Megaman Excel 2
By: Metal Sonic EX
Disclaimer: The eight stage select Mavericks, X's Genesis Armor, the Apollo Ride Armor, and the Blitzkrieg are all © to me. Everything else is © to Capcom.
In this chapter, an infected Maverick with an unusual ability attacks X in the very room Sigma's remains were disposed. The only thing that prevents Sigma's return and X's death is the destruction of a Maverick named Strider. I was original planning on using Magma Dragoon's stage as the music for this level, but I got a video game which was an old favorite of mine. I got so far and rediscovered a tune I think is better fitting and more intense. Anyways, here's chapter three!
Chapter III
Pyromania
(Stage Select Screen)
(Megaman X3 (SNES) - Stage Select 1 begins playing)
(The hexagon above the empty space fades out and the hexagon directly below the first one of the first column is highlighted.)
"Axl! You ready?"
"You kidding me? I was born ready!"
(The hexagon is selected and the team members, X and Axl, beam off.)
(Megaman X3 (SNES) - Stage Select 1 fades out)
(Megaman X7 (PS2) - Maverick Intro plays)
Pyroman Strider!
Level Style - Solely 3-D
Active Member - X
(Normal Screen)
(A.N. Sorry. Aside from the game, you can't really listen to this. Too bad. It's not a bad tune at all.)
(Spider (Playstation) - Museum Boss begins playing)
Ready
X beamed down and broke his arms apart. Then, Roll's voice rang out. "Alright, the Ulfat Factory is a plant that converts pure magma into molten energy. Be careful not to fall into the mixing pools or you'll melt instantaneously." X wiped his forehead. "I might just melt anyways. It's hot in here." X sighed and began running forward. He was standing in the part of the factory with the numerous conveyor belts used to transport solidified energy. He ran through the doorway and entered one of the many rooms with a large mixing pool in the center. It featured a large circular pool of magma and a large machine that churned it into a whirlpool-like formation.
X began running around the loop of the room when Roll's voice returned. "Megaman, try seeing if anything's there. I mean, from here, the only signal I'm getting there is Strider's." X checked his holographic map and confirmed her suspicions. "Odd, but nonetheless, better for us. This could be a major crisis if there was a full-fledged uprising going on." X entered the next room and found himself in another mixing pool. This one however, had a bridge connecting the two doors, leaving the rest to the mixing pool. However, halfway across it, X noticed another capsule on a small floating platform just out of dashing/ jumping distance. Looks like I'll have to come back for it.
X entered the next room and entered an enclosed room with an elevator. He rode it to the next level and entered the first of three doors. Here was the main computer of the Ulfat Factory, Dubour. He had to confirm his identity before actually entering the room, but he got with hands-reach of it and searched the factory. He confirmed Strider's position this way because correctly scanning the Ulfat Factory at a large distance was difficult due to the heat. He exited the room and entered the door to the right of the door he just left.
He ran through another mixing pool before reaching yet another one. He checked his holographic map and sighed. "He's three rooms down." He fell to his knees and wiped his forehead. "Axl, take lead. I need a break from this heat."
Active Member - Axl
Axl swapped with X and immediately was thrown back by an unseen force. "Whoa! Take about heat wave! More like a heat tsunami!" X chuckled from the sidelines. "That's what I've been going through. Enjoy!" Axl snorted and began running the other half of the way through the room. Then, Axl ran through the next room before entering the second to last one and collapsing. "Axl! Are you okay?" Axl nodded weakly and wiped sweat from his overheated head. Running through just two rooms had nearly given him a stroke because he was a pretty fast runner. X noted this and swapped places with him.
Active Member - X
"Roll, I need either Zero or Dynamo to stand ready. Axl couldn't stand the heat and I'm not positive if he'll hold out for another round in here." A pause followed. "Got it. Give me the signal and Zero will come in." X nodded and entered the final room.
(Spider (Playstation) - Museum Boss fades out)
Warning! Warning!
The door closed behind X and a skimming sound was heard. Then, Strider skimmed over the lava inside one of the mixing pools and then he was surrounded in a molten pillar. A smaller pillar shot at the wall and both of the pillars disappeared, leaving Strider clinging to a wall before jumping to the ground. Strider alone was a normal-looking reploid with crimson armor and a blaster connected to his left arm. However, his armor had four large, orange legs that sprouted from his shoulders, suspending his body. His body swayed back and forth slightly as he spoke in a light-tone.
"Do you know why I am here, X?" X seemed confused, but shook it off. "You're here to disable Terra's reforming." Strider chuckled lightly. "So naïve. No. I am here because Sigma was disposed in this very room." X started as he realized that it was the room where Sigma's remains were disposed. "Although this was some months ago, his DNA can still be traced from the molten liquid. I, for one, have specifically learned DNA resurrection for…" X stepped forward and grabbed his buster. "What?" Strider smirked. "It is not enough to create perfect copies or a full-grown reploid, but it is enough." X stared Strider down with his piercing gaze. "Why? Why try to revive Sigma?" Strider chuckled a bit more heavily this time. "Why? Because. As much as you hunters don't want to admit it, Sigma was a blessing in disguise."
X double-taked because of this. "Blessing? Do you know what you're saying?" Strider smiled deviously. "Yes, I do. Sigma brought hope to this godforsaken planet. He brought peace and prosperity where there was chaos and mayhem." X sneered. "Sigma was chaos and mayhem." Strider laughed. "Even now, you refuse to admit it. But, that makes no difference. I will revive Sigma and thus the planet's true rebuilding can begin! Prepare yourself, hunter! For the planet's redemption begins now!
Battle Style - Solely 2-D
Active Member - X
(T2: The Arcade Game (Sega Genesis) - Sound Test 01 begins playing)
(Pyroman Strider's Health)
--------------------------------------------------
Strider immediately jumped back into the mixing pool and began skimming around, preventing X from shooting him. "Roll! Tell Gate that Strider knows DNA resurrection! I'll need all the help I can…" His transmission was suddenly cut off and Strider jumped back onto the platform. "Not today, hunter!" He fired a ball of flame at X, igniting him. Then, his front two, orange legs grabbed his and is thrown into the wall. He fell down and jumped to his feet, beginning to charge in the process. Strider dashed back to the opposite wall and began charging his blaster as well. X unleashed the fully-charged shot and knocked Strider to the ground. His orange legs crumpled and his other two legs fell to their knees. He quickly leapt to his orange feet and jumped to the ceiling.
From there, he unleashed a large stream of fire that covered the floor with flames. X jumped onto the wall and began shooting buster shots as Strider jumped back into the pool. That's when Axl began talking, but hoarsely. "X… Let me in. I'll… Deal with him." X reluctantly swapped with Axl, who had Bound Blaster out.
Active Member - Axl
Axl was in a cold sweat, but he still decided to fight. He began shooting Bound Blaster at Strider and, like his usual habit, stopped sliding down the wall when he did. Strider jumped back onto the platform and Axl jumped down, dashed over, and activated Double Attack with X.
Execute Axl/ X Double Attack
(Pyroman Strider's Health)
------------------------------------
Strider fell to his crimson feet and began charging his blaster again. "Flame Wheel!" He began shooting a large spiral of flame into the air as it took the form of a large wheel. Then, it spun swiftly through the ceiling before crashing to the ground. The wheel took up half of the floor, so Axl hovered over it as it moved towards his wall. Then, he dropped down, brought out Needle Cannon, and began shooting Strider, who countered by using his front two legs to deflect the shots. Then, Strider jumped back into the mixing pool and began skimming around as the large wheel burnt out.
Strider jumped back onto the platform as Axl activated his Giga Attack for the first time. He'd been given the previous Mavericks' DNA by Gate before he left.
Giga Attack
DNA Change
Axl changed into Stegosaur and pointed his spike arm at Strider. "Needle Cannon!" He began shooting spikes off in a rapid-fire style before changing back to himself.
(Pyroman Strider's Health)
-------------------------
That's when Axl collapsed again. "It appears this heat is getting to you, hunter. Too bad. It appears you'll soon join Sigma." X beamed down and lifted Axl up. Then, he beamed him to Central Tower before returning. However, he was in the room next to Strider.
Only Available Member - X
Strider walked into the room with his orange legs folded onto his shoulders. They spread out and he lifted himself up once inside it. "It's just you and me now, hunter. But I've got orders to exterminate, if not infect you." X started slightly. "Infect me?" Strider smirked and dashed towards him. "Allow me to demonstrate." Suddenly, Zero beamed down and shot Strider nearly at point-blank range with his buster. Then, he slashed Strider with his saber.
Active Member - Zero
X smirked and beamed off as the battle resumed. Strider jumped into the nearby mixing pool. Zero dashed forward and waited for Strider to return before he jumped onto the ceiling and swung thrice, releasing nine spikes at Strider. He was grazed by two as X beamed down and assisted.
Hunter Blitz!
X's armor became light tan and lavender as he fired a special weapon. "Dhalsim Shot!" A large blast was shot through Strider before retracting back to the buster. Strider grabbed his chest and dashed away from him.
(Pyroman Strider's Health)
-----------
(Near Death Attack - Molten Deflector)
As Zero fell to the ground, Strider jumped back into the mixing pool and began growling. "Molten Deflector!" He was consumed in a pillar of magma before he reappeared with a molten forcefield surrounding his body. X identified it as a bulletproof shield and let Zero take lead.
Active Member - Zero
Strider jumped back onto the platform and grabbed Zero's leg. He swung Zero and threw him through the wall with much ease. He fell down a level and landed on the elevator X had used to reach Strider. As Strider walked in, Zero stood up and cracked his back. Strider jumped down a level and Zero managed to skewer Strider by having him land on his saber, which emerged from his chest. "Is that the best you can do, hunter?" Strider went to move away, but Zero held his saber strongly. "No. This is!"
Giga Attack
Command Arts
Zero used Zero Drift and easily finished Strider, who now had a large, gaping hole in his chest.
(Pyroman Strider's Health)
None
(T2: The Arcade Game (Sega Genesis) - Sound Test 01 fades out)
Strider laughed weakly as X beamed down. "You fools… Will soon be with Sigma… Our savior…" Energy was gathered into Strider's chest, but his orange legs began exploding first, when they were no more, the energy was released and he joined them. Suddenly, an alarm began blaring. "Warning! Warning! Evacuate the facility immediately! Repeat, evacuate the facility!" Zero scowled. "Lovely!"
(Megaman X8 (PS2) - Escape From The Volcano begins playing)
Zero and X quickly rode the elevator to the next level as the temperature went up and the magma in the mixing pools began steadily rising. "Gate! We're going to have to destroy Dubour to prevent the entire factory from biting the dust!" A brief pause followed. "Understood. Destroy Dubour, then return to Central Tower." Zero easily destroyed the door casing Dubour and ran in as X looked behind him and saw magma leaking from the hole in the wall Zero had made. Suddenly, Dynamo beamed down and swiftly destroyed the computer. With a loud humming, it became inactive and the magma stopped rising.
(Megaman X8 (PS2) - Escape From The Volcano fades out)
Dynamo smirked. "I'm supposed to wait for the clean-up crews to arrive, so you guys can go on without me." X nodded and beamed off as Zero also nodded.
(Megaman X7 (PS2) - Boss Beaten plays)
Zero turned around, replaced his saber, and turned his head to the left. "Hardly a fight." Then, he beamed out.
(Get Weapon Screen)
(Megaman X4 (Playstation) - Get Weapon Screen begins playing)
Within minutes, Dynamo returned and immediately noticed Axl's absence. Gate started with X again, as usual though. "X, you've just gained Flame Wheel. It is a fire-element attack that orbits your body. Charge it and you will be temporarily able to skim across lava, like in the Ulfat Factory." He turned to Zero. "You and Dynamo just got Ensuizan. Again, an old weapon with a new meaning. This attack is a powerful third jump attack. Your first two jumps will be normal, but on the third, you will spin your saber around powerfully as it is consumed in flames." Then, Gate turned back to X. "Although he's currently being repaired, Axl got Pyro Sphere, a powerful fire-element bomb. I've rebuilt this for him." He tossed a grenade launcher to X.
(Normal Screen)
(Megaman X4 (Playstation) - Get Weapon Screen fades out)
"What's happened with the Ulfat Factory?" Gate sighed. "Although Dubour was swiftly taken out, the magma caused massive damage. It will take a while to rebuild it, but it will be a swift recovery if you can prevent other Mavericks from infiltrating the clean-up crew's barriers." Then, Zero started. "Ah! Gate, just remembered. I managed to grab a piece of Strider's wreckage before the magma began rising." He tossed it to Gate who placed it into a case and began typing on the computer. "I could probably create another Command Art with this and…" Suddenly, Gate pressed something and many pictures of a data appeared. The last one to pop up was a blueprint-like drawing of a floating mask-like object.
"What on Earth?" Gate frowned. "This is some strain of virus never seen by reploids. I have no idea what this is." Gate stood up and walked backwards so he too could see the object. "I'll label this Virus OA for now, but I'll need new samples if I'm too properly identify this." The cloaked figure was watching this from afar and he chuckled. "Fools. I may have failed, but you have just uncovered the tip of the iceberg."
In the next chapter, the hunters begin quelling an uprising at an important construction site only to be joined by a missing hunter rookie, one which will soon convert to the Maverick side. This is the chapter mentioned in my sneak peek in the first Megaman Excel. But, until then, Read and Review and I'll continue!