Ruby panted as she dodge the training bot shooting her. Not far, X, Zero, and Dr. Cain watched as she dodges and attacks. Zero was impressed with how she was fighting and what he heard from X was true, then Ruby had the skills of an S-Class Hunter. X watched as Ruby slashes another training bot, recalling the fight with Chill Penguin. Ruby fought like a Maverick Hunter, but also like some kind of weapon. He didn't like that. Ruby was a human, and she shouldn't use herself like that.

Dr. Cain watched as well, smiling. Unlike X, he didn't see her using herself as a weapon, or how Zero thought of herself as a true hunter. He saw a young girl that wanted to help others and use her skill to help defend herself and others. He did hear how she tried to make friends with Blake even if she didn't want to.

"That's enough, Ms. Rose." He said, shutting down the training bots.

Ruby panted as the training came to an end. She was fast, but it was clear that her opponents were faster. If she was going to stand a chance, she needs to work on her own upgrade.

Ruby walks out of the training area before seeing the three.

"Well, how did I do?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Your skills would mark you as an S-Class Hunter," Zero said.

"But you're throwing yourself at them like a reckless hunter," X added.

"Well, I knew they weren't going to wait until they attack me first. I wasn't trying to flashy or anything." Ruby said, remembering the one lesson her mother told her before she passed away.

"Never tried to outdo yourself, Ruby. Not everyone cares about the big finish or flashy entrances. Don't show them everything. Be smart. Be yourself."

"Even so, it not a wise idea to do that," X said.

"And you thought I was rushing in without a plan when fighting Chill Penguin?" Ruby asked, remembering X that she save him.

Before X could say anything, Zero place a hand on his shoulder.

"She's still young, X. But at least she's learning.

"In case you have noticed, I'm 15! And I drink plenty of milk!" Ruby said, giving a cute-angry face.

Zero laughs, reminding him of the time he first met Ruby.

"See, she hasn't changed a bit." Zero smiles.

"Attention all Mavericks Hunters, please report to the main control room, again all Maverick Hunters report to the Main Control room."

"Guess they found another Maverick. Let's go." X said with him and Zero rushing off.

"Well, it did say all Hunters," Ruby said, looking at Dr. Cain.

"That it did." He smiles before Ruby ran after them.


The hunters enter the main control room as the Navigator turned to them.

"We have a problem. The new battleship, the Death Rogumer, was stolen from the Hanger." She said, surprising them.

"What? But the ship is still untested!" A hunter shouted.

"Do we know how took it?" Another asked.

The Navigator looks sad before showing a video. Even watched as follow Hunter walked into the video before turning to the camera. From the look on his face, he was sad about what he was doing. He fires at the camera.

"Storm Eagle?! But I thought he was trying to arrest Sigma?" X said, surprised.

"I hate to say it, but the plans we got from the White Fang member told us that Storm Eagle fail in his mission and had joined Sigma's Forces." The Navigator sighs.

"What? Why?" A Hunter asked.

"We don't know. We need to find Storm Eagle and the ship." The Navigator said.

"And the location?" X asked.

"New-type Airport." She said.

"And you guys need to thank Blake for this. Without her, you'll be lost without any plans." Ruby spoke up, surprising a few hunters.

"Stay out of this, rookie." A Hunter said.

"Hey, don't talk to me like I don't what I'm doing! I may be a rookie hunter, but I know when to give the person the credit they deserve!" Ruby said.

"She's nothing but a Maverick!" The same hunter said.

"ENOUGH!" Zero shouted, causing both Ruby and the Hunter to back away.

"Ruby's right. Without Blake, we'll be around without any plans. She left the White Fang of her own free will. She gave up on her own free will. We can't keep treating her like a Maverick." He told them.

"But..." The Hunter started.

"We can argue about this later. We have a real Maverick to deal with," Zero said, even though he couldn't believe that Storm Eagle betray them.

"Zero's right! We need to get to the New-Type Airport before Storm Eagle uses the Death Rogumer to attack anyone." X said, making Ruby nod in agreement.

"Alright, it's clear that the 7th Airboard Unit might attack anyone that get's close. We'll have our airships keep them busy while, someone deals with Storm Eagle." The Navigator said.

"How about it, X?" Zero asked, knowing X was closer to Storm Eagle than he was.

X wasn't sure if he could fight Storm Eagle, but his actions couldn't be ignored. He looks up and nods.

"I'll try to bring him in so he could tell us what Simga has planned." He said.

Zero nodded, understanding X's reason. Ruby stood off to the side, thinking about something. She sighs as she knew what she had to do.


New-type Airport,

X teleported on the nearby tower, knowing that the ship was too dangerous to go on.

"X! The Death Rogumer is just ahead. But hurry, it's almost finished loading and refueling!" The Navigator said.

"On my way," X said, dashing.

He stops when he notices the moving platforms that went higher into the sky. X jumps on one before moving to the higher ones. He soon reaches the top before turning and grabbing Ruby's hand, surprising her.

"Um, Hi?" Ruby said, sheepishly.

"You didn't jump out of the airship again, did you?" He asked, seeing her shake her head no.

"You sneak on board after I told you to remain behind, did you?" X asked, seeing Ruby flinch.

X sighs. He knew Ruby could handle herself, but he didn't get why she was following him. Weiss and Blake understood that they couldn't rush in an attack like this.

"Look, X, I just wanted to give you some backup. What if Storm Eagle doesn't give up? What if you have to destroy him?" Ruby told him.

X looks away. It might be possible that Storm Eagle might not give up and would be forced to fight. But he didn't want to take that chance.

"I'll talk to him. I'll make sure he comes in peacefully." X said, sounding sure of himself.

Ruby sighs.

"Alright, lead the way." She said as X sighed again.

They ran across the sign before jumping on another building. They destroy a few enemies blocking their way before coming to some floating platforms.

"This will be dangerous. One slip and one of us is history." X warned her.

Ruby nods, knowing that this long fall was more dangerous than the time she jumped from the airship. They ended up taking turns hopping across the flying platforms, destroying the enemies that were on some of them. Once they reach the other side, X could feel something calling for him. Something that was familiar.

"X?" Ruby asked, confused.

X wall-kicked up the tower before sliding down the other side. He kicks off the tower before landing near some flammable canters. Ruby soon joined him, still confused.

"X, what's wrong?" Ruby asked.

"There's something behind here. Something calling me." X said.

Ruby turns to the canters, still lost. She walks over and tries to pull one free."

GRAH! They place in there pretty tight!" Ruby said before backing away.

"Move," X said, aiming his buster at them.

Ruby steps aside as X starts shooting at the canters. Ruby blinks before joining him. Soon, the canters exploded, clearly the way.

"Wow, I'm surprised it didn't cause more damage than that," Ruby said, putting her weapon away.

X said nothing before walking inside the secret room. Ruby quickly follow, stopping as they found another capsule. X approach it and it opens to show Dr. Light again.

"The Head Parts await you within this capsule. Equip the parts you find inside here, and you will gain the ability to smash blocks with your head! I'm counting on you, X. You are humanity's last hope..." He said.

Ruby saw X enter the capsule and quickly cover her face. When the light show ended, Ruby saw that X's helmet was different. It was still mostly blue, but the rim of his visor was white and had yellow fins on top, plus a black border to his red forehead lens. X steps out and notices some blocks above him. He jumps feeling his head breaking the blocks with no pain on his head.

"It works," X said, smiling.

Ruby then turns to the capsule before looking over it and finding what she was looking for. She quickly pocket it before X could see what she was doing.

"We have to keep moving. The Death Rogumer is just ahead." X said, making her nod.

They climb back up the tower before running down the roof that was close to the Death Rogumer.

"X! The ship is getting ready to take off! Hurry!" The Navigator informed him.

X and Ruby ran as fast as they could go before X dashed-jump on the to wing. He turns and saw Ruby jumping towards it before grabbing her hand and pulling her up. He thought she was going to stay behind, but he guess that wasn't going to happen. He pulls Ruby on the wing before they heard the sound of some missiles firing, hitting a few Maverick Hunter ships, shocking X.

They both heard the sound of wings flipping before they saw Storm Eagle landing on the ship. X couldn't believe what he just saw and faced Storm Eagle.

"Storm Eagle! Don't tell me that even you've gone Maverick!" X asked, still shocked.

Ruby notices that there was a regretful look on his face, showing he was not happy with this at all.

"Answer me, Storm Eagle! You're not the type of Reploid to do something like this!" X said, making Storm Eagle look at him.

"Forgive me, X... I... I must defeat you!" He said before standing ready.

"Storm Eagle..." X said, still shocked.

"X! Snap out of it!" Ruby shouted before Storm Eagle flips his wings.

A powerful gust started to blow them back, and they tried to keep the ground. But they were being blown towards the edge of the ship. X was far enough to try and move forward but Ruby was much closer.

"RUBY!" X shouted, seeing that she was about to go over the edge. Ruby noticed where she was at and quickly acted. She then started dashing, moving away from the edge.

"How did you?" X asked, surprised.

"I added my own Dash ability," Ruby said, pulling out her weapon.

Storm Eagle stops flipping before he rises his own buster and fires his Storm Tornado. It started to push them both back, but they quickly dashed forward, fighting against the attack. Ruby was able to get closer to Storm Eagle and slash him with her weapon. Storm Eagle grunted before taking a few steps back. He saw Ruby jumping towards him before shooting his Storm Tornado again, blowing Ruby back and making her drop her weapon. Ruby landed on the ship a bit away from Storm Eagle as X fires his buster.

Storm Eagle took off to the sky, causing the shoot to miss him. X watches him fly up, getting ready to shoot again before Storm Eagle dive at him. X quickly jumped back, seeing Storm Eagle stop before hitting the ship before flying back upwards. He kept diving for a while, as X did his best to dodge Storm Eagle. He soon flew back down, just in time for X to fire a charge shot. Storm Eagle flinches but remains on his talons. She flips his wings again, trying to blow X off. However, he grunted when something slash one of his wings, cutting it off.

He looks behind him to see Ruby was back on her feet, her weapon in a position that shows she just swung it. He fires a Storm Torando at her, catching her off guard and almost blowing her off the ship! Luckily, she was able to get the blade to catch the tip of the ship before she fell too far.

Storm Eagle turn to X, who was changing another shot. Since Storm Eagle couldn't fly, he knew he stood no chance. He only wanted this fight behind him and X. However, he knew that the girl was just as skilled. X fires as Storm Eagle did nothing. The shot destroyed his core, causing him to explode. Once it was done, X quickly ran to the tip of the ship and saw Ruby was still holding on but was having a bit of trouble climbing up.

X carefully grabs the weapon, making sure not to touch the blade as he pulled Ruby up. Once Ruby was close enough, he offer her a hand, allowing him to pull her up.

"Thanks, X." She said, trying to catch her breath.

X nods as he helps Ruby to her feet. Suddenly, the ship stop and started to fall.

"What's happened?" Ruby shouted, grabbing X's arm to keep herself from flying off.

"The Death Rogumer is falling! Storm Eagle must have been controlling it during the fight." X said, shocked.

"WHAT?! That means..." Ruby said, putting it together.

"It going to crash!" X told her.

"Then what do we do?" Ruby asked, worried.

X knew they had no time to get inside the ship in hopes to make it start flying again. There was one choice but he wasn't sure about it.

"Ruby! Hold on to me!" He said, causing Ruby to hug his body.

X took a breath, hoping this wouldn't turn out bad. He soon teleports them both off the ship and back to base.


Later,

X stood in the hallway, waiting. He soon saw Zero, Weiss and Blake walk up.

"How's she doing?" Zero asked.

"So far, her organs are intact. She mention about feeling a bit sick and almost threw up. The doctors are checking over her now." X said.

"I can't believe that she rushed into a battle like that!" Weiss said, groaning.

"Ruby seems really interested in proving herself," Blake said, hoping she was okay.

"I already have a feeling that the next time there's a Maverick sighting, she going to follow you again, X," Zero said, making X sigh.

X was starting to piece that together as well. Ruby might be a rookie hunter, but she was clearly far from being a rookie.

"I'll go talk to Dr. Cain about it. And tell Ruby I want to see her in my quarters." X said, walking away.

Zero shook his head. This girl was slowly starting to impress X. She even tried to give praise to Blake for her help while everyone didn't trust her fully. Something told him that Ruby was going to make things in the Maverick Hunters interesting.


And here's Storm Eagle. Yeah, the story is not on hold anymore. But seriously, I don't like putting up a chapter that tells you guys that I'm putting the story on hold because I don't see any reviews pop up, full-day or not. Even if you don't have any ideas, at least tell me what you thought of the chapter. And I did an idea for the Storm Tornado and the Rolling Shield. I'll be thinking about those ideas. I am still waiting on the others.

So after sneaking on a mission twice, both Zero and X decide to do something about it. Which I'll cover in the next chapter. And before anyone asked, there's no pairing in this. X and Ruby are just friends.