Chapter 13: Zero Hour

Author: Lady Blue

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"Captain Colbor, you are nearing the outer rim" Jun said over Colbor's headset. The resistance captain glanced around the sandy dune before turning back to his men. "I will not be able to contact you once you're in there" Jun added.

"I hear you Jun" Colbor replied as he continue over the little dune and walks deeper into the desert region follow closely by his men "Talk to you once we finish our sweep"

"Copy that Captain Colbor" Jun replied as her signals start to fade.

"Hey chief" one of his men walk up to Colbor. Colbor turn to his man with a frustrating look. He knew what is coming to him.

"What is it Dive?" Colbor asked frustratingly.

"How come we're the one who always get the lousy patrol route" Dive complained as the others look tired and frustrated "This place is hot like hell"

"Shut up and move that lazy butt of yours and this goes for the rest of you" Colbor said as he led his men into the desert. Not once he opens his mouth, knowing that if he does, they will all start complaining again.

As they walk for another half an hour, a shadow flying over Colbor's men. Dive's felt something was not right, he stop his pace and look straight up and manage to catch a glimpse of a bird like object flying over a small dune hill. Feeling rather curious Dive climb up the hill and takes a closer look. He was in a shock when he sees what lies before him.

"Hey chief" Dive shouted. "Come here"

"Stop fooling around Dive and get down here" Colbor said stopping his patrol and looked back to Dive.

"No Chief, you really have to take a look at this" Diva said waving his hand. Colbor shakes his head and think that this is better be good or Dive will get what is coming to him. As he got up the dune, Colbor eyes open wide, not believing what he is seeing.

"A base in the middle of the desert" Colbor said seeing a large base being built near their city and they have not a slightest clue about it. Colbor can see heavy activities happening around the base, with drones doing construction work and heavy artillery being placed in position pointing to the city.

Colbor turn to one of his men and says "Lopez, get back to base and warn Commander Elpizo about this"

"What are you going to do Chief?" Lopez asked.

"Try and get more information on our new neighbor" Colbor said as he is about to direct the others to get a closer view of the enemy base.

Then without a warning something gushed out from under the sand and caught hold of Dive's leg. "Chief" Dive shouted "Help"

Colbor turn to his men and within a blink of an eye a small squad of brown Z drones gushed out from the sand and activates their saber. "It's an ambush" Colbor shouted as he starts to panic.

"Chief" Dive screams as he is being drag into the sand.

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X felt his body shifts back to reality as his feet touch on solid ground. He opens his eyes and sees the resistance Trans Server room before him. Everything is in chaos; people running around, wounded are being carried out of the room and piles of crates piling up on every corner of the room.

X takes the first step down from the Trans Server followed by a few resistances soldiers that has followed him on the last mission. As he glance around he sees Sera standing near the end of the room talking to one the female resistance soldier. As she finished her conversation, she turns to X, sensing his presence in the room.

"Ayane, you follow Tina to the medical lab, I'll come as soon as I can" Sera commanded. The female resistance nods her head before following the stretcher out of the room. Sera then turn to X and gives a concern look her face.

"X, glad to see you made it back" Sera said "So how was your mission?"

"Great, that bird Phoenix Magnion can really cook up some hot moves if you asked me" X exclaimed and shrugged his shoulder.

"Great! He almost toasts me" Passy complained.

"Hey, we're alive right?" X asked turning his head to the little cyber-elf.

"Someday that attitude of yours is going to get us kill"

"I wish we all had the same luck as you did" Sera said as she turn to the others in the room. The situation hasn't improved much "Two of my girls were badly injured during the dropped"

"What happened? I thought that the mission was supposed to be an easy one after X knocked down the power plant" Passy.

"It went easy alright, but we never expected strong resistance from the local security force" Sera continued "They took out one squad before we could subdue them"

"And the wounded?" X asked.

"Rina is currently treating the wounded as we speak" Sera replied.

"Good to see that you came back alive Mr. X" Elpizo said as he step into the room. "Unfortunately I can't say the same for our side" he continues as he walks towards X and gives back a pleasing look on his face.

"Yeah, Sera told me"

"However, their death are not for nothing, we did successfully destroy the primary Drones manufacturing facility and raided the weapon factory at the same time" Elpizo continue as he step in front of one of the crates and pull out a assault rifle. "These are fine weapon Mr. X and it should really aid our forces in defeating Neo Arcadia"

"He sure proud of himself isn't he?" X whispered to Sera. She just gives him a serious look and whispered back. "Hush"

"You said something Mr. X?" Elpizo asked turning back to X

"Nope, I was just telling captain Sera the same thing you said" X replied.

As Elpizo placed down the assault rifle, a resistance soldier rushed into the room, panting. "Sir is Captain Colbor" the soldier tries to catch his breath "We found him outside the base"

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"How is he Rina?" Ciel asked as they all watch Rina step out of the medical lab. She shakes her head as she wipes the energy fluid off her hand with a white cloth.

"I was able to mend his wound, but unfortunate he fell unconscious during the operation. However he did manage to say that there is some sort of base located in the desert" Rina said and gives an uneasy look on her face. "Ciel, there is one more thing you should know, the wounds inflicted on Colbor's body... it can only be come from a Z saber, scorpion class"

"Thank you Rina" Ciel bows to Rina before her hologram faded. Ciel then turn to the Elpizo and the other captains in the room. "Commander Elpizo... any comment in this?"

"This is rather strange" Elpizo said "Z drones don't usually let their target escape"

"Are you telling me that they deliberately let Colbor go?" Ciel asked.

"That could be a theory" Elpizo responded as he rubs his chin thinking.

"What are we going to do next?" Ciel asked as she turns to the other. X on the other hand kept silence most of the time, sitting way back in the end of the room with Sera beside him.

"First of all we need to find out what we can from our enemy's location" Elpizo said "For that I would need some brave volunteer to carry out this crucial task"

Elpizo eyes peer into the darkness of the room straight to the back. All the other captains turn their attention to the same direction. The only one that is not looking is X. He glanced around him and notice's that they were all looking at him.

"I didn't remember raising my hand and says PICK ME!" X said sarcastically.

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"Where is he?" Sera said as she slide down her goggles and activates her night vision. "You see him anywhere?"

"Nope, but I do see something better" Raven said looking back to Sera. Sera and Passy gives a quick glanced at each other before turning back to the enemy base, ignoring Raven altogether.

"He is taking to long?" Sera asked as she shifts herself into crouching position, trying to get a better view of the surrounding.

"Sorry to keep you guys waiting, but is not that easy sneaking around a bunch of guys that can see in the dark" X said.

Raven and Sera spun themselves around pointing their weapon at X, standing just a few feet away from them with a black cloak covering his body. X removed his cloak and gives a small smirk on his face. "X" Raven and Sera said in unison.

"X, you made it" Passy said as she flied to him and hugged him.

"Naturally" X smirk. He then quickly step closer and crouched down looking at the Neo Arcadian base. "You know, I don't remember seeing infiltration in my scope of work when I sign up" X commented.

"Regardless of that X. When you join up, you're supposed to give everything to the resistance cause and that includes putting your life in the line" Raven replied. "So you got it?"

"Yeah, I got everything from their patrol route to the numbers of their force" X said as he reaches into his vest and pulled out a small little chip. He flips it to Raven "It does not look very good for us. These guys are pack with enough fire power to level an entire city"

"Let us worried about that later, we need to get this back to Commander Elpizo ASAP" Raven replied as he start moving back to the city.

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"Damn... how can I be such a fool..." Zero cursed and he hang's his head down and mumbles. He slowly raised his head and looked back to the window on board the shuttle; it seems that he is still on board the space station Eden. "I need to get out... but how?" Zero whispered as he turns to the brand new arm hanging up against the wall.

Zero Nightmare seems to be nice enough to mend it back for him. Stupid, but Zero is not complaining. It could indeed help ease things when the situation calls for it. All Zero could think now is how to get off this body and get to X, he have to warned him about Adam and Zero's Nightmare new plan to control and eliminate his enemy using this new weapon.

"If it wasn't for this damn collar, I would be long gone by now" Zero cursed as he waited patiently, alone and in the dark.

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"From our estimation... there should roughly be about two thousand Z drones" Elpizo said as he pointed to the hologram map generated inside the meeting room. Ciel and the others presence watch as the map zoom in. "A small division of Golem and five heavy Rhino artillery pointing right down our throat" Elpizo continue.

"That is one heck of a large force for a small camp of resistance" Cerveau said.

"Yes, too large to be more precise" Elpizo replied "I have anticipated that they are here for something"

"Maybe it was due to the failure to the Network Assault" one of the captains said.

"No, they are after Commander Elpizo" the other captain added.

"Wrong! They are here for Ms Ciel"

X didn't actually bother about what reason that the others in the room gives; he knows that they are all wrong. Those Neo Arcadian are here for one thing, him. X turned to Ciel and from her expression; he could tell that she is really trouble by this. Who wouldn't be? It's not everyday that your enemy build a fortify fortress right at your backyard.

"X, is there something wrong?" Ciel asked

"Huh?" X mind suddenly snap back to reality.

"You seem very quiet" Ciel said in a worried manner.

"Nothing" X lied before he turns to Elpizo's.

"I am not sure what their agenda for being here is or why they have not attacked us by now. But I do know that this is a threat way over our capabilities to overcome it" Elpizo said as he switch of the map and turn to the other captain in the room. "We now have two choices people, we either wait here for the Neo Arcadian to march right down on top of us or we could evacuate"

The other captain fell silence. X can understand that most of them don't want to fight. Going ahead trained soldier is suicide, especially one that is well equip and over twice their numbers.

"Commander Elpizo, I may not be a military tactical officer nor am I a qualify combat personnel, but I do agree with you on one thing" Ciel said standing up.

"Which is Ms Ciel?" Elpizo asked.

"That we should evacuate" Ciel said it with a clear and stern voice. "It may not be the bravest thing to do, but it is the smartest"

"I agreed with Ciel" Cerveau said. "I can configure the Trans Server to transport our personnel's to a safe zone before we continue our journey to the new base" he added. The other captain seems too agreed with Ciel decision.

"Very well Ms Ciel" Elpizo said. "For the rest of you, pack your belongings, we are moving out"

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"I don't think it will work X" Sera said shaking her head in disagreement "Is far too risky" she said as she sat on the table looking back to X. They are standing inside of Cerveau workshop, the only place where X can find some privacy.

"Like I said, these guys are most probably here for me. If I could divert their attention long enough, it'll give Ciel and the others long enough to get the hell out of here" X said

"And what about you?" Sera asked "You're going to stay and waste your life just like that?"

"Hey I maybe label as a Maverick" X said "But I ain't that crazy to throw my life away. As soon as Ciel is on the way, I'd teleport out of there with a little help from Cerveau. He has already agreed to provide us with the needed equipment"

Sera looked at X for a moment and see if he is really gone crazy with so much pressure pushing down on him. She gives a heavy sighed and says "You must have really gone Maverick" she said softly turning to him.

X gives a smile and reply "That's what Cerveau said when I told him about this"

"And does Ciel know anything about this?" Sera asked.

"No, this is only between us three" X said shaking his head. "She already has too many problems in her mind right now. I don't want her to give another one to worried about"

Sera think for a while and wonder why X is asking her for this, there got to be other more skillful captains in the base that can surely take this task, why asked her. The only thing she knows doesn't even involved what he is asking her to do. She raised her head and looked back to X "Why me?"

"I'd trust you" X said as he place his hand over her shoulder and gives a confident look on his face.

She felt silence for a moment before answering "Alright, I'll do it"

"One more thing, is best we keep this to ourselves, no one must know of this, especially Rina" X said, but fail to notice the door slide open behind him as a pair of eyes looked back them "I don't want her to worry to much"

"I guess you don't have to X" Rina uttered. X and Sera turn to Rina and from what Sera can see from Rina's expression she seems to be jealous and hurt from what she has overheard. "I better excuse myself, three is a crowd, right?" Rina asked as she turns around and run down the corridor.

"Rina" X called out, but was too late.

"Go after her X, I think she could have misunderstood us" Sera said. X just nod his head and went after Rina. Sera got on her feet and walk over to the door, watching X chasing after Rina. The sense kind of brings back some old memories into her. She gives a sighed and walks down the opposite direction.

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Rina ran until she reaches to the elevator. She hit the control, hoping to get out of there before X could get to her. She placed her hand over her mouth as she starts sobbing. She didn't actually expect that X could do such a thing.

"Rina" X called out to her.

As the same time the elevator door slide open and she rushed into the elevator and hit the door button. X manages to slip into the elevator before the door closed. Rina retreated back and gives X a dead stare on her eyes.

"Get out" she uttered in a threatening way.

"Rina" X said. He takes a step closer to her, but was pushed back. As his back knock on the control, the elevator starts to move.

"I said GET OUT" she screams "I don't want to see you"

"Not until you hear what I have to say" he placed his hands on her arms.

"What is there to say?" Rina asked pushing his hand off hers "Everything is clear" she said, wiping off the tears from her eyes. "You and Captain Sera there makes a real perfect couple"

"Is not what it seems, She and I are just friend and I was-" X was about to explained when the door suddenly slide open. Menart and a fat looking resistance troop stand outside and stare back in confusion.

"Going up?" Menart asked pointing his finger up.

"Do you mind? We're having a private conversation here" X uttered as he hit the control shutting the door up.

Rina stare back to X with a serious expression. This is the first time he ever see her this serious.

"Listen to me for a second" X said in a soft tone, trying his best to keep the situation under control.

"I don't want to listen anymore" Rina uttered as she placed her hand over her ears, trying not to listen.

"Look there is nothing between me and Sera" X explained, placing his hand around her shoulders "I've asked her there for her help"

"And you expect me believe that?" Rina snap back "For all I know you may even have relationship with one of the operators"

"Hey that is going too far" X protest.

They both stare at each other for some time before anyone says a word. X can see it in Rina's eyes that she is to angry to accept the fact that he is innocent. Without a word he step aside and hit the door switch.

"Go" X said softly.

"X?" Rina felt a little surprise.

"I care for you Rina.... deeply, but if what I said doesn't get to you then I guess is best we best we have a little space of our own" X said not looking at her.

"X... I" Rina felt a little out of word. She stare back to X, he really seems hurt by her not trusting him. She could see it in his eyes he is actually telling the truth, that maybe she was wrong at him. She did enter the room at the last moment, not hearing the full story.

"I'm sorry Rina... I really mean it" X said "I should have told you"

"No... I guess I was to be blame a little" Rina said as she held on to X's hand "I shouldn't have overreacted... I should have found out more before I scream at you" she continues, hanging her head down and rested on his chest.

"Guess we're both to be blame" X said as he brings her a little closer and embraced her.

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"Ciel" Cerveau said as he turns to Ciel and Elpizo steeping into the Trans Server room follow by a few of Elpizo's men. Ciel looks stress out from the whole affair and haven't had a time to sit down and rest.

"Yes Cerveau" Ciel said in a tiring tone.

"We have a problem" the old engineer said as he walks to Ciel.

"What is it?"

"Look" he said as he nods his head to Jun as she hits the control on the terminal. The white floor light up and transforms piles of boxes into light and transports it off the room. However, as the boxes transported out, they got transported back in within less then a second. But what caught Ciel's and Elpizo attention is the boxes got all mashed up like it was through a rubbish compactor.

"Its still here" Elpizo said.

"I have a guess that Neo Arcadia would be jamming our Trans Server" Cerveau informed "So I send our equipment over to our extract point first"

"They're not letting anyone out of here" Ciel said worriedly. The Trans Server was their last resort, now they're really trapped.

"Raven" Elpizo called out to the raven hair captain.

"Sir"

"How many fighting men do we have?" Elpizo asked "Overall"

Raven stand and think for a moment before answering "Including those who are capable of holding a weapon" Raven think for a moment "Hundred and five"

"If we can't get out then we just have to stand and fight" Elpizo said turning to Ciel and Cerveau.

"But this is insane" Cerveau exclaimed

"If you haven't notice Cerveau" said Elpizo "Z drones rarely takes prisoners"

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Lonely cyber-elf watches the night sky as she sees the crescent moon hanging in the night sky all alone just like her. She could feel it inside of her, it was calling to her. She doesn't understand what it was but she knows that it is driving her insane "I can feel it... calling out to me" she whispers.

"What are you mumbling about over there mon cheri?" Free Fall said as he turns to his cyber-elf standing in the window ledge looking out.

"Master Free Fall... I can feel it... is calling to me" the cyber-elf respond, turning back to her master. The cyber-elf, in a form of a blue jester, spun herself around as the two little bells attach to her long jester hat jingles from her movement. FreeFall watch as she actives her tiny wings and hovers to him.

"Not zat again" Free Fall uttered as she sat down on the sofa and gazed back to the little jester "Luna you have been saying zat for over three weekz and I am getting really tired of hearing it" he continue as he rested his head on his hand. Giving the little jester a frustrated looked on his face.

"But-" the little cyber-elf tries to protest

"No more but! Get back to work" Free Fall said pointing to the terminal sitting in the far end of the room. Luna didn't say a word as she hangs her head down and flies over to the terminal.

Once near the terminal, Luna's body start to shimmer in light blue and the terminal start to come alive. "Slave driver" she mumbles.

"I heard zat" Free Fall replied as he got up from the sofa and walk over to Luna. The little cyber-elf stops what she is doing and turns to the white reploid. "Why in all ze damn cyber-elf I can have, I am stuck with one zat cannot do anything but talk back" Free Fall complained.

"Can you blame moi, if I am defected?" Luna asked as she turns back to the terminal.

"So you admit zat you are broken unit" Free Fall exclaimed.

"I am not talking to you"

"Well then if you are not talking to moi than I suggest you get back to work" Free Fall said pushing his finger on Luna's shoulder.

"Well just for your info, it is not as easy as it look, hacking into the world highest security network" Luna complained.

"Stop complaining and get back to work or you'll know what iz coming to you, understand?"

Luna felt silence for a moment before saying "Oui Master Free Fall"

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As X watch to the far horizon on the surface, he could see that the Neo Arcadia base has shown its true form and stop hiding. With the base far off and lights lit up in the night sky, it is as if there is a small city there.

X takes a long sighed and think what he is going to do next. He has everything in place and with Sera's help he might be able to pull it off. As he lean himself against the pillar and watch silently. Then as everything quiet down a little, X felt an object touch his feet. He turns and finds a red ball rolling on the ground. As he bend down and pick up the ball X notice a girl stand before him, she gives a innocent smile on her face and extended her hand our to X, wanting the ball back.

"Can I have it back?" Yuna asked. X smiled and passes the ball back. X looked back a little and found Alouette standing not far behind Yuna waiting for her to get the ball back. "Aren't you girls supposed to be packing your bags?" X asked as he passed back the ball to Yuna.

"Ciel said she had something important to do and asked us to play with ourselves until she come and get us" Alouette said standing behind Yuna.

"You better not play on the surface" X said as he thump on Yuna's head and stand up "It's not safe"

"Alright X" Alouette and Yuna nod. Alouette was about to get back underground when she notice Yuna still standing in front of X. Yuna turn to Alouette and say "Alouette can you wait for me down stairs, I'll be there in a moment" Alouette nod her head and run down stairs.

"Aren't you going with her?" X asked, but Yuna give a nod and climbs and sat on the railings as she looks back to X.

"Something's disturbing you X?" Yuna asked back. X was kind of surprised at the little girl and lean himself on the railings.

"What makes you say that?" he asked.

"Cause you are always cheerful... but today you look all gloomy and down, so I guess there must be something wrong" Yuna said. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Thanks, but I think I got it all handle" X chuckles and gives a light thump on Yuna's head.

"You're sure?" Yuna asked as she tilt her head a little. "Cause I think you are getting more then you can chew"

"I'm sure" X laughed.

Yuna was in silence watching X. "X... have you ever think about the past?" She suddenly asked.

"A lot" X answered, feeling kind of curious "Why?"

"I think of it a lot myself.... about the happy days" Yuna replied "Tell you a little something X"

"What?"

"I was build to be a child for an old couple" Yuna said sitting on the ledge and swing her legs back and forth. She lower her head and give a small smile on her face think about her past "They love me like their very own child.... But like all human time finally caught up with them"

"I'm sorry" X apologies.

Yuna shakes her head and smile "Don't be" Yuna said "Because they're not dead"

"I don't understand?"

"Their memories and soul lives inside me" Yuna said with a gentle smile. X smiles understanding what she meant. X looked back to Yuna, she is a strong one, even after the lost of her love one, she still manages to go on with her life. He often wonders if he could be like her.

"I think is best that we get going, Alouette will be tired waiting for us" X said as he picked Yuna off and placed her on her feet "You too sugarplum" X said not turning to the pillar.

Passy flies out from behind the pillar and hover silently, staring back to X. She rubs her hand together and look back to X with an uncertain face. X turns his head over to Passy and smile. "Or you rather stay out here with the rodents?" X asked.

Passy nods her head and flies over to X and stand on his shoulder before the trio step into the building.

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Rina stand on top of the water tower and silently looked back to X, she didn't want him to see her now. She didn't understand it herself, but she does admit that she really like that old relic. Rina gives a heavy sighed and lean herself against the wall as she continues to gazed back to the azure reploid walking into the building.

She gives a slight giggles as she thinks back just now, she was really jealous at Sera. She can't blame X, he wouldn't understand. Is actually a girl thing, always feeling insecure that someone you care and love can be taken away from you within a blink of an eye. Furthermore, Sera has a clean history then she does, she somewhat envy Sera sometimes.

Rina takes a deep breath and sighed. "It's time"

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Author Notes: Tons and tons of works, can't find the time to write... hehehehe :) Anyway here is something interesting, after reading the manga version of MMX2, I found out that there is a water base reploid by the name of Martina. Now isn't that interesting.