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Area-02: Hunter's Camp (Train Depot)
"Well Sis, the train is finished on schedule."
"How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?"
The Raider laughed as he wrapped an arm around Ashe. The girl glared and quickly got out of the hold and several feet away from him. The man simply laughed as he walked away. He allowed himself one last look back before leaving.
"You may not want to be called that Sis, but in my book you are an honorary Raider, and we Raiders are as close as family."
Ashe grumbled as she walked towards the entrance back into the camp. Even though she was flattered to be thought of like that, she didn't need any unnecessary connections with people.
Yet you fell for that Atlas girl at first sight.
Ashe flinched at the sudden appearance of her Livemetal, calming herself whilst wishing she should have put bells of Model A, she turned to her partner with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you saying that I can't find someone to love? That is very old fashioned of you Model A."
As if I care who you fall in love with. I am wondering why you chose her? She is an enemy you know, I'm surprised she hasn't killed everyone here.
Ashe shrugged with a smile as she continued on her way. Model A's eyes narrowed as she heard the girl's response.
"There is no way to tell what the heart wants my friend, but apparently my heart likes dangerous company. Now I have to go and get ready for my mission, if you have anything else to say you know where to find me."
The door to the Depot shut, leaving Model A to her thoughts. She shook herself, trying to understand Ashe's motives. Ignoring the girl's last statement she focused on what the girl had said about her heart's wishes.
That may be what it wants Ashe, but I still wouldn't want to see you hurt. I couldn't face them again if that happened.
Area-02: Hunter's Camp (Ashe's Room)
Ashe blikned at the sight before, it causing her to smile.
Sleeping in her bed, rather soundly it would seem, was Atlas. The orange clad girl was currently snuggled up against on of her pillows, her slow breathing showing that she was deeply asleep. Ashe noted how different the sleeping girl seemed to be compared to her conscious personality. The girl one the bed was certainly more relaxed than before.
"Now isn't that just adorable, probably passed out as soon as we got back."
Ashe quietly chuckled as she moved towards her desk. Opening a drawer she pulled out a book and a box that held recently collected data.
Moving around the room as quietly as she could she opened up a storage container at the foot of the bed and withdrew a clean shirt and a head band.
Pondering if she should go somewhere else to change, she shrugged and put her stuff down on the container. Quickly changing she threw her old clothes into another box and picked up her discared items.
She relished in the fact that she only wore a shirt over her body suit, it allowed her to get changed very fast and allowed her to feel more free than most.
Her mind quickly reminded her of all the disagreements she had with her Mother because of that way of thinking.
Ignoring those thoughts she silently walked to the side of the bed that Atlas was facing, leaning down she quickly placed a kiss on the sleeping girl's cheek. She smiled when this caused Atlas to curl up even further against her pillow. The girl mumbled something in her sleep, causing Ashe's smile to grow.
"Sleep tight my firey soldier."
She then left the room as quietly as she had arrived. Shutting the door so that the locks wouldn't disturb the other girl's sleep.
Area-02: Train Depot
"You ready Captain?"
"As ready as I'll ever be Nicol, so please stop asking."
The Hunter nodded as Ashe jumped up to the platform that sat on the end of the train. She turned back to Nicol as her armor flashed into existence.
"So, anything on radar? Is there going to be any trouble on my way to The Arcadia?"
"Aside from some Rayflys migrating through the area I would expect nothing. However if by chance they hid troops amongst the swarm you may want to be ready before then."
Ashe nodded as she pulled out a remote. Pointing in the direction of the train's engine she pressed the button, the train lurched forward as the engine's computers received the signal. Nicol looked up to his Captain with worry.
"What are you doing? The train's crew isn't here yet."
"Well you see Nicol, what I am about to do is dangerous. So instead of letting my fellow Hunters risk their lives I am going alone. I even rigged the train to run on autopilot until I reach the tower's blast wall."
Nicol sighed as the train began moving forward. He waved to Ashe before she gor to far away. When then train was out of sight the man grumbled as he left the Depot.
"Always being reckless even if you don't need to be."
Area-03: The Train that never stops
Ashe jumped over a large cargo container, landing on top of it she turned to watch the scenery fly past from her new vantage point. She always did love to see the land fly by, possibly a love gained from living in an airship for a few years.
A large shadow positioned itself over the train, causing Ashe to look up. A large pod of Rayflys floated through the air leisurely, mostly ignoring the train that had invaded their area.
'Quite a sight to behold is it not?'
Yeah, who would of guessed that Mechaniloids could act like this. Oh, look at that small one, isn't it cute!
Shaking her head with a smile Ashe ignored the two's conversation on which of the Stingray shaped ships was the cutest. She instead turned and jumped back at the sudden appearance of the red cloaked figure from before.
Their visored face mask sheilded the person's face, a fact that Ashe really didn't like.
"So what are you doing here?"
The person looked up towards the Rayflys, seemingly contemplating a response. They then spoke in a mechanical voice, but Ashe could hear a slight feminine tone to it.
"I was just wanting to speak with you. I heard that you were going to the Arcadia, so I thought, why not ask you if I could come along?"
"What could you possibly need to do there that would make you stow away on my train?"
The Red Cloak didn't answer, she seemed to preoccupied with a Rayfly that was lowering itself out of the flock. She then raised a hand as an arm cannon formed, red energy began gathering at the barrel.
Ashe was about to question what the woman was doing, until she was unexpectedly blown back by a shockwave caused by the woman firing.
A large red beam shot forth from the cannon. The attack pierced through the Rayfly and into the sky. The beast's metal skin bubbled before it detonated. The rest of the body fell to the earth in a mass of molten metal an smoke.
Ashe stood, albeit shaking, she glared at the woman as she again raised her cannon.
"What are you doing?! There is no need for you to do that!"
"There are thirteen of these Rayflys that bear the mark of Model W. There is a chance that they are actually troop transports hidden among the migratory pod."
Ashe quickly looked up as the woman downed another Mechaniloid, her visor locking into place. She let out a silent curse as she locked onto another of the Mechaniloids, a clearly emblazoned W proving the Red Cloak's theory.
Well, this could get bad really fast.
"You could go to the engine room. They may be trying to thwart your arrival a second time."
Ashe was about to ask how the woman knew that, but she noticed on of the Rayflys getting close enough to land on a car ahead of the two. She gritted her teeth as the beast's cargo hatch opened.
"Okay I'll leave you here, just make sure no more get close enough to board."
"Sure, you can leave it to me, Ashe."
Another question formed at the woman's statement, but she ignored it as she dashed and jumped towards the next car. When she was far enough away the Red Cloak chuckled, she then slid into a more relaxed stance.
"And now I get to stop being serious. Time for more shooting."
You know you really shouldn't be that ready to tell someone who you are Aile.
"Oh what do you know Cp?"
I can read your thoughts.
Aile grimaced under her helmet, she was going to have her fun, even if Cp didn't want her to. She took one last look in the direction Ashe went before returning her attention to the swarm above her.
Ashe jumped over a shielded enemy as it fired a mass of blue plasma. She launched a charged shot into the back of its exposed head. The machine exploded as she landed, firing into a group of Galleons as she proceeded to run.
A large green spherical mechaniloid materialized before launching a salvo of plasma shots. The shots hit Ashe in the back, causing her to fall. As she hit the ground she was then held down by more fire.
Ashe if I might make a suggestion, could you change into Chronoforce, I have something you might like.
Growing quite agitated Ashe's armor began to glow as it shifted into its Chronoforce formation. She stood up as the added armor lessened the damage from the barrage of plasma. Lifting her hands as they changed into their buster modes she felt a surge of energy build up around her.
It then seemed like Model A took control, for she was then being made to move.
A thin white aura started emitting from the armor as Ashe slammed the busters into the ground. The cannons split and then locked back together as a shockwave tore across the car. The entire car then exploded into a wave of ice spires.
A majority of the Mavericks were instantly destroyed, the more heavily armored ones were then stuck in place. Ashe groaned as her armor changed back into its basic formation.
"What in the heck was that?"
Okay, so you know how you had me lock away that Time Bomb thing right? Well I thought that the armor could still use something to differentiate itself from the others. So I adjusted it to have an A.O.E. attack. The more energy the armor absorbs the stronger it gets. However, this drains the Element Core so much that it disengages the armor afterward for safety reasons.
'So basically you gave her an 'I win' button?'
"Well you should be more careful, we could have caused the train to derail."
Model A shrugged, they were her systems so she felt no need to fully explain why she did what she had. Ashe then jumped over the spires and onto the next car, groaning as even more Mavericks landed infront of her.
"What is with all of these machines?"
Maybe they just really don't like you?
Aile avoided another bomb as she fired upward, the tenth Rayfly fell to the earth as a ball of fire like its relatives. The woman grumbled as she turned to punch a Galleon off of the train car as it tried to sneak up behind her.
That is the fith Maverick you have let past your assault. Are you just that sloppy?
"Shut it, I am still more used to Brother's systems than I am yours."
Another shot and another wreckage fell to earth before Cp spoke again, but when she did one could hear the annoyance.
You are more used to his systems because he allowed you to be reckless. I am here to make sure you come back alive and nothing more. And I don't care if you count yourself as immortal, it doesn't stop you from being hurt.
Aile paused, she was surprised to hear Cp say something like that. However, instead of allowing any sort of deep conversation she opted to just pester the Livemetal.
"You know you can just split into Crea and Prea if you get that annoyed with me. Better company if you ask me."
I would rather see the world burn than let you run around with those delinquents.
"You sound like my mother."
Cp chuckled, she chalked that up to being a compliment. She slightly nudged Aile's hand a bit to the right so that her shot hit its target. Grimacing she just remembered a dilemma that would need solving.
Aile I am worried. You can't maintain this form for long because of my Core, so what are you going to do about Ashe? You specifically stated that you want no one to see who you are. If you revert back to human that point would be kind of mute.
"Oh don't worry I have an idea of something to do."
Cp was worried of what that meant as Aile drew her sabers. Igniting the twin indigo and violet blades she raised them above her head with the blades pointing down.
What are you doing?
"Just wait I learned this trick from Brother."
Energy began collecting into the blades, the particles resembling little fireflies to the Livemetal. The remaining troop carriers started circling down towards the train car. Aile smiled as the sabers flashed orange, the were ready.
"Now Cp, put all of my energy into the shielding, Brother never taught me how to reflect the excess."
Cp complied and Aile's shields flashed briefly to show that the transfer was complete. Nodding Aile then slammed the blades into the floor beneath her. Energy began to violently surge around her as she started to laugh, the Rayflys were going to get it.
As quickly as the energy stabilized a large Ohm appeared. Aile then drew the swords out of their holes and then the area went white.
Ashe fell forward as the train shook violently. Spinning around she felt her eyes go wide at the sight of the gigantic energy column filling the sky. She could see Rayflys fall to the earth in droves, their bodys looking as if they were erased from existence.
Standing up she had to push against the violent wind of the explosion as it faded. She grimaced when she saw that over a third of her train and the Red Cloak was missing.
"Well she's dead."
Oh give her some credit, she is just like us. She probably was the one who did that, so you can expect her to be alive.
'Considering our luck with other Chosen so far, should we be joyful, or concerned.'
Ashe simply shrugged as she turned, continuing on her wah to defend the engine room.
Further back from the retreating train was a massive crater. In this crater, and currently trying to climb out, was Aile. She managed to pull herself onto solid ground before collapsing.
Cp materialized and gave Aile a look that caused the woman to laugh.
May I ask what you just did?
"'Omega Spark', one of the attacks Brother never got to use when he was fighting against Zero years ago. He said it was a, ow, one use attack so I thought why not go for it?"
So if it is only one use can I expect you to not use it again?
"Oh, I'll use it again the first chance I get."
Model Cp groaned, but the way she did it told Aile that she was trying not to laugh.
What am I ever going to do with you? Now hurry and get up, we have stuff to do.
Aile gave the Livemetal a mock salute.
"Yes Ma'am!"
Ashe grimaced as she dodged a flamethrower charge from her opponent. Said opponent was a massive red orb that had locked itself into the entire engine room. Its eye glowed a sinister red as it stared down its enemy. Ashe fire a fully charged shot that tore into the Mechaniloid's shell, but the machine seemed unfazed by the attack.
"I can never catch a break can I?"
Dodging another attack, this time a random tile in the floor opened up to reveal a piston that slammed into the roof. The pillar retracted as Model A spoke.
You do have a way to kill it in one hit, but you would need to make it open its shell. Use the A-Burst on the exposed core and it will light up like the most beautiful fireworks.
'Well what ever you do hurry, we have three minutes before this train breaches the blast wall. And knowing that the Arcadia is under siege right now we need to get rid of this thing and get out of the engine room.'
Why would we need to leave?
"With the blast walls raised, we would need to run the train into them and detonate the engine."
Model A made a small 'oh' as Ashe shot the Mechaniloid again, this time actually causing the machine to pause from the damage.
The machine roared as the shell split, the halves then rocketed apart as the core launched itself forward. Flames spiraled from the core as it rammed into Ashe, slamming her into a wall. It then quickly retracted as she fell to the floor.
"Okay, not going to get hit by that again."
Standing up Ashe opened up both her weapons and changed them to Homing Shot mode. Locking onto the hole she had made earlier she charged and fired twin lightning bolts.
The attack easily penetrated the armor of the Mechaniloid and started doing major damage to its interior. When the attack ceased the machine again split its shell, but this time Ashe was ready for it.
Her busters quickly switched and opened up into Burst mode as her visor filled with blue. The machine then lauched its core and Ashe fired.
The entire room exploded as the Mechaniloid was disintegrated by the volume of shots aimed at its core. When the remains fell to the floor Ashe smiled and put away her guns.
"Okay Totten, how much time do we have left?"
'Adding in this conversation. 20 seconds.'
Ashe's eyes widened as she turned towards the display that showed what was infront of the train. The massive white walls of the Arcadia took up most of the display. She felt like an idiot for not keeping track of that.
"Well crap."
And another chapter complete. I hope you enjoyed!
Back into my usual two week updates with this story, hopefully.
Many things happen in this chapter, some of it was there so I could put something fun in. The parts with the Rayfly migration and Aile mostly.
The enemy Rayflys were originally part of the chapter, but I thought why not put in some more. Can you tell that I really love Rayflys?
Stingrays are adorable.
Now the attack that Aile used. I had a funny idea about Omega's second stage in Zero 3. He couldn't use his sword because of limitations, as I have heard, so I thought of what it could do.
An instant kill screen wipe. And it wouldn't be out of place considering it wouldn't be the only boss in the series to have an instant kill.
And saying that we get to the return of the Pantheon Brain. I'll call this one Neo Galleon Core, or Neo Brain it doesn't matter.
Ashe had an easy time with it because I never had problems with the boss, even with its 'Brain Pressure'.
Again I hope you enjoyed.
Have a nice day!