Disclaimer: I've been attacked by rabid squirrels.. OK.. No not really. I'll get on and write now... (cries)
Uzu: Soooooo, the evil mavericks have finally struck!
Mach: Again..
Uzu: Shut. Up! (holding knife)
Mach: o0
Uzu: As I was saying, the mavericks have finally struck and the story seems to want to be writen in military style... Don't ask me how, but it's gone that way... o0; Sooooo, Will Redips strike next? How long will it take for Zepheeleus to map the Quantom Cloud region? Who the hell is his brother, and why does he like his fringe to be in his helmet? A few more pictures are up in Photobucket, and the map is up too! (FINALLY)
And the question everybody wants to know. (No not the "How the F$# did Redips come back to life?") Did I draw the messenger reploid? Yes. His name is Mercades. Mercedes is too over used...
The good guys seem to be loosing, maybe a bad guy should join their ranks? What do you say? I think I'm a little obsessed but... He's cool, he's a bitch of a reploid to beat, and he so kicks ass! I mean, a fatal attack. He owned my ass so bad in battle, he REGENERATED my dead characters! How sad is that? (Yes, capcom owns him, just guess) Hmmmmm, maybe...
I shall now go and hug Temichal.
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"Attention all clean up units. Debris located on left side." The announcement rang as hoards of repair mechaniloids marched to clear up all the mess and metal created by the compact explosion.
Nana stared at the ruined base forlornly. It had happened again; the destruction, the chaos... Would another bomb be planted in the future? Would they be so lucky as to escape a second time? Or a third?
If they couldn't catch that reploid, who knew when he would strike next. Or worse, who did he work for? Such planned attacks didn't happen over night.
Moving her vibrant pink hair out of her eyes, she looked towards the halfway risen sun. Something really bad was in store for the hunters, she could feel it in every fiber of her being.
XXXXXX
Earlier that morning
The reploid stood before the entrance of an underground cave. Long forgotten, it had been overtaken by moss and other forms of vegetation. Ancient languages carved upon its entrance frame. Hesitantly, the figure descended the arcaic steps. Most of them crumbled under the pressure of his feet, but it was from years of use, not because of weight. Strands of light filtered and shone on his path. Most of the beams rested on a simple structure in the middle of the cave. It was a stone tablet; many inscriptions were inbedded into it. As the tiny reploid inspected the bizare symbols and lines, he noticed that many of them overlapped and continued on the sides and back of the tablet.
"Comence data scan." Initiating his personal scanner, he waited patiently for any information on the script. Most of the knowledge of the world had been downloaded into his memory banks, since his creators had wanted him to be well educated; being the prototype of a model for an important project. The scan was complete.
The words 'Data found. Language of the Menaiics. Comencing translation..' displayed in his vision. Feeling the grooves of the words, he waited yet again. His fingers came to a deeper chipped part of the inscriptions. They seemed to be carved in great warning, or prehaps out of great panic. Silently pondering, he was startled when his scanner gave a sudden 'beep'.
"Translation complete. Comence read. First of all, I bid you welcome. It must have not been an easy feat for you to have found this shrine. Perhaps you have already spent your life searching for it's whereabouts. I shall never know. You stand upon holy ground, please respect that." The reploid's eyes fell to the floor he stood on. Bigger carving of symbols led their way further from the stone.
"Wether you be of evil or of good, I know not, hopefully the information I am about to relay to you shall prove of service, not of destruction. If you look downward you will notice inscriptions leading away from my note. Follow the path of the largest ones." Cautiously the reploid searched for the biggest of the patterns and followed them to where they stopped.
"Look to the wall, you should see something that will spark your imagination..."
Glancing to the wall casually, the reploid was surprised when he saw a 4 meter high triangular frame. It was ingraved with red curved lines.
"The alchemy force powers are the only way to open this gate. Incredible power and wisdom will be granted to those who complete this task. Other shrines across this area contain the stones."
'Interesting..' Came the stray thought.
"Leaf, wind, water, earth, flame, and lightning; combined together upon the pedastool. Dance together, the light. Should you wish to bring upon the world chaos and torment, or combined take flight..
I pray that you are of good, if not, the world is doomed... End of read."
For a long while the reploid simply stared at the monuments within the room. His mind was searching for ideas of what to do with his new found information. 'I pray that you are of good, if not, the world is doomed...' The words echoed throughout his mind. 'Hmm. Sounds like my brother.' Giggling silently, he wrapped his white wings around his body in gleeful thought. 'Oh well!..'
XXXXXX
(Where the fuck are Spider and X and - Oh yeah! Oops I mean-) Mach's Base...yeah... (looks left then right nervously)
Zero sat comfortably on a plush chair as he viewed the paper map and outline that Mach had been showing them. The leader of the Twilight Syndicate had insisted that his guests be comfortable, especially since they were out of their home region. Several other reploids who were a part of the syndicate surrounded the table as well, but they stood. Spider had noticed that they seemed a little unsteady. Perhaps they were nervous of the next mission? Calmly he watched as Mach passed over the map yet again with a green marker.
"This was the first place he attacked. Remember, I had told you before, the Melsafe Plant? After that raid, my sources found out that the next few places that were attacked were, in order: Deep Under and the Silver Ore plant."
"Deep under?" Confused, X glanced quizically to Zero. "What kind of name is that?"
Karten answered his newly aquainted clueless friend. "Once you get there, my friend, you'll understand."
One of the sentry reploids that stood next to Karten shivered at the memories of his past trial there. His name was Raiki (...Raika, Laika? XD), and he stood to attention as any trained gunman would. His neck was guarded by a simple, yet elogante collar that flatted itself unto his shoulders, (which had compacted shoulder guards). It was joined in the middle by a yellowed medallion. His helmet was of a simple design as well. Like a normal bike casque (can I even say that in english?) it only covered from the very top of his head downwards to the begining of his spine, and held a circle and a triangle insignia that protruded from the edges of the circle over his ear space. His indigo jumpsuit started from the very top of his neck and continued down until his army camouflage coloured armor.
"I guess it's deep." X stated placidly.
"More than you can possibly imagine.." The black and burgandy reploid replied, continuing his train of thought, he began to open his mouth pensively. "I think we should travel to the Melsafe plant. From there we can possibly map out their next striking point."
Nodding curtly Zero agreed. "Then we can catch them, and possibly figure out their plans."
"But wouldn't they be expecting that?" Another of the syndicate group piped up. He was a young male with a slender and lean figure. He had a bright light-blue jumpsuit which made a striking contrast with his cloudy dark gray armor. "If they've proved to be so organized, in such little time, I would expect them to prepare for a surprise attack."
With affection, Mach Karten turned his head towards the reploid. "Yes. That is true Micheal." The chief of the group always respected Micheal's opinions, whether they agreed with his views or not. He had found Micheal after Aile's death. The young reploid had been lost in one of the deepest forests in New Balsera. Mach still remembered with a smile, Micheal's terrified face as the syndicate had found him cowering inside a tree trunk. Taking pity on him, Karten had decided to take the boy in, since he had no other ties. Micheal had proved his competance and worth in planning and strategy making soon after. Mach regarded the younger reploid as a brother, and would honestly give his life for him anyday.
"What do you suggest we do?"
Taking a small bit of air in his lungs, Micheal took one of the markers. "They might have a few men posted here," marking a dot near the Samcurta City, "Or here." Another dot was placed on a block of land labelled 'Silver Ore Plant'.
"So that's what you think.." Whispering orders to Raiki beside him, Mach turned back to X and his group.
"I respect my stratagist's way of thinking." Staring at the plan, he added, "If we take the shortest route, we'll be at the Melsafe Plant by tomorrow at 12:00. We leave tonight in 40 minutes time."
XXXXXX
Outskirts of Giga City
Letting himself fall down on the grass, Justifz gave a humoungous sigh. All these missions he had ran in the past month, all the changed plans.
'Does this guy ever stop?' Was all he could think, as he let his body relax over the soft cushioning of the grass. 'Tells me one thing, and then another...' He was lying on his back, gazing up at the setting sky.
Hearing a slight russle from the twigs and weeds in front of him, he raised his head to see who was there. Releaved to see a familiar face, he relaxed his body again.
"I gotta stop telling him I use to run a bomb squad." He breathed, exhausted.
"Well, you would spurt off lies." His navigator, Medival, sat next to him on the grass. "Lovely day isn't it.."
Both stared at the orange swirls of cloud mixing with pink hues as the sun began it's long journey of descent.
Both seemed lost in thought for the few moments. Until Justifz broke the silence.
"Sad..."
Looking at him curiously, as a good friend would listen to another, she watched his gazing eyes as he continued to stare at the sunset.
"Sad that we miss such golden moments in life, like this..."
Nodding good-heartedly, she played with the weeds by her fingers, twisting and pulling some out. "Yes, I'd have to agree with you."
Unsure if he should say what he was about to, he took a slight sharp breath. "Do, you know?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you know what he really looks like?" Not looking her in the eyes, and not wanting to explain who he was talking about, he glared harder at the sun. If she knew, she'd understand his question.
"Yes, I do. I was the second person he showed. You were the first I believe."
He looked back at her, this time in the eyes. Her eyes were a dark glossy forest green, dark but clear, unlike his own, which were bright. He blinked casually. They didn't have to tell each other any information, they already knew what the other was thinking.
Pensively he turned back to watch the sun yet again. They were, the perfect team.
"I don't think anybody else knows. He preffers to keep it that way."
"Incase some one betrays him, or tries to over take him... Which makes me wonder why he chose to tell me of all people."
Never taking her eyes off him, Medival listened to her friend's words. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I'm a bounty hunter. I betray people for a living. I do the jobs, get the money, and then leave. It all depends on who pays me higher. I do it for a livelyhood, not because of choice."
"But don't you enjoy being a sniper?" Came her casual responce. She knew that she would have to prod him some more. Justifz needed to talk about something that was bothering him, and she was the only one who could listen.
"I won't lie to you. Yes, I do. The thrill and scare of the possibility of being caught. How my heart races as I go to take the shot. But when that's all over, it's gone. There's no joy after, only before... before..."
"You kill some one."
"Yes. Before I kill some one for greed and money. It's not a pretty burden to bare. I might be evil, but I do know of the virtues of life. I know that you must bare responsability for the life you take."
"Maybe that's why he chose you."
Sadened he let his eyes fall to the grass. "He knows your heart, and he trusts you. He knows you're loyal, and I do too."
Looking at her with a questioning glance at what she said, he stretched.
She continued. "You're a tough personality to crack, but when we know your colours, you stay to them. Justifz, all three of us know you're loyal deep down inside. He saw that as soon as he saw you. You try to hide it. You hide it so well, that it would take eight years of knowing you to figure that out."
Laughing the male reploid comented. "To bad you found me out. It seems like we known each other in a previous life."
Laughing as well, the navigator sighed contentedly. "I don't believe in that crap. And neither should you."
Grinning as he watched the sun make it's last few movements, he replied. "Very well."
XXXXXX
(Uzu: Damn I'm sensing some Medival/Justifz! o0; I never even planned that! I swear those characters are moving about in weird and mysterious ways!)
"Kuh, that waz awwzum! LOL!"
"Speak like that again, and I will have to hurt you." The black and red bird type reploid stated as he aspied his friend in a 'are-you-serious' method.
"Awwww.." The anthropomorphic shark configured reploid replied whining. Zecanna and himself had finished their diversion on the eastern parts of the Giga City isles. Since they had no further instructions for the mean time, they sat and watched the water rise and fall by the shores of the Mertle islands.
"So, he got it?" Looking rather amuzed, the shark reploid known as Tailos, turned to gaze at his friend's red eyes.
"Um, ya, sure. I guess." Laughing the pheonix misplaced a pebble, "He'd have to be a tortoise reploid, not to have gotten it. Honestly, we gave him a full three hours!"
"I love tormenting the army! This has to be a life calling or something!" The shark giggled. His friend grinned boldly at him.
"I know what you mean!"
They continued on that topic as the tide lapped at the end of the ridgid shore rocks. The sun almost fully gone by now..
XXXXXX
Lalalala!- Mach's group! 10 O'clock I guess!
The trail winded and curved for what seemed an eternity. The night's refreshing breeze brushed past their faces every now and then. It was nice to have such a cool comfort. Karten's men were very acustomed to working by the cover of the dark. They showed this fact very well by the way they prowled with only the stars as their guide.
Spider started getting into the groove too. Minute by minute, he became more aware of his surroundings, even to the point where he could side step wayward branches; keeping his silent cover.
It almost felt like a child's game; who could keep their presence unknown, but still do the most outrageous things.
Micheal pivoted backwards and began to moonwalk, as Karten silently slapped his forhead. Mouthing a laugh, Micheal pivoted back to his original direction. Grinning, he nodded to Zero in a cheeky manner, as if to say, 'can you do any better?'.
Accepting the dare, Zero let all the years of being a Maverick Hunter guide him into a front roll. Elegantly, he sprung up into the air, twirled with a double jump, landed on his right palm, and cartwheeled three turns. Getting up, he glanced at them all, daring them to do even better.
Raiki waved his right hand airily, as if what Zero had done was perfectly natural to a 7 year old. And so continued the insane night XP.
XXXXXX
"No, I refuse your terms."
Smiling knowingly, the female reploid ran a hand through her short, wavy, dirty blonde hair. "You don't exactly have much of a choice. Who else will you find that's willing to do this?"
Gritting his teeth grudgingly, the small male reploid glared back at her disdainfully. Turning away curtly, he replied, "You're a bitch, you know that?"
She let out a childish giggle. "I know."
The two reploids were slim and small built. The male had a purple jumpsuit (Oh my stars! Chapter 8!). His helmet was white and curved down over his ears, it ressembled a fighter pilot's head gear. He had stunning deep purple eyes, but they held a sort of distancing factor to them; cold and calculating. The top part of his helmet had a yellow layer that came out over his right eye in a curved triangle. Around his neck he had a cylinder-like, white collar.
He turned back to look at her again with an annoyed glance. She was slightly taller than him (AKA: 1cm). She had the image of a happy five year old. Vibrant gray hued irises, happy-go-lucky grin..
'Everything that pisses me off.' The male thought sourly.
She was modeled after a butterfly, huge glossy clear wings adorned her back, along with golden anteni on her head. She had a white jumpsuit, and barely any armor, save a white breast plate and a pink pelvic guard. (Like the Megaman Zero generals!)
Her expression changed to her true colours. Her eyes darkened as her eye brows thinned menacingly.
"You should change your attitude towards me if you wish to have my services" (Uzu: o0)
Before he could retort, his comunicator turned on.
'Hey boss! I think I see them!' (Remember the dude, waaay back who's crazy about skiing?)
Loosing his train of thought, the reploid mimicked a deeper tone of voice as he answered back.
"If it's them make sure you tell Spanter. But be ready to trap them if the opertunity arises Heinard!"
Getting quite excited, the male reploid left the room in a hurry.
"No, wait!" Screaming after him, the female reploid grasped in his direction, "Come back here Temichal!"
XXXXXX
Melsafe Plant Outskirts 1:00 AM 0o...
The fridgid air breezed past the silver reploid. Snow blanketed most of the area. Dew-like crystals shined in the dark aura of the mountain top.
"Perfect! I love this weather." Peacibly the figure trudged lightly through the snow. The environment glowed with a light hued blue.
He rested himself besides a shadowed tree. He enjoyed night work, now he could be alone and work at his own pace. He was about to push off to a closer spot to his lookout point, when his com. device flickered on.
'Heinard? How long till they get there?' Hmmm. The voice sounded higher than usual, actually, a lot higher.
On cue, as if the speaker had read his thoughts, there was a rough cough on the other line. The voice changed to an older, more mature frequency.
'Justifz has been assigned to help you. He should arrive by 2 O'clock.'
"Oh, really. Um, it's alright. I think I can handle myself.." Wearing the look of genuine sencerity, Heinard tapped at the little gray telecomunication box.
'-But just incase they pull off something odd. You know how they are.'
So, he doesn't really hate me... The silver reploid mused. "Fine then, but I'm sure with the ensnarement I have, they'll have more than a few problems trying to get out!" Giving a short laugh, Heinard added. "So how's the plan going?"
There was a moment of hesitation. 'Well, she's giving me a hard time, but I think we can count on her for later on. Mostly going well. I guess I'll only find out after tonight...'
"Anymore shrines?"
'Yes, two actually, located at the South end of the New Balsera Region.'
"Good luck then."
There was a pause. Then the comunication ended with a low voice. '..Thank you.'
XXXXXX
"Nice cavern. Didn't know it got so cold here."
"With global warming the temperatures are all messed up. This used to be a well heated area. Many mining excavations had taken place here." Raiki explained.
"What were they mining, force metal?" Spider asked as they walked further up the snowed region.
"You could say that. Apparently there was another type of stone that resided here in the bedrock. From what I heard I think it's called Alchemy force metal."
"Alchemy: As in chemistry?" Zero pondered.
"I'm guessing..." Replied Raiki. "I've only seen one piece on the blackmarket. Apparently it's strong, but not as strong as supra force metal. Heh, then we'd have another crisis on our hands." Laughing, he waved his arm airily to the white mass in front of him. "No more time to gaze at the beautiful snow!"
"Put a sock in it. We're here for a mission." Displeased at his comrade's lack of discipline, Micheal glared at the trees that coated the sides of the mountains. "Mach isn't going to be pleased if we don't hurry up, remember? They went to scout ahead of us?"
Giving a smug snort, Raiki turned to the newest 'members' of the group. "Daddy's boy.." He whispered, amused.
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Uzu: Muahahahahah! I'm on the evil siiiide! Or if you haven't noticed, I change to italics whenever I'm about to write about the villians! Well, this is it for a while! At least until I have 5-6 chapters of the Alia CM fic. Or more... 0o..
Remember to keep checking my photobucket account, cause sometimes I actually update! XD I was so happy a few days ago. I found coat hanger wings in my closet, put them on, laughed evilly, and pretended to be Temichal. Heh, I have the purple shirt for it too! Now I just need a collar...
The sole reason I can think of why Mia is in the fic is because I wanted to annoy my main bad guy. I feel so sorry for him now... Hehehehe!
Hmmm, so what's this? Alchemy metal... Oooooh plot twist! Mwahahahaa!
And yay for the new Shadow the Hedgehog game that is coming out! GO SHADOW KICK ARSE!
