Chapter 9: Volcano (1) – Dragoon's Betrayal
"Well done, Dragoon."
He was the former commander of the 14th Grapple Combat Unit, one of the most fearsome units under the Maverick Hunter's arsenal.
However, he was not one of them anymore.
"You performed spectacularly, as promised, I would be able to grant you a wish." It was a hooded figure speaking to Magma Dragoon, eerily identical to the one who exchanged words on the stormy night with General.
Dragoon did not respond immediately, not a hint of a smirk from his protruding lips. After fulfilling that so-called promise of his, he had yet to be satisfied, not even a single bit.
"Out with it, Dragoon, what is it that you wished for, that you would turn against them and come to me?" Menacing words came out of the cloaked man's mouth, which tasted like sweet nectar yet extremely poisonous to devour.
Those words pierced Dragoon's mind like a sharp blade, he knew exactly what the rogue Maverick Hunter wanted, yet still enticed him with words of inquiry.
"A duel." Dragoon started, and immediately paused, his eyes closed as he gathered himself. "A duel with Zero. That is all."
Magma Dragoon was famed for his abilities in combat, his defeat in a one-on-one battle was totally unheard of, even more impressive was the fact that he was the sole member of the 14th unit.
Which no longer existed.
"Zero… is that it?" The enigmatic man chuckled, hearing the name seemed amusing to him, as if he also knew this red Maverick Hunter as well. He laughed and laughed, unable to contain himself, eventually cracking up into a maniacal laughter so loud that it reverberated in the tiny room they were in.
Dragoon remained unmoved, not a single bit interested at the other person's ridiculous reaction. His mind totally focused onto his nemesis, the person he had never defeated before in a duel.
As well as never losing before to him.
They did not had a lot of chances to battle it out with each other, the only time they did, it ended up in a draw. That ended up in a very bitter taste in Dragoon's mouth.
Draws were ridiculous, in Dragoon's eyes, had not they been interrupted by a sudden announcement seeking their presence for a mission, surely an outcome would be decided.
And he vowed to set things right, face Zero again, and decide the ultimate winner, one of them had to be.
"Very well! Very well!" The hooded man spoke, still unable to contain his laughter as he tried to voice out amidst his unstoppable fever, "I know exactly how to lure Zero out alone, but you… Dragoon… you should know it better than I do."
"Zero would never turn back to a challenge." Dragoon responded without delay.
"Exactly! He hungers for duel victories as much as you do! All that's left, is to set up a stage, and I know the perfect place for it."
"Welcome back, Zero! And the rest of you, the zeroth unit."
Zero and his comrades, all injured but still up and functioning, had returned to the Maverick Hunters H.Q.
X and his Elite Unit had returned as well, just few moments before them. Along with X, there was a newcomer which Zero couldn't recognize.
"Commander Zero! It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person! I've heard many great things about you!" The newbie Reploid cried out, he was short and chubby, bearing a large belly as part of his torso. His color scheme was mostly yellow, his facial features goofy and unconvincing.
"You are…?"
"Ah how rude of me! My name is Double! I was just drafted into Commander X's Elite Unit today, as their operator." The round Reploid introduced himself as Double, saluting enthusiastically towards his other superior from the zeroth unit.
"Yes, Zero. My unit is running short currently, and with a war in our hands, we need all the help we could get." He looked at his new junior and smiled, "Double's an able operator, just lacking some experience. I am sure with time, he will be very valuable to us."
"Only compliments and not a single criticism, as always, X, as always." Zero strutted forward, his eyes closed and a wide grin on his face, tapping X's right shoulder as he walked past him.
"Zero," said X, halting Zero on his tracks. "We salvaged whatever that was useful from the Snow Base, and the R&D team managed to create this booster chip for us." He handed out a miniature blue chip to Zero, it was rectangular shaped with a tinge of blue enveloping it, which was designed to fit into the input plug every Reploid was built with.
"Excellent, thanks X." Zero retrieved the chip and immediately inserted it into himself, his mind quickly overflowing with the new data, analyzing every line in detail within seconds and not long after, he already equipped himself with a new weapon.
"Hyouretsuzan. Ice Fury Slash. A downward thrust with the Z-Saber imbued with ice." Zero summarized what was learned from the chip, "Thanks, X. It will surely prove to be handy when the time is right. By the way…" Unaware of Double's utterly impressed gaze towards him, Zero took out yellow chip which fell off from Web Spider back then, and handed it to the Reploid in charge of the R&D department. "Get these analyzed and developed, I am sure it would prove useful."
As much as he knew Spider, Zero knew he would leave them something, a war trophy befitting to the victor. Spider was someone who always valued the principles of war more than anyone else, and the victor deserved the right to take everything the defeated possessed.
Like X said, in this dreadful war between them and the Repliforce, any help would be appreciated.
Zero and the others repaired their damages in the restoration room, his wounds weren't severe, unlike Ruby who was forced to retreat after being ambushed by a bunch of Blast Rasters, as well as Lapis who suffered heavy damage from his skirmish against his twin brother. It only took him just short of an hour before Zero was restored to full strength.
"Emergency! Emergency!" The alarms blared out at their maximum volume.
"Zero! You have to come! Quick!" One of the Reploids barged into the restoration room, his eyes trembling with fear and uncertainty. Zero did not reply, merely following him to the briefing room.
"What happened?" Zero asked the very moment he stepped into the briefing room. All personnel had their eyes turned to him at the same time he made his presence.
"Zero! We had intercepted a message, you have to listen to this!" One of the navigators hastily blurted. Without waiting for his approval, they played the message through the communications system.
"Zero…" the message did not bear any images, but the voice was clear, and Zero immediately recognized the owner of the voice.
"Dragoon…!"
"Come to the Volcano, it is there we finish things off, our last duel, to the death." The voice was full of hatred and anger, the grudge was strong that one could easily feel it just from listening to the tone alone.
"You cannot refuse this, you cannot." The transmission ended with its contents entirely directed towards Zero. Everyone's eyes were still glued at the red Maverick Hunter, whose head was lowered and did not move a single inch.
Deep inside, Zero was gritting his teeth and clenching his fist hard. He once respected Dragoon, for he was indeed an exceptional fighter, a powerful ally, and a good friend and rival of his. They did not have much chances to fight together due to Dragoon always being sent around for many missions, Zero himself too. Both of them were so prolific and efficient that the Maverick Hunters always count on them to finish the missions quick and neat.
"Zero?" The Reploid who brought him here tried to approach him, only to be startled away from a sudden slam onto the wall from Zero's fist, whom immediately stormed out of the room and headed towards the R&D department to retrieve the latest arsenal harvested from Web Spider's chip.
It was the Raijingeki, or Thunder God Attack. Powerful lightning surges enveloped his Z-Saber to wreck the insides of most Reploids, however, charging it takes time and it was tricky to find the right opportunity to use it.
"Must you go so far…? Dragoon?" Zero hastily inputted the appropriate coordination to the Volcano, just before he was about to push the teleport button…
"Zero!" A meek voice called out to him, it was Iris, who was panting, having searched everywhere looking for him.
"Where are you going, Zero?" Iris blurted out the words as soon as she caught her breath.
"Iris…" Zero looked intently at her for a moment, but quickly tore his gaze away. "I am sorry. I must go."
"Wait! Zero!" Iris yelled, but her plea was not granted, as Zero had already vanished in front of her eyes.
Within minutes, Zero landed inside the Volcano, where his nemesis was waiting for him, alone.