onto the thing's back, located the fuel storage, and destroyed it anyways, jumping off to avoid the explosion.
"Ok, the first one was annoying, but that one was a pain. X, anymore enemies ahead of us?"
I can sense a few, but not many. It would seem that Giro took out the majority of them.
"Good, then let's hurry and catch up to Giro."
"Hiyahh!"
Giro swung violently to the side, but Prometheus caught his sword in the crux of scythe blade and haft. He twisted the scythe in an attempt to disarm his opponent, but Giro held firm to his weapon, and the unyielding Z-Saber remained in the hand of it's wielder. Prometheus spun around and slashed with his scythe, but Giro jumped over the strike. Now airborne, Giro raised the sword over his head and brought it down with a tremendous overhead slash, but Prometheus rolled to one side, his scythe lashing out as he exited the roll. Giro managed to block in time, and they locked weapons, hydraulics and mechanical muscles straining as their owners pitted their strengths against each other.
Giro had a faint advantage: His sword offered a bit more leverage than Prometheus's scythe, since Prometheus had to hold the scythe near the base of the haft to avoid touching Giro's sword. If Giro could angle that scythe blade away, he might be able to disarm his opponent.
Unfortunately, Giro remembered Prometheus's companions too late.
An immense force slammed into Giro's back, sending him flying. He fell, and didn't get up. Prometheus rounded vengefully on his attacker. "Hey, He was mine!!"
The immense reploid lowered his hand. "I grew tired of watching, Prometheus. Besides, his significant other is approaching, and I have a plan to put into action."
Just as the tall reploid walked over to stand over Giro, Aile came into view.
Aile gasped at the scene. Giro was down, and standing over him were three reploids of some kind. "Giro!?"
One of the reploids, a tall reploid with purple hair, turned to look at her. "Ah, welcome. Model X, the blue Mega Man, I believe. I have been expecting you. However, I have become bored with waiting, and have arranged for some…entertainment. Let us see what you're capable of."
He held out his hand, which Aile noted held some object she couldn't really see, and lowered it over Giro. Giro almost immediately began shaking. "Aile…run… It's a trap…"
Eerie purple/white light began coiling around Giro, and seeping into him. "Aaargh!!"
Then, without warning, the three reploids vanished, leaving only Aile and Giro. Slowly, shakily, Giro stood.
"Giro, are you alright? What happened!?"
Giro raised his head, and Aile involuntarily took a step back. Visible on Giro's visor were two red circles, almost like piercing, evil eyes. He yelled, and his voice wasn't his own, even if the words were.
"Aile! Sh-shoot! Shoot me!"
"What!?"
Aile, something's wrong. I can sense Model Z and Giro, but I also sense some unknown presence. Something must be controlling him!
"W-wait! Can't I do anything!?"
At this point, the only thing to do would be to obtain this unknown's undivided attention, so that Giro and Model Z can retake control. We'll have to fight him, Aile!
"B-but, I don't want to fight him!"
Giro and Model Z are fighting back, but they're losing, Aile! we need to cause enough of a distraction to get Giro to come to his senses, and the only way to… Aile, look out!!
X gave her a mental 'shove', and Aile fell to the side as Giro, or whatever was controlling him, dashed forward and slashed at where she'd been. Aile rose to her feet, as the red eyes of Giro calmly watched her.
Aile, if you don't fight back, you will die, and then Giro would lose whatever willpower that kept him from losing himself completely! You have to hold Giro off long enough for him to retake control! That's all you need to do!
"…Alright. I'll hold him off..." Slowly, Aile raised the X-Buster and leveled it at her friend. "I'm sorry for this, Giro."
She fired.
AN: CLIFFHANGERRRRRRRRRRRRR Cough, cough scuse me. Sorry about cutting it off right here, but I figured this would be the best spot to, especially considering what I have coming up.
