(A/N: Spoilers farther down the paragraph! Anyway, here is the third chappie in my little catching up session, next one will be on friday/saturday like normal. And as I've been blitzing the pages of this story over the past three days I've realized that It might not be so clear as to what I'm doing here. Well Ichiro and Rio are pretty easy to see who they parallel I would hope, but the others I wasn't so sure. So I'll just tell you guys! Gina is supposed to parallel Alia frim the X series, not in appearance but more in her role. Gerry is the same way, as he's paralleling Signas, which we'll see a LOT more of later trust me. I also set it up like a standard X series game. 8 robot masters with an extra hard final boss level at the end. If I just ruined that for anybody I'm sorry, but please read anyway and enjoy!)

Chapter 12: Preparation

A month had passed since the small team of Maverick Hunters (an omage to their reploid predecessors) had moved in and set up HQ in the ruins. Gerry and Ichiro were diligently working on space suits for the twins, leaving Gina and Rio to their own devices. This particular day the pair were sitting on top of the tower mapping out a route to the other suit users, or "Mavericks", as they dubbed them.

"So we've made the top three discoveries of the century in as many months, it makes one wonder..." Gina trailed off.

"What do you mean?" Rio raised an eyebrow.

"Well, if we could do all this, why didn't the research center do it and tell us already?"

"Well they found X and Zero, but they didn't pursue the line of research. The question is...what did they know that we don't?" he looked out across the horizon.

"Well, that's the million dollar question, as they used to say," she followed his line of sight. A moment of silence came over them, only for lack of how to continue.

"Anyway, we should finish this up so we can make dinner, I'm starving!" Rio stretched his hands over his head.

"Ok then! Well we have seven Mavericks left spanned over four continents. One, most likely Naga, left on our continent, while the others are spread out at two to a continent, meaning we'd have to make at least three trips into space. Take a look at the map," she moved her wrist computer's hologram screen so both of them could see.

"If we're in the middle then its simple, we hop there and hop back. I'd rather have a break between beating bad guys anyway."

"Hey, who says me and Ger won't be out there kicking butt when the suits are finished?" the girl gave the boy a friendly shove.

"You guys won't have the same experience me and Ichiro have," Rio crossed his arms and smirked.

"You mean your suits have, you just got it all crammed into that airhead of yours. And if you won't train me then I'll just ask the smart blonde inside," she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Are you saying I just got handed everything on a silver platter?" his tone seemed backbiting and harsh.

"Rio you know I didn't-!"

"I know, ugh. It's just...I have to live with some pretty horrible memories after that whole link thing...I didn't have time to think about it at first, but now even just seeing certain things make me sick inside."

"I remember learning about history at the school house, it probably doesn't compare to living it at all though," The emerald haired girl took his hand in hers. "But we're here for you, I'm here for you. Don't give in and shut us out, just promise me that."

"I promise," he gave her fingers a squeeze and smiled.

...

Meanwhile, Ichiro and Gerry were making the schematics of the suits for the twins, and Gerry was noticing something peculiar about the blonde.

"Hey, are you alright? You seem like your brooding more than usual," he blurted out as he adjusted his glasses.

"Why do you want to know?" The long haired boy practically growled, not meeting the other boy's gaze.

"Because if I'm not mistaken, my sister is the reason."

"..." Ichiro effortlessly pretended that he hadn't guessed correct and ignored him, continuing to tap on the keys of his wrist computer.

"That's the dead giveaway right there. You must really like her then." It was at that moment Gerry recieved what Rio commonly dubbed Ichiro's "death glare". Gerry cleared his throat a little and continued: "Well, you could try flowers if you're interested, she's always liked violets. Figures it's one of the hardest to find right?" And that seemed like all Gerry had to say on the matter.

"What was your idea for the oxygen tanks again?" Ichiro changed the subject without hesitating. The other boy rolled his eyes, he might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

"You guys ready to break for dinner?" Rio strolled in from the direction of the stairs with Gina at his heels.

"Yeah, I think so," the green haired boy smiled to himself.