"Hm? What's going on outside?" wondered Axl puzzled as he walked to the entrance (driven by his inner curiosity).
"What is it now? We're not done here yet" reminded him Brightman severely while the young auburn reploid peered outside, only to widen his green eyes in fear.
"Everyone! Get down, now!" cried Axl before he jumped away from the window, just in time before the explosion could catch him. Fortunately, nobody inside the building got injured by the fearsome blast. Though still, that did not ease the apprehension and concern in the air and hearts of the various witnesses after such unexpected turmoil.
"W-what was that?!" exclaimed Brightman shocked as Axl carefully looked outside. There, scared people and innocent reploids were running away in fear from the robots gone maverick.
"Dammit…mavericks" cursed the young humanoid reploid frowning.
"Ma-mavericks?! In here?!" stuttered Brightman astonished.
"Wha…what should we do?" asked Toadman scared.
"Heheh, well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it?" chuckled Axl both pleased and eager as he loaded his twin guns.
"I'm gonna take those guys down. Bright, Toad, stay here and protect everyone. I will handle this situation" he instructed them before running into the rampageous streets.
"Big brother Axl, wait!" cried Toadman worried, but he couldn't stop his already impulsive sibling.
"That idiot, one of these days he's going to get himself killed" commented Brightman somewhat concerned about Axl's safety.
While this was happening below, many stories above, the impact of the explosion just managed to shake lightly the upper offices of King Foundation. As a result, none of its employees, nor his respected CEO or potential overseas associate were hurt in the process.
"Are you ok, miss Alisa?" asked her Pharaohman genuinely worried while assisting her.
"Y-yeah, I think so" she replied grateful.
"Mr. King" intervened the now not so silent man that had been at the CEO's side since the meeting started some hours ago.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" he shoved him off sharply.
"Just what the hell was that?!" he asked before his assistant got closer to the crystal window so that he could see what was happening on the streets.
"There seems to be a riot outside. Most likely due to a maverick attack" he reported him.
"What?" spat Alisa shocked. She then also looked outside, at the chaotic streets filled with fire, anguish and destruction as every civilians, mavericks, and even special forces reploids, converged in the confusion.
"Pharaohman, come! We have to look for Axl and the others" she ordered him before storming out of the room, followed closely by the tall reploid hidden in the tattered robes.
"Miss Alisa, wait!" tried to intervene the pharaoh-like reploid, but with not avail whatsoever.
"We too should find a safe place to hide, boss" suggested Mr. King's assistant given their current situation.
"You crazy, Joker?" said the CEO with high pitched voice, almost as if he had just heard a complete foolishness.
King Foundation assistant and arms dealer: Joker
"This is the best seat to enjoy the show to the fullest" pointed out the devious man with a twisted sense of diversion.
"Miss Alisa, hold on. I must protest against this rash decision" insisted Pharaohman sternly.
"What do you think could happen if he somehow reactivates and we let hell lose on Earth" he added, referring to the mysterious silent reploid in the tattered robe.
"It'll be fine. I'll try to be at your side everytime so that he doesn't feel anything" she reassured him before picking up the pace, though that did not ease Pharaohman's uneasiness in the matter. He could only hope nothing will happen.
After his meeting with Master Cain got interrupted so suddenly, X did not waste any second in helping those in need. Armed with his powerful mega buster, the blue bomber returned to battle almost instinctively, not minding the fact that he was immediately thrown into another battle without any rest. However, as maverick after maverick fell prey of X's fearsome might, something inside him was beginning to affect him.
"How did this happen?" he wondered both puzzled and worried when someone used his frequency to communicate with him via a transmission call.
Transmission call
"X? X, do you copy me?"
"Loud and clear, Colonel. We have a situation here in the city center"
"I know, what's the status?"
"Really bad, the mavericks have caused irreparable damages in the core of the city"
"What about the civilians?"
"The assistance reploid team has made sure to move them to the safer areas. I too have managed to save some on the way"
"Good, listen carefully. I'll be leading an attack to the Transmission Center, where the maverick outbreak started. I want you to continue providing assistance as we finished controlling this situation"
"Understood!"
"Also, while you're at it, I need you to make contact with two mysterious reploids that have joined the fray. There's a red swordsman reploid moving from the east part of the city and a young shooter reploid on the highway, close to your location. We still don't have full intel of them, that's why we need to be certain of their intentions"
"Roger, I'm on my way to the highway"
Highway
Over Delta city's main road stood the finely modern, crystallized bridge that connected the twin buildings 'Heaven' and 'Nevaeh' together, despite them being built on the opposite sides of the street; more specifically, one in front of the other. From that particular skywalk, one could stop and gaze upon the marvelous highly-tech advanced metropolis that Delta city was.
Because of this valuable importance that it held, it wasn't surprising that even now, at rush hour, the bridge was crowded with people, reploids and young students that were returning home after a long day of school.
"Come, come Saito!" called him, excitedly, a boy of spiky brown hair and brown eyes sporting a blue bandana with a red circle on it; an orange vest on top of a white long-sleeved shirt, black shorts, and a pair of well-maintained orange shoes with black stripes.
"Wait, Netto-kun" replied a male teenage with traits almost identical to the first boy's, except for his straight brown hair, green eyes, blue neckerchief with red symbol, blue vest and blue shoes with black stripes; not to mention the red triangle on the center of his forehead.
"Woaaaaah!" gasped the boy by the name of Netto, amazed by the whole sight of Delta city.
"You always like to watch everything from here, don't you?" pointed out an amused Saito with a little smile.
"Nod! I never get tired of it" answered the cheerful boy with bright eyes. "Delta city is really a fantastic place to live in".
However, it didn't happen too long when trouble unexpectedly arouse from under their feet, forcing them to duck instantly. The two boys would never have imagined they would be at the very center of a rebel uprising of that magnitude.
"You're ok, Netto-kun?!" asked him Saito worried after the sudden tremors ended.
"Y-yeah…but, what was that?" he wondered when a second wave shook the bridge more fiercely. It was in that very moment that some of the adults and reploids looked outside, only to be horrified by the sight of the chaos that was unwinding on the highway below them.
"It's the mavericks! They already passed the maverick hunters blockade!" announced one of the spectators, followed by the shrieks and panic of everyone as they ran for their lives to the other side of the bridge.
"Come on, Netto, we have to hurry too!" urged him Saito.
"Saito, wait!" he replied after seeing a boy of his age with long-sleeved red shirt, old navy shorts and red boots being trampled and pushed around by the scared people.
"I have to help him!" he resolved bravely and quickly detached his roller blades from under his shoes.
"Wait, Netto-kun, it's dangerous!" shouted Saito in an attempt to stop his reckless twin brother, though obviously fell on deaf ears by the looks of it.
Outside, on the highway, Axl was shooting all the mavericks he could spot-nonstop, thanks to those trigger-happy fingers of his, which pulled the triggers almost instantaneously-as if it was by reflex-.
"Ahaha! Like sitting ducks" mocked the young reploid with a huge grin on his face as the rebel robots got blasted to little pieces. In view of the situation, some shady mavericks, hidden among the enemy lines, took a step forward. Although they weren't made for battle, their true purpose was to act as martyrs and kill as many civilians on the bridge as possible.
The moment one of them spreaded its wings, that's when the clock start ticking for Axl, as the maverick carrying the explosive on its back flew towards the bridge at full speed, colliding with it and thus causing serious damages on the edification.
"Dammit" cursed Axl angrily while frowning. Still, this new menace was at large.
"I won't let you!" he said before neutralizing some of the martyr robots that were about to commit suicide by blowing themselves up on the bridge.
Axl's shoots were on point, there was no denying of that. However, due to the number of forces, it was expected that, at least, one of the flying mavericks would be able to avoid his hitting radar. Fortunately, backup soon came in his aid, and the rebel robot was immediately put out of commission with a clean shot.
"I'll take care of the flying enemies! You handle the ones on foot!" instructed him X before he continued shooting against the suicide mavericks.
"Tch…a little bossy, aren't you?" whispered Axl in a low voice, but still followed X's orders diligently.
Back on the bridge, Netto managed to get to the boy safely, though that didn't mean they were completely out of danger. As the eleven year-old with the roller blades took a closer look on the other kid, he soon noticed the bruises caused by the jostling and manhandling.
"Hey! Are you ok?!" asked Netto to the injured and scared boy.
"I-I think so, but my ankle is sprained" he replied achingly as he tried to stand up with both feet, only to crouch again in pain.
"I can't move!" he panicked.
"Netto-kun!" called him his older brother the moment he approached both boys. "We have to go, now!"
"I know! But he's injured, Saito. Help me carry him to the other side!" he told him after putting the boy's right arm gently on his shoulders.
"Ok!" he nodded while placing the boy's left arm on his shoulders as well.
"Dammit! Incoming attack at six, dude!" exclaimed Axl in order to warn X about a launched missile that was going straight to the bridge the boys were just crossing.
"No, you won't!" said the veteran blue reploid before shooting a charged shot to the missile, which exploded almost-but not entirely-close to the bridge.
The force of the blast blew the three boys to the wall behind them. Thankfully, no one got seriously injured by the explosion. But that was only because Saito, being the oldest and tallest of the three, shielded his brother and the boy with both arms. As a result of his brave action, the detonation-literally-cracked some parts of his robotic body and knees.
"Are you ok?" asked X the moment he spot the youths sitting on the floor.
"Y-yes, sir" replied Saito since he was the only one that was conscious by the moment. It was a good thing that he wasn't human at all.
"Come, let's take you all to a safe place" insisted the blue reploid while assisting them.
"Th-thank you" he replied.
"X!" called him someone from behind.
It didn't happen too long when a male reploid of white and green armor rushed into the scene. Just by his doctor-like appearance, X deduced that the reploid was on his side. Even better, he could tend the wounds of the two human kids and the teenage reploid boy.
"I'm Lifesaver and I'm from the medical support division, you can leave everything in my hands from here on" reassured him the reploid.
Maverick Hunters 5th Division (Medical Unit)
Current leader: Lifesaver
"I'll trust them to you" nodded X pleased.
"Hey!" called him Axl after he landed, safely, on the bridge, which pretty much implied he finished off the remaining mavericks.
"That was some good shooting, dude".
"Thanks Axl, it's good to see you again after so long" replied X with a smile despite the sudden surprise this revelation caused in the oblivious reploid.
"Huh? Have we met before?"
"Sure, back in Light Labs. Your creator, Dr. Cossack, visited it many times in the past" he explained him calmly. Again, not minding Axl's astonished expressions.
"And how'd you know my old man's name?" he kept questioning him puzzled. But before X could give him a proper answer, Colonel contacted the blue bomber.
Transmission call
"X. Report your status, over"
"I'm here, Colonel. The maverick threat on the highway has been subdued successfully. The medical support division just arrived and is taking care of the wounded. Also, the mysterious shooter reploid is a friend of mine, so there's no need to interrogate him"
"We'll make the decision on that matter after the situation is contained. Still, we appreciate the information. Now, I want you to go to the enterprise square. There, you will find that swordsman reploid who has just stopped moving for quite some time now"
"Understood! We'll be heading to that direction"
Enterprise Square
The once quiet plaza, filled to the edge with the most renowned reploid-production companies in the whole world, had now become part of the battlefield that was unwinding in the large metropolis.
In the midst of such disorder and confusion, Alisa-and the Cossack numbers-were providing a safe refuge to all the employees and staff members-from the different enterprises residing in Delta city-that were caught in the riots happening in the area.
"This way, hurry!" signaled Toadman for the scared people and defenseless reploids.
"Form a line, don't push" added Brightman, helping as much as he could.
"Are they all?" asked Alisa concerned the moment she jogged to them.
"I think so" replied Brightman quickly when Toadman jumped on his shoulder.
"But I can't see big brother Axl anywhere" he pointed out worried.
"He can take care of himself. For now, we should seek a refuge for ourselves while the authorities of the city take care of the situation" instructed them Pharaohman wisely.
But, while his advice was on point, his senses were not so quick in the moment. Unknown to them, the living torso of a maverick crawled stealthily to where they were and with a slow and lumber move, he grabbed Alisa's ankle.
"Kyah!" she shrieked scared, which made her heartbeats increased; a common reaction expected in human beings in general. Of course, reploids could also get scared like their human creators. However, thanks to the lack of human organs, and their half-robotic side, they could easily get a hold of any sudden strong emotions.
Alisa's constant heartbeats-though silent in the air-managed to reach the hooded figure's core, reawakening him from his slumber state. After that, with a swift and very precise move, the hooded reploid dug its sharp nails into the maverick's arm so deeply that all inner tendons and articulations got crushed before the mysterious reploid's impressive strength.
"What a day…" said the figure with a dark and chilling tone.
"Oh no…" whispered Brightman shocked.
"H-he's awake, ribbit!" stuttered Toadman scared while hiding behind his older brother's right leg.
"What a joyous day to be alive!" stated the hooded reploid excited while tearing that bothersome torn robe away.
Under that tattered and dirty clothing, a white-skeleton-like reploid with skull motifs and black body did not waste anytime in showing he meant business. Using both hands, the sadistic robot began to rip the maverick apart limb by limb while laughing maniacally.
"It's doing it again!" cried Toadman both terrified and nauseated as he tried to look away.
"Skullman…" murmured Pharaohman while frowning in disapproval.
DCN. 009
Name: Skullman
"Alisa! Shut him down before…!" he advised her, but it was already too late for them. Skullman quickly fled the scene before his master could turn him off.
"Dammit…" cursed Pharaohman. "We have to catch him before he goes on a rampage".
"I-I'm sorry" apologized Alisa ashamed.
"If only I had been calmer, Skullman wouldn't have activated by himself" she added.
"It isn't your fault, Alisa" reassured her Toadman sympathetically.
"Controlling that monster is not as easy as it seems" insisted Brightman.
"We will find him" intervened Pharaohman. "You two find yourselves a refuge while Alisa and I handle this mess".
"Got it"
"Understood, ribbit", and the two left everything in their hands.
"Let's go, Miss Alisa" he urged her unafraid.
"Nod, let's find him" she replied daringly.
Not too far from their current position, the red swordsman reploid was taking care of the remaining mavericks still in function. As expected, they proved to be unskilled before the might and speed of the reploid that cut and sliced the violent robots like it was nothing.
After spotting his next combatant, he dashed towards it with his green saber in hand, ready to finish it off with one clean and swift move. However, before he could do such feat, a scary skeleton-like reploid appeared out of nowhere and teared the maverick apart gruesomely using only his sharp hands.
"Who are you?" demanded the young swordsman sternly without losing his grip on the saber's handle.
After Skullman finished destroying the enemy completely, he decided to give all his attention to the inquisitive reploid and answer his demands the best he could. When in reality, he was more than eager for a real fight one on one.
"Heheh, I think the real question should be: are you afraid of death, maverick?" he asked before leaping towards the young swordsman, who easily jumped backwards and tried to cut him in half with his saber. But Skullman also fell back a little, avoiding being hit. Then, he immediately pulled a small gun from his arm and shot a barrage of hard pellets against the red reploid, who managed to cut and dodged some of the bullets that were going towards him.
"You'll have to do better than that, maverick scum" taunted him cockily the young swordsman.
"Don't worry…" began Skullman as he got closer to the inanimate body of a reploid that was lying on the floor.
"I was about to get serious!" he exclaimed before throwing the lifeless body to his enemy in a very dastardly and underhanded move.
When the swordsman cut the maverick's body with ease, he was immediately greeted with the image of a lunging Skullman that was about to grasp his head with those deadly sharp nails. At that moment, he knew that things could go both ways. Either he managed to cut his arm before the skeleton-like reploid could grab him, or he was going to get torn limb by limb. That's when, unexpectedly, a third reploid appeared that intervened in their battle.
"Back away you two" ordered them Pharaohman sternly without losing his grip on the fighters' arms so they couldn't continue attacking themselves.
"Pharaohman!" called him Axl from afar relieved. Though when he approached him, his expression soon changed as he noticed that his skeleton sibling was in complete functioning.
"Skullman…" uttered the young reploid with discontent and displeasure. He could only imagine what sort of madness happened during his absence.
"Are you all ok?!" asked a worried X the moment he approached the group. However, oddly enough, his gaze was just focused on those serious and stern green eyes of the young red swordsman as if he had seen that cold demeanor before.
I wanted to make this a special double update since I believe you guys are probably worried (don't worry, I'm alive XD) That's why I decided to publish this chapter first and then its continuation later.