Chapter 19: Fallback

Author: Lady Blue

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"Is everything in place Blood Rage?" Nova asked as he looked at three hologram image, one which is Blood Rage the other Night Shadow and the last one on the right looks like a heavy armor reploid with a bazooka mounted on both his shoulder.

"Yes Master Nova, the main battle group is awaiting your final orders" Blood Rage reploid nodding his head.

"Good. Night Shadow any word from the other commanders on the field?"

"No progress so far Master Nova, field report has indicated that Guardian Phantom and Guardian Harpuia men are still a couple of blocks away from the resistance outer perimeter" Night Shadow reported.

Nova gives a stern look as he peer down to the three, in silence. Two out of three of his commanders looked a little edgy from where he stands, eager to go into battle, all except for Night Shadow. She seems a little nervous as usually. He knows how the cat reploid feel about going into battle; strangely Night Shadow was never into the killing like Blood Rage does.

"Stay focus Night Shadow, I don't want you to turn yellow on me on this one. You know what must be done" Nova said before turning to the other two.

Night Shadow swallowed hard before replying "Yes Master Nova"

"Blood Rage, I will link up with your battle group as soon as I can. On the mean time, keep things under order" Nova said.

"Affirmative" Blood Rage replied as the dragon reploid's image fades away follow by Night Shadow and the armor reploid. Nova shut the console down and was about to leave the command centre when he sees Leviathan staring back to him.

"You wish to speak with me?" Nova asked.

Leviathan pause for a moment, almost hesitated "Now what gives you that idea brainy?" Leviathan asked in her usually unserious manner.

"Nice try Leviathan, but if you're trying to annoy me I think you would have better luck on Fefnir instead, I have no time for any of your nonsense right now. Now kindly step aside" Nova said as he walks straight pass Leviathan and head straight to the door.

"Well suit yourself, but don't blame me if you get yourself turn inside out" Leviathan said turn her head over her shoulder and smirk.

"Your point would be?" Nova asked stopping his pace and spun around.

"We got a small glitch in the Trans Server system, all the Trans Server is currently not working..... Correctly. I've already asked my boys shut the system down and look into this as we speak. Lucky to say no one got hurt during this unfortunate transaction" Leviathan said "If you ask me Nova, I think someone is trying to sabotage us, mainly this operation"

"You're saying that someone is trying to stop me from getting to the field?" Nova asked looking rather suspicious "What's the catch?"

"Nothing! Just that I don't wish to see your bloody intestines splatter all over the Trans Server. If that happen I would not only have to write freaking long report to Master Zero, but it will most probably have to take me weeks swabbing you off the platform" Leviathan said.

Nova gives a sighed, unknowing what Leviathan is thinking. He knew she is the playful one and like the other guardians who wish to see him fail in Zero's eyes. However this was something new, since she returns from her secret mission, Leviathan seems to change a lot; one part was that she seems rather enjoy annoying him lately. "Very well" Nova replied

"By the way if you wish to catch the fireworks in time, I would advice you to take the helicopter. You won't want to be late for your big fight" Leviathan said as she step off the room and walk downs the corridor, leaving a skeptical Nova.

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"Sorry old friend, but this is all I can do for such a short notice" Zero said as he shut the console off. He knew that it would only be time before they track the signal back to the source. Zero got up from his seat and about to leave the room when the door slide opens.

"Zero" Isis called.

Zero gives a light sighed as he put his weapon away and looked back to the amber hair girl "You got the data?"

"Regrettably no, it seems that the info you requested is placed deep inside the central database. Only the other Zero has the access clearance to enter" Isis informed.

"Damn" Zero cursed.

"Why is the coordinate so important?" Isis asked curiously.

"It contains the location to a secret storage facility belonging to the Maverick Hunters. Sorry to say the person who knew the exact location were Signas and Alia" Zero answered. "It might hold the only fighting chance I have if X fails to eliminate Zero Nightmare"

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"Hurry" Ciel ordered the other resistance troops as they prepare to leave the command centre.

Ciel glanced towards a group of reploids in the corner, seeing them struggling to carry the heavy equipments out.

"Forget those heavy equipments! Get to the Trans Server now" Ciel said to the other resistance troops before she later turn to Chris and Haruka who is still working in their console.

"Girls, any sign of Neo Arcadian forces?" Ciel asked.

"We pick up a couple of advance recon unit heading straight for our position. Sentries placed outside the base outer perimeters have already begun engaging the enemies" Chris informed before she pull up her visor and looked back to Ciel.

"The main battle group located on sector Alpha, Beta and Delta is holding their position ma'am. No movement detected from the main battle group... what are they waiting for anyway?" Haruka asked, but was hush by her friend not to say too much. "Sorry ma'am" Haruka apologies.

Ciel knew how they feel, but that is the less of her worries now. Actually she was kind of glad that the main battle group hasn't made their move yet. Ciel looked back to the screen as it displays a large force of Neo Arcadian line up in a triangular shape, surrounding the city. From where she stands, it doesn't take a general to tell her that Neo Arcadian is taking precocious in this assault. She guessed they must be afraid that X might pull the same trick on them like he did on Fefnir's forces, wiping them out with one swift blow.

"Sera, you better get your team out of here" Ciel said to Sera, standing opposite of her. The lime hair girl nod back as she plant the last explosive in the command centre.

"You heard the lady, MOVE!" Sera ordered. Both the operators quickly left their post and head out of the room.

"But X is still in his quarters" Passy said worriedly as she hover next to Ciel. Ciel was thinking of going to get X herself when suddenly she felt Sera touch her shoulder.

"Don't worry Passy, I'll go get him" Sera said looking at Ciel and nod her head to the human girl "Just make sure that Juan and the demolition team doesn't blow up the Trans Server before we get there, got it?"

"We will wait for the two of you on the other side" Ciel said giving Sera a good luck hug. She knows that the lime hair girl will need all the luck she can get to persuade X to follow her.

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"My force is ready to move in Blood Rage. So what now? Do we wait or do we move in for the kill?" Loose Cannon asked with a sinister laugh.

"We wait as we are instructed to do so Loose Cannon" Blood Rage said.

The crimson reploid stands with his arm cross as he gazed back to the hologram display. Their forces are in position and ready to move into the city, but they can't since they need Nova's final order for that. Blood Rage grew evermore impatience as he sees Phantom's men moving in closer to the resistance base. He would sell his own soul if he could be in their position right now.

"I think he will be running a little late commander" an elderly voice said. Blood Rage turns to the old man walking up the platform.

"Professor Bones, I assume that you are here as an observer" Night Shadow said as she looked a little suspicious.

"Naturally" Bones replied looking at Blood Rage and give a smirk.

"Good, just stay out of our way" Blood Rage said rudely as he turn back to the city. "I don't want you to get hurt during the battle"

"I sense that you do not appreciate my presence Commander" Bones said.

"Blood Rage" Nova image appears on the console. Blood Rage and Night Shadow looked back to the blue guardian.

"Master Nova" Blood Rage and Night Shadow said in unison.

"Proceed the attack without me, I'll be delay" Nova said.

"Very well Master Nova" Blood Rage replied stepping up and looked back to the artillery gun lining up in front.

"My force by my command" Blood Rage raised his hand "OPEN FIRE"

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Sera trip down as the earth around her trembles. She quickly gets back on her feet and gaze back to the poorly lit corridor. Sera then takes a short glanced around her surrounding, the place seems to be holding for now from the artillery bombardment. As the thundering sound echoes into the narrow corridor, Sera knew she has little time before Neo Arcadia moves their primary force in.

Sera continue rushing down to the end of the corridor. Once she reach to the end she could see a dim light emulating outside of X's quarters.

"Captain Sera" Spirit said noticing Sera's presences.

"Spirit, you better get to the Trans Server now" Sera said.

Spirit looks a little uncertain at first and kept glancing back and forth to Sera and to X's room "X, he's-"

"I'll go get X. You get to the Trans Server this instance" Sera ordered, she was in no persuasive mood.

Spirit was not about to leave X, but seeing how determines Sera are, Spirit nod her head "Yes Captain Sera" Spirit said before she flies the opposite direction.

Sera looked at Spirit before she turns to the door. She takes a deep breath and hit the panel, hoping that X would listen to reason. It has only been two days since the unforgiving event and Sera knew that it would take a longer time for a normal person to snap out of this thing, but for a reploid two days can be an eternity.

"X" Sera called.

She step into the dark room and can only make out X's outline body sitting on the lower bed. "Lights" Sera commanded. The room lit up and Sera can see clearly that X is sitting on the corner of the wall, curling up into a ball.

"Get lost, I want to be alone…." X muttered rudely.

"We have to go! This place will be swarming with Neo Arcadian anytime soon" Sera said as she walk up to X and pull his hand.

"Leave me" X said weakly, pulling back.

Sera looked back to X, he seems lifeless and depress. Sera slowly and carefully lean closer to X "X, please listen to me" Sera said softly this time.

"I said leave me" X said as he buried his face on his knees and ignore Sera all together.

Loosing her patient with him, Sera hastily grab hold of X arm and pull him off the bed. She tried her best to drag X's lifelessness body out of the room. But as they reach the middle of the room X just let lose and slum against the wall and slowly slide down and sitting down, looking like he was in a semi-conscious state. This was really ticking Sera off, here she is trying her best to get him to safety and the only thing she gets back from him is his dead like attitude.

"Why are you like this?" Sera frowned "Why do you let her do this to you?"

"I don't care anymore… not to this war… not to life… I just don't care anymore" X replied blandly. "Let them come.... it would be best that they end my pitiful misery right here, right now"

"Get up" Sera grunt as she pulls X on his feet. X however, just slumps back against the wall like a lifeless doll.

"Listen to me X, if you continue being a jerk, then by hell they have succeeded in breaking you"

"First it was Double… then it was Zero… and now…" X mumbles to himself. Sera knew he was really losing it.

"Get a grip on yourself X! Rina didn't really want this to happen to you. She did it because she didn't have a choice. But you do!" Sera said shaking X a bit, but the result is the same, he just slum back down again "X are you even listening to me? This place will be swarming with Zero's forces anytime soon"

"Get up" Sera grunt and continue to pull X up, but to her surprise X suddenly grab her by the neck and spun her around, slamming her hard against the wall.

"BACK OFF" X shouted as he slams his fist into the wall. Sera just stare into X's enraged eyes as he slowly pulls back his fist and stepping back. She looked back and found that X had just slammed his fist inches from her face.

"Have you ever been betrayed by the one you love and trusted?" X shouted in anger "Have you ever been-"

Then before X could finish his sentence, he felt a hard slap on his face. X blink for a moment before turning to Sera. She was facing away from him and holding to her hands over her mouth, sobbing a little. This was the first time he ever sees Sera cry; X was dumbstruck and speechless for that one moment. Like the whole world just freezes in time, X could see that he might have not only hurt himself, but Sera as well.

"Don't you dare talk to me about betrayal…." Sera said crying "I've lost everything I knew…. Everything I worked for…. And everything I cared for under one night….. To the people that I've trusted the most" She turn back and push him back "So don't you dare tell me that I do not know what it meant by being betray X"

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Dusts slowly die down as the final shell landed on the surface of the resistance base. Slowly a black figure step out of the cloud of dust followed by a few black drones.

The black figure glanced at the surface and sees the damage that has been done by Blood Rage artillery.

"Noisy, but it gets the job done" The dark figure chuckle "Night Shadow do you read me?"

"Copy Marasume" Night Shadow replied.

"We're in the front door" The Marasume said as he gazed back to the damage iron door "We're moving in"

"Gemma Team, you are advice to wait for backup. Do not proceed into the base on your own, do you read me over?" Night Shadow asked.

"You do the waiting while I do the killing Night Shadow" the Marasume said

"Gemma Leader you are to await for Zeta Team do you read me? Marasume you damn better listen to me or-" the Marasume shut his comm. and looked back to his drones "We move like the shadows my minion"

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"Captain Sera" Passy called Sera through her intercom.

"Here" Sera answered softly.

"Are you and X in level 2?" Passy asked worriedly.

"No, why?" Sera asked as she wipes the tears of her face.

"Cause me and Spirit are picking up some very odd signal coming our-" suddenly before Passy can finish there were a short static sound coming from Sera's intercom.

"Watch out! They're coming out from the wall" Sera hears a voice coming from the background and within a second, gun shoots can be heard clearly "Over there! Fire"

"Quick blow the Trans Server up" Juan shouted

"Help" Passy shouted before the transmission being cut off.

"Passy! Do you read me! Passy" Sera shouted back, but the only thing she is getting is static sound coming from her intercom. Sera turn back to X, seemingly lost in his mind. She then turns to the door, undecided at first on leaving X or not.

"Are you coming?" Sera asked not looking back at X.

X just lean against the wall not answering back. Sera waited for a short moment before she steps out of the room and pulls out her blaster as she prepares to head for the Trans Server room.

"Come if you want X…. I won't force you" Sera said "If you wish to stay here and rot like an assholes, then you do that. But I have my responsibilities to see that this people get out of here alive. You have that once in you and I still believed that you do"

X said nothing.

"Once this is over.... I'll come back for you… I won't leave you or anyone behind, I promise" Sera said before the door slide shut.

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As Sera reach near the Trans Server room, she could hear screams echoes through the corridor. When she arrived near to the entrance, Sera notice three resistance troops rush out from the room follow closely by a slim black drone. The drone manage to cut down one of the resistance before Sera was able to blow his head off with her blaster.

"Captain" Dante yelled.

"Jun! Dante" Sera called, rushing to the two reploids.

"Ma'am" Jun said in a frighten tone.

"What happened?" Sera asked.

"They came out of nowhere and start killing the soldiers" Dante said as Jun cuddle right behind him.

"What of the others?" Sera asked

"Juan's dead, but the others are alive for now" Dante replied. "They want the codes to the Trans Server"

"You two stay here while I go take a closer look" Sera instructed, but she suddenly notice something was very wrong when Dante and Jun looked at her in horror. Sera lean back a little and slowly turn around and to her guess a black drone was standing behind her. The drone swings his katana, knocking off the blaster on Sera's hand before he gives a hard slap on her face knocking her on the ground.

"Sir, we found these resistances in the corridor. This one was able to destroy one of our units before we caught her. It appears that she is the ranking officer" the drone reported as he hurls Sera on the ground. Dante and Jun was instead pushed towards the corner of the wall along with the other survivors.

Sera shake her head for a moment before looking back at the black ninja, gazing down on her with his green visor.

"A Ranking Officer then you must have the codes to the Trans Server" Marasume said as he walk towards Sera and pull her back on her feet. "Give it to me"

Sera said nothing and just spit into his face. From where she is standing it seems that the ninja didn't like her respond. Without a word Marasume swing his hand and slap on Sera's face. Sera turn back to the ninja with an angry glare.

"You want to play hard ball is it girl?" Marasume asked taking out his saber and activates it. Sera show no form of fear as she continues to stare back to him "I guess I just have to cut it out of you then"

Sera watch as the blue beam swing down on her as a sudden gush of wind flow through her entire body. Then she saw her own blood gushing out from left arm as she felt a sharp pain coming from her severed hand.

"This is just a warning girl, give me the codes or you will loose more then your hand" Marasume said as he placed the tip of his saber blade before Sera's neck.

"Screw you" Sera muttered as she tries to hold the pain coming from her wound.

"Ahhh a fighter, I can see that you are not easily intimidated by mere force alone. Not to worry, I have other means to deal with your kind" Marasume said looking back to Jun. He gives a nod and the nearby drone acknowledge by pulling Jun into the open. The drone pulls out its katana and placed it over Jun's neck.

Sera can see the terrifying girl sobbing as the drone waited for his order.

"Kill the girl" Marasume said.

"WAIT NO!" Sera yelled, but instead of Jun head being severed off her body, a powerful blast come erupted from the ground up and destroyed the drone near to Jun. A few more blast comes out from the ground and knocked out two drones standing near to the hostage.

"What?" Marasume asked as he retreated back a little. Then without warning a blue hand burst out from the concrete floor and caught hold of the black ninja's leg.

Sera watch, as the black ninja didn't have time to retaliate as he's being pulled down under. Shocked she crawled back to the wall and watch as lights flashes out from the hole. It was at least a minute until Sera saw a black blur leaped out from the hole and landed on the opposite side of the room. From where she is, she can see that the black ninja seems to be as surprised as she from the sudden attack.

"The legendary X? So the report was true, you are a maverick" Marasume uttered as the black ninja swing his sword and placed it in defense pose.

Sera watch as the X leap out from the hole and stand gazing back to Marasume with a dead eye look on his face. He didn't say a word as he deactivate his saber and placed is back, leaving himself open for attack.

"X you came back" Sera said.

"Sorry if I was late, I was busy trying to put my head back together" X said walking towards Sera and held her up her feet.

"My name is-"

"I don't care who you are or which one of those lamer you're working for cause in a matter of second it wouldn't make any difference" X said "You'll be dead"

Sera watch as Marasume gives a signal to the two remaining drones in the room to attack X. The drones comply and charge at X.

X quickly pushes Sera out of the way as he whip out his weapon and take aim at the first drone that comes in view. One shot from his weapon and the drone drop down dead with his head melted away. X however was not quick enough as the next drone was able to knock off X weapon. X quickly looked back to the drone and swings his fist, punching straight through the drone's chest and ripped a hole into it.

"X! Watch out!" Passy screams out.

X quickly moves the dead drone aside as he sees Marasume plunging forward with his beam saber pointing at him.

Then to everyone's surprise X just held out his right hand as the beam blade pierce straight into his hand and stay there. X gives a light chuckle as he grab hold onto Marasume's arm and force the black ninja to let go of his saber.

Marasume gives a painful cry as X squeeze hard on his arm and crush it in the process. "Hurt doesn't it? Don't worry very soon you won't feel a thing" X said as he pulled out the beam saber from his and stab it directly onto Marasume's head, killing him in an instant.

Sera watch as Marasume's body dropped on the cold metallic floor, with his own saber still stab into his head. She turns to X standing motionless with his right hand continue dripping energy fluid. The way X execute Marasume was like nothing she have ever see in him. True she have only been into a few mission with X, but never once she saw him kill someone this emotionless, as if he did it without any sign of remorse. Sera continue to watch X as he stands motionless with his back facing them.

Worried Sera decide to take a closer look. As she is two feet from X and about to place her hand over his shoulder, X suddenly turns around looking back to Sera.

"I'm alright Sera" X said. "Come on we better make a move" X continue as if everything is normal.

"Passy get the Trans Server online. We're moving out" X said looking at the dead resistance troops before turning to the rest of the survivors "Leave the dead, we can't do anything for them now"

"X are you sure that you're alright?" Sera asked.

"Sure, I'm fine" X replied "Come on people, lets move before more of those goons come crashing in here"

As the smothering smoke gush out from the Trans Server room as black feline walk in with a group of heavy arm troops. She looked back to the place, nothing left but total destruction. Dead body, both of the resistance and Neo Arcadia lied dead together.

"Night Shadow report" Blood Rage asked over her comm.

"Where do you want me to start?" Night Shadow said sarcastically as she wonder how she is going to report this all to Nova.

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"We got incoming" Chris said.

Ciel stand worried at the back as she sees the platform lighted up. It has been over twenty minutes since the last transmission and it usually took only less then five minutes to transport someone over. Deep in her Ciel just prey in silence and hope that X and the others makes it.

"Get ready" Elpizo instructed as the other resistance soldier stand and prepare for any trouble that might come through the teleport.

As the bright light beam into the room, everyone quickly covered their eyes from the blinding light. Once the light dies down, Ciel could clearly sees an azure reploid step down on the platform.

"Hold your fire" Ciel ordered.

Elpizo raised his hand as the other soldier lower their rifles. They looked back in horror to the surviving reploid that step out of the platform. Only a third of the people that was left behind remain and most of them are technician.

Ciel quickly steps in front and stared back to X and sees the heavy wound on X's right arm, she then notice something else, X gives her an emotionless gazed.

"X, you're hurt" Ciel said.

X looked back to his right hand. "Oh this, It's just a minor flesh wound. I'd live" X said jokingly.

"Flesh wound? You look like you took a hell of a beating here young man" The nurse said as the other survivors in the room get attended by the medical team.

"I'll be fine. Go see to Sera and the others" X said in a monotone as she slump down on the stairs and gives a heavy sighed.

Ciel kneel down and looked at X with a worried expression. "Don't worry Ciel, I'm all right now" X said before turning to the lime hair girl passing them.

"Sera..... thanks" X said

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Author Notes: Bet you think I gave up writing :)