The portal that opened was larger than any of the others that had come before. It had to be to accommodate the transports they had decided to use. Clearly civilian models, with no insignia or weapons, they each passed uneventfully through the warp.
"X, this shit about no weapons on the transports is really bothering me." Zero complained, and X shrugged, blowing a smoke ring as he watched the operation.
"Totally necessary. We can get away with the hoverbikes, even if they're better'n civilians usually have. But guns in the transports would be a total giveaway. Speaking of hoverbikes, shouldn't you be on yours?"
"Shouldn't you?" Zero bantered back, but went over to get his bike. X took one last drag of his cigarette, and dropped it, crushing it out. Then he went to get his own bike.
Most of the Hunters were riding hoverbikes. They would look like a biker congregation once they got started, but there was no help for it. The transports were laden with the few noncombatants left in the base and enough riches to buy their own small country. The price of gold and everything else had proven to be even more favorable than they had dared hope. One of their more financially minded Hunters had located someone who would handle their hard assets, the gold and jewels, for a cut of the profits. He was also willing to arrange storage for their stuff, and sell it in small drabbles so it wouldn't deflate global prices. Since the arrangement would make him a millionaire, and they had made the price of double crossing them plain, they were pretty sure it would go according to plan. He probably thought they were drug dealers or something, but didn't seem to care. Tabby was going to be handling the sale of all the antiques personally. Gold and jewels had pretty standardized prices, but antiques required a lighter touch.
X glanced over at Axl, and smiled. He and Tabby were exploring each other's tonsils. It was really a disgusting display, but right now, charming in its own way. Ah, glorious youth!
Tabby was riding double behind Axl. They had been doing that for almost three years, and Axl could pull the most insane maneuvers with Tabby clinging to him like a burr. X regarded her for a moment. She was the grand-daughter of a billionaire businessman, a man who had amassed an immense fortune. Her father hadn't been as competent, but he'd kept the family fortune from decaying. Tabby's skill was great, but with the coming doom of the world, her opportunities had been limited. Physically, her skin was pale as milk. Her hair was jet black, the natural color. It came from some Hispanic ancestors in her background. Her body was glorious, but strange, and most of it had been paid for. She had suffered from congenital defects that would have kept her from surviving, without cyborg implants. Instead of trying to look more human, she'd gone exactly the other way. Every limb except her right arm was metal, without even the semi-organic sheathing that Reploids used. Her face was very beautiful, with large, soulful eyes, a straight nose, and full red lips. She also had a ton of character, although X was dubious about exactly what kind.
Axl seemed to adore her, though, and she was returning the feeling. X turned his attention back to the transports. They were almost entirely through, so soon the latter half of the Hunters would be joining them. Half the hoverbikes had been sent through first, to make sure the transports were guarded.
When they left, the technicians currently manning the controls would take possession of all the equipment. That had been part of their deal with the President.
X closed his eyes for a moment as he went through the portal. It felt very strange, like a shiver all over his skin and then a wrenching in his gut. But then it was over, and sunlight was suddenly in his eyes.
It was high noon in the other world, and their destination was a vast clearing. One team had been in charge of finding suitable spots for their arrival, and it was fairly near the city holding their new accountant, but far enough away to be undisturbed by random hikers. The clearing gave them more than enough room to park everyone, although leaving it would be a bit of a pain. They might have to use their weapons to clear a track to the nearest highway.
"We're HERE! Yah!" Axl raised a cheer, and soon everyone had joined him. X grinned, and hopped off his hoverbike. Then he went to one of the transports, and kicked himself up the side to stand on the roof.
"Everyone, listen up!" X gestured, catching everyone's attention. Then he started to make a speech. "My friends, my brothers and sisters, my companions through thick and thin! You have stayed with me as I have stayed with you. Together, in the face of adversity, which ended when Sigma left us forever, may he crash into a sun. In the face of absolute destruction where there was no hope. But Gate has lived up to his name and built us a gate. Tonight, look up into the sky and gaze upon the stars, no horror lurks there, no doom. They are there to witness our freedom!" It wasn't the best of speeches, but the cheers he received were thunderous. "Now, let's get started… on our way to Hawaii!" The cheers to that were even louder, if it was possible, and soon the whole caravan was on its way. X grinned as he gunned his hoverbike, pulling out in front.
Whatever happened from here, they had hope.
A week later…
"Mmm." X sighed, taking a drink of his tropical punch. It was in a container shaped like a melon, with a straw and several umbrellas stuck in it.
He was sunbathing on the beach. Almost the entire population of Hunter HQ was there on the beach, enjoying themselves in the water or on the beach. Axl and Tabby were trying to surf, with limited success but a lot of laughter. Zero was busy entertaining three lovely ladies. X wondered if he'd try to score with all three at once. Knowing him, he might even succeed.
Even Gate was letting his hair down, so to speak. The scientist had gotten rid of his armor, and X had been startled to see that his hair was almost as spiky as Axl's. Very blond, though. He was sipping on a melon as well, and reading a book.
X puffed his cigarette, then blinked as a tourist took his picture. Then he shrugged, and waved. The tourist had probably mistaken him for this world's Rockman X. When they had first arrived, they'd done it in full armor and the word had gotten around. X didn't really care. Right now, they weren't causing any problems whatsoever.
With the information on Repliforce and Red Alert, though, he had decided caution was wise. Trying to set up their own organization might be frowned on. Buying their own island to live on, as someone had suggested, could be even worse. Really, hadn't that sort of been what Repliforce had wanted to do?
"Hey, X!" Axl staggered up and started to shake himself off on his commander… until Tabby grabbed his hair and dropped a towel over him. X silently said a prayer of thanks. "Aw, Tabby!" She grinned and tapped his cheek.
"That's not nice, Axl," she said cheerfully, then grinned at X. "But do you want to swim? The water is wonderful!" X considered it, sipping his drink.
"Sure, why not?" he said agreeably, putting down his drink and setting his cigarette in a tray. He stood up smoothly, and stretched. He was wearing spandex swim trunks that left nothing to the imagination, and had no shame at all about it. One of the girls around Zero was momentarily diverted by the sight.
"Last one in is a rotten egg!" Axl took off running, and Tabby followed with a laugh. X grinned, and concentrated on outdistancing them both.
Elsewhere, a few days later…
"Hey, X, have you seen this?" Zero was looking over a tabloid newspaper. One of the Hunters had left it on a table.
"Hm?" X frowned as saw the newspaper. "Zero, why are you reading that trash?" Zero just shrugged, and passed it over to him. "Huh?" X blinked as he looked at the pictures. "I'm not in Hawaii!"
"Neither am I. I wish I was, though," Zero sighed at the thought. "Sure does look like us, though, doesn't it?" X frowned at the picture. It really did look like them… in this particular picture, he and Zero were playing a beach volleyball game. X blinked as he recognized several of the other faces in the picture.
"Maybe it's an old picture…" he said uncertainly. He couldn't remember ever playing beach volleyball with Zero and several other Hunters, but it maybe he'd forgotten.
"The other pictures too, though? Turn the page." With a sinking feeling, X turned the page.
There was a full color spread of photos. Axl on a waterski, with a beautiful cyborg girl clinging to his back. Zero trying to catch a fish and getting the hook tangled in his hair. Dynamo… Dynamo?... kissing a girl who looked strangely like Iris. A man in civilian clothes with a navy cap who looked strangely like Colonel doing the luau with Axl and the girl… X on a beach chair, sipping from a melon and smoking a cigarette…
It looked like they were all having a wonderful time. X just wished he was there to experience it.
"I KNOW I've never smoked." X set the newspaper down with a frown. "Maybe we should go talk to Signas… I think we should investigate this." Zero grinned.
"He'll think we're trying to wrangle a vacation, but yeah." Zero gazed down at the picture of Iris with Dynamo and almost seemed… jealous. "I want to know what Lily's doing with him." X blinked.
"Lily? You know that girl?" He frowned. "She looks just like Iris." He didn't think Zero getting involved with a girl who looked just like Iris was at all healthy. Zero shrugged, a bit uncomfortably. He knew it was abnormal, but he was still interested.
"Yeah, I met her at a bar and she came to that recruitment campaign we had. Haven't heard from her since, though, and I'd swear that's her." Zero stood up fluidly. "Well, let's go." He wanted to get started investigating. And see a few luau dancers…
There was no reason not to combine work with pleasure.