Chapter 9: The Fury Of Toma-Hawk
Zero stared at an unconscious X, who lay in the high security area of Maverick Hunter HQ's sick bay. The ice around his torso had melted, and all of his damages were treatable, but this did nothing to console the Crimson Hunter, for X had yet to wake from his comotosic state. It's all my fault, thought a despairing Zero, I shouldn't have used the Frost Buster. What if I've killed him? What if I found him only to lose him again…? Zero's thoughts were interrupted by Cain as he walked into the room, a look of worry on his aging features. "Zero, I have a mission for you…"
Zero's head snapped up, eager for a respite from his brooding. "What is it?" asked Zero, almost sounding eager as he got up from his chair. "Another of Sigma's generals has just been discovered," answered Cain, "It looks like a newer model of Storm Eagle, so be careful. Also, the base is in the air so for God's sake be careful! And bring Alex with you, you're gonna need help." "Got it," said Zero as he walked out of the room, "I'll go tell him" "Be careful Zero…" whispered Cain as he walked out of the room.
Half an hour later, Alex and Zero found themselves on the floating deathtrap that was Toma-Hawks base. As Zero stared out over the expanse of the base, he did the one thing that he should not have. Zero looked down. Zero reeled at the sheer drop, he couldn't even see the ground from his perch. "Cain wasn't kidding about watching your step" muttered Zero as he and Alex started out in their search for the Maverick general, Toma-Hawk.
"Cain told me there'd be days like this" muttered Alex as he destroyed another Blast Hornet, the fifth one the two Hunters had encountered on their journey through an aerial hell. "Dammit! It's a trap!" yelled Zero as five mechs descended, encircling the Hunters and effectively cutting off any means of avoiding them. "Go for the knees!" yelled Zero as he dashed forward, charging the nearest mech with his Beam Sabre. However, Zero was stopped in his tracks as the mech launched itself into the air with unknown boosters, effectively avoiding the Hunter. Landing behind Zero, he delivered a blow that almost sent Zero over the edge of the base. His fall was only stopped by Alex who had leapt after Zero and stopped the Hunter by grabbing onto Zero's legs before he could topple over. "Holy crap they have boosters!" exclaimed Zero as Alex helped him up, "we're gonna have to use our X-Busters."
The battle was tiring and the strain was apparent on the Hunter's faces as they fought. Although they were scoring more hits with their Busters than their Sabres, the mechs were scoring more. The Hunter's Busters were powerful but the mechs' armor was designed for them and in the fifteen minutes that they had been fighting they'd only been able to destroy 3…
"We're in trouble," said Zero as he dodged another attack, "we can't win if it goes on like this. Any ideas?" "One," said Alex as he fired off a shot at a mech, "How bout combining our attacks on individual mechs. Our Busters aren't gonna do anything. I'll jump up and you rush him. I'll get him when he's in the air." "Roger that!" replied Zero as they commenced the plan. The plan itself worked beautifully, the mech pilots could not compensate for the team and they were soon all reduced to smoldering hulks of metal. The Hunters continued on, completely unaware of the danger that Toma-Hawk posed…
The duo faced three more of the mech traps, but Alex's plan worked with all of them and they were quickly dispensed. However, they had considerably more trouble with the platforms, which collapsed if any weight was placed on them. This forced Zero and Alex to time their jumps exactly and to jump off just as quickly. Any mistakes meant falling to certain death. This proved harder than anticipated and they were forced to use their dash boots an abnormally high amount of times. But, they had at last made it to Toma-Hawk, and as the Hunter's took up ready positions, they had no idea of the trouble that lay in store for them.
Toma-Hawk appeared in a flurry of feathers as he descended from his perch on high. "Ah, very good, you have come at last," said the metal bird known as Toma-Hawk, "my name is Toma-Hawk. I wish for an honourable battle that will start now. Let us waste no more time with words!"
So the battle began, and it was apparent from the beginning that Toma-Hawk had the advantage, as he was able to fly. He flew with such speed that they could barely see him and attacked so fiercely that had little time to dodge his attacks. Alex brought up his Beam Sabre, intent on proving himself for his failure with White Wolf. And as the young often rashly rush into battle, so did Alex rush into combat with Toma-Hawk. Alex leapt at the bird, who dodged the attack easily. This infuriated the Hunter even more and he kept it up, growing more impatient as well as tired after each jump. Seeing his chance, Toma-Hawk dove at Alex, striking him in the chest and sending the young Hunter into the abyss…
Alex fell, dizzy and disoriented, into the expanse of sky surrounding the floating hell of Toma-Hawk. And as he fell, time seemed to slow and he found himself standing apart from him, watching with a detached interest. In a flash, he saw Zero in his mind, lying on his stomach in a position of defeat, wishing he could have done something to save himself and Alex. And as this vision ended, something awoke inside the young Hunter. Alex awoke with a start, and twisted in mid-air, grabbing an overhanging handhold. Alex willed himself to climb upwards, the vision of Zero driving him onward.
Zero screamed in grief and rage as he watched helplessly as Alex tumbled off the edge. He swore he wouldn't let anything happen to him, and he couldn't even do that! At this point, the Hunter known as Zero lost himself in his rage, and let it engulf his entire being. And Zero leapt at Toma-Hawk, not knowing but not caring that this was probably the end of him.
Toma-Hawk easily dodged this, and attacked mercilessly with his weapon, Tomahawk missiles, of which he was named after. Zero stood no chance against the onslaught, hopelessly outgunned by the powerful missiles. Zero fell, lying on his stomach in a pose of defeat as he awaited the inevitable. I'm sorry Alex. I couldn't save you and I couldn't even avenge you. I'm so sorry…
Toma-Hawk flew at Zero, every intent on Zero, not noticing the blue blur that was Alex as it blew past him. Toma-Hawk's calm expression turned to agony as Alex, in a blur of speed composed of fear for his friend and self-assuredness, leapt at Toma-Hawk and carved him in half with his Beam Sabre, the two pieces falling to the ground as Toma-Hawk's eyes looked out in death. A grim Alex rushed to Zero's side, worry covering his face as he checked to see that his friend was ok. Relief crossed his face as he threw a Sub-Tank into Zero's chest as he acquired Toma-Hawks powerful weapon. Zero's eyes slowly opened and as he saw Alex, the Crimson Hunter broke into tears. "Now it's my turn to take care of you" said Alex as he picked Zero up. "Alex, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry…" Alex shushed Zero, Alex, the newborn Hunter warped out, and Toma-Hawks floating hell plummeted to the earth below. Crashing into a vast expanse of water, sinking into the unknown depths.