Chapter 35: Laser Show
In the training room, Bass was fighting some training Mechaniloids while using his weapon he was given back then, the Bass Katana, which was a retractable blade that had glowing edge that could fling short energy burst slashes.
Bass charged full force while yelling as he as he sliced through the Mechaniloids one at a time. He then avoided the attack of a large Mechaniloid by jumping and flipping over the Mechaniloid, then he landed behind it with his back facing it and did a side backwards stab into the Mechaniloid's back.
Bass then looked behind him to see a bunch of flying Mechaniloids headed for him, so he held his katana back, then flinged it to release a burst slash to hit them all, and as it did, it destroyed them.
Suddenly, Bass looked up to see huge Mechaniloid diving for him. Bass just smiled a little, then in a flash, he jumped and cut the Mechaniloid several times faster than the eye could keep up with. When he was done, Bass landed in a very cool pose, and the Mechailoid fell to pieces.
Bass then stood up from his pose while looking stern-faced, which was his basic look. Just then, he heard some clapping and turned around to see it was being done by both Signas and Quake Minotaur.
"Bravo," said Signas. "That was a great show you put on."
Quake Minotaur added, "I agree. You've got potential, pal."
"Tch," replied Bass as he retracted his katana. "And let me guess? You want me join your little team, don'tcha'?
"You would be a part of something bigger than you ever imagined," Signas said. "And right now, with the way things are turning, we could definitely use more Hunters that have your talent. Escalation has been on the rise, and we've had nothing but trouble. But despite all of that, we continue to fight, because right now, it's the only way to eliminate the Mavericks and to bring peace to this world. You understand, don't you?"
Bass said, "Yeah, I understand. But, even with that said... I'd have to refuse, because I'm not looking for the world to benefit from my fighting ability or whatever. Shit, the world could burn for all I care. I just have one goal in mind, and that's to prove I'm the strongest there is. I may have been a mistake to my old man, but I still want to make my mark on this world that let's it know I'm true warrior."
Quake Minotaur smirked while crossing his arms, and said, "If you want the world to know about your skills, then I think you do care about the world."
Bass looked at Quake Minotaur and asked, "Are you trying to give me the double talk? It ain't gonna' work with me."
"I think he's right, though," said Signas. "At this point, you may claim you care about yourself, but wanting the world to notice your strength also shows you care about it. If no one was around tomorrow, who would you have to prove to?"
Bass just looked away and gritted his teeth as he knew Signas had a point.
"Join the Maverick Hunters," Signas continued. "Become a part of something that'll give you a new view on life and the world around you."
Bass stopped gritting his teeth, then said, "Well, one problem is that I'd probably end up taking orders from Mega Man, which already doesn't sit well with me. But... the even bigger problem is that I'd be joining forces with my so-called brother who destroyed Treble and almost destroyed me, and that's an even bigger issue. I know I should let the past just be the past, but I don't forgive and forget than easily. Even if Zero is different and I start to see Mega Man as a friend, my past will still always be there. That's the problem when you get sealed up for so long."
"Well," said Signas. "Just think about it, and we'll come back to you later when you make a final decision.
"Don't keep us waiting too long," said Quake Minotaur.
After that, Signas and Minotaur left.
"Me? A Maverick Hunter," Bass asked himself in thought. "It would be a great opportunity to get stronger and show off how powerful I've become, but... there's got to be some kind of deal if I'm to take part in it. Afterall, I won't do these kinds of things without some kind of price."
The scene then takes place in the main building of the Wayland Foundation where the Maverick Hunters have managed to break in, and start to take down the revolters that took over the building.
X fired a diffusion shot after charging his Buster to take care of multiple revolters, while Axl shot down a few flying Mechaniloids and Zero sliced through others. Blues threw his shield at some revolters, knocking them out. Guts Man made a charge through a row of revolters while Concrete Man, Fire Man, Magma Man, Ice Man, Splash Woman, Hornet Man, Tornado Man, Cut Man, Elec Man and Plug Man all covered him from the rear with their attacks.
"Alia," X said through his communicator. "How much further till we find their leader?"
"He's a few more feet below you, X," Alia responded. "Just keep following the path I've got for you and you should get there before you know it."
X replied, "Thanks, Alia."
As the Hunters continued to make it to where Radiant Tulip was, X used his Controller Helmet to take control of a giant Mechaniloid to clear a path that was blocked off by a group of revolters and Mechaniloids.
After going down enough feet, the Hunters soon found themselves in front of a large door.
"Is this it, Alia," asked X.
"If you took the path as I showed you, which you did," said Alia. "Then that should be it."
"Very well," responded X. "I think we're ready to go."
Alia then said, "Take care in there, X."
"Right," X said. "Alright, Hunters, the leader of this group of revolters should be behind this door. Let's go in, but be on guard. Everyone ready?"
The Hunters all nodded to X.
After that, they opened the doors to the room, which was a big test field. As they walked further in, they saw Radiant Tulip floating in the air in his yoga-style position, and his eyes closed.
After that, Radiant Tulip said, "Ah, you're here. Good." Radiant Tulip slowly opened his eyes, and continued to say, "I've been expecting you all, Maverick Hunters. I figured you'd try to counter our plans that we were making, and knew you'd succeed. Or have you?"
"What are you trying to say, Maverick," asked a forceful Zero.
Radiant Tulip replied, "I doubt you could understand if I explained everything in fine detail, so let me give you the short version; while we did hope to carry it out, this plan is merely a diversion. What my master has planned is far greater in scale that you could ever hope to imagine. His plans for the future have nothing but promise, and he's deemed the Maverick Hunters as unnecessary."
"Sounds like you're repeating the same thing Volcano Toad told us," said Blues. "If that's the case, and all of your buddies are going to say the same thing, I think we're not going to have many interesting conversations."
"And I think you'll never see the genius behind what my master wants to bring to this world," Tulip replied. "For that, you must be eliminated for your ignorance. I have seen the wonders through this through my understanding of the spirit. I have learned the sometimes the light can hide things that only the darkness can reveal. Both light and dark can blind people, but it can also show the truth. You all choose to be blind, and I will not tolerate it. Good-bye, Maverick Hunters."
"Maverick Hunters," shouted X. "Surround him and stand your ground!"
All of the Hunters took a spot and stayed there, waiting for Radiant Tulip's first move.
Radiant Tulip then disappeared in a flash of light.
"Stay your ground, guys," said Zero. "He's still here."
Just then, Tulip appeared over some lesser Hunters. Axl saw him appear and said, "There he is."
After that, most of the Hunters started to shoot at Radiant Tulip, but he disappeared again.
He reappeared up in the air and threw down some pods while saying, "Laser Flowers!" The pods bloomed into flowers, which then shot laser from their stems at the Hunters. Though most managed to avoid the attack, some Hunters got hit and took damage.
The Hunters didn't let this slow them down, though as they kept trying to pursue Radiant Tulip around the room to not be fooled by his constant teleporting.
Tulip then fired off some energy orbs that bounced around, which the Hunters did there best to avoid.
The fighting was getting fiercer as Radiant Tulip created a big flower that shot a huge laser which caught and severely damaged several lesser Hunters. Even the Light robots weren't fairing very well as Tulip was just too powerful and cunning.
The only ones that seemed to be doing the best were X, Zero, Axl and Blues, but even they were having a spot of trouble. X switched out for his Hercules Helmet, which made his attack do some more damage to Radiant Tulip, but only when he was able to hit and even then, the Dark Virus he had been infected with made him very durable.
"That's it," said Zero. "This guy is really pushing my buttons!"
"Let's try a different strategy," said X. "Let's listen for when he appears, and at the moment we strike."
Zero replied, "Let me make the first attack. I think it's time we used our new abilities we got from that toad."
The Hunters then remained still so they could hear when Radiant Tulip would appear. Just then, as he did, he made a distinct sound and the Hunters immediately went into action.
"He's mine," said Zero under his breath.
Just before Radiant Tulip could teleport again, Zero quickly dashed for Tulip and did his Inferno Dash that he gained from Volcano Toad, leaving a trail of fire that hit Tulip, thus burning him.
Radiant Tulip screamed in pain from the fire, unable to do anything but try and put the flames out.
"Looks like Zero found his weakness," said X. "Let's switch out for our fire weapons we just got."
X and Blues armed themselves with their Lava Meteor weapons, and Axl equipped the Magma Splasher, which was a large water gun-type weapon, but shot lava instead.
"Fire Man! Magma Man! If you two still have any fight in you, now your chance to help out," shouted X.
"We can still fight," said Fire Man.
After that, after Tulip got the flames put out, but before he could react to anything else, X, Axl, Blues, Fire Man and Magma Man all attacked him with their burning weapons, which caused extensive damage.
After a while, Radiant Tulip overcame the attacks as he then creates a large dome of energy around him that negates the projectiles.
"That's it," shouted an angry Radiant Tulip. "You've disturbed my inner peace, and I very much resent that! For this, I'll make sure none of you survive!"
After that, Radiant Tulip made his dome of energy grow bigger and bigger.
"At this rate, we'll be toast," yelled Axl.
"Not if I can help it," X replied.
After that, X switched out for his Power Bracelets and charged a punch to hit Tulip with. Then, he dashed out after Radiant Tulip with his punch charged, and it collided with Radiant Tulip's dome of energy. The two got into a massive struggle to overcome the other, and seemed even.
"Come on, Rock," said Blues in thought. "Everyone is counting on you."
To Be Concluded in Chapter 36.