Chapter 5- Blackout
Maverick Hunter Training Station 2:50 p.m. Jan 17
It had been a good day; Zero had accepted another Battle Dome challenge from the ever-relentless Tiara. This hot-tempered girl had gotten it into her head that she would one day defeat Zero, and despite countless failed battles that never lasted long, she refused to give up. Zero had to give her credit for her gumption.
After white washing the fiery female once again, Zero spent some time helping the other Commanders train the Rookie Hunters, then hit the simulator. The Mavericks were still lying low, so no one had had any missions.
Zero had gone back to being his usual carefree self, pushing his worry aside as being silly and unnecessary.
I hope X will forgive me for going so overboard. I guess I really should trust his instincts more. Zero told himself as he ran through the simulation chamber, dodging enemy fire and strategically placed traps. X had awakened the day after their visit to NanoCorps. as cheerful as ever and there had been no problems for the last two days.
Seems all he needed was a good nights rest. Zero slid under a low hanging block. Using the tiny out cropping on the other side for footing, he vaulted over a wide pit and spike trap, landing on the opposite ledge just beyond the hazard. He was about to enter the simulator's final room, the boss's chamber, when his thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
Breep-breep Breep-breep
Zero's eyes lit up; it was a very familiar and welcome sound. Hastily Zero signaled for the simulation to be terminated. As the after images of the virtual reality dissipated, Zero turned to face the control room's large observance window.
"Hey Zymiath," Zero shouted with excitement to the Reploid who ran the simulator program, "I've gotta go, I'm being paged by the Command Center!"
Zymiath was responsible for creating simulation-training programs for the Hunters. To do this, he would gather data from the missions of Hunters such as X and Zero, then write virtual reality programs with fragments of information from those files. After creating the program, he would then decide what level it should be classified as and save it for later use. He loved his job, although it could often get demanding; he was required constantly to update the simulator with the most recent data and scenarios.
Zymiath pumped a fist in the air for Zero as the red robot dashed out of the training chamber at top speed. Rushing down the hall, Zero received grins and thumbs ups from all the Hunters he passed; things were finally going to get back to normal.
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"Hey, Honey," a voice with a soft Southern accent inquired. "Can I get ya' anything? Ya'll want a soda or perhaps a nice, hot glass of Coco? Tis pretty chilly out there today."
X's head snapped up with a start, his thoughts having been interrupted. "Oh…um…no, I'm fine."
The waitress that had approached him stood behind the counter, a coffee pot in one hand. She wore a light blue, short dress; her restaurant uniform; and a white apron around her waist. The apron had two pockets on the front, a pen and an order booklet in one of them. She looked down at the small robot with a bemused smile.
X had been roaming the streets of the downtown district while deep in thought and had wandered into a small Café. Hardly realizing what he was doing, he had sat down on a burgundy cushioned stool at the Café's bar, his feet hanging a few inches above the ground. He was wearing a two-tone blue custom jacket over a black t-shirt that had the word 'Rock' printed in fancy red and orange letters across the front, a pair of khaki Cargo pants and jet black sneakers with crimson laces.
Putting the pot of coffee back onto its burner, the waitress strolled back over to the counter; something about this young stranger intrigued her. Resting one arm and an elbow on the black and white marbled surface, and leaning forward, she placed her chin in her palm so that she was now at eye level with X. Smiling sweetly, her copper locks tumbled over her shoulder as she cocked her head to one side, her sky blue eyes gazing into his bright green ones.
"So what brings a young Sugar like yer self all tho' way out here?"
"Just visiting an old friend." X replied truthfully with a strange hint of sadness to his voice. He had to smile at her remark. Dressed in street clothes, she had not realized who or what he was, she thought him to be a little boy. X shrugged inwardly, he often was mistaken for a child.
For the first time since he had entered the Café, X began to look around him, becoming more aware of his surroundings as his mind cleared. The Café was on the small side, but had a relaxing feel. The interior was done in soft earthy tones, its tables having black, metal hand-molded bases, frosted glass tops and matching chairs with burgundy cushions. Canvas shaded lamps hung from the ceiling, giving the room interesting patterns of lighting. Things looked pretty slow, there were only a few other costumers besides himself.
Must be the regulars…
X's thought was interrupted by the sound of a small bell ringing as a tall man with sandy blonde hair wearing a white t-shirt and jeans walked into the Café and took a seat at the far end of the counter.
"Hey Bonnie, how's it going? Can I get a Latte?"
"Sure thin', Max, comin' right up." Replied the waitress as she turned away from X and started to head back toward the kitchen. However, almost as if in an afterthought, she turned to face X one more time.
"Ya're sure ya don't want anythin', Sugar?" she prompted him in a gentle voice.
"No." X shook his head, giving her a weak smile. He crossed his arms on the counter and then cradled his head in them as he watched Bonnie fix the ordered drink. A strange little voice somewhere in the back of X's mind longed for the offered hot Coco.
But how can that be? He questioned it, feeling somewhat silly. Reploids don't eat or drink.
After a few minutes, X decided it was time to leave. Placing a tip on the counter for Bonnie's hospitality, the small android hopped off the stool and walked out the door.
X rode the subway to the east end of the district and continued from there on foot to Cain Labs. As he entered the lobby of the industry, a metallic, silver colored droid looked up at him from behind the master control system. The droid looked more like an alien rather than a human, with its skeletal body, lack of hair or facial features and glowing amber eyes.
"Commander X May I help You?"
X turned his attention toward the droid. It had taken a while, but he had gotten used to its emotionless manner.
"Can you tell me where I can find Dr. Cain?" he inquired of it.
"Dr. Cain is in research laboratory number five."
"Thanks." X replied. Even though he knew the droid wouldn't respond, it was X's habit to be courteous anyways.
As he walked down a hall toward the elevator that would take him to lab #5, something touched his shoulder. Turning to see what it was, the smiling face of a Reploid that was taller then him greeted X. The robot wore a uniform of tarnished blue and carried a clipboard.
"Long time, no see!" he greeted as they shook hands with each other and locked in the kind of embrace old friends share.
"Good to see you again, Buster. Really has been a while, hasn't it."
"So, what brings you here, X?" Buster inquired as the two stepped back to face each other. A dark shadow crossed X's face for a moment, but disappeared in another instant as his expression brightened.
"Well, to tell the truth, I had some free time at the Base, so I thought I'd come here and visit Dr. Cain."
"Hmph, that old coot been so busy lately, hardly takes time to even eat. He's got some kind of new research project he's really excited about." Buster held up the clipboard for X to see. "He's still got me running errands for him. You'd think I'd have been p-p-pr-mo-ted by now!"
X stared blankly at Buster for a moment, slightly surprised that he had not recalled the Reploid's slight speech impediment. Buster had been built as a project by a Tech School student about six years ago and his speech systems sometimes malfunctioned.
"Buster, why haven't you ever had Dr. Cain look at that? I'm sure he could fix it." Buster gave X a momentary blank stare.
"Wha? Oh, you mean the problems I have with talking. Yeah, I guess I could, but… it's kinda b-be-come pa-art of who I am." X couldn't help but chuckle at Buster's optimism.
"Well, I 'spose I should go find Dr. Cain before I lose track of where he is. I'll see you around Buster. It was great to see you again." The two Reploids waved good-bye to each other as X entered the elevator at the end of the hall.
X walked into a small room, which was cluttered with a wide array of devices and computer consoles. There was a faint smell in the air of heat and mixed chemicals and in the far corner of the room, standing in front of a monitor, was a small, wrinkled old man with a white beard that extended to his waist.
"Dr. Cain?" X said with a slight tone of apprehension as he approached the scientist, hoping that he hadn't caught the man at a bad time. As the scientist turned, his small beady eyes twinkling at his guest in surprise and his bald pointed head made him appear almost gnome like.
"Ah, X, what a pleasant surprise!" the old man exclaimed as he hugged the Reploid with an unexpected strength for his age. "I had no idea you where coming. Please have a seat." He offered as he uncluttered a small lab chair. "What brings you here?"
X sat in the chair as Dr. Cain pulled up another for himself. Blushing slightly, X gazed at the floor. "Well…nothin' much has been happening at the Head Quarters lately. Just figured I'd come to visit for a while."
"'Not much has happened', 'I just thought'. X… your grammar is slipping." X looked up quickly to meet Cain's gaze with a startled expression. "I know you too well. You didn't just come here to say hello, did you, X." The small scientist gave his Reploid companion a skeptical look.
Giving a heavy sigh, X lowered his head, feeling somewhat ashamed for his hesitating to talk with Cain. He knew Dr. Cain had always listened to his problems and helped him before. Why was he letting these recent events disturb him so much? He took a deep breath.
"Your right, Sir. I came to you to talk about a matter that has been bothering me lately." X looked up at the wrinkled scientist, waiting for a response, but the man only gave him a look of undivided attention and encouraged the Reploid to go on. Steadying himself again, X continued.
"For nearly the last three weeks now, I've been having trouble getting to sleep. When I finally do doze off, I awaken just a few minutes later due to some odd unnerving feeling. I just can't seem to place what it is. I talked to Life Savor about it and his thoughts were that I just might be building up too much nervous tension and need to relax for a while. But… it's not that I don't trust Life Savor's skills as a doctor…"
"You'd just prefer a second opinion by some one who knows you better." Cain finished for X and the Reploid gave him a relieved glance that told the scientist he'd hit the nail right on the head.
"Of course I will, X. Why didn't you just ask in the first place?" Cain replied with a friendly grin.
"Th-thank you, Dr. Cain." X stammered as his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. He watched as the small scientist darted around the room, moving aside piles of items and setting up equipment. They were almost ready to begin when a distinct beeping caught X's attention.
"Oh, I'm sorry Dr. Cain." The Blue Bomber exclaimed as he got to his feet and pulled on his jacket. "I've got to go; the Command Center is calling me." He turned toward Cain as the man placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright, X." Cain assured with an approving nod. "If the Head Quarters needs your services, then you had better be on your way. Perhaps we can finish this when you have another spare moment." X started to back away from the scientist. "Oh, and don't be a stranger."
X smiled broadly at his old friend. "Thank you again, Dr. Cain."
Lifting his right wrist to chest height, X pushed a button on a slightly watch like device he wore, and in a flash of radiant blue light, he teleported away.
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Zero arrived in the Command Center, panting, but nonetheless filled with energy. X had already arrived and was standing next to the map projection console. As they approached each other, the two exchanged grins that stretched from ear to ear.
Alia stood behind a data console inserting new information to be used for the navigation programs on the upcoming mission. She had been briefed earlier by the General and was preparing every thing she would need for the task, which included info streams on background information about the mission and data-hydrons on the location.
A large holographic map appeared in the center of the room when General Signas arrived. In the top right corner were information on and a depiction of a Maverick.
"Commander Zero, Commander X." he nodded once in greeting to one and then the other.
The tall General tipped his cap up slightly, and folded his hands behind his back, the gold medals and stars he wore showing cleanly against his deep, royal blue uniform. Signas was a young Reploid general who had graduated military training and been assigned to the Maverick Hunters five years ago. He had replaced the former Hunter General, who had been destroyed in a horrendous battle during the Maverick Wars. Although the Hunters never forgot their previous general, they had gladly welcomed Signas with open arms. He was an expert tactician, having the most precise CPU amongst Reploids. He was strict, but had a tender soul and would try to support and encourage his ranks when ever possible.
X and Zero, being Class Special A Hunters, had participated in many missions with him in the past, and he had become quite attached to the two androids, as well as the rest of the Special Operations team; a group consisting of six members; the two Commanders, Alia, Douglas, Life Savor, and himself. Despite his affection for his friends, there were times he understood that he could not let his feelings interfere with his duties as a general.
"We have received word that this Maverick," Signas gestured to the heads up display on the map projection, "was spotted fifteen minutes ago heading toward City district 227428. We have been informed that he is possibly the same Maverick that robbed the Data Bank and that he is to be apprehended immediately. Currently, we do not have much information on him, but it is reported that he possesses unusual agility. X, Zero, I want the both of you to transport to the site ASAP. I trust your abilities, but it may require both of you to capture him."
Signas turned to face a large, blank screen on the Command Center's right wall.
"Alia, get me online with Douglas."
Blip
The screen lit up and the face of the Hunter mechanic came into view. Douglas wore red tinted goggles with fold down wielding lenses on his broad round face. His outfit was done in green with gray midsections and comprised of far fewer pieces of armor than that of X or Zero, allowing for wide ranges of flexibility and movement so that he could crawl under and around pieces of machinery with ease.
"Douglas, we have an assignment, I'll send you the file. Do you have anything that may be of use in this situation?" Douglas promptly skimmed the data burst that Signas had sent him. He returned his attention to the General.
"You bet I do, Sir! I've been dieing to field test these babies!"
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X and Zero arrived in district 227428 via teleport. Once the system restored communications abilities, Alia contacted them on their COM links.
"Glad to see that you guys landed safely, sorry about the bumpy ride, we'll get that quirk in the teleporter fixed as soon as possible." She had donned her Com headset and was sitting behind the navigation system. From the Base, Alia could monitor all actions on the field, keeping tabs on anything that moved; whether it was her friends, a Maverick, or anything else that crept about. Through this method, she could warn her charges of any danger in their area.
"So boys, what do you say we get this show on the road?"
The answer to her inquiry was a loud, high-pitched whoop on the other end of the line.
"That's not a quirk, Alia," Zero jested as he and X flashed the thumbs-up signal, "the old girls' just excited, and I think we're just as happy to be back on the job as she is."
"Alrighty then, let the hunt begin! I have a bead on our Maverick. Target is headed southeast on route 357. X, I'll send you a data burst with a tracking map that you can access with your helmet's HUD. Zero, I'm teleporting in Douglas' newest gadget… I'm sure you two are really going to enjoy this one!"
Two floating orbs appeared before the Hunters, one with a soft blue glow, the other bright red. Zero took the latter and deactivated the outer casing. In his hands where the orb had previously been, rested what looked like a red snowboard with a flame painted down the center.
"Oh sweet!" Zero exclaimed as his eyes widened with excitement. "They sent us Hover Boards!" The red clad android snatched the second orb out of the air and tossed it over his shoulder to his blue armored partner, who also deactivated the protective shell.
Zero flicked a switch on the side of the board and released it, the board falling to the ground and stopping a few inches above the rubble covered terrain. With a graceful leap, Zero landed on the board, which lunged forward with a burst of speed. X followed closely behind the red clad robot, the twosome weaving skillfully between and around the debris of the deserted sector.
As they zoomed through the damaged street, a large slope of rock swiftly came into view. Throwing a quick smirk over his shoulder at X, Zero accelerated and headed straight for the pit that lurked under the rocky ramp. As the Rad Raider reached the edge of the incline, he bent down and grabbed the side of his board, kicking both feet out to his left, causing himself and the board to spin clockwise in mid-air. Then, shifting his weight to the front, he somersaulted forward and landed just a few millimeters above the ground beyond the edge of the chasm, the Hover Board bobbing a few times and then finally resuming normal altitude.
"Beat that!" he shouted as X caught up to him, challenging his pal to a friendly round of competition. X nodded once, and then waited for the right opportunity to present itself.
After a short moment, X spotted a large rock next to a building. Jumping onto the boulder, X used it as a springboard to launch himself into the air by tail bonking the rock. With one full turn, he landed sideways on a small outcropping on the side of the concrete structure. Grinding several ledges until he was nearly at the top of the building, X wrapped his arms tightly to his chest, dropped off the last ledge and fell head first toward the ground, spinning so that his Hover Board looked like helicopter blades.
Nearing the ground rapidly, he waited until the last second before flipping right side up and landed facing backward, giving Zero a very smug grin. Zero glared at him as X did a half turn so that he was facing forward again.
Without warning X abruptly slowed down, causing Zero to have to swerve to avoid hitting him.
"What is it?" Zero questioned, for X looked as though he were concentrating on something.
"The tracking map Alia sent me says we're approaching our target. He should be just around the next corner." X pointed to the two-way road ahead of them, indicating the passage to the right. As they rounded the bend, they spotted a Maverick that stood a little shorter than Zero. He looked like a humanoid lizard, balanced on his strong hind legs, a slender snout with jagged teeth protruding from his face.
Rows of spikes covered the sides of his arms and back, curving at sinister angles. A flaring mass of fiery hair started on his forehead and extended to the middle of his back.
Startled by the arrival of the Hunters, the Maverick turned to flee. With amazing agility, he made his way toward a narrow lane, nearly out running the Hover Boards on foot.
Punching his board into overdrive, Zero closed the distance between himself and the Maverick by a few feet, then lunged right off the board, soared through the air and tackled the reptile like Reploid. The two tumbled across the ground, wrestling as they came to a stop. Within a few minutes, Zero had over powered his adversary and pinned him down. But as X caught up to the wriggling mass of robotics, the Maverick grew anxious to get away, realizing that any chance for escape would be totally futile if the Hunters double-teamed him.
Pushing Zero back a few inches with one hand, the reptile swung out with the other. His long razor sharp claws nailed Zero straight across his left eye, causing the Rad Raider to reel backward and fall to the ground on his back. He winced as his head cracked into a rock. The Maverick jumped to his feet and had disappeared down an alleyway in an instant.
X jumped off his board as it skidded to a halt next to Zero. "Are you alright?" He said as he extended a hand to his fellow Hunter. Groaning softly, Zero took X's offered help and got to his feet. Four diagonal gauges crossed his face.
Rubbing one of his fingers over a single cut, Zero looked at the bluish-gray liquid in disgust. "It's nothing that will slow me down." He scowled, looking in the direction the Maverick had vanished.
Examining the alleyway, the Reploids agreed that they would have to leave their Hover Boards behind and continue on foot. X switched off the map Alia had given him, he and Zero preferring from here on out to use the tracking skills they had developed from many experienced years as a Hunters.
Cautiously they traversed the rubble-cluttered alcove, having to climb over and squeeze behind rocks.
"That Maverick must be fast, it's taking us forever to get through here!" Commented Zero as he slide sideways through a hole between two rocks. The going was much faster for X, since he was the smaller of the two, readily being able to squirm through gaps that took Zero longer to clear.
The red android climbed over and crawled under two more slabs of concrete. As he reached his feet, he caught a glimpse of X disappearing through a small niche half way up a wall of rock. Giving an annoyed groan, Zero vaulted onto the wall and started to wiggle through the passage himself. Flipping out of the hole, he landed feet first in a small clearing. X was there, sitting on a rock, waiting for him.
"What's the matter? Getting tired, Blue Bomber?" chided Zero, trying to disguise the slight fatigue he was beginning to feel. He was in excellent working condition, but fitting through those tight gaps was not as easy for him.
"Huh-uh, just got some new data on the target. I'm analyzing it now. Go on without me and scout ahead. I'll catch up with ya' when I'm done." Zero nodded and turned to leave. "Oh, and Zero," X grinned mischievously, "If you catch him, leave some for me."
"Right. Only this time I'll watch out for those claws." Zero replied, wiping one hand over his left eye. The Rad Raider slipped past another rock and was gone.
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Zero finally made it out of the crowded ally way and into a wide street with another ally on the opposite side that was completely blocked off by rubble. Zero climbed up the broken fragments of a building to get to a better vantage point. He quickly scanned the wide street from his high perch. Then Zero noticed something out of place. Almost in the center of the deserted road way stood their Maverick. It appeared as though he was searching for something, what it was, Zero had no idea.
Again Zero briefly scoped out the lay of the terrain.
This is perfect! From here I can easily approach the other ally without being detected. I'll drop down, effectively barricading his escape route. He won't get past me, and if he tries to go back the way he came, he'll meet X. The Rad Raider's smirk grew wicked. We've got him surrounded.
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Shortly after Zero had left, X carefully got to his feet. He took a slow, deliberate breath to calm the nervous, shaky feeling he had inside.
I managed to bluff my way out for the third time. He thought with a heavy sigh.
X stood there for a moment, then feeling stronger, he continued his trek through the hazardous piles of twisted metal and concrete. He came out the other side in record time to stand where Zero had been just a few moments before. He walked into the clearing just as his red clad partner dropped into the street on the opposite end. The two Hunters stared in surprise at each other for a moment, then almost as if exchanging a silent message, they both started advancing.
The Maverick, realizing he was in hot water again, tried to make a move for the ally behind him, but nearly ran smack dab into the blue armored Hunter that had been approaching him. He came to a halt, discovering that both the exits had been blocked off. Franticly, he started to look for another way out, the Hunters were getting to close for comfort.
Zero, who was a little closer, started to make a grab for the Maverick, but was shocked when he noticed that the Reploid lizard was chuckling softly. The renegade had his back turned to Zero and was eyeing X with a malicious smile playing across his face
"Ah… now I recognize you." He scoffed. "Commander X of the 17th unit ."
To add insult to injury, he did a slight salute to X that mirrored the tone of mock respect that he had used. X just ignored the remark.
"And this must be the infamous Zero." The Reploid continued, pointing over his shoulder at the red robot that stood behind him in an now offensive stance, hand hovering above the hilt of his saber, ready at moment to avenge the outrage to his friend. "I've heard so much about you two, quite the team you make."
By this time Zero was completely confused. If he's 'heard so much about us', then why does he seem so calm all of a sudden? His thoughts were interrupted as the Maverick went on.
"This could actually be kinda fun. You don't know much about me, do you? I suppose telling you a little about myself won't cause any harm. My name is Razor, and yes, it was I who robbed the City Data Bank. It was also I who returned the file when we no longer needed it."
X was slightly taken aback. "Aren't you worried about what might happen to you if you tell us all this…?" he asked in incredulous, considerate voice.
"Not really." Razor replied nonchalantly with a flip of a hand and a shrug of his shoulder. "Considering the fact that I'll be the one to tell the boss about our success."
Zero's eyes went wide. "Boss? What success!"
"Well, actually… I should say soon to be success." Razor bragged. "But it's just a small part in the 'Grand Scheme'!"
Zero glanced over at X with a look that said 'What's he talking about?' X just shrugged and shook his head. There was a moment of tense silence. Zero kept a close eye on Razor, who seemed to be content to just stand there with the same cocky grin.
Trying to keep his attention on the target, X fought to overcome a wave of fatigue that had suddenly washed over him. Razor took note of this. Looking at his wrist as if checking a watch, Razor turned around to face Zero, his eyes thinning into slits and his smile growing larger than Zero thought was possible.
"Show Time." The Maverick sneered in a voice that made Zero go cold.
Reeling with a sudden fit of dizziness, X gave a surprised, shallow gasp as a burst of sharp pain ravaged his chest. His hands flew to his mouth as one powerful cough escaped his throat. Slowly he lowered his trembling fingers and stared numbly at the thick, dark, bluish-gray liquid that lay in his white palm.
Zero tore his gaze away from the Maverick to stare with bewildered shock at his friend, catching a glance from X's emerald-green eyes that contained such an indescribably piercing fear that the very emotions made Zero feel sick. Razor didn't waste a moment of this distraction, he slipped passed Zero with master agility and disappeared down the alleyway.
His Maverick Hunter instincts taking over, Zero spun around, eyes franticly searching for the Maverick. "Aarrgh!" he growled with anger at himself for letting the target get away, but all of his ire was replace by pure horror when he heard X's choked, heart rendering cry of agony.
Zero turned to find X stumbling toward him, one arm wrapped around his midsection, the other across his chest, the blue clad Reploid's face a mask of pain. Zero watched helplessly as his comrade took barely two steps before dropping to his knees and then to the ground, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. A chilling fear gripped him as he rushed to were X lay. He crouched on the ground next to X and rolled the limp body over, X's blank eyes staring up into the red android's face before closing as he passed into unconsciousness.
Zero yanked off the dark blue helmet that his partner wore, revealing the Blue Bomber's fluffy, untamed, dark russet hair. He placed one hand on the Hunter's soft, round face, it's color deathly pale and distorted with pain. The artificial skin was icy and had a clammy texture, already a damp sweat was starting to form, causing locks of his mane to stick to the moist flesh. X was still gasping in air, which was a good sign. Although Reploids didn't need to breath in order to live, it meant that he still had enough working energy to survive.
Glancing around, Zero tried to calm himself and think of what to do. His head snapped up as an important thought inserted itself in his mind. Removing his own helmet, his pale blonde hair cascading down his back and shoulders in it's escape from confinement, Zero placed his ear to the Reploid's slowly heaving chest. He could make out a faint heartbeat. It sounded very weak and distant, as if laboring just to hold on. The Rad Raider gave an anxious moan. "Not good…"
Picking his helmet up off the ground, Zero pushed a small, rectatangular button on it's side, maunually activating it's communicator.
"Alia! Do you read me! Alia!...?" The only response was static.
"Noooo…..!" Zero wailed, slamming his fist into the hard ground, causing the surface to crumble and shatter. "There's too much interference here because of all the damaged electrical lines!" In desperation he threw his gaze to the sky.
"Wait…" he gasped as a notion entered his mind. "That building… what if…? Just maybe…"
With one last glance at his suffering companion, Zero placed his helmet on his head, it's ponytail rap automatically snaking around his hair and pulling it back into place, and dashed toward one of the damaged structures that had a radio annteana on top.
Using his plasma charged saber, Zero slashed open the front doors of the broadcasting station. He sprinted across the demolished lobby, hurdling large chunks of concrete. Rushing down the halls, he checked every room, having to forcefully blow open some of the doors. After what felt like hours, Zero finally found what he was liking for on the second floor. There, at the back of the room, stood the controls for the radio tower. A slab of concrete lay on the console.
Without hesitation, Zero grabbed the slab and tossed it across the room. Pulling off his helmet with one hand and opening a panel in the slightly smashed console with his other, he got down on his knees. He placed his red and white headgear on the floor next to him and reached into the wire filled mass that had been revealed.
Thank goodness I'm some what of a technician.
After several minutes of burning his finger tips with hotwiring, Zero managed to connect his helmet's communicator to the control system. Grasping the top of the console, he pulled himself to his feet and flicked a switch on the control panel, crossing his fingers in hopes that the system still worked and would be able to strengthen his transmitter signal enough to bypass the interference and reach the Head Quarters.
"Please work, please work…" he pleaded in a wisper. A red light illuminated on the consoles surface.
"Alia, can you hear me! Oh please answer!" At first all he could hear was static, then, when he was just about to give up hope, a voice spoke up, fighting to over come the impediment.
" fphzt… is Alia… This is Alia. Do you read me? Is that you… fphzt… e… ro? … Zero! Your signal is terrible! Crackle … re you alright? Is s… thing wrong!" the voice called with a rising note of apprehension.
Zero gave a long sigh of relief.