Maverick Hunter HQ
Command Center
Doctor Eloy tripped on a small cleaner Mose-bot and was hopping on one foot. The operators and some others watch as the human doctor hoping like a ballerina. Screw-ball made a rolled-eyes emoji and swoop in to support her, before the doc fall flat on her face.
"Are you alright, doctor?" asked Lifesaver. Eloy sheepishly smiled, "I'm okay," she turned to Screw-ball, "thanks Screwie!"
"I believe its Screw-ball," The Orb-bot made a deadpan emoji.
"Is something wrong Doctor Eloy?" inquired Signals after he told the rest to get back to work, "Do you have the news for us?"
"Well actually," the woman smirked while adjusting her glasses, "It about Iris."
Signals closed his eyes, "Then It will have to wait ma'am, Dynamo is attacking our base and I just sent Marty and her team to intercept."
Eloy's eyes widen, "You mean X & Zero is not back yet?"
"No," Alia said loudly so that they can here, "I've tried contacting them but I couldn't reach them," Alia took note of Screw-ball's brighten expression, "Thanks Screw-Ball but I can handle this."
Screw-ball made a sad emoji. Eloy, on the other hand, ignored the droid, "If I may, Commander, I must speak to Lifesaver about Iris."
Signals & Lifesaver exchange glances before turning their attention back to Eloy with a nod, "Very well, we just got done talking about few things."
"Thank you sir!" Eloy smiled.
"I'll stay here with Alia-Chan," Screw-ball exclaims. The blonde reploid female did not kept her gaze off her counsel but she did made a loud huff and, "As long as you try not play hero all the time..."
Meanwhile
"Keep firing!" A Reploid Comando do shouted. laser shots can be heard throughout the battlefield. Under the command of General Skuld of the National Guard and Captain Russ of Maverick Hunters they have fought off an army of Maverick's that was attacking the settlement of civilians refugees. The deflector shield has been up, protecting the people from the SIGMA virus, and not to mention the attacks. Each hit could be heard like a sonic boom.
Russ looked down below to survey the ruined battlefield as she is piloting her costume made Pink star-fighter then retured her focus on the cloudy sky, her expression mixed. Though Russ is eager for some action in the skies it didn't feel right. How is it that an army of scrap monsters, old Wiliy bots, defected Mavericks soldiers and large number of heavily armored machanaloid chooses to attack this refugees settlement? What do they have to gain?
Perhaps Spiral Pegasus knows whats up... Russ dread not to think about it because part of her wanted to believe what Commander said about her old teammate is wrong.
Its made her wonder why did Spiral Pegasus save her from that air-ship crash in the first place? It would have been best for her to die with honor like any other Repliforce soldier would. Sure, her gear at the time sprung a leak that could have risked her exposer to the virus If not for that Pegasus Reploid— no, Iris wouldn't want her to die, nether would General and Colonel.
"Or even Howard," Russ's lower lip start to slightly tremble.
"You say something captain?"
"I said its frustrating with all those darn Mavericks running around our turf! Let's wrap this up!" Her Unicorn Air Squadron dive bomb the remaining Mavericks Mechs. Along with the Skiver Air Unit.
The Hunters and National guard members cheered as the remains of enemy forces destroyed by the air bombardment.
...
Five minutes later
Russ slouch on her chair, in her tent. She rest her cross legs on the table while she closed her eyes in deep in thought. Thinking about her report and a written statement for the press. She was about to take a sip of her E-tank before the General showed up to her tent.
The military man said, "as you were." he raised his hand.
"I haven't even saluted— whoa!" Russ blinked as she fell on her butt which promoted the General to laugh. Russ garbed her desk with one hand while she got back up and gave the human General a glare.
"Not funny sir," Russ said.
General Skuld, "Do forgive, I just came here to congratulate you and your squad."
"Um, don't mention it sir but I sure its not the reason your here, is it?"
"You maybe on to something," Skuld remarked as he brought up a small box and handed to the young female Reploid. Russ seem somewhat surprised as she open it; an silver bird medal.
"A medal? And here I thought its something important. Though I... do appreciate the gesture non the less, sir," Russ saluted.
"Well your sill part of the military, even though Repliforce is no more, we been given medals to Spiral Pegasus and Burn DinoRex as well."
"Speaking of Pegasus, how is he?" Russ asked.
The General rise a brow.
"If you don't mine me asking, sir."
"My scouts have been checking up on your comrade at the hanger," the General said, "So far Spiral Pegasus hasn't done anything I would worry about."
This seems to give Russ hope, "Maybe he's recovering from the SIGMA virus. Most of my kind wouldn't last that long."
"I would advise caution; powerful Reploids like him don't break down in minutes like the others."
"But, Sir, some Reploids do recover, even the stronger ones."
The General signed, "One can hope," he headed towards the exit, "If you wish to speak with your friend you're more than welcome."
Russ's eyes widen in surprise. The General chuckled, "Fun Fact: Not all Reploids are contagious once they got the virus so its perfectly safe."
"What?" Russ said flatly, "But his men told me— ugh! Why am I not surprised?" she remembered Spiral Pegasus being a bit paranoid, expecuily around DinoRex. At lest to her, Spiral Pegasus haven't change a bit. Russ will pay him a little visit after she finish her report and, of course, talk to the press.
Shining FireFly Stage
X and Zero fought their way through the maze and baddies. X noted that his friend was laser focus on the objective as if he was looking forward to be over and done with it. The Blue Bomber could not blame his friend but neither of them must not let their guard down, which is exactly what Prince and Sigma wanted.
The'll have to think about saving the Planet before they free Iris.
...
"Unbelievable!" Shining FireFly snapped, "You want me to give up my research for YOUR pet project!?"
Prince was not amused with the bug's out burst, "I would hold that tough if I were you, insect. After all I'm the one who payed the loin's share of this facility." the noblemen reploid turn in on his heel, not facing his lackey.
"Hah!" the beastaloid scoffed, "That's rich! Like I care about your money and your creepy obsession over that girl, Colonel's little sister if I recall?"
Prince held the roses in his gloved hand, twirling it between his fingers, "I beg your pardon?"
"You know what I'm talking about you up-start Maverick pretty boy!" Shining FireFly. Prince's lips curled into a smile, he did not houner the tin-bug a reply instead he begin to laugh.
"What? You find that funny?"
"Your not well, perhaps you should head on home and rest for awhile," Prince said, "But leave the device here, I don't want the Hunters have it."
Shining FireFly scoffed, "Sure I'll leave but I'm taking the device with me, too the Maverick Hunters!"
"I must insist that you follow my orders."
"And let the world be destroyed!? Never! X will stop you—" Shining FireFly paused in place, like stone. The color of the bestaloids eyes vanish without a trace.
Prince turn around with the rose in his hand, "I'm afraid not my old friend," he sighed dramatically, "As you should know I have plans and it involved sending that blue imbecile, Mega Man X, to the scrap-heap."
In the mine of the dashing Noblemen Reploid's hysteria, he can see invisible strings holding Shining FireFly in place connected to a giant purple holographic hand. Like a puppet show, It was a site to behold.
But back to reality, Prince spotted X and Zero showing up. X's eyes widen in shock, "Prince, your here?"
Prince swiped his shoulder with his free hand, "Don't mine me X, I'm just passing through. By the way I believe FireFly isn't too well."
X grunted while Zero readied his Z-Sabor. Prince turn on his heel, "Don't forget about our duel, Zero." he chuckles while he vanished in a pillar of light.
Zero tensed, griping hard of hid Sabor's handle.
"X... I'm sorry I was a fool...!" Shining FireFly, "But I won't let them turn me... The device... It in a safe under my work desk! Find it before I—"
"Oh no, he's been turned," X gritted his teeth.
"We have no chose, we have take him down," Zero said. He was now debating on whatever he should fight— no this is not the time for this, he has to save the planet... for Iris... for Iris... for a brief moment his memories drift back to the time when he and Iris was at a beautiful garden, feeding the little birds and squirrels. Zero and Iris wear once stationed at the British Queen's Royal Palace for a diplomatic mission. The Royals enjoyed their company, well, the little ones mostly.
"Zero..." Iris's whisper.
Zero snapped out of his thoughts, "Get ready X, he's about to attack!"
"Right!" X didn't want to fight Shining FireFly but he just became a Maverick and as duty calls he must defeat Mavericks.