Megaman Axl

Chapter 12. - Neo Arcadia

The ball went smoothly, excepting the fact that X was back. Axl still remembered his last words before departing in his request from the Mother Elf.

As X said, everyone in the world was moving to the capital of Neo-New-York city, which was turned into a massive metropolis sealed by big access gates.

As the hunters entered the city after HQ was transferred, they stood at the big gates followed by a miracle road with massive green trees on the sidewalks. Both, humans and Reploids living in peace as X envisioned: Massive parks and gigantic buildings with spotlights piercing the dark sky in the night.

Midi: Whoa! Can you believe this was X's idea?

Signas: Yeah. I see this is working well.

Ciel: Come on Axl! Look at the positive side!

Axl: Huh? I was just thinking… what if this was just… forgetting about it. Just daydreaming.

Ciel: Okay… whatever you say. Anyways, we better follow the others to the transport to the new HQ.

Axl: Right…

They reached the central city transport center. There were a few soldier drones waiting for them.

Midi: Look at those soldiers…

Alia: They are awfully familiar…

Midi approached one of the drones with his curiosity…

Midi: Excuse me, are you X?

Drone: Negative. I'm Neo Arcadia military drone serial number 183750381 unit #17 assigned to escort your group to the new location of the Maverick Hunters Headquarters. Please come aboard. We'll take your luggage.

Midi: Whoa! They're so official!

Alia: Of course, they're specialized military Mechaniloids.

Signas: I'm glad to see that finally we are having some progress here.

Douglas: Well, all aboard.

As the hunters got on the transport, the drones packed their luggage on the cargo trunks. The transport lifted away heading to the traffic of flying vehicles in the air of the metropolis.

In that moment, X, The supreme chancellor of the defense division and leader of the Neo Arcadia armies stood watching the window of his throne room. He was able to see the big metropolis as the day went on. Just in that moment, another figure entered in the room. The figure was a dark one with a red scarf. He kneeled on his knees swearing loyalty as he spoke.

: Master.

X: Are they here yet?

: The central transport center unit confirmed the arrival. They are about to reach the new Maverick Hunters HQ in about five minutes.

X: Good job. Confirm a transport, I'm paying them a little visit. Gotta clear their doubts.

: Yes, my master.

X turned around waving his coat as he headed for the big doors of the room.

Later, the hunters arrived to the new HQ. They were a little bigger than the last one, so they could do more stuff. As they approached the command room, the doors opened revealing a…

Midi: Whoa! A completely equipped command room with holographic monitors and network connected terminals! This is awesome!

Alia: The chairs are comfortable.

Douglas: If this is the command room, I can't wait to see the hangars.

Lifesaver: Well, according to my brochure, the maintenance room is equipped with the latest in medial nanotechnology.

Signas: Hopefully we'll receive a better reception with the cooking channel.

Ciel: Cooking channel, sir?

Signas: Just trying to use the situation.

Axl: You got him there.

Signas: Only because I'm the commander doesn't mean I can't have fun.

Axl: I guess you're right sir.

As they checked the new command center out, they heard a few voices over the hall… familiar voices.

Alia: More people coming over?

Signas: I wonder who they are?

As the door opened, the familiar faces entered the room. Of course, they were the same old friends from the ball.

Marino: And I tell you to stop whining about it and carry our luggage Massimo. Don't you see we're not a strong as you?

Massimo: But that doesn't mean you have to order me around like a slave Marino! Only because you're a girl doesn't mean that you can be ordering guys around!

Cinnamon: At least I asked him kindly to carry mine.

Gaudile: Oh dear, why am I stuck with such Reploids? Hey! They are here!

Marino: Oh! Surprise guys! We're hunter as well!

Axl: Guys? You are hunters?

Cinnamon: We got transferred here as well. So now we're going to be Maverick Hunters.

Massimo: You guys are lucky of having Steel Massimo with you! We'll be unstoppable!

Marino: With the exception that you whine all the time…

Massimo: What was that?

Cinnamon: Come on calm down guys. Everyone will think you two got something on.

Marino: Wh… what? What in the world are you talking about?

Massimo: If I'm gonna like a girl, Marino will be the last one in the entire universe!

Marino: Stop whining…

Cinnamon: Yup, they got something on…

Signas: Anyways, good to have you with us. Cinnamon, Lifesaver might need a hand over the maintenance lab. Why don't you give him a hand?

Cinnamon: Yes sir! My first order! I feel so… in duty! Hold in Mr. Lifesaver! I'm on my way!

Gaudile: Geez, she just knew she was going to take an order and bought those motivational books about that stuff… In the other hand, I think she will be the perfect nurse for this area.

Ciel: In fact, I think that I like her already.

Axl: But the fact that she might be used as a weapon of mass destruction is already left behind.

As they blended into a conversation topic, the doors opened as the familiar one entered into the room.

X: Hello guys. Sorry for not coming earlier. The traffic is a hell.

Alia: X!

Signas: X! Glad you came.

Marino: Yo, long time no see X.

Massimo: Is great to see you again X.

Midi: Yippee! X is here!

Douglas: Nice to see you hanging around our new hangout X.

Ciel: But X… What about the Mother Elf?

Axl: Didn't you say you were going away where no one could find her?

X: I just found the perfect place, left here there and came back. I missed my friends already.

Ciel: Well, that sounds good. With the Mother Elf secured, we can live in peace now.

Axl: But you said…

X: That I was going to seal myself with her. Guess what? I said "What the hell!" She was strong enough and didn't need me. So how have you guys been?

Gaudile: As you see, we got transferred into the Hunters.

Marino: And started doing our stuff… hearing Massimo's whining.

Massimo: Could you quit that already!

X: He, you guys will never change.

Midi: So X, How did you turned from the leader of the 17th unit into the supreme chancellor of the defense division? That's some responsibility managing all the armies in Neo Arcadia!

X: Not too shabby once you get used to it. You know with all those times defeating Sigma, and all the stuff. No deal when you get offered the chance of becoming the supreme chancellor of the defense division.

Signas: Glad to see one of our best hunters became that. Especially after the last one was murdered by a Maverick during the war.

X: Oh, look at the time. I have to go. Be sure to attend the meeting with the introduction of the four main armies. I hope you guys are able to go. It's always good to see a few familiar faces around.

Signas: Count on us X. You better make haste, those council members are always a little pushy about these kind of manners.

X: Of course, the lack of security caused the breach of the caravan ship before the Elf Wars. I'm not blaming you Axl.

Axl: I know…

X: Well, gotta go. Take care until then.

Midi: You too X!

X exited the room.

Midi: Whoa! Did you see that coat? X now looks so official!

Alia: Yeah, very much like he grown up.

Axl: Or he's a completely new X…

Ciel: Still looking at the negative side of this?

Axl: Is not that… didn't you guys felt that? Like he's not the same X…

Midi: Oh come on Axl! You're not gonna tell us he's a copy? Aren't you?

Axl: I don't know… I don't know..

Later that day, the hunters were summoned to the capitol building, the central tallest one of the entire metropolis. All the defense division organizations were there for the introduction of the four armies of Neo Arcadia.

Signas: Nice building.

Alia: Exactly, this conference room of a replica of the opera house in Venice before it was destroyed. Whoever did this has my admiration.

Ciel: Exactly, I read in a book that the opera house hosted a wide variety of shows besides Opera. Did you know that in the year 2004 Venice was the place for the 25-minute preview of the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children movie?

Axl: You certainly know a lot Ciel.

Ciel: Nope, just a little thing I know.

Signas: Look, looks like X already got a few members with him.

Midi: Anyways, who are those four guys over there by X's side?

Alia: As I checked on the network, those are the four leaders of the four armies of Neo Arcadia. They are also the four personal bodyguards of X known as the guardians.

: It seems you have quite vast knowledge as an operator Ms. Alia.

Signas: Who are you?

Suddenly, a gentle figure with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes appeared on their side. He sat down as he introduced himself.

Elpizo: I apologize. I arrived a little late for my introduction. My name is Elpizo, special tactical type Reploid for the hunters. I suppose you're the Maverick hunters, right?

Axl: You guessed right.

Alia: It's nice to now we have such polite tactical type Reploid on our side. Nice to have you Elpizo.

Elpizo: My pleasure. Anyways, the presentation by supreme commander X is about to start.

As Elpizo spoke, the lights in the room dimmed down until a single spotlight alighted the podium. X walked over as she touched the microphone.

X: Hello? Is this on? Okay… Hpmh! Good afternoon Neo Arcadia citizens. As for the first day, we have received most of the surviving population of the world. Both Human and Reploid. And with that fact, we are now heading straight into the golden era of peace promised a long time ago. But, terrorists and activist groups still remain. I, supreme commander of the Neo Arcadia military forces, I created four armies to protect peace.

Ax X turned to the big screen, a brief video flashed by. Four icons appeared: A green icon with a wind gust, a red icon with a fiery fist, a blue icon with liquid flashes and a black icon with a gray moon.

X: Four armies that will work like one to keep our everlasting peace. First, the aerial army. With the vision of an eagle, and the aid of the wind, this aerial army will provide supreme defense to our aerial space. This army will be commanded by my second on hand, Sage Harpuia.

A female Reploid came from the darkness. With her green body and white sections, she kneeled before her master.

Harpuia: I swear loyalty to you, master. To face the challenges of the future.

X: And then, here we have the military army. With specialized ground Reploids and Mechaniloids, they stand for a strong defense and offense. I certainly know that my guardian Fighting Fenrir will handle the morale of the army with ease and flaming passion.

Another Reploid stepped out of the darkness. His skin was somehow tan, and his reddish pink body with white stripes. He bared huge fists.

Fenrir: As you say master X. No one messes with us!

X: Fenrir. Always optimist. The next army uses the gentleness of the ocean. The marine army. With the gentleness of the water, they approach their prey like the fiercest shark with the gentleness of the golden fish. I know I can leave this responsibility to my third guardian Fairy Leviathan.

Another female Reploid came from the darkness. With her silhouette filing the darkness, a gentle bright breeze engulfed the souls of the men.

Leviathan: I know we will do well on this task. Thank you master X!

X: Thank you for offering me the chance Leviathan. And last but not least, the darkness of the ally of the stealth army. Hiding in the shadows, lurking in enemy lines, and following a code of honor. Destroy the enemy from the inside out. This task, is left to the last of my guardians, Ninja Phantom.

X: And together, we will face the future with pride. Neo Arcadia will be known in history as the lost Eden of peace!

Everyone in the conference room roared with cheer for such speech as lights went back on.

Signas: That was some speech from X.

Midi: Yay! You rock X!

Elpizo: I think it is a good sign.

Marino: But still, look at that Harpuia.

Massimo: She looks quite strong.

Marino: See what I mean? Always against me…

Massimo: That's not what I mean Marino!

Cinnamon: Yup, they got something on.

Alia: Still, it looks like that the armies are strong enough.

Signas: But they would still need the help of the hunters. Don't forget that.

Harpuia: Excuse me, Maverick hunters?

Everyone turned to the mysterious Reploid.

Ciel: Yes?

Harpuia: Master X told us that once in a time, he was a member of your group. And he requested that the Maverick Hunters were still active. I see that maybe we would cooperate someday.

Fenrir: You people don't look so strong. But Axl, Master X said that you are quite a strong Reploid, and a very special one too. So how about a friendly fight later?

Axl: Sure!

Fenrir: Deal then!

Leviathan: I just wanted to see the girls. I see you have a modest group of female members here. The slickest operator everyone has been talking about.

Alia: Oh please… Is not that much.

Leviathan: The brightest human scientist.

Ciel: Really? I never knew I was bright. Just curious.

Leviathan: The sly thief who turned out to have a warm heart.

Marino: Hey! Don't get all soft on me!

Leviathan: Hee hee hee. And a very pretty nurse.

Cinnamon: Me? she's talking about me, right?

Phantom: We are not here to slack off, so better get on duty from now on. Not even I you are the master's friends.

Signas: We get it.

Harpuia: Now if you excuse us.

The four guardians retired from the place.

Marino: ARGH! Who does he thinks he is? "Not even if you're the master's friends." HE'S SUCH A HEADACHE!

Alia: But I have to admit it. Leviathan has a good side.

Axl: And Fenrir, I already made friends with him!

Alia: Well, we better get going. And anyways, where's X?

Midi: Looks like he left being escorted by those four.

Axl: This is suspicious… I have an idea…

Alia: Don't tell me you will use your skills and infiltrate into their building?

Axl: I have some questions in my mind. X always wanted to solve everything by peace, but now he wants to establish a powerful military force? This isn't like X at all…

Signas: I agree… go Axl, but remain unseen.

Elpizo: Are you sure about this? Anyways, I heard of some things Neo Arcadia wants to keep in secret…

Alia: You will have limited communication there. There's won't be any radio transmissions, but you should be able to send us live footage. Once you see, you'll see that everything's normal.

Axl: Whatever you say. I should get going.

Ciel: Axl, I don't like this idea…

Axl: But I feel it… I feel like I have to find out what's going on with this X.

Ciel: Well… fine… good luck…

Axl turned around heading to the back of the building. As he hid, he took the form of a soldier drone. Hopped on the transport and blended into the traveling troop.

As the transport went, it headed to the big building of the northern section of Neo Arcadia.

Once he arrived there, his investigation would reveal many answers… and a shocking image would change their fate forever…