WB: First off, let me put everyone at ease. No, Sigma is not the one behind this nor he pulling the X Hunter's strings.

Harry: Dat's good, 'cause come to dink of it, we don't know what happened to big, bad and ugly, unless somedin' happened in X8.

WB: Oh boy, minor rant coming. Who's bright idea was it to give all new Reploids Axl's Copy Ability? That's just plain-! O.K., rant over.

Harry: Bedda start da fic before you git in trouble.

Begin Chapter!

"I don't understand it…" Cerveau shook his head, "I've never seen anything like this before, it defies all of the known laws of Cyber Elf technology, and yet its there!"

"Can Merge move now?" The Elf asked from his position on Cerveau's workstation.

"Yes, Merge, you can go now." The researcher shook his head as Merge fluttered away to float behind Ciel.

"So Merge has the power to know where things are, without seeing them." Zero double-checked to make sure that he understood correctly.

"That's what it looks like." Ciel nodded, she had gathered Zero and Cerveau in the former Reploid's laboratory so that she could propose her theory about Merge's powers. After a few tests, she had been proven correct. "I began to suspect as much when Dachu stormed in on us, Merge knew he was coming long before he appeared. And then when he was locked in the container he still knew that Zero had arrived."

"I still don't see just how that's possible." Cerveau shook his head again, "It violates almost all the laws of science, and yet it is. Merge can locate any object that he's familiar with, without the use of his sight. Its almost uncanny."

"So Merge does have powers?" The Elf's face lit up, "That mean that Merge not useless! Merge does have a use!"

Everyone watched in amusement, as the cyber elf performed four quick mid-air somersaults.

"Just remember, it only works on objects or people that he's familiar with." Cerveau reminded the other two. "That means that he won't detect enemies or X-Drones, although that would certainly help right now."

"Doctors!" A new female Reploid burst into the room, clutching several small disks in her hands. "I have the information for you!"

"Ah, Perroquiet." Ciel greeted the newcomer, "what did you find?"

"I'm sorry it took so long, I got distracted and then the computer system froze up, I don't know why they make them so sensitive anyway a Reploid or human wouldn't have a problem understand my requests. Maybe someday I can create a new and better computer, one with a larger sense of AI and-"

The Reploid jerked as she realized that she had gotten lost in her thoughts again.

"Sorry, here." Perroquiet held out the data disks, "I found out that Merge isn't the first with ESP-like abilities, from the looks of things there have always been a small number of Elves with that ability."

"I see…" Ciel and Cerveau looked over the presented data, while Zero kept off to one side allowing the scientists room to work. "And no one has ever discovered just how they do it…"

Everyone jerked sharply as a long loud screech flooded the entire Complex. Everyone knew what that meant; it meant that their worst fears had come true.

Harpuia's invasion had begun.

Without a word, the trio of allies sprang into action. Together they ran down the corridors of the complex to the main control room.

"Status Report!" Zero barked as he blew into the room, with the other three on his heels.

"Not good." One of the operators turned around to give his report. "Neo Arcadia's coming at us full force. We've got four units on the west, three on the east, two from the north, and four from the south. In short, we're surrounded, we can't even fly out of here because they've got at least fourteen flight units circling us, any attempt to shuttle out won't work."

"What about underground units?" Ciel took charge of the situation. "Have we located any?"

"None."

"Is there any chance that we can fight them off?"

"Theoretically, yes." The Operator replied, "If we keep the shield generator on maximum power and hit them with a lot of surprise attacks, we might, and that's a big might, be able to take them out. Practically? Not a chance, there's no possible way that we could defend our base and fight a guerrilla war against the forces."

"What if we focus everything on protecting the base?"

"We might be able to hold out for a week." Cerveau shook his head, "I've been running simulations, we could hold Neo Arcadia off for about six days at best, but by then their manpower will have grown to a point that it would be next to impossible to stop them."

"So escape is our only real option." Ciel shook her head, "I had hoped that we'd never have to flee again… but we must. Did the escape tunnel get finished?"

"No, the underground train wasn't finished before all of this began, we can't escape that way." The Operator shook his head, "Right now, our only chance is by Trans Server."

"And the only possible place to Trans Serve to would be the Force Metal mine… that's where our equipment is…" The blond scientist thought aloud.

"Then let's get serious." By now, Zero had had more than enough of this, so he decided to take charge. "Ciel, you need to start organizing evacuations, Cerveau you're with Ciel. Merge, help them find anyone who doesn't show up."

The swordsman waited while the Cyber Elf saluted smartly.

"I'll stay behind until the last moment." The Hunter finished, "And do everything that I can to buy us some time."

"Problem." The Operator turned to look into his screen. "Neo Arcadia isn't going to give us time!"

As he spoke, the complex shuddered as a large explosion erupted from the south wall.

"How did they sneak up on us like this!" Cerveau glanced at the flood of information pouring across the screen. The Neo Arcadian forces we practically on their doorstop.

"I don't know, just get those evacuations going." Zero whipped out his saber and took off down the corridor. "I'll hold them off, or die trying."

"Captain Fefnir!"

The fire guardian turned to see a miniscule ensign running up to him.

"Report." Fefnir didn't waste any more words than needed; all he wanted was a rematch against a certain Reploid, to make that Reploid pay for his actions.

"The air units have already disabled the shield." The ensign replied, "And our forces have broken through the southern perimeter. We await your order to advance."

"Very well," The fire Reploid nodded and turned to head back to his unit. It was only a matter of time before they overran this pitiful complex, and then he'd make Zero pay for his crimes…

And that wretched Ciel too.

Fefnir's blind rage had lead him to believe that Ciel, as the builder of Armored Armadillo, also bore responsibility for Phantom's demise and Leviathan's battered condition.

Unconsciously, Fefnir's fists clenched even tighter, this was one fight he was definitely going to enjoy.

At the guardian's command, the first line of soldiers, Fefnir's Sword Drones, raced up towards the crack in the complex's wall.

Fefnir grinned as his platoons charged up to the hole; it wouldn't be long now…

The drones went charging forward, their weapons raised.

And then a burst of intense light erupted from the opening in the wall; right before X Drones went flying in all directions, in small pieces.

"You call that a challenge?" Zero stood in the wall's crack, his Saber raised and ready for action. "I didn't even break a sweat."

"Zero…" Fefnir's voice was tense as he stared at his tormentor. He'd show this Reploid to mess with Neo Arcadia! "Drones attack!"

The Hunter stood his ground as the sea of robots charged up towards him. Without a word he drew his Buster and activated his 'V-shot' technique, he'd need all of the range he could get…

"Stand down." The fire guardian ordered his platoon, which obediently stopped their attack. "He's mine!"

End Chapter!

Harry: Next: Let's RUMBLE!