Three chapters in a day is a Record for me. Anyway, on with the show!

Chapter 9: A Friend in need.

At Noah's park...

"Saturn Ring!" Star yelled as her whip attack trapped Vile. "Now, Zero!" She shouted "Finish him!"

"Ha! Not so fast, kid." Vile yelled. Suddenly Vile's ride armor appeared behind Star and punched her. Hard.

"Star!" Zero shouted as he saw his friend being thrown against a nearby tree, unconcious.

Zero tried to help her, but a cannon blast stopped him. He turned to see Vile free from Star's whip. "Sorry, Zero, but this girl is coming with me!" He said in a mocking tone.

"Not if I can help it!" Zero shouted as he lunged at Vile with his saber ready. However a fireball sent him flying against another tree. Zero quickly got up only to see three shadows besides Vile: It was Veldogger and the Wolf Brothers!

"Not you again!" Zero said readying his saber. Vile laughed. "I see you already met my new friends." "Hello. Missed us?" Ice said in a sarcastic tone.

"Now, if you excuse us, we'll be taking your friend." Veldogger said. "I won't allow it!" Zero shouted.

"Then we'll just take care of you first!" Fire said. He, Ice and Veldogger jumped at him and attacked togheter sending Zero flying into the air. Then Vile fired his shoulder cannon making him hit the ground.

"We got what we want. Let's scram." Vile said as he got into his ride armor who was holding the unconscious Star. The canine trio nodded.

Zero tried to get up but he was numb from the shock. Veldogger turned to face him. "If you want to see the little girl again, look for us. You and X shall pay for what you did to my brother or let the girl pay for you!" He roared. Then they all vanished!

Finally, Zero got up. He was angry. Angry with those mavericks for kidnaping Star. And angry with himself for letting that happen. He then noticed a small glow near his foot. It was Star's whip. He picked it up. "This is not good... I've gotta tell the others!" He said looking at the sky. A storm was coming

"Star... I'll save you! No matter what it takes!" He promised and, running as fast as he could, he returned to the hunter's base.

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DMZ sat in the bar contenplating what had happened. His memories of the battle with Falcon were bleak. He could remember bright lights, then seeing Star's face. #Can i not remember, or do i choose not to remember.# He asked him self.

He left the bar and headed to the meeting room where he found X talking with Alia.

Suddenly, Zero burst into the room, battle ravaged. He leaned on the wall to support his badly hurt body.

"Zero!" X shouted rushing to help his friend "Who did this to you! Tell me!"

Zero groaned. "X... is that you?" He asked.

"Take it easy." X told him. "Tell me who did this."

"They..." Zero whispered. "They took Star!"

"What!" X shouted in disbelief. Alia and DMZ were shocked as well.

"We were ambushed by Vile. We almost had him, but then the Ride Armor and the canine trio showed up." Zero explained, remembering the battle with Vile, Veldogger and the Wolf brothers. "I tried to stop them, but I was outnumbered... X, we have to save her! Please, X."

X narrowed his eyes. "Vile...He'll never stop, will he?" He asked himself. "Zero, you're in no condition to fight them off. You'll need to go to the repair lab."

Zero laid on X's shoulder for support. DMZ walked out the door.

"DMZ?" Alia called, but he didn't give her an answer.

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Star groaned and opened her eyes. For some reason she couldn't move. #Wha? What is going on here?# She thought.

"Well, well, look who woke up." Vile mused.

Star found herself chained up and surrounded by Vile, Veldogger and the Wolf Brothers. In a quick moment she realised what was going on: she'd been captured by the enemy!

"What are you gonna do with me?" Star asked, trying to not sound scared.

"We're still deciding." Veldogger said with an evil grin.

"Come on, let's get moving." Vile said as both Fire and Ice lifted Star.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" Star asked.

"We're taking you to our base..." Vile replied.

"But where is that?" Star questioned more.

"The ruins of the space station..." Vile said.

"Now be a good girl and stay quiet!" Veldogger said. He fired a electric blast at Star.

She writhed in agony. Suddenly she remembered her friends. #Guys...no matter how hard it gets... I'll believe in you until the very end...# She thought as darkness claimed her once again.

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DMZ left the base. #I will either redeem my self rescuing Star, or I will die a maverick# He thought to himself. He dashed as fast as he could.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" DMZ heard over the com. It was Star, and her communicator must be on with out their knowing.

"We're taking you to our base..." Vile replied.

"But where is that?" Star questioned more.

"The ruins of the space station..." Vile said. The com went off.

#I must get there quickier... I must for the speed# He thought to himself. A bright aura formed around him. He could feel his body lightening and gaining speed. He cut across a lake to save time. His speed left a big rooster tail that could be seen from far away.

#I must redeem myself, or die trying...# He thought. #I'm sorry Star, for showing you my true self...#

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At the Repair Lab...

Pallete and Axl were talking when X emerged through the door, Zero on his shoulder.

"Zero?" Pallete gasped. "What happened to him?"

"He was ambushed... By Vile." X replied. "He took Star hostage."

Axl clenched his fists. "Darn...That Vile...Makes me wanna blast that guy!" He said angry.

"We need to repair Zero right away!" Pallete said.

An hour later...

Zero was repaired.

Palette sighed relieved. "Thank goodness...He's lucky to be alive. His wounds weren't fatal."

"That Vile..." Zero growled. "To think he was a Maverick Hunter...He's an insult to us all!"

X placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. There was great determination on his face. "We'll get Star back, no matter what!" He said.

Suddenly, Alia entered the room. "I've got a message from DMZ." She said. "He found where Star is being held captive! At the ruins of the Space Station."

"Roger. Contact Alpheon and tell him to meet us there." X said.

Alia and Pallete nodded and left. X turned to his two friends. "Let's get going." Zero said.

They nodded. "Just hang on, Star." Axl said.

"We'll bring you back, no matter what it takes!" X said.

The three hunters picked up some ride chasers and left to rescue their young friend.