THE TENTH DISK
By blackhart
copyright MM Abacus Fiction, revised 6/26/2001

Chapter Eighteen

X

"What the heck do you mean, `it's Dragoon'?" Argyle asked from the
front. "Didn't Zero get rid of him?"
"Thought so, back at Epsilon's," I said. "Remember though, all the
Mavericks involved in this whole thing were just cheap imitations. Apparently
Sigma didn't have enough time to get the real ones back from the time
machine, so he just used blueprints of the old ones to build clones."
"Makes sense now," Enker said, rubbing his chin. "So now there are
two questions: First, how did Dragoon get back here, or is this just another
clone?; and then, how do we get Wily away from Dragoon and back to the
lab?"
"Both good questions," I said, "and if we could answer the first one,
we could answer the second easily. If this is really Dragoon, we'd have to use
extreme stealth in getting Wily. If it's a clone, we can take him down easily
enough without Wily getting hurt."
"Right," Argyle called. "Perfect. So what's the plan, O Fearless
Leader?"
I smiled. "Can't you people think for yourselves?"
"They pay you to do that for us," Netrix answered.
"I've got an idea."


* * *
Zero

"Yello, this is Zero. What's up?"
"Zero, it's X," came my friend's voice. "We've got a situation."
"Why isn't it ever good when you say `we've got a situation'?"
"It's a governmental conspiracy, bud. Seriously, though, we've got
Wily's location."
"So what's the problem?"
"Well, there are three--he's unconscious, he's in a ship moving very
quickly, and the crowning glory: Dragoon's driving him."
My eyes widened. "Dragoon?"
"Same reaction everyone here had. Listen, I don't know whether or
not this is the real Dragoon or just another clone. Just check the last
transmission date on the time machine there, will you?"
"Sure," I said. "Chakra!" I called across the room. "Can you check
the last date on the machine, please?"
"Done, Zero." He waited a second, then responded: "June 5, 21XX."
"`Ja hear that, X?"
"I heard it," he said, sounding pained. "It's Dragoon."
"So what's your plan?"
"I'm gonna hafta get Wily outta there with stealth," he groaned.
"You sure you don't wanna trade jobs?"
I smiled. "Nice try, X. Be careful out there."
"See you soon, Zero."
"All right, Chakra, since Wily wasn't the last one to come through
that machine, we need to scan the history trail, find out which time anyone
transported from would be the most likely one that Wily came from."
"Getting on that now," he said, typing furiously at a keyboard.
"Whoa!" I yelled. "Easy on the keys, bud, we can't have this machine
damaged!"
"Right," he said. "Sorry."
"Honest mistake," I said. "Just be careful about what you do to this
thing."
"Gotcha, Zero."
Be careful what you do to this thing, or there's no telling what
effect it could have on our lives, I thought.
Across the large expanse of the room between us and the
Mavericks, I radioed Iris. "How's it comin' over there?"
"Alright, I guess. The Mavericks aren't showing much promise of
developing into a threat, if that's what you mean."
"Don't get careless, love," I said. "They can catch you off-guard."
She chuckled as I heard her dash along the floor. "Will do. Just keep
working."
"We're almost to the bottom of this, I know," I said back. "Stay
cautious."



* * *

"Got a history trail working?" I asked Chakra fifteen minutes later.
"I've got the four most recent transmissions," he said. Two are
from 21XX and two from 20XX."
Wily lived in 20XX, I knew. He died of natural causes, shortly after
the first years of 21XX. He still had looked to have been in good health when
I saw him, so I'd guess one of the 20XX dates was his time.
"What are the two dates exactly, in 20XX?" I asked.
Pulling up another screen, Chakra read them off. "June 1 and
August 13."
By now, the eight bumbling Mavericks had been destroyed and the
Hunters returned to where we were.
"Hmm," I mused. "June 1... That date mean anything to any of you?"
Gilley shook her head. "Should it?"
"You're too young to remember," Enker said. "It's the day Sigma
started the Hunters and the Repliforce fighting against one another."
I nodded. "So we have to ask ourselves whether that's just a
coincidence, or whether he's trying to second-guess us."
"His anti-viral programming wasn't working as strongly when he
called Wily in to do his work," Iris said. "We've got to figure this is
intentional, that he's trying to lure us further into his trap."
"Skyler? Your thoughts?"
"Haven't got a say in this," he said. "I haven't had experience dealing
with Sigma in the way you did. I can't tell any more than you can whether
this is a hint or a trap."
I looked to Gilley. She shook her head. "I got nothing."
"Me either," Chakra said. "It's up to you, Commander."
I heaved a sigh. I hated being the responsible one. "Gimme a while.
X has to get Wily back from Dragoon first." And yet, even as I said these
words, I knew in the back of my mind something was wrong... wrong with
those times... someone else from 21XX had come through the portal... But
who?


* * *

"So what's our plan, X?" Argyle asked.
"That's a question I wish I had the answer to, bud," I said. "Like it or
not, we've no clue about what Dragoon could do to Wily if we got involved.
For that reason, I can't plan for this mission. We've gotta ad-lib as best we
can and take the consequences. The only thing I can recommend is that we
cloak before we get to Dragoon and be as stealthy as possible. Got it?"
Everyone nodded. "Good. We can't afford to lose Wily, much as the
people of 20XX would like that," I smiled. "He's too crucial a piece in this
whole time-space thing, all right? Treat Wily with the utmost care, and
apprehend him from Dragoon without killing him."
A second nod came, acknowledging my orders. "Gun it, Argyle," I
said. "Slap up our cloaking while you're at it. We're coming up on the ship
now." I could now see off our port side a small ship, dark red, gunning its
engines hard to try to make its destination before we got to it. I held my
breath. The cloaking system, while totally invisible to the naked eye, could be
seen on some high-powered radar-scopes, if the user knew what they were
doing. I hoped beyond all hope that Dragoon wasn't using the radar.
My hopes were dashed moments later. I saw Dragoon climb out of
the pilot's seat, hopping up onto the top of the ship. He stood there a
moment, looked at the sky, and beckoned. He knew.
"What should we do, X?"
"He's calling me, Argyle. You do nothing. I'll take care of him. Try
to get our ship down close to his, will ya? Get Wily outta there while I hold
Dragoon off."
That plan was soon screwed as well. Dragoon reached inside the
passenger's window, grabbed Wily, and threw him down onto the top of the
vehicle.
"Greeeeeeeat...." Roll groaned. "Any other bright ideas?"
"One more," I said. "I'll dash down there. You guys wait until I've
gotten rid of Dragoon, then I'll grab Wily and you can fly the ship down to pick
us up."
"Oh, is it just as simple as that?" Argyle asked from the pilot's chair.
"I'm the best pilot here, but I don't know if I can keep the ship steady that
long after I pull down next to the other one. Be careful, but be quick."
I nodded. "Will do."
Opening the side door, I stepped out into the brutal air. Flying
backwards a bit, I regained my speed, double-dashing towards the smaller
ship. Positioning myself above it, I landed squarely on top, crushing the
metal of the top only slightly.
"Nice landing!" Dragoon yelled over the rushing air. "Thought you'd
gotten rid of me?!"
"Wish I had!" I said. "Listen, Dragoon, Wily has nothing to do with
this! Just hand him over and we'll fight!"
Wind buffeted me from back and front, my colleagues watching
anxiously above.
He smiled. "Nice try, X! You'll want to know the reason I'm back, I'm
sure?!"
I nodded. "Couldn't hurt!"
"Sigma called me back into service from the past! He needed my
help to carry out his plans again!"
I kept a look of apathy. "So this time it really you?!"
"In the flesh," he yelled, "or metal, rather!"
I smiled. "Thanks for the talk, Dragoon, but you know we're gonna
have to fight! Whether the good doctor here is involved or not is a different
question!"
He threw the old man down near his feet. "I'm ready to fight, then!"
I'm not worried about keeping you alive, I thought. I killed you in the
past anyways. I can take you out now and be done with it.
"I'm ready to go!" I called. "Nice seeing you again, Dragoon!"
"And you, X!" he called over the wind. "Let's go!"
I began charging a buster shot, concentrating on the energy buzzing
around me. Finally, the charge was complete. I dashed up to Dragoon, who
hopped up a second later, coming down with a flaming kick. I dodged, turned
around, and pegged him with the shot. Score!
He swiveled around on one foot and readied his hands. "Hadoken!" he
yelled, launching a fire blast at me. He followed with two more. I dodged
them by jumping toward him, hoping for a closer shot. My charging started
again.
"Crap," I said as I realized what he was doing.
"Shoryu-ken!" he shouted as he launched upward with a fiery
uppercut.
My head snapped back. I flew backwards a bit from the recoil, but
gained my footing again. He had already prepared for his next attack. I shot
off my blast at him while he stood there gaining energy. Suddenly, a long
plume of fire shot from his mouth. I ducked, staying under the heat.
My radio beeped at me. "What is it?!" I shouted over the comm.
"M'A little busy here, if ya haven't noticed!"
It was Argyle. "You're comin' up on a deserted city, X. It's the one
the Sky Lagoon landed on."
Perfect, I thought. I've got a chance to get rid of him here and now.
"How far away are we?!" I asked.
"You're 300 yards and closing fast," he replied. Got something up
your sleeve, X?"
"Something like that," I muttered. "Keep me posted on our position!"
"Will do, X," he said, clicking off.
The heat blast ended, and I was ready. Pounding Dragoon with yet
another plasma shot, I fell back a bit as he punched and kicked at me some
more. His curses were drowned out by the wind, still rushing past us.
Finally, I got him in a hold, keeping him incapacitated momentarily.
Standing on his arms and holding his head away from me with my blaster, I
got him to stay there.
"How far to the city, Argyle?!" I asked.
"100 yards, X."
"Roger that, I'm takin' Dragoon out once we get there!"
My foe struggled to speak, his mouth pressing against my arm
cannon. "A good fight, X!" he said. "Very good!"
I smiled at him. "Funny, if I were you right now, I'd be furious!"
"Well, that's because you don't know what I'm about to do..." he
muttered as he swung his feet upwards, catching the back of my head. I fell
on top of him, and he reversed the hold I had had. I struggled with my hands
and feet to get out, but he had done much better than I in executing the
move. Being considerably stronger as well, he easily held me down as he
gloated.
"Nice try, kid!" he laughed. "You ought not to've let your guard
down!"
I looked into his eyes, seeing only a reflection.... A reflection of...
"Why don't you just finish me off now, you big bag of bolts?!" I
heckled.
"As a matter of fact, I think I will!" he said as he raised his hand high
up into the air, charging it with fire. "See you in the afterlife, X!"
Like hell you will, I thought as I used the arm he had let go of to grab
his elbow and give him a toss backwards, onto the edge of the ship. "How's
prospects lookin' now, Dragoon?!" I yelled as I gestured to my right.
He looked in that direction and saw it. Closing his eyes, he stopped
struggling and waited for it to come. I hopped away as the ship came up on
the building ahead of it, slamming Dragoon's head into the side and sending
his body flying off into the rubble. Unfortunately for me, all my problems
were not gone yet. The ship was on a direct collision course with another
skyscraper's remains directly ahead of the ship.
I leaped over into the pilot's command chair and tried to get the
steering under control, but the sticks wouldn't move. Dragoon had locked
down the auto-pilot. Perfect.
I radioed Argyle quickly. "Get your butt down here with that ship,
now!" I roared. "I need a lift!"
"Coming, X," he replied. "Hang on!"
I jumped back out onto the top of the ship, collecting Wily. Argyle
had sent the Hunter ship into double-time, trying to catch up with us now. I
urged the ship closer, ever closer. Finally, after about ten seconds, it was
down on the left side of the ship. I radioed Argyle as Enker slammed open
the side door. "Keep it steady!"
"I'll do my best! Just get here safe!"
The ship flitted around a second trying to find a good place to hang.
He finally got it, I guess, because the ship stopped moving eventually. "You
good?!" I called.
"Go ahead. Do your best, X!" he said back.
Enker motioned for me to come on. I nodded and dashed over in the
air, catching the side of the door. I still held Wily in my one free hand and
pulled his dead weight up. Enker got him, but I lost my grip suddenly on the
door and flew backwards. I used another dash to recover, falling back on the
smaller ship's roof.
Enker looked frenzied as he motioned this time. I saw why--the
building was less than fifty feet from the small ship. Closing my eyes, I
nodded to myself and jumped. Air-dashing, I found myself inside the Hunters'
ship just as an explosion from behind me sent me rolling to the wall. As I
heard Enker close the door again, I rubbed my head and opened my eyes,
giving everyone a thumbs-up to let them know I was okay. I smiled and got up
from the tight ball I had curled up into when the explosion went off, bringing
myself back to my feet. "Did you miss me?" I asked.
Roll ran past the others congratulating me and slammed into my
chest. "Careful," I said. "I might've needed that air."
She looked up at me, wrapped her arms around me, and hugged me.
I returned the gesture, rubbing her back and easing her worry. "It's all right,"
I whispered. "I'm back, and I'm safe."
"You could've killed yourself, you idiot!" she said lovingly, tears
forming in her eyes.
I wiped them away with my fingers and raised her chin to look into
my eyes again. "Maybe you were wrong about us being wrong for each
other," I said.
"Maybe I was," she said, hugging me tighter. I guided her face
towards mine, ending in a passionate and lengthy kiss. The others had, by
now, turned away, thank goodness. "Don't scare me like that again," she
whispered.
"I can't promise you anything anymore, Roll," I said. "I can't promise
you anything. Everything now has become too complicated. I hate to think
what this could have been like, though, if Sigma's viral functions were the
only things working."
She sighed. "I guess I'll have to settle for that."
"Listen, lovebirds, unless we've got spare fuel, I can't promise you
we'll live another five minutes," Argyle called from the front. I gave Roll a
look that said "I'm sorry," then ran up there.
"What's up, Argyle?" I asked. "Fuel low?"
"Worse than low," he said. "We're runnin' on auxiliary, plain and
simple."
"We got any extra anywhere?"
"None that's not already being used," he said. "It looks bad. The fuel
tank's gonna blow up, X. Unless we get moving now, we've no chance."
"Can you do anything about it?"
"I can try. There're parachutes in the back compartment. There
should be enough for everyone."
"Stay here and try to pull out of it, Argyle, if you want," I said, "but
don't risk your life to save a ship, if you can help it. Get me?"
"Clear as crystal, Fearless Leader," he acknowledged, typing away at
status changes and blueprints of the ship. "Get goin'!"
Pulling the parachutes out of the hidden compartment, I tossed one
to everybody, making especially sure Roll got one. Opening the door, I called
to Argyle: "Hurry up, buddy. I expect you right behind us!"
I heard a "yeah, all right," come out over the rushing wind and typing.
Enker gladly took a leap from the opening, followed by Netrix.
Roll turned back from the door and gave me a kiss. "No matter what
happens here, I love you," she said.
"Don't be silly," I said. "We'll come out of this one fine. Just go. I'll
be right behind you, I promise." This seemed to calm her down, and she
hopped out. I gave another shout to Argyle and a warning, then told him to
hurry up. Hearing an acknowledgement, I jumped out towards the others.
Dashing downward to catch up with them, I found Roll and hugged her
to me. "Some date," she said. "Maybe we should do this again sometime."
"It's not everyday you get to watch an evil robot's head get ripped
off, then parachute from a ship a hundred feet above the ground, huh?"
She smiled and laid her head on my chest. I gripped her around the
shoulders firmly, making sure I had her, then pulled my parachute's rip cord.
At exactly the same instant, I heard a BOOM from above, and hung my head
in sorrow. I told him to save himself, I thought. Always have to go down with
the ship, do you, Argyle?
I touched ground with Roll a minute later, and found all the others
had done the same. Pieces of our ship began raining down onto my `chute as
it began billowing around Roll and me. "He didn't make it" was all I could bring
myself to say.