Chapter 6: A titanic duel.
An eerie silence fell over the hunters in the discussion room.
"So... what do we do now?" DMZ asked.
"We can wait for another attack, or we could check out the powerstation..." X said.
"Either way I'm getting bored, so if we can make a decision as soon as everybody is ready, let's get a move on..." Zero said.
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Someone caught Alpheon and the hunters on tape and was watching it.
"My son... attacking alone? Dying is what you want and that's why I abandoned you..." The mysterious reploid mused. "Soon enough, we will be one. A 2 soul God of reploids. As long as I have your strength under my control, your power will always be mine."
The shadowy reploid grinned evily. "Sigma was a good ally. So was Dr. Wily. Too bad my son had to kill them. All these maverick hunters will be terminated just because of my son. Do your best Alpheon!" He laughed devilish.
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DMZ sighed.
"Something on your mind?" Zero asked him.
"Yeah... just whatever happened at the power station..." DMZ replied.
"Seems to really bother you... may I ask why?" Zero asked.
"Its just, the past few battles we have had, we struggled to win... if somebody has that much power how are we gonna win?" He said to Zero, answering his question with another.
"I know what you mean... But something will give hopefuly and make it easier..." Zero said.
"That or all of it will hit the fan..." DMZ said gloomly.
X, Star, and the now recovered Axl walked into the room, and sat down.
"Maybe we should go investigate that..." X said.
"If nothing else, it should uncover a few answers on at least who did it, and maybe why." Star continued.
"Are you serious? We have just returned and barely recovered, and you want us to go back out there?" Axl questioned.
"Ok Axl... how about this... we'll just wait for that nice powerful maverick to show up, catch us off guard, and kill us all..." DMZ said.
Surprised by the sudden reaction, Axl kept his mouth shut.
"If nothing else, I'm going to go..." DMZ said. And with that he walked out the door. but he stuck his head back in. "If anybody wants to join, they can, but I can't guarentee your saftey when and if it hits the fan..." After that statement he dissapeared.
"What's wrong with him? He's acting odd..." Star said.
"It's probably just stress..." X said.
"I don't think stress would make a person act like that..." Star said getting up. "I'm going with DMZ." She added with determination. "He saved me when we fought the Wolf Brothers and Veldogger. There's no way I'll let him face whatever is there by himself."
She turned to her friends. They glanced at each other and got up. "I'm going too." X said "Whoever is behind this must be stopped."
"Count me in too." Zero said.
"Well, I'll go too. After all, hunters stick together" Axl said, returning to his old, cocky self.
Star smiled. "Great! Let's move out!" They headed out to catch up with DMZ and go to the power station.
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D. Falcon stood at the Power station with arms crossed, awaiting the maverick hunters. He seemed startled when he heard a voice from behind him.
"Who's there?" D. Falcon asked.
"Don't be afraid, friend," said the unknown voice from the shadows. "We're here to help you."
The figure stepped out from the shadows, along with 2 other figures behind him. It was Veldogger and the Wolf brothers!
"Those dumb hunters thought they could trick us! But they were wrong," said Fire.
"Yeah," Ice chimed in, "we found tracers that they placed on us, while we were healing our injuries."
"So we left the tracers in other places, so they will think we are there instead of where we really are," continued Fire.
"And speaking of injuries, we're all 3 now fully healed," added Ice.
"Yes," said Veldogger, "The foolish mavericks have been off doing battle and hurting themselves, while we have been healing. So they'll be easily defeated the next time we meet. But just to make sure, we decided to join forces with the nearest maverick, which turned out to be you, Mr. Falcon."
"Yes, I can see how strong you 3 are," answered D. Falcon. "I'll be happy to have your help."
"Good," Veldogger told him. "When they show up here, they'll think they're only facing you. In reality, however, it will be all 4 of us, and they'll be caught completely off guard."
The 4 mavericks laughed, and then got ready. D. Falcon continued to stand in position, while Veldogger and the Wolf brothers went back to hide in the shadows, ready to strike.
Endzone came lumbering back, holding the massive power conduit in his huge arms.
"I thought you said we were going back home after this?" He whined.
"Something's come up." Falcon said without turning to even meet his annoyed look. "We'll be expecting company shortly."
"Oh?" Endzone smiled, placing the conduit on the ground and arming himself with his massive blade.
"Yeah. And we also have some buddies here. Meet Veldogger and the Wolf bros."
"Hello." Veldogger said calmly. The Wolf bros nodded.
Endzone's smiled faded. "I don't need no help in taking care of a buncha stinking hunters."
Falcon's visor glinted and he smiled. "That's hardly the point, you see."
Veldogger looked at him. "What's so funny?"
Then they all heard it. Footsteps.
Falcon grinned even wider. "Ready to rumba, kids?"
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The group of hunters walked around the power station area.
"Stay silent and catious..." DMZ said.
"Understood..." They said.
They approached the power station. It was very big, big enough to get lost in. They approached the main entrance and stopped.
"Go ahead and check your com-unit... if somebody gets stranded, it will be easier to find them after receiving some info" X said.
"So how do you plan on covering this whole thing?" Axl said.
"Split into teams..." Zero said.
"What? You have to be kidding!" Axl said in disbelief.
"Look, You and I will be just fine together..." Zero said."We'll go to the back, X, you Star and DMZ go to the main control room..." he added.
"But wouldn't it make more sense to stay together?" Star asked.
"Time is of the essense..." Zero said.
X, DMZ and Star nodded. "If any group runs into trouble, call the others." X advised.
The others nodded. "Let's go." Zero said.
"Be careful, guys." Star said.
"You guys too. Good luck." Axl said as he and Zero left.
"Okay. Let's go. Stay alert." DMZ instructed. X and Star nodded and followed him into the Main Control Room.
The lights were dim as the hunters walked through.
"Defintly drained plenty of power..." X said.
"Yeah it is very amazing..." DMZ said. Just then the lights got brighter and brighter then browned down again.
"What just happened?" Star asked.
"Power surge or whatever that thing is, is drawing power again..." X said.
The walked down the hall as quietly as they could. DMZ led the way, because at the moment he was the only one that had the special targeting system.
He stopped for a second, looked around the corner and then motioned for Star and X to follow.
The closer they got to the control room, they more each of them began to worry.
#God... I hope it's just crappy electronics...# X thought to himself.
#I hope we will all be ok, times have been hard for us recently...# Star thought to herself.
#I hope that i don't transform again...# DMZ thought to himself.
All of a sudden DMZ made X and Star stop. He could hear breathing coming out of a lit up room. His head flooded with thoughts. And then X sneezed.
#Aw screw it!# DMZ yelled in his head as he busted down the door to find Falcon, waiting and grinning.
"It's about time... I have been waiting for a while..." He said. "I was begining to think that y'all were never going to come, but I guess I was wrong... but only three hunters... Such a pitty..." Falcon said.
"You'll regret saying that!" X yelled pointing his charged buster at Falcon.
"X! WAIT!" DMZ yelled but X had already shot. The orb hit Falcon and exploded on impact. The smoke cleared and Falcon stood there frowning.
"Like i said... such a pitty... NOW YOU DIE!" Falcon said, disappearing from sight and reappearing infront of X, doing a strong round house kick sending him into the wall.
"Now who's next?" He said grinning towards DMZ and Star.
"Don't let him get to you... he's fast and strong but there has to be a way..." Star said.
I recognize that reploid... Falcon thought to himself looking at DMZ.
"Well are you just going to stand there?" DMZ asked.
"Come and get it..." Falcon said.
DMZ dashed towards Falcon. Falcon reached out grabbing DMZ kneeing him in the gut. DMZ fell to the floor curled up in a ball.
"Axl... Zero... come in!" Star yelled into her comunicator but the transmission was being blocked!
"You have no chance..." Falcon said.
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On the other side of the station, Zero and Axl had just met Veldogger and the Wolf Brothers.
"Play time is over boys..." Zero said drawing his saber.
"We're stronger than last time so don't expect and easy fight..." Fire said.
"We never give an easy fight!" Axl yelled back.
Fire jumped at Zero but he pulled up his saber and locked in with Fire. Ice tackled Zero from the side into a wall.
"Cheap shot..." Zero said standing back up.
"Maybe but it works..." Ice said.
Veldogger pounced onto Axl but Axl threw him off putting a pistol to his face.
"Wanna try again?" Axl asked sarcasticly.
"No, but i know somebody that does..." Veldogger said smiling.
Axl turned to look and saw Fire's fist in his face.
"You'll pay for that." He said standing up.
"Don't you see? It's useless to resist." Ice said with a cocky smile on his face.
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Back in the control room, Falcon appeared right infront of Star. This startled her so bad she fell backwards. This amused Falcon and he smiled his insidious grin.
"Get away from me!" Star yelled slinging her whip at his face, but he caught it.
"You're too slow..." Falcon said laughing.
"Maybe she is but I'm not!" DMZ yelled behind Falcon, attempting a power kick. But Falcon let go of Star's whip and grab DMZ by his ankle.
"No you're still too slow..." Falcon said. And with that he threw DMZ back into a wall. He turned his head back to Star.
"Now where were we?" He asked cackling.
"Me kicking your butt!" X yelled with his buster agaisnt Falcon's back.
"When are you going to learn, I'm simply too good for you?" Falcon said. And with the blink of an eye he was behind X. Falcon reached out with is large hand and grabed X by the head.
"Now stay down!" Falcon yelled slamming X's face into the ground.
Star's whip came back out and wrapped around Falcon's neck.
"If they couldnt do anything, what makes you think you can do any better?" Falcon asked.
"My will to win..." Star replied.
"Well guess what... you just lost..." Falcon said pulling on the whip, yanking it out of Star's hands. Now it was just a defenseless Star, and a super power Falcon.
Falcon charged up his Onimous Death Blast attack, ready to destroy Star! Suddenly X recovered his senses.
"Unnhhh...Huh?" He groaned while getting up when he saw Star in trouble. He charged his buster. "I... have to save Star!" X fired his X Buster right into Falcon's back!
"Teehehee...Time to die!" Falcon laughed when X's shot hit him in the back. "What! You again?" He snarled turning to face X. "Star! Now!" He shouted.
Star quickly gave Falcon a low kick, knocking him off balance. "Why you little..." Falcon hissed getting up only to have two busters pointed to his face.
"Better give up if you know what's good for you." DMZ said.
"What, and lose to wannabe warriors like you? No thanks. LET'S GET STARTED!" Falcon shouted.
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Axl and Zero were having problems of their own.
"YYAAAHH!" Axl yelled as he was sent flying into a wall by Fire.
Fire lunged at him but Zero stepped in the way. "Try this! B-Fan!" He said as he summoned his weapon attacking with one fan and defending with other, making Fire back off.
"You forgot about me!" Veldogger said, trying to pounce on Zero.
Zero quickly summoned his Z-Saber and slashed Veldogger. He winced in pain but before he could react...
"YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME!" Axl shouted as he fired a volley of shots. Veldogger was sent into another wall.
"Bitter Cold!" Ice said as he blew an icy breath aiming at Axl.
"I can dodge that!" Axl said, dodging, but he feet was frozen. "What?"
Axl tried to destroy the ice with his pistol, but he was grabbed by Ice.
"Now, brother" Ice shouted.
Fire charged towards them, when Zero gave him a strong kick. However, Fire grabbed him by his ankle and threw him at Axl. Ice let go off him, letting both Zero and Axl hit the wall.
"This is starting to get on my nerves." Zero said getting up. Then he helped Axl up.
"Tell me about it..." Axl said.
The Wolf Brothers and Veldogger aproached the duo. "Here we go again..." Axl said.
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"Ok... I'm tired of you!" Falcon said elbowing X bringing him down onto the ground.
"And you..." Falcon said turning around to DMZ. DMZ had jumped in the air and grabbed Falcon's neck.
"Star, now! Finish him!" DMZ yelled.
"But... how do I?" She asked.
"One of my sabers is beside your foot!" DMZ yelled.
"That measly little sword isnt going to do anything to me!" Falcon yelled.
Star grabbed the saber and jumped up in the air. As she was coming down the saber ignited... but Falcon was already prepared, and he back handed her. She fell to the ground and slid back agaisnt a wall.
DMZ let go off Falcon and slid down his back in shock.
"Now for you..." Falcon said grinning.
"You honestly surprised me, Desthrodamien Falcon..." DMZ said.
"What? How do you know my name?" Falcon questioned.
"I figured you would recognize my face... after all I was once below you..." DMZ said.
"What... what are you talking about?" Falcon beckoned.
DMZ's head rose to show his face, one eye red, the other eye blue...
"You... it can't be... You're supposed to be dead!" Falcon screamed.
"Supposed to..." DMZ said.
DMZ sent out a shock wave that knocked Falcon over. Light shown from DMZs back as wings began to grow... a white wing took form and a black wing took form. His armor doubled in size and was painted with soft graphics, with flames ontop. Half of his face became a skull with a blood red eye, and the other half became pure white with a soft blue eye. On his left arm, his buster tripled in length and became a charged particle cannon, his left arm became a gatling gun, and a howitze formed on his right shoulder.
"This can't be... Your supposed to be dead... I killed you..." Falcon yelled.
"Your right, I am dead, half of me went to heaven, the other half went to hell..." DMZ said.
Star's eyes lipped open to see DMZ in his truest form. And so did X.
"What the... Am I dreaming?" She asked herself.
A light aura formed around DMZ. Falcon began to panick.
"Fine then, I have tricks of my own..." he said. A dark aura formed around him as his armor and power began to grow.
"What's... going on! I have never seen any power like this..." Star said to herself.
DMZ raised his left arm and pointed it at Falcon. His face emotionless as the cannon started to charge.
Falcon roared as a dark orb began to form.
"You Can'T deFeAT mE!" He yelled, in his mutated maverick voice.
"As soon as you feel the pain of being caught between two worlds, you will have been defeated." DMZ said. He left the energy loose.
Falcon released his orb as the two were at a stale mate.
DMZ's face wrenched slightly... He increased the power the power going to the particle cannon going through Falcons orb pummeling him into the wall. The power grew more and more. Finaly DMZ stopped. The weaponry disappeared but he stayed in his true form.
He walked over to X.
"Hey are you ok?" He asked.
"Yeah..." He said.
"You go make sure Falcon is down for good... I will check on Star..." He said. He walked over to Star and kneeled down besider her.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes... but, how?" She asked.
"I guess i have some explaining to do..." DMZ said, with a slight frown.
"Uh guys... there's a problem..." X said.
"What is it?" DMZ asked looking towards X.
"Falcon isn't here..." He said.
"Oh well... he's gonna be down for a while." DMZ answered.
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"Ice, Veldogger... retreat..." Fire said.
"But why?" Ice questioned.
"Just do it..." Fire said. And with that the three disappeared.
"Are you ok Axl?" Zero asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, and you?" Axl asked.
"Yeah, let's go after the others and head back." Zero said
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Star got up and glanced at DMZ and X. They both were okay, but something didn't feel right. #Why do I have this feeling that something is wrong here?# She thought, worried. She was still amazed by DMZ's transformation, but something else bothered her.
X's voice snapped her out of her thoughts "Let's go find Zero and Axl and head back to the base. It's all we can do for now."
Star and DMZ nodded. Then, Zero and Axl entered into the room. "Hey guys! Boy... what happened here?" Axl asked after looking at the room and DMZ.
"A lot... Anyway, you two okay?" Star asked them while picking up her whip. "Yeah, we're fine. What about you?" Zero said.
"We're fine." DMZ replied "Let's go back now."
They nodded and left the room. Star was behind the others, trying to figure out what was bothering her. #I don't get it... The Mavericks retreated, so why do I feel like something bad is gonna happen?# She thought rather annoyed. #I guess I've been worrying too much because of all that happened lately... Maybe that's the problem.#
Suddenly, out of the darkness, huge arms grabbed Star.
"EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!" She yelled. That starled the others and they turned around.
"Star! What the?" X said as he and the other faced Endzone who was holding Star.
"Let me go you creep!" Star shouted as she struggled to break free. Endzone just smiled evily tightening his grasp on her. Star gasped as it became harder for her to breathe.
X and the others aimed their weapons at Endzone, but they didn't strike. One wrong move could cost them dearly.
Suddenly, X saw Alpheon's red, glowing eyes. Slowly he stepped out of the shadows. "Let the girl go..." He said facing Endzone.
Everybody was a bit taken aback by that. "Maverick, are you here to fight all of us? Including Endzone?" Zero asked, readying his saber.
"No. I'm here to help you." Alpheon simply replied.
Without saying anything else, Alpheon jumped at Endzone, slashing his arm. Caught off guard, he let go off Star who fell on her back, gasping for air.
"You okay?" DMZ asked while he and Axl helped her up. Star just nodded before turning her attention to Alpheon and Endzone who kept fighting furiously.
"Wait. We are on the same side, right?" Endzone asked dodging another attack.
"Wrong. I am a hunter." Alpheon replied as he gave Endzone a blast from his Alpha Buster
"Gyaaaaaaahhhhh! Grrrr... Another time, hunter! ANOTHER TIME!" Endzone roared, then ran away.
Alpheon turned to face the hunters. There was a long silence. "Kill the hunters Alpheon." A voice out of nowhere hissed "KILL THEM!"
"No. I saved them therefore I will help them!" Alpheon said with determination.
"THEN SUFFER!" The voice yelled.
"I WILL NOT KILL THEM!" Alpheon screamed hysterically as he received a very painful headache.
"Alpheon... what's going on!" Zero asked himself, confused.
Alpheon kneeled helplessly on the floor. He stared at the hunters. "You have to help..." He whispered before he fainted.
"Oh no..." Star suddenly gasped. "He must be controlled by someone!"
"And now he's suffering because he desobeyed his orders." Axl added.
"Hunters, take him back to the base. We must help him get rid of the device controlling him." X said.
And so they carried the lifeless reploid along with them. But they didn't notice that an evil reploid was always looking after them. "Little do they know that my mind controlling device can never be removed." He said. "We are one, Alpheon."