~Chapter 14~
~Possible find...~
After Spider told me about a possible chance of finding my family, I decided to try and look into it more. You know, to be sure that he's not just pulling my chain. All I could say, was that he was going to get it if I found out he was pulling my leg on his 'facts.' Heh... what you thought I'd beat him up? Nope... I'd be telling Axl... and possibly X if it was needed.
I wanted to ask X first, since he was nicer to me than Zero generally was... when Z was in his moods, he'd be pretty rude towards me, but I didn't hold it against him. He was likely through a lot more than I ever was. X was more patient, he would be pretty patient if you didn't something wrong. He would usually say things like, 'Please don't do that again." usually, and if you did the same thing multiple times, he's likely say, 'I asked you not to do that again.' which was the only sentence he'd ever say to me... Axl has most likely received worse.
X was in the command center, which was the most likely place you'd find him. Back at HQ, usually his office is where he'd be, if not, somewhere with Zero. "Hey X... is what Spider said true?" I asked, X looked at me. "I'm guessing he went and told you anyway." he sighed. "Yes, I've heard that we've managed to find tracks on them." he responded.
"Think you know where their tracks were led?" I asked, slightly hopeful. "I read over the sent Data, it looks like they've been tracked to have been bouncing back and forth, from Abel city, over here to Giga City." Nana stated, continuing to type away at her desk. Bouncing back and forth... "They must be going crazy looking for me than..." I muttered sadly, I felt badly that they were looking for me like that. Here I was, Healthy and well, and there they are, probably worn out to the core worried about me.
"T-thanks for the Information..." I said worriedly, taking my leave. Now I was worried. If their running back and forth through the cities, who knows how much trouble they were most likely getting into... even worse, I was worried about the possible scolding I'd get from Thorn. I shuttered at the thought of her anger. Thorn's scary when she's angry, but I don't exactly think she'd be angry... maybe a little bit though.
I looked up to spot Spider... what was this guy a ninja? I swear, every time I looked up he was there. I groaned. "I see you found the information handy.~" He mocked me. "Yeah, yeah, what do you want a reward? Damn Bounty Hunter..." I muttered. "Watch it now, I might take ya up on your offer." He responded.
I groaned, taking a small pouch out of the bag on my Thigh, tossing it to him. "There, some of the money I owe you is there to." I said. Spider was pretty easy to get off your back if you bribed him... which is sadly how I ended up getting rid of him half the time. Greedy little pest he is. "Pleasure doin' business with ya." He stated.
I wondered to myself... "Hey, why did you all of the sudden help me out?" I asked, as he moved his hand in a motion that caused the coins to clang together in the bag. "Hey, I'm not all bad ya know." He said, before I knew it, the bag was gone and was now only wherever Heaven knew. "I know." I said, "I just figured I'd help out. Pfft, not like they'd tell you anything anyhow." He finished.
That was true... "Hey, do you think I'll be able to come with you and the others on the next mission?" I asked, Spider shrugged. "Well, depends on your little boyfriend." He stated, I glared. Spider was a frenemy. Well, I'm not sure if he considered me that as well, but I alone saw him as one.
I don't know how I did it... but I finally got Axl to let me go with him, but this was more a side mission than anything else. Axl wanted to go back and look for something, either something valuable he wanted to get his hands on, or likely just some more info on his Copy Ability. I didn't really care which it was though. I followed closely behind Massimo, who tagged along right before we left.
"Hey, I hope you can find your family Ala." Massimo stated in an encouraging tone, looking down at me. I nodded. "I just want to know that their okay... I'm sure their worried about me to." I replied. "That's my main worry... how are they. You know? I haven't seen them in years... I've been worried about them ever since the incident." I said. "I understand. I'm sure their alright. We'll find them don't worry." Massimo replied, I could tell he smiled underneath the mask that covered his mouth.
Massimo, was so kind to me. Always encouraging me. "What's wrong with Axl?" he asked, I looked up, watching as Axl walked further away from us. Rushing. "I think, he's just mad because I got to come along." I replied. I wasn't the only one who tried to get me to come along, Massimo sort of tagged in saying that Axl should let me come along. I mean, Cinnamon could go with them, so why couldn't I?
"I'm sorry, he must be angry with me." he said sadly. "N-no, no, its not you. He's just pissy because I'm here. See, he wanted me to stay back in Abel city. He thinks its too dangerous for me here... I know that I'm a lower Ranked Hunter, but he could cut me some slack sometimes..." I muttered. "Hm..." Massimo mumbled, listening closely.
I sighed, "He's just going to have to deal with it for now... he'll be fine..." I stated. We walked up to a large door, it began to open as we grew closer. Axl walking in ahead, stopping with wide eyes, looking around. I jogged up next to him. "Axl..? You okay?" I asked, I looked towards where he was... damaged Mechaniloids sat around the room, some indents were in the metal walls... all of them... all too familiar. Axl walked ahead to investigate more on the situation, crouching in front of one to check it.
"What happened here?" I questioned, Massimo followed behind me over to a few that had been broken... one of them having a large Thorn stuck in it... I placed my hand on its side, and pulled the blade like Thorn out of its back... "Thorn was here..." I muttered to myself... "Axl! Thorn was here!" I exclaimed, rushing over to him. I showed him the blade in my hand. "This came from Thorn's Gauntlets." I stated, Axl took it and looked at it.
"She sure seemed to have fun destroying everything in here." He stated. I smiled excitedly. This was the biggest breakthrough I had, had in a long time. I had the chance to find them, or at least one of them who would know where the others would be. "Come on Ala, lets go find her!" Massimo chanted happily, Axl nodded with a smile, my happiness seemed awful contagious. I ran ahead, following the damage done down the halls she had been through. Thorn sure didn't care about the mess she left behind. The both of them, keeping their pace the same as my own.
I stopped when I heard a grunt, as well as a small slam followed by a machine bursting into bits. The grunts sounding so familiar it was impossible to not know who it was. Thorn, I watched her throw her fists at the Mechaniloids lunging at her, all of which seemed to have a grudge against her. Like the blade I held in my hand, there were others sprawled about, on the floor and in the enemies that died by her hands. She launched her final one into the ground, making and indent and later groaning in pain as she lent over. Her posture and movements were sloppy, highly unlike her.
She looked worn out, her armor cracked, her hair disheveled and a mess. What made me feel worse, was that she later collapsed, likely from exhaustion... right away we rushed over, and took her back to True Hope...She needed medics... and now.