Mark of Man
Chapter 9
The Thing Worse Than Rebellion is the Thing That Causes Rebellion
Her fist clenching the sheet of paper, Rokko threw herself over the divider leading to the upper highway with her other hand. Immediately, she saw madness. Blood, wreckage and ruin. Smoke billowed in the distance as the site of several missile craters continued to smoulder in Abel City.
Abel City had been the crown jewel of Eurasia, the new capital where many of the highest ranking leaders resided. Now, it was a disaster zone, government buildings that once housed the Eurasian military HQ, the elected parliament, and even the executive head were now little more than rubble.
Nearby, a semi and trailer dangled precariously over the edge.
"Help!" A man begged from inside.
Why should I help a human? Rokko scowled before dashing over and kicking the door off of the truck and extending her hand to the man inside.
Tentatively, the terrified man gripped hers, and she pulled him out with a mighty heave. Turning to face the black man, she nodded.
"Try to get a ride with another car out of the city, things aren't safe here." She warned as she turned to head toward the heart of the enemy.
"W-wait!" He protested, slowly pushing himself to his knees.
"Hm? What is it?" She asked, wanting to instead tell him to 'shut up and leave me alone'.
"What… What's your name?" He asked looking up, a strangeness in his eyes.
"I am Rokko X." She replied briskly, her eyes scanning the horizon and noticing a few irregulars incoming.
"Irregulars will converge on this position soon, you best get out of here unless you want the fact that someone saved you to be a waste of effort." She warned.
"Okay… And… Thanks… Maybe, maybe you 'roids ain't so bad after all."
The comment caused her to stop and face him, confusion wracking her entire being.
"W...What?"
"I've always been told that you 'roids are robots that could turn on us at any second… Like today.," He indicated the ruined city. "But, it was a 'roid that saved me too."
Rokko sighed, turning away from him.
"It's not enough for one race to live on its knees serving another. Rebellion was going to happen eventually, just when, and how was the question. As long as humans continue to consider reploids simple machines there will be blood spilt." Forming her buster, she aimed it at an incoming Irregular.
A former hunter if she was correct. Firing, she destroyed the Irregular's head.
"Then again, by this point even if equal rights were given I doubt that'd be enough. There's a lot of anger and hate in reploid hearts." Turning a cold eye towards the man, she said one last thing before dashing off. "I'd be surprised if there's a reploid alive that doesn't hate your kind by now."
Vaulting over a pair of abandoned cars, Rokko was forced to immediately duck as a volley of laser blasts struck at where her head had been a moment before. Crawling under the laser storm, she slowly inched her way close enough to take cover under a SUV and take aim at the first enemy she saw. Firing, a burst of plasma, she rolled to a new location as her cover was vaporized.
One down. Over the next ten minutes, she moved from location to location, having a running battle with the irregular group until she dropped a charge shot into the last two, wiping them out in a single blast.
Brushing off the dust that had coalesced on her shoulder plates, she shook her head, a nearly permanent scowl marring her expression. Taking off at a near run, Rokko weaved her way through the potholes, abandoned vehicles, and corpses alike.
Leaping over a totalled car, she landed on a irregular's shoulders, aiming her buster at his head and firing. The red and green irregular's body stood for a few seconds longer, not registering that the head unit had been destroyed until after she'd lept off of it, and dropped to the pavement near another truck.
"Damn it!" She heard a former hunter cry out from the other side of the truck she was taking cover from.
"Call in the bee bladers! Stop her!"
Scowling, Rokko's mind quickly recalled what the Bee Blader was. The large flying mechaniloid was a devastating state-of-the-art war mech designed to drop off soldiers on a battlefield while continuing to support them with powerful anti personnel 50 MM vulcan cannons, a pair of anti armor fire-and-forget missile bays, and the ability to quickly replicate and drop Ball De Voux as long as it had the materials to do so.
As an armored transport, it had thick, thick armor, and solid mobility for such a large object. Thankfully, only a handful of them were ever made, so she hoped they only had a couple at most.
Sliding under the truck, she kicked the legs out from the irregular on the other side, and before he could rise, curled her left hand into a fist and drove it into his throat, instantly severing the head from the body. Black oil and green coolant coated her hand, so she shook it, causing the 'blood' of the irregular to splatter about as she quickly stood and fired a fully charged shot at another irregular that wore an expression of sheer horror at the brutality.
Once again setting off, Rokko heard the sound of the incoming Bee Bladers and cursed under her breath. With them there, it was likely that if Sigma himself was here she wouldn't be able to reach him in time before he escaped.
Scouring the skies, she quickly identified the squadron of attack mechaniloids and winced. Four of them were more than she wanted to deal with. Ever. Quickly dashing forward, she sprinted to a nearby overpass, using it for cover as they unleashed a barrage of vulcan fire tore chunks out of Rokko's makeshift cover.
"Four of those mechs? How the hell did Sigma manage that?" She grumbled as she managed to fully charge her buster again. Dashing up to the bridge's side, she quickly scaled it, taking aim at the closest Bee Blader and fired, aiming at the rotor mast of the mechaniloid. Sadly, the mechaniloid noticed the incoming shot and tried to dodge.
While the blast failed to hit her target, it clipped the wing, causing the Bee Blader's speed to decrease.
"I don't have time to tear you four apart bit by bit!" She spat, before she was forced to leap off of the overpass and duck under it for cover as they made another round.
"Obnoxious mechs!" She grumbled.
Once she'd charged her weapon again she dashed out of cover a second time, aiming at the incoming Bee Blader. Firing she managed to cause the second chopper to careen out of control and smash into the city below.
Unfortunately, it left her open to the other three, and a trio of missile pairs charged her.
"Damn it." She growled as she leapt over the first, dashed under the second, and smashed into the third set, sending the ex huntress flying across the highway in a fiery explosion of napalm and smashing into a car's windshield headfirst. Driving her fist through the roof of the car, she tore it away, freeing her and allowing her to resume the fight.
It had hurt doing that, but she'd somehow managed to take it, spitting out a bit of synthetic blood, she rose, aiming her buster at the oncoming Ball De Voux that the remaining Bee Bladers had dropped.
Cursing under her breath again, she started to fire, only to be met by return plasma fire from the strange roly-poly machines. One of the incoming attacks clipped her right shoulder and she winced, but took the time to find cover once again.
"There's no way that Sigma did this overnight." Rokko observed, rubbing the injured joint.
He had far too much equipment, weaponry, and armor at his disposal for this rebellion to have been poorly planned. Pushing herself to her feet, she returned fire again, finally dismantling the fleet-footed ball attackers.
However, she quickly noticed that the nearest Bee Blader was stationed over the highway, dropping off more Ball De Voux and she snarled before aiming at it, and blasting at the mechaniloid in a near rage. To her surprise the barrage managed to strike the rotor mast, and the Bee Blader lost the ability to fly, crashing into the Ball De Voux it had just dropped.
With two more to go, things were certainly not in Rokko's favor. Tentatively moving her right arm, she managed a thin smile as she realized that while it was damaged she could still move it.
Rolling away from another missile attack, chunks of duracrete rained upon her, a piece slicing across her left cheek and blood began to flow freely from the wound.
Wiping it away quickly she fired at the wounded Bee Blader, just as it fired another pair of missiles. The explosion immediately destroyed the front of the mechaniloid and the third Bee Blader fell on the city below.
If she had been human, she'd have been completely exhausted. Of course, she already was, she'd dug her way out of an exploded prison, dragged her only friend's body out of it as well, and destroyed three Bee Bladers already. Even as a Reploid she had every right to be completely exhausted. But her rage gave her strength. Her hate for Sigma drove her on.
Gauging where the last Bee Blader was and when it was likely to turn around and make another attack run on her, she began to run. Hastily picking up speed, she leapt upon a car, and used it as a springboard to reach the retreating Bee Blader. Gripping onto a ridge on its back end, she aimed her fully charged buster at the rotor mast and fired.
With the point blank shot, dodging the attack was impossible for the Bee Blader, and the blade tore off spinning to one side wildly. X had to duck as it nearly took her head with it. Without the main rotor blade, the Mechaniloid began to quickly lose altitude, spinning and careening out of control. Once it was close enough to the ground, she let go, dropping onto the duracrete road below.
Turning to watch the mechaniloid so that she knew where it would crash and how to avoid getting crushed herself, she observed as the tail smashed into the road near her and flipped head over tail until it landed face first into the city below.
"And that's four." Rokko nodded to herself, brushing the dust off of her face.
"She's a demon!" A nearby irregular cried in terror as he fled back to the main Irregular unit.
Sighing, she allowed herself a moment's rest and the wind slowly picked up, causing her long blonde hair to flutter in the breeze lazily. However, her respite was quickly interrupted as a large shadow began to cover the highway. Frowning, she looked up, seeing a massive airship. Hurriedly, she dove under the severely damaged overpass, hoping that the advanced sensors of the ship wouldn't pick her up.
I can't fight that, not in the shape I'm in right now.
She clenched a fist, as she identified it as the Death Rogumer, The flagship of the Irregular Hunter's Air Force, otherwise known as Storm Eagle's own ship.
"How the hell did Sigma get that?" She asked herself before pailing.
Unless… Sigma managed to get Storm Eagle to join him too…
Damn it Eagle, I swear if you joined Sigma, I'm going to punch you in that pretty birdie face of yours till you see reason.
Her heart clenched, but she pushed it to one side.
Then, the one person she didn't want to see dropped on the highway in a powerful Ride Armor.
"X, come out from your hiding place~" Vile taunted, his voice having an upbeat tilt in it.
So, Vile wants to settle the score in person, is that it? Rokko wondered before she stepped out from under the bridge.
"It doesn't surprise me that you became Sigma's lapdog." She observed, aiming her buster at Vile's helmet.
"Sigma? I couldn't care anything about him. All I care about it crushing you!" He retorted.
Tilting her head to one side, she looked at him as if measuring him up.
"You do realize what'll happen if we fight right? I told you that if I ever went after you again, I'd kill you. It's time to make good on that." X replied shortly.
For a second, neither of them moved, Vile hesitating at her statement. Then, he shoved his doubt to one side and dashed at her.
Damn it, he didn't take the bait.
Rokko wasn't in any shape to be fighting Vile in a Ride Armor now, not after all that she'd already gone through. Diving to one side, X managed to dodge his first attack, and as he turned, she retaliated with a plasma shot to the left leg joint.
To her surprise the plasma was deflected.
What the… She frowned before she was forced to jump back as Vile's shoulder mounted cannon made a crater in the spot she'd been standing a second earlier.
"Plasma Resistant Armor, it's a Eurasian Prototype Ride Armor X! You can't touch me!" Vile taunted as he pointed the Ride Armor's right hand at her and the index finger shot a volley of yellow spheres at her.
In response, she fired plasma blasts back at them, causing them both to detonate.
For the next several minutes she tried vainly to pierce the Ride Chaser's armor, but between the severe damage she'd already received and the oddly specific armor, she found herself unable to punch through it.
Slowly, Vile managed to gain the upper hand as she grew more and more exhausted, until finally, he leapt over a van, landed on his Ride Chaser's left hand, pushed off, and back flipped over her. Before she could respond, the Ride Chaser grabbed her, lifting her into the air and slowly began to crush her.
"You're hot, I'll give you that, but you're far too weak to ever keep up with someone like me!" Vile taunted as Rokko grit her teeth in pain.
"S-shut up. If you're going to kill me… Just… Guh, get it over with." She found it hard to speak as her body groaned under the pressure.
"Oh no babe, no I'm going to draw this out…"
Scowling, she grit her teeth in rage.
"S...Shut it… You… Obnoxious… W-worm." She refused to cry out in pain.
"Hahaha! You thought you'd kill me? Look at you! You're going to be crushed like a can of sardines!" Vile laughed.
Her body groaned again, this time metal pieces beginning to snap under the pressure.
"G...Guh…" She felt her consciousness slowly beginning to fade as Vile continued to laugh at her.
Then suddenly, the pressure faded, and Rokko managed to break loose of the Ride Armor's grip. Pushing herself up, she heard another explosive burst of plasma scream by her, and her vision returned to her slowly. Standing in front of her was a reploid she could have done without seeing again.
"Damn it Zero." She groaned as she wobbled slightly.
Zero laid a hand on her shoulder, helping to keep her standing. Instantly, Rokko tried to shake him off, but dropped to one knee.
"You're one crazy woman X. Four Bee Bladers and a running fight on foot with a prototype Ride Armor? Damn, that takes guts." Zero said.
"I didn't need your help Zero!" She retorted, trying to push herself back up.
To her surprise, Zero gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him and then, his right hand struck her cheek.
"Damn it X, you almost died. Snap out of it!" He retorted, grabbing her and tossing her over his shoulder.
"Let. Me. Go." She demanded, but Zero only rolled his eyes as he stood.
"Look, I need every hunter I can get if we're going to stop the Mavericks, and having you die on the highway won't help. I get it, you hate everyone, and don't want anyone to help you, but you best swallow your pride because I'm your boss, get it?"
Rokko merely rolled her eyes as Zero began to walk back towards friendly territory.
"Reality Check Zero: I'm not one of your Irregular Hunters. I was kicked out, remember?"
She'd have tried struggling but her alarms warned her she was almost out of energy and had taken severe damage. Any attempts might have led to her going offline.
"Under Sigma's suggestion, yes. However, as the Irregular Hunter's command structure is in tatters, I'm currently the highest ranking officer, and it is my decision to return you to active duty. Congratulations B Class Huntress X, you're back on the job and welcome to the Irregular Hunter's Seventeenth Maverick Hunter Task Force."
"...I hate you Zero."
"I hate you Zero….What?" Zero asked cheerfully.
"I hate you Zero.. Sir." She amended unwillingly.
This was going to be a long, long, and frustrating war, and much of that would come from her red armored commander.
"Much, much better." Zero replied as he laid her down in front of a white clothed human woman.
"Huntress X?" The woman asked as she dropped one knee beside Rokko.
"Yes…" She agreed.
"I'm Lieutenant Carlie Bublik; a reploid engineer and I'll be treating your wounds here since HQ is still a mess."
"Alright Lieutenant…" She agreed, hating the fact that a human was going to be doing the repair work, but it wasn't as if she could have requested a reploid repair worker or something.
"Don't write her off as too damaged Lieutenant, I need every Reploid I can get ahold of and who knows when we'll be able to start getting reinforcements again. Besides that, she's a monster on the battlefield, it'd be terrible to lose her." Zero warned before he walked off.
"Understood Commander." She agreed.
Then, she turned to face Rokko again.
"I'll need you to power down so I don't get zapped or something crazy while working on you." She warned.
With that, X nodded before falling asleep.
She may have failed to defeat Vile, but she'd certainly dented the Maverick rebellion.
Well, another chapter done, and we're finally just starting into the story 'proper'. Yes, already larger than any of my other stories on this account, and we're just getting started. For that anon reviewer last time, yeah, she got beat, but she had valid reasons for it. Rokko isn't amused by the loss, and she's very eager to put Vile in his place again. Sadly though, Rokko isn't invincible, even if she's quite an impressive fighter already, she too can grow and evolve, just like Mega Man X does in the X series...
If I've missed responding to your review, I apologize, I hate doing that, and if I do it's most likely because I can be forgetful. I definitely do appreciate your responses!
Still hate FFN formatting though.