Rockman ZW: Genesis
Chapter 37: The Desert
"Alister… Alister…" a voice calls to Alister while he opens his eyes.
He looks around the cave only to find Manabu watching the area. Alister scratches the back of his head before yawning as Manabu takes notice of him waking. While Alister rubs his eyes back and forth Manabu hands him some bread.
"Thanks." he says before eating away. Manabu nods his head before walking back to watch the city. After Alister finishes his short breakfast he joins Manabu in watching the city.
"It's hard to think… after all this time… I'm leaving the only place I knew to call home. I should be thanking you for that." speaks Manabu.
"How so?" questions Alister with a raised eyebrow.
"That place can be hell with four walls around it." Manabu replies while closing his eyes.
"I see…" mutters Alister while looking to the left.
"What are we going to do now Alister?" Manabu asks him.
"What?" Alister asks in return before Manabu opens his eyes to look at Alister.
"What will we do now? Where will we go?" Manabu continues to ask.
"I can only remember up to two days ago… you tell me." Alister replies with a sarcastic tone.
"There is another city in the east, although it will be a two day travel." Manabu says while walking back into the cave.
"Two days? Is that the closest city from here?" Alister asks while sitting down in front of him.
"It is. Unless we had some sort of transportation. Sadly… we are stuck walking." Manabu says.
"Shouldn't we start walking then? If it is a two day walk then we need to start now." Alister states.
"That is true, but I am more worried about the City Guard. I expected them to find us by now, but I have not seen a single unit since I have been awake." Manabu says while picking up his sword. Alister stands to his feet as they get ready to leave.
"Since you know the way… it's best that you lead Manabu." Alister says as Manabu nods. They leave the safety of the cave and begin to walk east. They walk nearly the entire day without running into the City Guard. As soon as they believe they are safe they spot an incoming vehicle.
"Looks like we will have to fight now." Manabu says while reaching for his sword before suddenly, Alister grabs his arm.
"Wait, I have an idea… just trust me on this." Alister tells him as the City Guard come closer. They stop their vehicle as Alister and Manabu watch them.
"Good afternoon you two. What are you doing in the desert?" the commanding officer asks as his troops take aim with their rifles.
"We don't really know… who are you?" asks Alister in a confused voice while Manabu soon catches on to his plan.
"Do you know where we are?" asks Manabu before the commanding officer holds up his right hand.
"Leave them alone, they are just Drifters. Let's continue with our search men!" he shouts as they follow him. They soon leave sight as Manabu digs in the sand next to his right foot. He pulls up his sword before dusting it off.
"That was very smart... but how did you know they would do that?" asks Manabu.
"Simple. It was dark last night in that alley, so I assumed the only thing they could make out about us was that one carried a sword. Since it was hidden on your foot in the sand, they would figure us to be Drifters." Alister explains as they start to walk again.
"I see… and if something were to happen I could have instantly used my sword in the cloud of sand… I'm impressed." Manabu tells him.
"Yeah well we're not out of this desert yet." Alister returns as they walk.
Time passes on and before too long they find themselves walking towards a road block. The City Guard is posted around the entire block.
"Sir we have sighted two Drifters in the distance. What should we do?" asks one of the guards. The commander takes his binoculars from him and takes a look for himself.
"Hmph. It would appear that we have found the two we have been looking for. One of them is carrying a sword, get ready men! You know what they did to our friends! Let's get some revenge!" he shouts as his men let out a shout.
"Alister! They're coming!" Model ZW tells him as Alister gets a serious look on his face suddenly.
"They know who we are Manabu! Get ready!" Alister tells him.
"Got it." Manabu says while drawing his sword. The City Guard begins to attack in their desert buggy's. They drive past Alister and Manabu as they both get the same idea. They nod at each other before lunging at the next buggy that drives near them. They kick out the driver and passenger, before driving through the road block.
"What the… after them men!" the commander yells as his men drive after them.
"Sir! Your ride is ready!" an officer tells his commander while saluting.
"It's about time." he scoffs while walking towards a helicopter. It is armed with many missiles and machine guns. He takes off in a hurry after the killers. They drive along the desert driving off of small hills. They land a bit rough while they continue.
"Hey! You sure this thing will hold together!?" asks Alister as he hangs on for his life.
"I know how to drive! You just tell me when they've caught up to us!" Manabu tells him while avoiding a cactus pile. Alister looks behind to see the City Guard right behind them.
"They're behind us now!" Alister shouts with a stressed look.
"Great! Take the wheel!" Manabu replies while letting go of the steering wheel. He moves to the back of the buggy as Alister hurries to take control. The City Guard start to fire their weapons at them. Manabu uses his sword to deflect the shots.
"Whoa…" Alister thinks while turning his head back to watch for a moment.
"Check to see if this buggy has grenades or something!" Alister shouts while driving over a hill. Manabu searches the buggy finding three grenades strapped onto a belt. He pulls the pin on one before throwing it at the nearest buggy. It drops inside under the driver. The guards take notice and jumps out while the buggy is still moving. Soon after it explodes taking out another buggy next to it.
"Good call." Manabu says while deflecting more bullets.
Alister drives over another hill that sends them flying through the air. As they land Manabu drops the two grenades that were in his hands. Two buggy's that were chasing them suddenly blow up on top of those grenades. Manabu smirks as he twirls the pins on his fingers.
"Are there more of them?" asks Alister while slowing down.
"Not that I can see…" Manabu says before hearing a helicopter. "Hard left!" he quickly yells as Alister turns left. As he swerves out of the way a missile hits the ground flipping them over due to the explosion. They roll out of the buggy as it flips over. The helicopter hovers in front of them as the commander of the City Guard opens the side door.
"Well that was an impressive run you gave us back there, but now I am afraid it is all over for you two. You will be taken back to the city where you will be brought before our leader." he tells them while they stand to their feet.
"And if we refuse?" asks Alister while favoring his left arm.
"You will be killed on the spot." he replies as some of his men jump out of the helicopter. They surround the two while taking aim.
"Hmph… do fools always use this formation? Or are you just that special?" Manabu smarts off.
"Alister… merge with me!" Model ZW tells Alister as he holds the Live Metal up in front of him.
"What is he doing…? Is he…?" the commander thinks to himself.
"Rock on!" Alister shouts as he is engulfed in light.
"Be careful men! He's one of those Rockman freaks!" the commander yells. The men open fire at Alister who jumps high into the air. They fire at him while he is in the air thinking he could not avoid. He begins to twist and turn in the air to avoid their bullets. In amazement they stop firing as he lands on one knee.
"Do you really want to continue?" he asks them. They begin to walk backwards as their commander begins to get upset.
"Don't be cowards! Kill him now!" the commander shouts while they try to jump Alister.
"Your mistake." he smirks before using an upper cut on one. He quickly follows with a sabot kick to another's stomach. Alister dashes towards two that are slowly walking towards him. He leaps between the two before kicking his feet into the air. His feet connect with the jaw of the one in front of him. Alister then spin kicks the other guard right after. As the two fall to the ground knocked out Alister continues to attack the guards. Manabu watches from the side as Alister takes out all of the City Guard by himself.
"Get us out of here pilot!" the commander yells at the pilot. The helicopter begins to take off as Alister snaps his head in that direction.
"So you're just going to leave your men behind!? You're a pitiful leader!" Manabu shouts.
"I'll be back to kill you two another time! Until then…" he says while taking notice of Alister.
"Shockwave!" Alister shouts while using his arm slashers to create a powerful wave of energy. The arrow shaped wave rushes towards the screaming commander as it rips right through the helicopter. While crashing behind a hill it gives off a powerful explosion. Alister returns to normal after flipping the buggy back over. Manabu gets in the driver seat as Alister climbs beside him. While driving away Manabu has something on his mind.
"He called you… Rockman?" asks Manabu.
"Rockman? Is that what I am?" asks Alister while looking at his hands.
"An odd name…" Manabu adds.
"But… for some reason… I know it fits me. So from now on… call me Black Rockman!" Alister tells him before putting his feet up on the dashboard.
"Black Rockman…? That's an even worse name…" Manabu tells him.
"Well if you don't like it come up with something better. Until then I like it." Alister snaps back.
End of Chapter 37