"I'm genuinely surprised" mentioned General while walking through the base's hallways.
"I've never would have thought you were one of the reploids from the Cossack's royal family".
"Hehe, yeah, we're pretty much the top dogs back home" replied Axl carefreely with both hands behind his head. At his side, X just listened carefully the teenager's story. It seemed that a lot of things had happened during his absence.
"Well, we appreciate all the help we can get" said the head commander before leading the two candidates into a room that was already occupied by some other reploids.
"X, Axl, you will be assigned to the 17th Division, which was currently inoperative after it was moved to another branch. That being said, allow me to introduce you to your support team" began General, who started to introduce the occupant reploids one by one.
"First, and most important, your three main navigators who will inform you everything you need to know about your missions: Alia, Layer and Pallette".
"Nice to meet you, X, Axl" said Alia politely.
"Likewise" added Layer with a nod.
"We'll make the best effort to assist you" stated Pallette with a smile.
"Thanks" replied X grateful.
"Next, our newest cadets that just graduated from the Academy: Middy and Techno" continued General, this time introducing two small humanoid reploid boys: one green with a joyful face, and a purple one next to the first with a stern look on his face (almost as if he were unamused of what was happening).
"It really is a pleasure to see you, sir! You were amazing during that maverick attack" commented the reploid named Middy, approaching X too candidly.
"I-it was nothing" stated X, embarrassed by the whole attention he was receiving by the jubilant boy.
"Knock it off, Middy, can't you see you're bothering him?" remarked Techno, lecturing his twin brother.
"I am? So sorry about it!" he apologized regretfully.
"Don't let their sizes fool you. Both of them were the best students in mechanics, enginery and computer science. You could say they're the geniuses of this generation" said General, praising the two kids.
"That's us alright!" stated Middy happily with one arm over Techno's shoulders.
"Please, stop embarrassing us in front of everyone" he insisted, already uncomfortable of his brother's over-familiarity.
"Moving on, the medical unit assigned to this division, Cinnamon, and your patrol unit, Rush".
After General mentioned their names, a blonde reploid nurse of teal eyes that had been quiet from the start quickly showed life signs and greeted them politely, followed subsequently by a red Doberman Pinscher robot that stood up the moment its name was mentioned.
"A-a pleasure to meet you" stuttered Cinnamon a little startled, while Rush approached X boldly for a close analysis.
"Hmmm, odd" commented General surprised. "Rush is usually not that friendly with strangers".
"It's very amicable" mentioned X happily while petting the docile robot dog.
"And lastly, our prominent swordsman and leader of this division: Zero, who I believe you're familiar with" stated the head commander, thus finishing the introduction of all reploids within the room.
"I was starting to wonder what was keeping you" said Zero, unsurprised, with closed eyes and both arms above his red chest.
Leaving aside his sarcastic remark and presumptuous personality, General continued with some words of encouragement for the newcomers and the main navigators alike, who would be running everything on their own from now on, as a team. Therefore, it was necessary to remind them that.
"Now that the proper introductions were made, the only thing I can tell you is that you work together towards the completion of our goal, that is the protection of humans and the order in the city. Use that ideal to learn, cooperate and know from each other as you move as a team starting now. From this moment, the 17th division can initiate its activities!" he declared solemnly.
"Yes, sir!" replied the voices of X, Axl, Middy and the three navigators in unison.
With this, the team is set to tackle the already planned eight stages in order to defeat the head maverick. However, at the current moment, only four of those stages will be available. The reason for that is very simple.
If you remember last chapter, I said I was planning a surprise for you, my readers. That surprise is that I'll give you the chance to choose our course of actions. That's right! :D you'll be the ones to select which of the first four stages we'll begin this adventure.
Whether you are a guest or a person with an active fanfiction account, just type in your review the stage you would like me to start with.
However, I like to point out that each stage will be tackle in one single episode (therefore, it's going to take me some more time to prepare the following 4 chapters ^^; ) Added to that, depending on the stage you choose, a Light reploid will have part of his creation-background revealed, as well as a considerate participation in helping X and friends in defeating the deadly maverick bosses.
So, let's not waste anytime! :D here are the first four stages:
*Military Port
*Natural Reserve
*Glacier Research Center
*Chronos Institute