OPERATION SAVE LADY ZERO

Tao stayed on the phone for a bit longer after Luciel hung up and listen to the sound of the dead line humming in his ears, each buzz sending chills throughout his body that left him pale and grim. Both M-21 and Takeo said nothing for the longest time and waited for Tao to speak first, but he never did.

The man was lost in thought and firing off ideas in his head, a plan for what to do next, and how he was going to handle the situation. He was given the job to look after Luciel by Frankenstein himself, but now she was in danger on his watch. Tao knew he had to do something. But what though?

"Tao, what's going on?" M-21 spoke up since the urgency permeating the air was beginning to get to him every second nothing was explained.

"We got a problem." Tao breathed in deeply and turned around to face his waiting friends. "The Miss ran into Agent Sangin and now they're both being chased by Cerberus. She says she can't avoid a fight."

The two gasped sharply and both of their faces turned ashen.

"Do we call Frankenstein?" Takeo asked.

"We're gonna have to, but all three of us have to move right now since we're probably the closes to her," Tao said while balling his fists up tightly. He had to stay calm though. Any mistakes he made right now with a feral mindset would most likely cost Luciel's identity being revealed, and that was the worst-case scenario.

M-21 reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out his phone to dial Frankenstein. "I'll call Frankenstein and give him the heads up."

"Oh, before you do." Tao suddenly passed the two of them something. Looking down at it though, they both frowned deeply with a look of disdain adorned to their faces, because in their hands were these ridiculous-looking black masks. They looked back up to protest against it but Tao was already in his element and proudly wearing his own. "It's time for RK-4 to save their Lady Zero!"

Takeo felt his eye twitch at the name. "Lady Zero?"

"Please don't tell me you just automatically recruited her..." M-21 said.

"Quit jumping around like a little frog, you shit!" The large man shouted angrily while drawing his arm back. He launched it forward and created a highly concentrated blast of pure energy right towards Luciel that she ended up dodging for what felt like the fifth time.

She wasn't attacking them at all, and for the last couple of minutes, she was really just trying her best to avoid the attacks and not cause any damage to whatever was behind her. Luciel couldn't keep this up forever though. The longer this dragged out, the more she was beginning to agitate the large Cerberus man.

Through all this though, Luciel was starting to get a feel of his abilities, but she knew what he was doing right now was just the tip of the iceberg. Just these attacks alone were strong enough to cause some serious damage. There was also the case of the other guy, his blonde-haired partner who wasn't even doing anything to help out. He was just standing there, waiting on stand-by with a smug look on his face.

"Their ego doesn't fall far from the tree, huh," she muttered against her breath. They most likely didn't care about her and just wanted to question Sangin, but they're arrogant enough to act like there wasn't any rush.

Luciel hates to admit it but she felt like she was at a standstill with these guys. Tao told her to keep her identity hidden, but that was turning out to be much more difficult than she first intended. She wasn't even able to fight back against these them because she wasn't sure how strong they actually were.

She didn't know what to do anymore. She needed help.

The face of the large Cerberus man began to twitch and scrunch up with rage that was rising with every unlanded attack. "This little bitch...how long is she gonna drag this out? Is she really just gonna keep dodging ?!" he pulled his clenched hand back and began to draw as much power as he could for his next attack. Something faster and stronger that would completely blow Luciel away. "I'd like to see you dodge this!"

Luciel stopped moving and took a quick glance over her shoulder but realized far too late that there was a building there. If she dodged now then the attack would surely hit it. She snapped her head back towards the man and braced herself to take the blow, only now noticing these strange metal balls rolling right at their feet and stopping. A second later they detonated and engulfed both members in a shock of blue electricity, bright enough to light up the whole rooftop but stopping his attack.

Luciel flinched from the shock and hid her eyes away from the bright electric lights. She was rooted to the ground for a second when her body was suddenly hoisted up into someone's arms before being rushed away from the scene.

Luciel gasped and clung tightly to the person before noticing these familiar sharp gray eyes staring at her. "M-21?" she questioned with a bright smile spreading to her lips. "Oh, thank goodness you're here." She looked back up to his face and noticed that he was wearing a mask. "What are you wearing?"

"Don't ask. It was all Tao's idea," he said and took a few seconds to look her over. She looked fine, just a little winded and shaking from the anxiety too. "You alright?"

Luciel frown and lowered her head into M-21's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do." She looked back up and saw that Tao's electricity had stopped, and soon enough, the big guy was after them again and gaining ground fast. It wouldn't be long till he caught up.

"Stupid bastards! You think you can escape?" he laughed madly and started to close the distance with every long stride he made. He was nearly on top of them when three hollow shots rang out and pierced his leg. It didn't hurt that much but it made him stop completely to see where the bullets came from. "There are more?"

Luciel lifted her head and looked around. "Takeo?" She had better sight than the Cerberus members so she could easily see him in the distance with a rifle in hand, waiting calmly for his next opening shot. He too was wearing a mask. "What's with these masks. They're so strange."

M-21 lowered Luciel to the ground. "Stay here and take this." He gave her a communicator and took off back in the direction of the Cerberus members.

"Tao?" Luciel said while putting the earpiece in. She jumped slightly when she felt the harsh impact of an explosion behind her, caused by M-21 colliding with the big guy. "Tao, please tell me you have a plan. I don't know what to do."

"Don't worry, Lady Zero. We got this all under control," Tao assured her boldly. "And don't call me Tao. It's No. 1!"

Luciel's face burned a vibrant shade of vermilion when she heard the name she was suddenly given. "Did you just call me Lady Zero?" She didn't get her answer in words but got a loud and boisterous laugh instead that blared in her ears with bottomless confidence.