Megaman Axl.

Chapter 13. – The truth...

Once the transport arrived, the drone group marched out the transport. Axl marched out too, an used the chance to get into a janitor room on his right in the middle of a white hall.

Axl: Okay, can you guys hear me? I'm in. Activating camera. And now, activate stealth mode.

With a soft touch on the back of his head, his whole body became as light as the light, becoming invisible able to infiltrate anywhere.

He stepped out of the room as he walked carefully to avoid noise. He reached a map on a board checking his location. The room where X's throne is was about a few turns away. He followed the turns and waited for a drone to enter the room to enter inside. He took a nice position as the drone spoke.

Drone: Sir, we got a report from squadron A-7. everything seems to be fine in the city.

X: Glad to hear that.

Drone: Yes sir.

As the drone exited the room, Phantom entered with his kneeling in the middle of the room as a loyal servant as always.

Phantom: Master.

X: Anything new Phantom?

Phantom: Everything checks fine in the building sir.

X: Good. What about the forbidden areas?

Phantom: They seem to be fine from here sir…

As Phantom cut his speaking, he noticed something… like a breeze in the wind… turning where Axl was… he looked at the place with a piercing look.

Axl: (Please… don't come…)

X: Phantom?

Phantom: Sir?

X: Were you saying?

Phantom: Everything marks fine sir.

X: Good… you may…

A drone rushed in the room. Axl used the chance to get out.

Drone: Sir!

X: What is it?

Drone: Is about the recently arrive Omega squad. There seems to be someone missing… unit #1947285092.

X: Nothing to worry about. Rest soldier.

Drone: Yes sir.

The drone left the room.

Phantom: You felt it too master?

X: Indeed… there was someone here… there's only one Reploid who can do that…

Axl wandered around the halls following the map to the forbidden area… as the halls went loser to the forbidden building, the lights were going weaker, until the moonlight was the only light source. It was somehow stormy, so the thunderbolts provided a fast flash. The halls read "Laboratory hall F8" There was nothing there.

Axl: Weird… Is this a forbidden area? This just an abandoned building!

Suddenly, something passed through Axl's mind… like a flash of a weak mouth saying something with a faint echo…

: Axl…

Axl: Huh? Who's there?

The faint echo came from the top of the building… like from a big hall…

Axl: There's only one way to find out…

Axl kept walking… as he went up the stairs; more lighting stroke the skies. Then, he reached the top room of the building. The door was broken, so he slide it away. As he entered the room, he aborted his stealth mode. He checked around the darkness.

Axl: Weird… nothing… I better get back. Maybe I was being wrong about it…

Then, the same voice again. "Axl…" he kept saying… Axl turned to the direction of the shiver rushing through his spine… the darkest section… And with a sudden lighting strike, the light revealed a shocking image… a mutilated Reploid covered in blood… like sealed on a throne… with a big sphere containing a spherical energy being asleep… switching between golden shine to a dark shine… The Reploid was somehow distinguishable, but his gentle expression belonged to only one Reploid… Axl gasped as he tried to cover his mouth.

Axl: ….. X?

It looked like a nightmare at first, but he realized that he was the X he knew. He felt the same aura with the faint voice. His soul… He really fulfilled his promised. Thousands of questions rushed through Axl's head… but he rushed to him and hugged him. Even though he was dead.

Axl: Wake up… wake up X… Wake up! Wake up! X…

A single tear ran on Axl's cheek.

Axl: No… why? WHY?

Axl broke in tears and sorrow unable to understand what happened… But in that time, another Reploid entered the room… Axl turned to the Reploid as he was trying to get what was going on.

Axl: What? Two Xs?

X: He opposed us… he opposed the committee in handing over the Mother Elf for the recovery of the world. We had no choice, but he chose to seal her with his power. We tried everything, but his seal was strong enough to seal her completely. We had no choice but to bring the whole lab where he was waiting or the moment when the seal is broken and use her for our goals of pacification.

Axl: But? WHO ARE YOU?

X: Simply a copy created to bring hope to the people of Neo Arcadia. A mere copy, but perfect, even perfect than the original. Even you hunters didn't noticed the difference.

Axl: I did… I feel X… his warm heart and concern for life… I just… I just felt an iron heart when I felt you… a cold mind… I always knew you were a fake! And you did this to X? After all he had done for the world, you just kill him and create a mere copy to fill the vacuum? Even the humans aren't able of that!

Copy X: But, the council's decision is absolute. They requested the Mother Elf, before Dr. Weil sent Dynamo to capture her. The council is just doing what is right for the world.

Axl: I don't believe you! X was a hero!

Copy X: But still, despise everything you do for them, eventually they will hate the hero.

Axl: ……

Copy X: And I guess you hunters already know too much. If I let you go easily, you wil bring ruin to Neo Arcadia. I can't let you go alive…

Axl: That means… The guys!

Copy X: The guardians are on their way. You better hurry if you want to save them hero.

Axl teleported to arrive fast to HQ. Copy X stood at the sky.

Axl arrived, and rushed to the command room. Everyone looked depressed…

Axl: So you saw it?

Alia: We did… everything…

Midi: I can't believe everything was a lie!

Marino: But what's more important, they want all of us dead. And those four guardians are on their way!

Signas: This can't be happening…

Ciel: What are we gonna do?

Alia: I'm detecting powerful energy reading in the area! It's them!

Douglas: We can't leave in time!

Signas: ……… Axl, Ciel and Elpizo… get out of here…

Axl: What?

Signas: I said get out of here!

Ciel: No!

Alia: Just do it… we'll hold them to give you enough time.

Elpizo: But guys!

Douglas: We have done much already. Not let us do this.

Midi: Even, even this will be enough for me…

Marino: I'm too old for this stuff, you guys are still young. So get out of here and fulfill your dreams.

Massimo: I know we can hold them long enough to let you out.

Cinnamon: I'll even stay to heal the wounded in the battle.

Ciel: Guys…

Axl: This is insane!

Elpizo: No way we're leaving you in here!

Signas drew his gun pointing it at them with threat.

Signas: JUST GO!

Ciel: Commander…

Signas: Don't make me repeat myself again! Don't make me shot you!

Axl: …… Fine……

Ciel: Axl?

Axl: Let's go…

Ciel: But Axl!

Elpizo: We better go… we don't stand a chance.

Ciel: ………

Axl wrapped his right arm around Ciel as they ran away. Ciel turned while running facing their comrades.

Ciel: Alia!

The door closed as the other door opened revealing the four guardians.

Harpuia: I can't believe this.

Fenrir: I though you guys were good, but you turned out to be a bunch of Mavericks.

Marino: Neither Maverick nor not Maverick, we will always fight for what is rightful! What you have done with X and the world isn't rightful!

Massimo: X was an admirable comrade! And you're insulting his name like this? I can't forgive you!

Signas: We maybe be weak, but the fire of our souls is strong enough to take you!

Meanwhile outside, Axl, Ciel and Elpizo ran through the main street heading to the gate.

Then, back at HQ, Marino was tossed by a powerful blow. She wasn't doing well. her breathing was weak and parts of her armor were broken. Massimo turned around ans ran over Marino.

Massimo: Marino!

Marino: I guess… I wasn't… strong enough… I was… too cocky…

Massimo: Don't say that! Cinnamon!

Marino: She has been… taken out already… Massimo…

Massimo: Yes?

Marino: All these years together… we always fought… but deep inside… I felt something… for you… a feeling… I never felt before…

Massimo: Marino…

Marino: Before leaving… would you… kiss me… for the first… time?

Massimo removed his mouthpiece revealing his soft lips. He approached Marino as they came in contact. With the last seconds, Marino's grip became weak and dead. She was dead.

Massimo: Marino…

Massimo looked around… everyone was dead… and with Marino's death, he felt a rage like never before in his system. He stood up carrying his battle axe as he yelled his war cry.

Massimo: WHAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Fenrir: Hold it right there!

Fenrir drew his blaster shooting at Massimo. The heavy blasts were peeling layers of his armor off revealing his inner structure. But he was till rushing. With the last 7 shots directly at his heart, he stopped as he fell on the ground.

Massimo: I'm sorry… I tried…

Fenrir approached the fallen warrior aiming his blaster directly to his head. He squeezed the trigger as the explosion propelled bolts and chips off their place.

Fenrir: Stay.

The window of the room was stained with blood. Axl told Ciel not to turn round as the window was being splattered with blood.

They eventually reached the gates, but a group of drones stopped their track. Axl drew his guns trying to fight back, but Ciel stopped him.

Ciel: Hold it! They win this one…

If this was it, they would be captured and executed… But, a sudden radio transmition told them to let them go, they opened the gates revealing the forest.

Elpizo: This is weird…

Ciel: We better hurry before they call reinforcements!

The three of tem ran to the forest, but Axl stopped on his track… he looked at the ground as the first droplets of rain fell on him… he turned around lifting his view to the tallest building of Neo Arcadia… as spotlights pierced the sky, a figure stood on the tip of the tallest tower with a radio on his hand. With his dark blue coat looking at Axl. Axl looked back.

Ciel: Axl!

Axl: Right…

Axl turned slowly running away as Copy X turned too. Then, the three of them ran into the forest.

The woods were dark and deep, but eventually they came to an abandoned energy factory. They got inside seeking shelter. They now were exiled from Neo Arcadia.

Ciel wanted to cry while sitting on a sofa she found in one of the rooms. Axl accompanied her to ease her sadness.

Axl: It was their choice Ciel. They gave their lives in order for us to live…

Ciel: I know… but…

Axl: I also feel guilty too… but we have no choice but to live as they wanted…

Ciel: But I also feel that is our responsibility now that we know the truth to keep the people alive… something must be done about Neo Arcadia…

Axl: Don't worry. As soon as Elpizo fixes that super computer he found, he would be able to hack the Neo Arcadia network.

Elpizo: Which should be around now. The network connections seem to be fine, and I also found active energy storage and a trans server terminal. I guess we could use this factory as some kind of HQ.

Axl: How about it? We can do our part against Neo Arcadia.

Ciel: Yes… at least we should do that…

Elpizo: Well then, the resistance will fight against Neo Arcadia for the truth to be heard.

Axl: Deal.

Ciel: Got it.

The three of them crossed hands, and with that bow, the resistance was created. The same resistance that could chance the fate of the world. But still, this story is not over yet…