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I do not own Megaman or any of its characters (even though I want to). They are property of Capcom Ltd.

However, I do own my original characters, so :p

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Titanium Showdown: Tale of the Zero

Clones Chapter Twelve: Chaotic Gale

 Weapons blazed from both ends of the short, antechamber-like hallway. The weaker Enforcers were quickly falling at the hands of the immeasurably strong group that now invaded Sigma's realm. The officers were losing control, and the droves of Enforcers could not hold their line. When in open spaces and pursuing these reploids, the Enforcers had been terrible, malignant foes; but now, when faced with only six foes, they could do nothing to protect themselves.

In the confusion caused by the scattering of the Enforcer defense line, the group of Mavericks closed the distance between themselves and the EWC. They were now in the center of the machine that had caused so much devastating change. While the others fought off the incoherent mass of metallic soldiers, Virus consulted a directory on the wall, to get a bearing on their next objective. If they were to have a chance at success, they would need to accomplish two things: bolstering their own ranks, and cutting off enemy reinforcements.

"Two floors down! Main Trans-Server!" Virus yelled over the din of battle to Omni. "One floor up! 'Project X-II' –that's likely where they have X!" Omni nodded quickly and shouted to the group.

"We're splitting up! My group is headed down two floors to sever their reinforcement lines! You head up one floor and get X! Got that?"

"As good as there!" End gave his response and quickly began edging toward a nearby stairwell, telling Hunter and Sapphire to go with him. Omni, Whistler, and Virus provided covering fire until the other group was up the stairs.

When they reached the top of the stairs, something seemed wrong. The sounds of battle were thunderous from below, but this floor seemed cavernous in its emptiness. There were no guards, no autocannons –nothing seemed to be here at all. End lead the way cautiously down the narrow hallway. At the end of the hallway, there was a single large door with a plaque that read "Project X-II'. The ominous silence grew heavier, and the immense metal door stood as sentinel against the insurgents. Within mere moments, it was open and the three were inside.

The weighty silence grew dense as the battle below seemed to fade away. The lights slowly turned on, dim at first, but brightening gradually –as if they hadn't been used in a long time. When it seemed the lights would get no brighter, they blew out completely, and only one light was left intact. The group slowly edged its way toward the light. There, under the cold glare of a phosphorescent bulb lay X, bedecked in all his armor, sleeping. There were no machines around him, no guards, and no traps. Hunter gently roused X from his rest. The older robot stirred slightly, and then awoke fully.

"Where's Zero? Have you found him yet?" Everyone in the group had known that Zero would be the first person X wanted to know about, but they had all hoped they were wrong. End lowered his eyes and shook his head. X's enthusiasm died away visibly at the response. X was about to speak, when there was a blast from the other side of the room.

The wall of the room was lined with floating red lights it seemed, and there was a sea of them behind that wall. The Enforcers had set up a trap. Suddenly, the room flooded with light. Among the innumerable robotic police, was a very unusual reploid. It looked precisely like X…

Meanwhile…

Virus thought that the other group must have reached the top of the stairs by now, and that his group must now being its descent. With a simple Signal to Omni, they began to fall back to the stairs that lead down, further into the EWC. The Enforcers were beginning to regroup behind them as they went down the stairs. They met no rest two flights down either, as Enforcers were simply pouring out of the Trans Server room.

They fought very hard, constantly turning from the Trans room to the stairs. Within minutes, the group was surrounded completely. Whistler managed to clear a path to an alcove that they could defend more easily. It was a vain attempt however. No matter how hard they fought, there seemed too many Enforcers for them to ward off. They were already fighting as hard as they could, and they were losing ground –quickly.

Well, I did misjudge my timeframe (can't help it if my teachers decide to go hellnutz on me at random times), but I'll keep trying to update as frequently as possible.

Reviews from Chapter Eleven:

No one

Well, I'll keep trying, even if no one is interested at all, or people just plain don't like it, I'll still keep updating whenever I can. But please, take the few seconds (or minutes) it may take to click the review button and post some snippet. Even a "good job" or "needs work" would be nice (though the 'why' about that would be nice too ;; ). I'll be back readers!