I'd like to thank everyone for the reviews. Also, I'd like to dedicate this chapter for my favorite writer: Rue-07! Her story really inspirated me. Besides, she's a wicked awesome person too!
Oh, in case you're wondering, Rue. My nick and pename, Star, came from a long time ago. (I totally dig astronomy and star watching.)
Let the action begin!
Chapter 10: Coming to the Rescue.
X, Zero and Axl were on their chasers approaching the place where Star was being held captive.
"Star...you are a Hunter and one of my best friends..." X whispered. "I will rescue you... I must! This is what a friend does."
Finally they reached the station where they found DMZ near the entrance. They got off their chasers and approached him.
"Are we all ready?" DMZ asked them.
"I won't lose...We won't lose." X said.
"We'll terminate them, no matter what it takes." Axl added.
"Let's do this! For Star!" Zero finished.
They entered the station. After walking through the shutters, they found Star chained to the ceiling, unconcious.
"So you all came..." Vile said as he, Veldogger and the Wolf Brothers emmerged from the shadows. "What a surprise."
"You should have run away while you still had the chance..." Veldogger said.
"Or legs for that matter..." Ice taunted.
"Now it's too late. For you and her..." Fire said.
"And leave Star with you four!" X asked, anger rising on his voice as he charged his buster.
"You must be out of your microscopic minds!" Axl said, unsheating his pistols.
"We will rescue Star!" DMZ added.
"This ends here." Zero concluded drawing his Z-Saber. "You will pay for taking Star!"
DMZ pulled out a saber and dashed. He jumped over Veldogger, leaving him and the Wolf Brothers for X, Axl and Zero to handle, and headed straight for Vile. But a fist met his face.
"You fool, simple plans like that wont work..." Vile said.
"CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE US ALONE FOR ONCE?" DMZ yelled slashing at Vile.
"Maybe... but I want to see this famous power that is being rumored so much about..." Vile said. "Plus, I want the demise of this group to be my own doing!" He yelled laughing.
"BASTARD!" DMZ yelled charging towards Vile. But Vile had a saber of his own, and locked in combat with DMZ.
"Come on, show me this power that I have heard so much about..." Vile said.
"How do you know I even have any?" He questioned.
"The underground does not lie..." Vile said, breaking the lock kneeing DMZ into a wall.
"HEY, BIG AND UGLY!" Zero yelled, planting his foot in Vile's face.
"Why you, you will pay..." He said.
"Not likely..." Zero said. Just then Veldogger, Ice, and Fire went slidding across the ground and behind Vile.
"WHAT?" He questioned.
"You have picked the wrong time!" Axl said.
"We're tired of fighting every single minute!" X said.
DMZ rose from the rubble. "It is mind numbing... isn't it? You wanted X... there he is, take him, but you can't... you can't take any of us, you know our power is immense and can do serious damage, so why do you try to resist?" he questioned.
"I will never forgive you for what you have done." X said charging up his Buster.
"You're all dead!" Axl added firing tons of shots from his twin pistols.
"Take this!" Vile yelled firing his cannon.
Axl's shots met Vile's cannon attacks, causing mini-explosions in the air.
"That was a pathetic attempt..." Vile said.
"Who said he was attacking?" DMZ asked rising from the smoke. He tackled Vile and pushed him straight through the wall.
"I'll take the big, ugly red one, X, you take Veldogger, and Axl, get the idiotic blue one." Zero told his friends.
X and Axl nodded. "Roger!" They said in unison.
Axl fired at ice chunks from Ice Wolf as Zero was dodging Fire's flames.
X fired a charged Buster shot, with his new Buster, sending Veldogger sailing, and skid along the ground slowly.
"X, it's time to get my revenge!" Veldogger roared.
Suddenly, Vile's Ride Armor burst through the wall, making Star fall into the ground. X gasped. It was about to finish Star off!
Just when everything looked hopeless, many exploding shurikens came from the sky, sending the Ride Armor into a wall.
Star's eyes fluttered open. It was none other than Alpheon who had saved her!
"Leave...her...alone!" He hissed drawing his katana.
"Alpheon!" X shouted glad to see his friend.
"It's about time!" Zero said as he slashed Fire Wolf.
"I guess the cavalry has arrived eh?" Fire stated
"Bro, who's the freak!" Ice asked his brother.
"Forget introductions you two!" Veldogger told them. "Fight him!"
"They are more than just friends to me. They are my siblings." Alpheon said clutching the handle of his sword. "They took care of me when I fainted. Now, I'll help them. If get your dirty paws on them, I'll kill you."
"Alpheon..." Star whispered. She tried to get up but she was still chained up.
"Alpheon, wait!" Zero said.
"Zero..?" Alpheon called confused.
"We work as a team." Zero said grinnig. "Don't leave us outta the action."
Alpheon just smiled. Suddenly a cannon blast sent X, Zero, Axl and DMZ against a wall. It was Vile.
"I guess it's just you and me huh guys?" Vile teased. Veldogger and the Wolf Brothers stood back.
Alpheon glanced at X and the others. There were okay. "You guys have had enough. I'll take it from here..." He said facing the group of Mavericks.
"Acting proud won't get you anywhere. Will this disappoint you if I hurt Star like this?" Vile asked while pulling out a pistol and pointing it towards Star's head.
"It looks like you've gone suicidal..." Alpheon replied. He pounced ontop of Vile making the blade of his sword touch his neck.
"That won't save her!" Vile said. A gunshot sound was heard.
The hunters gasped. The bullet was heading towards Star and there was no way that she could escape.
"STAR! NO!" Alpheon yelled.
Star flinched and closed her eyes, but the shot never came. Instead, she felt free from her chains and someone was holding her gently.
She slowly opened her eyes: Alpheon had just dashed in front of the bullet. He used his sword to free her while protecting her with his own body!
"Alpheon... No..." Star whispered as she started crying.
"I'm fine..." Alpheon whispered back, gently letting go of Star then falling on his knees.
X and the others rushed to them. "No.. He mustn't die..." X said to himself.
Zero stared at Alpheon "You shouldn't have..." He said.
Axl could barely speak. "Whoa... He can't just die here..."
DMZ clenched his fists. "Alpheon... no.. not him..."
"I told you, acting so brave doesn't mean you'll always win." Vile said before flying away.
"We'll retreat for now, but next time, you hunters won't be so lucky." Velldogger said as he and the Wolf Brothers ran away.
"It's just a bullet anyway.. ARGH!" Alpheon groaned, passing out.
"You saved us again, Alpheon..." Zero said. "We'll take you to the lab."
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In Falcon's base...
"Hello Mr. Falcon." Genesis Omega said approaching Falcon.
"Who are you skull face?" Falcon asked.
"I am Genesis Omega, Alpheon's creator." He replied "And I propose an alliance with you."
"Do you think I'll be convinced that easily?" Falcon asked.
"Will I force you?" He asked removing his cloak and pointing his scythe towards Falcon.
"Listen old man, I have no time to deal with you." Falcon growled.
"You see, my son is a very powerful reploid." Genesis Omega stated. "He is a weapon of destruction. With my help or without it, he can destroy a planet."
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Back to the base, Alpheon was taken to the medical lab. Zero and DMZ stayed with him. Axl and X stayed with Star.
"My fault... This is all my fault." Star whispered, her eyes briming wiht tears. X sat by her side. "Don't blame yourself, Star." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Alpheon did what he did to save you. He'd do this for any of us. Just like we'd do the same for him."
Star's brown eyes met X's green ones. Then, she hugged him, sobbing lightly. X hugged her back trying his best to comfort her. Axl placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her as well. "Everything will be okay, Star. I promise." Axl whispered to her.
After what it felt like forever, Zero and DMZ returned. X and Axl got up.
"Well?" Axl asked. Zero and DMZ glanced at each other before smiling, relived.
"Alpheon will be all right." Zero finally said. Axl cheered while X sighed relived. Star could only smile.
"He was lucky. The bullet didn't hit any vital spot. He just needs to rest now." DMZ added.
Star tried to get up but she nearly fell. DMZ grabbed her arm and helped her up. "Star, you okay?" He asked.
"I feel a bit weak." She replied, trying to keep her balance. "No wonder. After all you went through today..." Axl said.
"You need to rest Star. Alpheon will be okay. You can see him after you're better." X said before looking at DMZ "Could you take her to her room, DMZ?"
He nodded. "By the way, Star." Zero started. Star turned to see him. "I guess this is yours." He finished handing the whip to Star. She smiled. "Thanks, Zero"
The hunters smiled as they saw their friend left. For now, things were okay.
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Falcon looked Genesis Omega. "You... you're responsible for the creation of a reploid with such power?"
Genesis Omega nodded. "But..." Falcon chuckled. "There is clearly no being on this planet more powerful than me."
"Well, I've analyzed your power." Genesis Omega spoke in a deep voice. "It stands to reason you've conquered so many lives."
"Figured as much." Falcon said, crossing his arms.
"But I believe the power of my son can, in fact, stand up to yours." Genesis Omega stated.
"Hmm. We'll see what he can do when the time is right. But, on another note, I have more pressing matters to attend to." With that he turned around and tapped into his comset. "Lockdown! Crusaders! Commence with the first phase of the plan. The transport is all set for the Air base."
"Roger!" Each of them replied. And he could hear their footsteps as they all filed onto the jet. He watched from his window as they lifted off.
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DMZ walked Star to her room. "The whole time Zero and I were in the infermary with Alpheon, the only thing he did was ask over and over again if you were ok..." He said. Star sighed though.
"I was an easy target..." She said. "I got another person hurt..." she continued. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a hunter..."
"Of course you are Star, this recent string is only by chance... there is a slim chance this would ever happen again." DMZ reassured her.
"But I'm..." she was hushed by DMZ.
"Star... If you keep blaming yourself, you're going to screw up really bad, and then who knows what will happen. The timing is just wrong, and you should know that..." He said. But with that he was angry with himself. He wasn't able to do his job.
"I know..." She said.
"My angel armor... my maverick form... that's all results from blaming myself too much. I'm neither alive or dead, nor am I in heaven or hell" he said.
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As the hunters were talking to each other, meanwhile Vile, Veldogger, and the Wolf brothers were having a good laugh.
"Ha, I can't believe how much destruction we've caused today!" laughed Vile. "How many of those hunters were injured?"
"A whole bunch of them," answered Fire. "I liked the part where I set Axl's head on fire."
"Yes, and I was happy to destroy X's lower body," agreed Veldogger. "I'm still not sure how he survived."
"It doesn't matter, we'll get him next time, along with the rest of them," said Ice. "But tell me something Vile, didn't you mean to kill Star?"
"Yeah, I was, but that Alpheon guy got in the way," Vile told him.
"That's not cool, man," said Ice. Vile looked surprised, along with Veldogger and Fire. "Why not?" asked Vile.
"Because, I want to kill her!" said Ice, jovially. "Why should you have all the fun?"
The 4 friends laughed for a while. Then Veldogger said, "They'll all be dead in due time anyway. In the meantime, they'll never know when or where we'll strike next!"
Fire looked at him. "You love keeping our enemies off guard, don't you?"
"Yep," answered Veldogger with a smile.
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Star bit her lower lip, trying to find the right words. "About your transformation... You shouldn't say that you are neither alive nor dead." She said, not wanting to make eye contact with DMZ. "You're right in front of me, talking with me, trying to help me and the others. Your look may change but it won't change the way I and the others see you: a friend... a brother."
"Star..." DMZ said. Star turned to face him. His caring blue eyes met with Star's sinceres brown ones "Dark Maverick Zero, you shouldn't be afraid of who you are or who you've become... Because no matter what may happen, it won't change your heart." Star said pointing to DMZ's chest.
"And that's what really matters..." She finished her sentence hugging him.
I'm not a mushi person, but I gotta admit, that was pretty sweet.