Chapter Sixteen: Sneaktrap
Axl felt relieved three days later and he was never more grateful. The last three days was like a repetition of the isolation and the insults he experienced back then when Lumine was a Maverick corrupted to dominate the world in the name of evolution, only this time not so intense.
It was back to the theory that Axl had an infected virus from the Moon, only this time a little more accurate because they said Axl could turn into Lumine and run wild. However, X and friends were the only ones to disregard the rumours. Nonetheless, the rumours collapsed again.
The news and video footage shown on the news and Internet sparked various question from the public and government about the credibility of the Maverick Hunters. Most people agreed that the ex-Maverick's presence in Big City and the world was not tolerated and only a miracle would change their minds; the miracle already happened – Axl made him turn over a new leaf.
Calls have come in from all over the world, demanding explanations why Lumine escaped time and time again. X bore most of the grunt when he dismissed Lumine's Maverick status on grounds that the wandering Reploid is now of no harm (based on what he said and did earlier in the gun battle) and the bigger focus was now finding the most responsible person behind the attacks.
On a brighter note, Lumine's records have been cleaned a little and that Axl didn't mind the isolation, saying he needed it to relax properly, thus making the white Reploid relieved of guilt due to what he did earlier. Axl still continued to receive patience training, of which his performance had small improvements.
At the Prez Corp. however, Prez was glad to let them know that the massive reconstruction projects in the regions of the world's far west, southwest, south, southeast and east he started fifteen years ago were a huge success, thanks to the new generation Reploids that work tirelessly day and night, and he was widely gaining popularity around the world.
Axl was lying on the cushions in the central chamber, enjoying the heat to shield from the winter. Lumine decided to play along with Axl and made Axl suddenly jump in the air and balance the body with both hands on the floor.
"Hey, what did you the acrobatics for? I was relaxing nicely!"
"This is my way of relaxing, dear boy. You will enjoy the claps from your fellow friends for this." He gave Axl a light snicker.
Indeed, Hunters enjoyed the sudden acrobatics and marvelled at Axl. Axl then placed himself on the floor carefully and rested on his cushions.
"Axl, you sure are pretty quiet. What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about Abe, Iris. I'm very suspicious about him the last time the place had a blackout. He fixed it so fast. I think that Lumine would be a better technician than him anytime, but it looks as if he set up the whole thing…"
Lumine interrupted by saying "No, there's no fluctuation. Dear boy's quick to learn to control himself. I don't even know what you are thinking sometimes, Axl, despite the fact I can read your mind. The data is all jumbled up in a mess."
"Good, then you can leave me alone for now. I've a lot more thinking to do and it will make you more confused." Lumine decided to heed the advice and brought Iris with him. "Let's leave him alone for now. Dear girl, let me show you around the body. Perhaps while you are bored, you can always check it or mess it."
"Hey, you know I wouldn't mess around in the body systems!"
20 minutes passed on just like nothing. Most Hunters don't know what to do because there were no uprisings recently. Axl on the other hand had to withstand the pain his inhabitants caused him when they went on a tour around the body.
"Guys, could you cut out the pain? Ow! That's my leg this time!" "Sorry, dear boy, we were…touching the boot rockets."
Then, the blackout came again. The whole HQ became dark just like before. This time, the emergency respond was faster. Everyone was ordered not to panic and remain calm where they were.
Axl seized this opportunity to dash to the command room and volunteer with Layer to go down the basement and check out the generators.
"Wow, Axl, you look full of high spirits. What's the occasion?" "I don't know if this works. But I'll give a try whether I'm wrong or not!"
Axl raced around the entire basement past the small routes and meters and screens many times. He was able to fully recognize the way around the basement this time and knew which generator and where it was.
"So, Axl what's your plan this time?" "Oh it's going to be good, Layer. Real good! Hey, the faulty generator is this way!" He yelled out to her and she ran as fast as she could to keep up with Axl.
This time the wrecked generator was generator number 5. The route was down a slightly brighter surrounding and the damage this time was done towards the tank that held the metal liquids essential for power.
Once again, the wires were ripped out from their casings and stabilizers. This time the odd features were that the metal pipelines were twisted and tied like a shoelace and the control box was slammed and punched. Liquid metal such as zinc, nickel and cadmium were spattered everywhere around the tank.
The most important pipeline was clawed out so the fiber optic wires inside were scarred too. "Okay…Layer I'll need a paper and a pen." He just got one and started to jot down all the damages caused. All the other three Layer, Iris and Lumine had no idea what was Axl up to.
"Alright, time to go and ask the expert Abe for help."
"Axl, won't you just quit your theory that Bob did all this and Abe is a suspect? It's giving me a headache already."
"No, I just know it's them. C'mon!"
Axl and Layer went to the department where technicians were placed. Abe was surprised that only he was called to fix all the damages. Axl and Layer, who was told by Axl, were careful not to tell what damages happened.
"Me? Why? There are other good technicians around too!"
"Aw c'mon. We feel that you are the best one around here to fix an advance generator like that of number 5! Isn't that right, Layer?"
"Er…yeah, that's right…you are the best technician around here!"
Abe smiled widely. "Really? Okay, let's see what was the damage done."
As they walked along the corridor that was packed with many Reploids, Axl and Layer heard Abe talk so much that he'll beat Axl any day in a bigmouth competition.
"Being a technician, it sure isn't easy. You have to fix the wires back in the stabilizers and watch the pipelines without being scarred. Blah blah blah…"
"Axl, are you sure your plan will work?" Layer whispered to him.
"Patience is virtue. I came across this old proverb."
"…you have to be careful to reuse back the metal liquid zinc, nickel and cadmium back into tank number 5. It isn't going to be easy to mould back the giant punch in the generator. And that twisted metal pipeline, whooey, you have to melt them real careful and the slammed control box will need replacements."
"Wait a minute. I didn't say anything about all those damages."
Axl and Layer turned around and glared at Abe. "So this means that you were the one down there who made the damages to generator number 5!"
Abe was frozen. "Em…er…I don't know what you are talking about…"
Layer glared the most at him. "I hate to admit it, but Axl was right. You gave yourself away. You made the blackouts!"
The scream got everyone's attention. There was a slight whisper.
Abe began to move backwards, his hand still carrying the suitcase. "Listen, I don't know what you are talking about but if you don't stop talking nonsense-"
"Hey! You were the only one who could accurately describe what happened down in the basements! Guess what? I didn't even tell you anything!"
"I've got every word of his recorded down in this tape recorder, Axl. This will be enough evidence to prove that Abe wrecked generator number 5."
"No, I don't think so, Layer. We still need to check the surveillance cameras. Lucky I noticed that Abe didn't break them just now, unlike previously!"
The crowd started to become wild. The Hunters were starting to believe that Abe caused the recent blackouts.
"Listen, here I can explain what really happened down there…"
He lifted his hand to show some gesture, thus dropping the suitcase on the floor. It was a big mistake of him to leave the suitcase unlocked, because the suitcase then opened up to reveal a whole lot of devices and gadgets. If Axl wasn't mistaken, some familiar items were hidden among the screwdrivers.
"Hey, Layer, isn't this the vital gears of old model that was missing the other time? Oh look there's some power cells here! And some missing components!"
"What do you have to say, Abe? Did you start the blackouts?"
The crowd was getting furious over what they've learnt. They began to shout at the technician who was shaking like crazy. "My data was all gone! My time used! You fool!" "Your blackout caused my electronic items to fuse suddenly!"
Finally not able to bear anymore, Abe ran away to his back. Axl and Layer gave chase and so did an angry mob of Hunters. The whole situation got X and Zero of their attention.
"Hey, why's there an angry mob chasing the technician?" "C'mon, let's go check it out." Zero ran to follow the crowd.
Eventually after much running, Abe came to the corner of a dead end. The dead end only has a big glass window to the outside snowing City and there's no way a Reploid would escape by jumping down 30 storeys high.
Finally he was surrounded and could no longer be patient. "You idiot! You had me trapped and humiliated!"
"So what? It's the proper thing. Only an advanced technician would so easily repair an advance generator in two hours without even glancing at it for a minute."
The angry mob became angrier and demanded Abe to leave the premises.
"Gaaahhhhh!" Abe shouted out loud, shocking everyone there as they backed away, and his appearances changed. His armour turned from the blue hillbilly to become that of a knight with many spikes. His metal boot was revealed and so was his headgear. He grinned out evilly and crashed into the glass window.
Axl ran to look out the window and suddenly, Abe appeared flying in the air, startling Axl as he collapsed backwards. Abe now have an evil face at Axl.
"Alright! You want to know the truth?! I did it! I caused all the blackouts in this stupid place! I did it all! Even the riots you Hunters suppressed!"
Everyone was shocked to learn that.
"Yes, it is I who planned every single riot in the entire Big City ever since that idiot human Bob escaped from his prison! Why? Because I too shared the same ambition as his: to grab Big City as a base and then spread out to rule the world!"
"I am a new generation Reploid! One that survived all previous attempts by that giant corporation to purge the world of all Mavericks because they disgrace the great idea of a new world led by the great leader, Lumine!"
Lumine began to feel angry that some Reploids till now still regarded him as a model example for those who endorsed the idea of Reploid evolution.
"Installing disorder everywhere so that my Mavericks would have a firm grip! They will be bases for my future plans of dominating the world and usher in a new age solely for Reploids on Earth! I will be their ruler!"
"But you ruined it all! You the prototype, Axl! You will pay for this! Mark my words! In the next few days, I will make a comeback! That time I'll destroy you for all this humiliation! I shall make leader Lumine proud!"
"Tell it to someone who cares, Abe." "GAAAAHHH!" Abe just screamed out his might and flew away in full speed. Then, most Hunters cheered and praised Axl. Some rubbed his head, some shook his hands and some cheered even more. X and Zero appeared to offer their congratulations too.
"Well, Axl," Zero folded his arms "I guess you were right after all. Abe was the one behind the blackouts but we all didn't guess he made all those riots and uprisings in the first place. Well done."
"The thing now is that we have to clean up the mess he had created. We need some extra help in making the Maverick Hunter HQ a safer place for all Hunters. We need upgrades in security and equipment and clean officers of every rank."
"Like you suggested, Axl, we'll recover footage evidence of Abe destroying the generator. And everyone around here will have their periodic duties back to normal right where we left, after the incident where Lumine was spotted in Big City." X and Zero led the crowd away for more duties.
Axl remained where he was. As last his two inhabitants surfaced. "Congratulations, dear boy. You did it this time. You helped to expose the culprit behind all this menace. Now that you mention it, human scum could be involved in this, or not."
"Great job, Axl! What are you going to do now?"
"Well, I'm going to meet up with the gang and get some work myself so I won't die of boredom. Anyone care to join?"
"I'm in." "Me too!" Axl ran to catch up with X and Zero.
Chapter Seventeen: Recovery
Oddly enough the following three days, much progress had been done alone in the Maverick Hunter HQ. The security system has been upgraded and more new equipment had been bought to secure the place even more. Those requesting to reach the basements are accompanied by guards and as for other parts, access codes are strictly needed. Of course, the window Abe broke was fixed.
Some officers were frightened by the incident where a Class S Hunter had revealed the mistakes of a low-rank technician, so anything was possible. Some had tried to leave out of fear but were quickly arrested by inspired Hunters. Their secret crimes too were revealed and were also imprisoned and due for brain cleansing and body recycling.
Bob remained where he was: in his plastic prison in the isolated west wing because there was no evidence from Abe that he made all the attacks. This part and Abe's treachery had been released to the press, delighting many.
With the help of strong spirit that Axl indirectly installed, many Hunters volunteered, but not ordered, to join the periodic patrol around the Big City. The PB Force was of great help too, to enter patrol and secure the City.
Axl was knocked out from boredom to replacing Zero and X to carry out their duties while they were gone. The three navigators greatly helped Axl to get rid of the new exciting but troublesome burdens the Commanders had to face everyday.
Fortunately for Axl, on this 60th day where Lumine resided in him, there had been not much tasks to complete. Even if there were some, they were minor and easy ones, not like that of two days ago, and the three navigators could finish them fast. So Axl was not needed here; the only thing needed was his signature as Acting Supreme Commander of the Maverick Hunters.
It was already evening, meaning that Zero's 8-hour patrol, with another 1200 Hunters and PB Force members, was over and it was X's turn to do his patrol lead. Zero had been kind enough to relieve Axl of further tasks and decided to do two Commanders' jobs. Axl retreated to the central resting chamber.
Of course, it was still snowing as the meteorological departments had forecasted and Axl was now widely recognized by virtually everyone. "Well, dear boy, I must once again give my congratulations to you. The impact of your exposing of Abe, the so-called loyalist, is still very strong."
"Yes, Axl. Practically you've had the entire headquarters changed overnight!" "Er…thanks I guess. But I'm not really in the mood for celebration now. I know that somehow Bob is behind all this mess. I just know it. I wouldn't stop until I've hit out at all troublemakers."
"You aren't talking about getting revenge, aren't you dear boy?"
"Relax. It's not about revenge already. It's more towards justice now. The world needs to do away with all these greedy people. Huh…alright, let's not talk anymore about this subject. I'm going to see dad and his illness."
Lumine replied too quickly. "Be our guest." "But, this time it'll be different. I'm going to try out the transport what humans call 'underground train'. Sure, it's old fashion, but worth's a try."
They decided not to comment any further. Axl quickly dashed out of the HQ by climbing on the walls and sometimes leaping off a great distance to make him fall faster to the ground. He switched to human form and ran all the way to the underground trains, shocking many humans.
Axl used some cash to pay a ticket and entered the stairs underground. He then gazed up in the large white hall to see the various addresses he hoped to go. Having found the address, he hopped on the particular train and watched the door shut tight.
The sights then amazed him. Inside the train itself were many people and also Reploids holding on to the belts. Outside the moving train there were many advertisement posters about jewellery and consumer goods. He thought of how dangerous it was for caretakers to paste them up on a small walkway amid the 24-7 running trains.
Then some 40 minutes later, he arrived at the address and skipped off the train. He also ran here and there to cut people's spaces, shocking many too. Then he arrived just in front of the south wing, the entrance to the grounds.
"Should I register or just hop on the walls quickly?" "Anyone, as long as we reach the grounds." Lumine's answer encouraged him to hastily climb up the walls and oddly; he got no opposition from Iris.
In just seconds he had entered the main compound without being spotted by the security. The main compound was where he had a lift back to the HQ by Prez's limousine and if he turned to the further left and left, he will reach the southwest wing where Prez's home lay.
He then saw Prez walking around with his fellow advisors who work overtime. Axl was happy and surprised to see the man walking instead of having a wheelchair.
Axl ran up to him and Prez also saw him coming. "Son!" "Dad!" Both embraced each other while Prez's advisors were surprised, because many people were told that Prez never had a family.
"Ah! Glad you could come! How are you, my boy?" "Never better, dad! I've seen that you have healed!"
"Yes, I've recovered fully. The illness is gone and I'm healthy again! The doctors have already properly identified the source of my illness! C'mon to my home! Gentlemen, you may leave back to the comfortable reaches of your homes and families." The advisors left after saying goodbyes.
It was back to the elevators. They arrived at the left elevator and Prez slipped in his special residential card and the elevator opened. They entered and watched as the elevator rises up all the way till floor 60.
Prez relieved himself of his coat and hat upon entering his private room. He still had his regular suit with a tie of black grey stripes and grabbed the newspaper and read it on his favourite chair.
"Ah, yes Axl I almost forgot! The doctors have emailed me the source of my chronic fever and I've printed it out. It's by the coffee table there."
Axl rushed over and held the paper, reading in his palms. "Highly concentrated bacterial infection? What's that?"
"It means that I've been infected with the bacteria responsible for my chronic fever. The doctors were amazed that the concentration of the bacteria is very high."
Axl's hand reached up for the speakers. "Well, correct me father if I'm wrong, but it's impossible for a human to get infected by high concentrations of bacteria especially since the Big City has the latest medical equipment."
"Quite right you are, Lumine. The Big City is a very clean place, thanks to me of course, even in the capital core's outskirts and the rest of the Federation. And here I was, infected with huge amounts of bacterial strains. The next thing the doctors said was most revealing. Read it yourself."
Lumine made Axl's head bent down and read the paper further. "Point of infection spread: the intestine. Father, that means you ate the bacteria?!"
"Possible. All I know is that the night after the speech at the Maverick Hunter HQ, I went for a little supper of the best beef in the City before back to the grounds. The waiter that approached me was rather fidgety and handed me the food. I noticed a mix of ground white powder but I decided it was icing. Who knew that the powder was immobile bacteria! I had the manager contacted but the waiter was never found nor was he actually employed!"
Axl became angry. "Someone tried to poison you, dad!"
"Don't you worry Axl. The restaurant knew about this and the manager had my meal refunded with double the cost of the beef. But I rejected it and only asked them to improve their services."
Axl sighed as he didn't expect someone to try to kill Prez.
"Don't get all upset okay? I'm still alive, right? That's all that matters. Ah yes, some other news as well. It seems that when I've contacted the government concerning the final verdict of the PB Force and Bob, they replied that their answer was a sentence to Bob for 50 years, a complete recycling of all PB Force members and an aid to the Hunters of 5000 Reploid Hunters!"
Axl and inhabitants were astounded. "What? That means the verdict was forged!"
"Exactly. When the government tried to contact the Hunters about the reason why Bob wasn't sent over, their communications were jammed! When they were able to talk to X about the part where the Maverick and Bob's innocence, the communication suddenly jammed up!"
"Hey, X didn't tell me that!"
"Must've felt it as irrelevant for you to know, Axl. You're just a Maverick Hunter of Class S, not the Supreme Commander! What'd you expect?"
"It must be that Maverick Abe! He must have done all this! He intends to silence Bob through a psychological attack on X and then corrupt the PB Force to attack everywhere! He has to be stopped!"
Axl stopped when he gazed upon Prez. Prez sulked and mumbled.
"Seems that I've left out some more of the corrupt new generation Reploids. Now I know why only one checkbox was not ticked. The Corporation had retrieved the new Reploids, millions of them and others in hiding, but we didn't get that one, just one corrupt new Reploid. I've caused so much…"
Axl took pity on him. He went over to Prez and the other two spoke up.
"Father we know how you feel. Some still just want to remain evil for their own self. Axl, Lumine and I will dedicate ourselves to finding that Abe, but we just don't know where he is now, what's he doing and what's he planning…"
"That Reploid only smeared my name more by calling me a great leader to the stupid new world and evolution ideas! And I will not tolerate that! Dear boy and dear girl know I'm sick of that idea! Father, you have my word that I will do all I can to finish off the idiot myself!"
"Dad, don't worry yourself too! We'll do everything to stop the guy, practically!"
Prez stopped sulking and looked up at Axl. "You all are really good children to me…Reploid or human, it doesn't matter…"
"Thank you, father. It is only natural that a child does his or her responsibility back to their parents. We remain loyal and obedient to you forever." Lumine's comments started a silence in the room for 2 minutes.
"Hey," Axl broke up the silence. "I've got an idea. Dad, I'll be back in 30 minutes. I've got something to buy for you." He teleported away in a hurry after switching off the speakers on his ears. Prez and the other two didn't know what he was planning. Prez decided to wait by reading the day's paper and upgrade his knowledge of everyday affairs.
Around 40 minutes later, Axl teleported back to Prez's home, only this time outside the balcony because he registered that place's coordinates, with a wrapped box of colourful paper. Prez rushed to the door and allowed him in after taking off Axl's shoes for him. Hurriedly he opened the box for Prez.
It was a large sponge cake iced with delicious flavours of chocolate, strawberry and orange. Peach and grape pieces lay decorated. Axl quickly put on the candles.
"Dad, I'm just wanted to inform you that today's the eve of Lumine's second month anniversary for being with us. So I bought the cake so we could all celebrate together." Prez was widely smiling.
"Oh, what a coincidence! Today's my birthday too! Now I'm… 49 years old! 49 years and 15 hours ago, I was born! Bless you all! Today is such a glorious day for all of us!"
With Axl's speakers on, laughter soon filled the room as mister Prez and the trio-in-one Reploid celebrated an anniversary and a birthday as the cake was chewed off piece by piece in the day's late evening snow.
Chapter Eighteen: Training
It was close to eleven in the night, several minutes after the little celebration party in Prez's room ended with cleaning of mess and some embraces. Axl then changed back to Reploid form and teleported back to the HQ's rooftop. Overall, he was so happy with himself he forgot all about any trouble.
Just when he was about to head for the stairs going to the 54th floor, he wobbled too fast to become Lumine. Lumine smiled to himself.
"Well, I suppose you're satisfied now, dear boy, for celebrating that birthday and anniversary at father's. Well, I'm not. I'm just going for a little walk at the Big City Park, if you don't mind." He floated in the mid-air and flew towards the Park.
"Are you crazy? You'll get seen again and the public will go mad over your single appearance!" Iris countered. "Dear girl, then what is the use of the human forms father had granted? I suppose a little denial wouldn't hurt anyone too much, don't you think?" Lumine gave her a small laughter at her while flying.
"But your face will surely give you away and so does your hair."
"Do you want me to misuse your physical features then, dear boy?"
"Hey! My look is mine and so is yours!" Lumine got the perfect excuse. "Well done, then I shall do my things the way I see fit and you shall do yours. Do we have an agreement? … Very good, dear Axl. So shall it be this way then."
Some time later, Lumine the human form had reached the Park without facing much protest. In a minute, he found a nearby bench covered in snow and wiped away all the snow. Some snow was still on the chair so he somehow emitted some purple aura and melted the snow away. "Hey, how could you do that?" Axl and Iris were shocked.
"You don't expect human forms to be the limits for the combat skills a Reploid form performs, do you? Of course, it's risky but I'll take the risk and time to enhance myself while inside this body." Lumine sat on the bench.
He looked around and noticed the familiarity of the surroundings. This was the exact bench and place where May had previously met Axl to try to corrupt him. "Hm. The bad memory comes back again. Hopefully this will never happen again." He crossed his arms and shut his eyes for a while.
Unknown to him, some humans who passed by noticed the lack of thick clothing he had besides his thin white sweater, white-grey trousers and black leather shoes. Two men eventually walked closer to him and tried to look at him.
Lumine opened his eyes so suddenly that the humans were startled.
"Well, that's not nice of you to stare at an individual while he's resting. You should consider manners for humans like yourselves. Humans are so mysterious creatures, building high everywhere and the abuse of emotions and wealth that eventually costs the society much loss. So weird."
The first man taunted back. "You don't need thicker clothes? It's like freezing out here! It's like as though you don't have feelings! … Wait a minute! I know this face! You're that Reploid with the evolution and new world idea! You're a wanted criminal! You're in big trouble this time!"
"Oh really? Do I look like that Reploid so much?" He smiled sneeringly.
"I'm calling the cops! You're in big trouble and don't even think of-! Hey where did he go?" The two men looked up and found the bench empty. They then started to look for him around the Park, assuming that he ran away.
In actual fact, Lumine had teleported silently back to the Hunter HQ. In just a second, he landed right on the cushion he used previously to sleep in X's office.
X and Zero were having a video conference with the government officials so they were shocked to see the white Reploid in human form appear so suddenly. Before they said anything, Lumine turned back to a Reploid and locked the office door.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Don't surprise us like this!" "So sorry, X. I was just done scaring some humans and I decided to find somewhere safe to have a little rest and training." Zero decided the situation was bad enough so he went over to Lumine.
"Lumine, you should know better than to reveal yourself in the outside world! The public will cause us trouble again!"
"Bully for the people then. I also deserve my own freedom, whether people like it or not. …Alright, I won't show myself again unless necessary. I have to train dear boy Axl anyway, he has yet to fully control his emotions or else they'll burst open. Now, be a good Commander and leave us, will you?"
"Emotions? Burst open? What's wrong with Axl?" Zero stared at Lumine.
"So X didn't tell you anything at all?" Lumine laughed a little at Zero. "You'll ask from X and you'll do just that. Run along and talk with the human officer then." Zero was fortunately patient with Lumine at this troubling time. "Alright. Do what you have to do. Just don't scare anyone else."
The white Reploid watched and analysed the two Commanders, as they were talking with the government representative. It seems that the problem was that concerning the condition of Bob. The government had yet to receive Bob in their hands so a negotiation was held.
Lumine decided not to bother them any further and slept in the sitting position. Inside the computer brain, Lumine confronted Axl and Iris.
"Emotional training again? You just did that to me this morning!"
"Surprise test, dear Axl. Rules just like usual; if I wear down earlier than you, you have completely controlled your emotions. But so far, this has never been achieved yet. Iris, keep track of the time like usual."
The test immediately begun. Lumine insulted all the best he could. This time the test was unique because he threw in insults that would result in Axl feeling anxious, angry and sad. Some covered sensitive issues but others were plain simple.
"So tell me Axl, do you usually hide here while I fight the Mavericks?"
"Axl, how does it feel like to be a mere prototype for every single new generation Reploid in the world? What's more, a low grade prototype?"
"I bet you liked Iris from the very beginning, didn't you?" "Do you think I should make your precious hair purple forever?"
Axl actually had the perfect formula to counter Lumine's insults from the very beginning but he had never used it in a test like this before, so now was a good chance to apply it for his own future.
"Hey, I hide in here every time you wanted to beat up the Mavericks."
"Who cares about being a prototype? Dad contributed a lot to the world just because of this low grade prototype. I'm unique."
"Iris is pretty, but no, she's a friend. Not to that degree yet."
"Huh. Maybe purple hair will look good if I turn Maverick. But that will never happen so I prefer my hair brown."
Lumine was clearly impressed with the new method Axl used. Then he decided to throw in more and more insults that can render the method worthless. "Well, you sure are being dishonest a lot today. Why not try to do the opposite and tell me the truth just for one day?"
"Sorry, that was the truth. Or else things will be messed up everywhere. Just like mister human scum. The Federation's had enough trouble for a decade or so, and so does the world."
The list of insults just goes on and on. There was no stopping when Lumine insulted anyone; it seemed to be of infinite supply. Nonetheless, the test went on. Iris knew better than to take Axl's words about her earlier seriously; it's just a test.
While X and Zero had their session with the representative about issues such as economics and budget of the Hunters, Zero looked at the 'sleeping' Lumine.
Finally their talks came to an end. X and Zero were relieved that they were not slammed with penalties, only the government demanded Bob be returned to the prison authorities and that X and Zero find ways to cut down on spending.
Zero asked about the emotions Lumine mentioned earlier. He was told that Axl had a series of complications with his emotions though not anyone of the three in the prototype body told them why. That, to him, explains the unruly behaviour of Axl just the other time in the cubicles when the blackout came.
Zero understood. "If Axl didn't do anything, he'll be in more trouble."
"Or something must worse than that. I wonder how's the training coming? It's been almost two hours since he suddenly arrived in here. It's amazing how long the test goes on. He must be trying hard to control Axl's feelings."
Two hours, meaning that it was now the 61st day since the battle on the Moon. If anyone noticed, it was already two months that Lumine's presence in the Hunter HQ had been secret from most members.
Then suddenly, Lumine's eyes opened widely, shocking the Commanders. He then panted heavily and smiled to himself.
"Hm. Congratulations, Axl. It turns out I wear down earlier than you. You just remained calm all this while. You passed the test. You have complete control over your emotions."
"Wow! Axl did it? That's amazing!" Zero awed. "Good job, Axl! You finally did it." X tapped his hand on Lumine's shoulder. "He says thank you and that it was no problem. He's made father proud of him, if he knows about this."
Then the office door was knocked on hardly. Lumine quickly hid himself and there was Axl on the cushions. X reached out to greet the visitors.
Two dragged-down humans were in front of X. Their suits were badly torn here and there and they suffered some injuries everywhere. The three Hunters were shocked to see them in the Maverick Hunter HQ itself.
"You gotta help us! Please, Maverick Hunters! It's an emergency!"
"Calm down! What's going on?" Zero approached them.
"It's BOB! Remember the news about officers kidnapped? That was us! US! Earlier on weeks ago, Bob had brought in this fierce knight Reploid and kidnapped us! He faked the emergency leave! It's the final verdict we were supposed to approve! We were planning to order his immediate arrest!"
"The verdict was forged! The PB Forces are the Mavericks! They are planning a mass invasion of the Big City and purge all humans! He had been planning all his steps for months and it comes down to this! His secret armies somewhere inside Big City will march out tonight! Help us!"
"The riots! The uprisings! The Mavericks! All were planned and set up to crush you all slowly! All done by the berserk machines! We made it out of his fortress! After weeks of torture! Please help us!"
Then the emergency alarm rang. Alia's voice boomed loudly. "EMERGENCY! Abe has resurfaced and had taken Bob with him! The PB Forces are attacking the Maverick Hunter Headquarters from the south wing! All Hunters please dispatch immediately!"
"So it begins! His blitzkrieg! We don't want to die!"
"Keep it together, man! Zero, contact the government immediately! Call for the national armies! Take these two to safety first! Axl, come with me! We've got some PB Force to destroy!" Axl quickly followed X while Zero had the two men away.
"It would be a good time for Lumine's powers now! Iris' too! Hurry! We can't let them topple us or else it means the fall of Big City, the Federation and then the world!" A great battle is about to begin again.