Final's Decision
The night of terror had ended. The next day in Giga City, everyone celebrated. X and the whole gang had recovered from their battles and were excepting many thanks and shouts of appreciation. Everyone in Giga City was celebrating from the highest to the lowest. Of course all the Apocalypse Forces were rounded up and placed under arrest. But true to his promise, Signas allowed Pharaoh and his men to leave without a fuss. The celebrations continued but slowly they began to die down and the people returned to their daily tasks. A memorial of Epsilon was created in front of the city entrance next to the monument they had of Chief R. Nana was proclaimed governess and Steel Massimo became the leader of the Giga City Maverick Hunters. The group enjoyed the festivities but soon realized that Axl wasn't there. Once the festivities had come to an end the group and Duo began to search for their comrade. They searched for half the day but could not find their companion. By the afternoon they had searched everywhere in Central Tower and finally stopped to eat lunch.
"Where could Axl be?" Zero was pacing while he drank his soda.
"Probably looking for his girlfriend no duh." Flute looked pretty cranky.
"Poor kid's probably going to have a heart attack when he finds out she's dead. No one could have survived that explosion." Buzzsaw bit into his hamburger.
"And don't forget Serpro. He's probably worried sick about his cousin." Royaltie sipped her diet soda.
"Yeah I wonder how they're doing."
"We're doing just fine thank you very much." Everyone whirled to see Serpro, Diamond, Guilroid, and Takato walking towards them each of them eating a corndog. Guilroid had Diamond's hand in his own. Serpro was in the lead, but everyone was surprised to see Takato in his armor.
"Hey Takato why are you still in your armor?" Serpro looked down in embarrassment.
"Because if I take it off I'll die."
"That Maverick punctured his lung, and made a small cut in his throat. The doctors were about to give up hope until they found out he was wired to that armor of his. Now the armor is stabilizing his life. "Take it off and..." Guilroid slid his finger across his throat.
"Basically Takato's like me now. Only he is way more human." Serpro pounded his cousins back causing the youth to stumble a little.
"Yeah we've decided we're going to be a team from now on we're the last remnants of the Atsumasha and Yuromisha family. So we're sticking together." Guilroid proclaimed proudly.
"In other words all three of us are going to be living with Serpro from now on. Sophia needs someone who can teach her how to fight. I'm not going to EVER be separated from my brother again. And now that I'm pretty much a reploid now I need someone to teach me the ropes and my cousin is the best one who can do it."
"Yeah we're a family now. From now on we're the Yuromasha Team." Serpro said proudly his three young charges gathering in front and hugging him from both sides."
"So we're transferring to your HQ." Takato said.
"Well I see you've all put a lot of thought into this. So I'll allow it. Tomorrow I'll make it official you've transferred to the main base." Nana smiled. "Be careful Serpro. Taking care of three personal apprentices is going to be harder than any maverick you've ever faced."
"Ok back to business." Zero said slamming his empty cup on the table. "We need to find Axl. We know he's not at Central Tower so he must be in the city or just outside the city. We'll separate into groups like we did at the tower. Chaos Control you split up and search the north section of the city. GCMH you search the west section and Yuromasha Team you search the south section. Nana, Alia, Iris, Pallete, Signas, and Duo you search the East section. Me and X will search the outskirts of the city. All right lets move.
By night time Chaos Control had searched every nook and cranny of the north section. They finally met up in the center where they had planned to meet at the end of the day. Behemoth rode up and Punk jumped off.
"Well any luck Punk?" Bass asked.
"No luck, although I did find a great mechanic who tuned up Behemoth." Bass mentally slapped himself.
"What about you Ballade?"
"Nothing but a great juice bar."
"You Enker?"
"All I found was a videogame store. Look what I found!" He pulled out a game he had bought. "I found this game and look what it's called! Mega Man 7. And I found the guide book and look at this. You're the bad guy Bass! Can you believe that?" Bass couldn't believe he wasn't strangling Enker.
"Quint please tell me you found something important."
"All I found was the local book store. I found this awesome book on sale called. 'Taming Your Inner Demon'." Bass looked pleadingly at Flute.
"Nothing just the local jewelry store. Look at this beautiful white gold cat bracelet I got. Hey what's the matter bro?" Bass had passed out and fainted on the spot.
GCMH and Signas's group hadn't had any better luck. They met up in the center and sadly reported they had not found any sign of Axl in the neighborhoods.
Yuromasha met up in the center of their section of the city.
"So guys..." Diamond glared. "...and Diamond. Did you find anything?"
"All me and Guilroid found was a great spaghetti parlor." She made a note of licking around her mouth.
"You were supposed to be searching, not snacking!" Guilroid instantly defended her.
"Hey we did search. We just got hungry is all."
"Did you find anything Takato?" To his surprise Takato showed him Final's helmet. It was scratched up a bit and had a dent but was otherwise undamaged.
"I found this in one of the bushes around the tower." Serpro took it and examined it.
"The craftsmanship is wonderful. Whatever happened, this helmet took quite a beating." Takato turned around.
"Yeah my rival always was good at making the things she made really enduring."
"Well we better head back to the tower and report that we couldn't find anyone."
"X I'm telling you he's not here." Zero and X had circled the entire island by nightfall and still had found no trace of Axl.
"The only place we haven't checked so far is the ocean and there is no way we can search all that. So he must be on the land somewhere."
"X! We've circled this entire island except for that rock outcropping right in front of us. And the chances of him being in that one place are two hundred to one." To prove his point Zero walked towards the outcrop of which he had been speaking. He went around and stopped dead in his tracks. Right at his feet behind the outcrop was...nothing. Zero walked towards X and the two headed back through the city gates.
The entire group met back at the restaurant. They ordered dinner and then sat down to discuss their failure to find Axl.
When they had finished dinner the group headed back towards their ship.
"So Duo now that Apollyon's gone what are you going to do?"
"I guess I'll stay here. Until I sense dark energy coming from another place. I like Earth despite the violence. It's still beautiful in its own way." They reached the ship excepting the worse.
"WAIT!" Everyone whirled. Heading across the streets was Axl.
"Where the heck have you been?" Zero said grabbing Axl's shoulders and shaking him. "Everyone has been worried sick about you! I've been worried sick about you!"
"Zero will you just shut up!" Zero instantly was quiet shocked by his protégé's harsh comment. Axl turned to Duo. "Duo."
"Yes." Duo crossed his arms.
"I need your help."
The ship headed for Lagrano Ruins. On the way everyone couldn't help but stare as Axl pressed against the view port lost in his thoughts.
(Flashback)
The constant rain and thunder roared over Lagrano Ruins. Axl held Final in his arms, both parts of her and the Orion Crystal lighted his way. He knew their were tools he could use here. Final suddenly coughed and opened her eyes.
"Axl...what are you doing here." Axl looked down at her a tear falling from his eye.
"I don't know what happened to you Final but I'm going to fix this. I just need to get you to the old laboratory they have here and then..."
"Axl. It's too late for me. Even if I am a reploid now...the damage is too severe. Lets face it my time has come."
"Don't talk that way Final. You've been in tough scrapes before I bet. Tougher than this. I won't let you die Final." They finally reached the old laboratory. Axl knocked off a bunch of useless papers on a desk and laid Final on it. He placed the Orion Crystal down so its light would give him better visibility. He found some tools and carefully reconnected her. It took pain staking hours with Final coughing as she fought to stay alive. But each cough only strengthened Axl's determination. He finally had her back in one piece but...still she continued to die. Hoping it would help Axl placed her in one of the vacant recovery pods. The energies streamed through her body barely keeping her alive. Axl knew the limited power this place had however wouldn't last long. Axl continued to look at her. The blood on her face had been washed away by the rain and the salt from the ocean had cleansed the wounds. But still he could see the marks from her fights. Once again he looked deeply in her eyes. They were still the luscious blue as before only with an extra iris of darker blue.
"Final I'm going to go get help. Just hang in there okay." He turned to go but stopped to look at her one last time.
"Axl." Another tear fell from his face and onto the floor. "I saw him."
"Who?"
"Your father. I saw Red." Axl couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father still alive? "He says he wants me to take good care of you."
"Final there's something I need to tell you."
"So do I." As one voice they said it together.
"I love you."
(End of Flashback)
Slowly another tear fell from his eye.
"She loves me." He said in a whisper.
Duo, X, Zero, and Axl ran up the stairs to the laboratory. When they got up to the laboratory they saw Final asleep in the pod. Duo came over and picked up the Orion Crystal and for the first time in his life a tear fell from his eye.
"Axl. You have made my greatest dream a reality. The Orion Crystal has been restored to its positive state. Thank you." But Axl wasn't paying attention all his concentration was on the monitor showing Final's condition. All the reading were almost zero. She wasn't going to make it.
"NO! Final pounded his fist on the table. "There must be something that can be done!" Axl sank to his knees and lost all control of his emotions. He didn't stop when he felt Duo's hand touching his shoulder.
"Don't worry young one. You have helped me achieve my dream. I'll help you achieve yours." Duo walked over to the recovery pod and held out the Orion Crystal. "Guardians of Orion I beseech your aid. Please let us use the Orion Crystal's power to give this brave warrior new life. The crystal began to shine. Rainbow light danced from it illuminating the room with its light. Slowly six forms appeared. La Thor, Dark Phantom, King, Dr. Wily, Dr. Light, and Red appeared. They all placed their palms on the recovery pod and soon white light flooded in the pod. Everyone looked at the monitors and watched as the readings began to rise quickly. Final's condition finally stabilized and the guardians ceased their healing.
"It is done." La Thor said bowing to Duo. Everyone but Red, Wily, and Light vanished.
"Hello my son it's good to see you again. I see you've become friends with X. Good job. Wily walked over and hugged Zero. "Keep up the good work ok?"
"I'll do that dad. I promise I will." Then Wily vanished like the others.
"X I want you to keep on keeping the peace. You've made me proud son." Dr. Light hugged X with a smile and then he too vanished. Axl just stood there as Red walked over to him.
"Dad?" Red smiled.
"I'm proud of you Axl. Take care of Final kiddo. She loves you and won't stay away from you so don't blow the relationship okay?" Then Red ruffled Axl's hair and with a wink to his son vanished as well. Together the four of them walked out of the ruins carrying Final as she slept in peace.
Days passed and went. Final made a complete recovery to her surprise and delight. It was official that she and Axl were a couple so some of the females stopped flirting with him. The Yuromasha Team stayed together like a family. Serpro was their leader and the three youths quickly became exceptional hunters. Chaos Control knowing that their prime objective was fulfilled decided to stay at the Hunter Base. Even though Colonel trained them like dogs. X's friends from Giga City stayed for the celebration at the Hunter Base but soon returned home. That day Axl and Final had their first official date.
"Axl this has been the best day of my life." They were on a moonlit balcony at a very fancy restaurant that actually served reploids.
"Hey Final. I know it's kind of sudden but..." Axl fingered with a small box in his hands.
"Axl you know I will. But don't you think this is a little soon. Let's have a few more dates before you propose ok?" Axl blushed.
"You're right I guess it is a little soon. But its not too soon to dance is it?"
"Not by a long shot Axl." And so the two of them danced behind the sunset and then they kissed. Their outlines pictured by the days sunset.
On a building above the balcony a figure stood. The appearance was that of a tall feline. Admiringly she gazed at the two teens.
"Way to go Final. You've definitely grown up." Suddenly a message is sent to her.
"It's time for the hunt." Sighing the silhouette leaps off the building and into the night.
In an unknown destination covered in darkness six red eyes appear.
"Master I will avenge you." And then an unearthly howl is given.