Ciel looked at her readings of supplies they currently had. It looked like they were at the very bare minimum of what they needed to organize a full strike against Copy X. It would be better for them to do one last raid…Neo Arcadia certainly had quieted down a little, but the last thing she wanted to do was miscalculate.
Two and a half years….this operation had taken two and a half years….
A full strike was long overdue by this point, and she didn't know how much the Rebellion could take…
They had lost so many allies…their numbers were insignificant compare to Neo Arcadia.
…but as long as Copy X remained in power…taking innocent reploid lives for the improvement of human lives…
…she had to keep pushing through…Reploids depended on it….no…all of Neo Arcadia depended on it. Human and Reploids alike.
A sharp sound pulled Ciel out of her deep thoughts and her mouth dropped open upon seeing the words 'INCOMING TRANSMISSION FROM NEO ARCADIA'.
…Foxfire?...no…no this was far too loud for Foxfire…besides, the transmission wouldn't read Neo Arcadia; it would read 'unknown private line'.
Ciel reached for the controls and answered…seeing an absolutely FURIOUS Sage Harpuia on the screen.
"WHERE IS SHE, CIEL?" Harpuia growled furiously. "I thought you were BETTER than this!"
Ciel stood from her seat, putting her hands up to signal peace. "What are you talking about? Where is who?" She paused and looked concerned. "Is Foxfire not with you? Is she hurt?"
"I am NOT in the mood for games, Ciel!" Harpuia pointed at the girl. "Where is our citizen?!"
"...Citizen?" Ciel now looked bewildered. "...Sage we don't have-"
"CIEL!"
SLAM!
Ciel flinched when Harpuia SLAMMED his fist down on his computer counsel, signaling how enraged he was. Harpuia was even more angry than when Foxfire had been captured…
…then again…at that time, Foxfire had been viewed as a capable reploid soldier…
…Harpuia seemed to think the rebels had a HUMAN citizen…
"DON'T PATRONIZE ME! WHERE IS OUR CITIZEN!? IF YOU'VE SO MUCH AS SCRATCHED HER SKIN, I WILL-"
"SAGE SAGE!" Ciel put her hands up more pleadingly. "Listen to me, please! I DON'T know who you're talking about!" She put her hands on her chest. "I swear to you! The rebels are only fighting against your ARMY and not your citizens! We do not have ANYONE from Neo Arcadia at our base."
"Impossible." Phantom's voice came from the other side, though only Harpuia could be seen. "The only logical place would BE the rebel base."'
Ciel took a step up. "Harpuia. I'm telling you, your missing citizen is not here…WHAT is going on?"
Harpuia gritted his teeth in anger and now panic. He detected no lie in Ciel's voice…but Daisy HAD to be with them…she HAD to! Where ELSE could she be?!
"Ciel."
Ciel paused and looked over as Zero entered the room, his eyes narrowed slightly. He looked up towards Harpuia, narrowing his eyes. Harpuia glared back at him, his look of frustration not faltering in the least.
"...What's going on? What does Harpuia want?"
"Zero I swear to Primus I will-" Harpuia started to snarl, only for a hand to rest on his shoulder.
"...Commander Harpuia, may I?"
Harpuia continued to growl…but slowly took a couple of steps to the side, allowing Foxfire to join him on screen.
Ciel's heart beat faster as a wave of anxiety hit her upon seeing Foxfire on the screen. Her face was reflecting a mixture of stress…frustration…betrayal.
Foxfire gazed at Ciel…glanced at Zero…and looked back towards Ciel.
"...Ciel…"
"Foxfire I swear to you, we don't have any Neo Arcadian citizens with us." Ciel kept her hand on her chest. "We don't even have any Neo Acadian soldiers here…It's just all who remain with the resistance…"
Well…except for you…
Foxfire was silent for a long time…and she let off a slow breath. "...Ciel when is the last time one of your rebels made for Neo Arcadia?"
"...the day Zero tried to get us supplies." Ciel replied truthfully, motioning towards Zero. "...That was the last time any of us were deployed to any Neo Arcadian territory."
"...that was a week and a half ago." Foxfire glanced towards Harpuia, speaking quietly so she wouldn't frustrate him more. "...Daisy was still with us after that…"
Harpuia clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as fear rushed over him. If Daisy wasn't with the rebels….then…who-
"What's going on?" Zero repeated, crossing his arms. "It's not like Neo Arcadia to call us for no reason, much less at all."
"Perhaps I should finally reveal myself at this time."
There was silence on both sides of the call for a few seconds, before Ciel looked up, clearly confused. "Who just said that?"
As if on cue, a different screen made itself known, spawning next to the picture of Harpuia. The second picture was showing a young reploid with black and white armor with blue and red highlights. He had spiky red hair and a helmet that resembled cat ears.
Upon the figure showing himself, time slowed down for Zero, his pupils shrinking upon seeing this reploid.
I'm not gonna run off, so could you take these things off?
I'll get you to make me into a hunter yet!
Don't let him get to you X. He's the enemy.
Zero took a step back, his eyes wide in realization.
"...Axl…" he breathed out in disbelief.
The reploid on the other side of the line smirked wickedly at Zero's statement. "Why hello there Zero…it's been far too long since our last encounter." He crossed his arms, putting a finger to his chin. "Keeping the power of the solar from harm I hope?"
"What?!" Harpuia gritted his teeth, looking irritated. "Who are you!? How did you get on this line?!"
"What are you TALKING about?" Foxfire looked bewildered. "Zero's not the…."
"Oh where ARE my manors?" The reploid made slight bowing motion, keeping one arm behind his back, and putting his hand on his chest. "My name is not for you to know…but I have been watching all of you for quite some time now."
He stood straight and made a motion with his hand. "You see…I've been after the powers of the two fires, the legends of life and death themselves." He smirked lightly. "And honestly…you've been dodging me far too many times…and I'm getting a little tired of your games."
"GAMES?!" Harpuia snarled, taking a step up, only for Foxfire to quickly grab him to keep him from destroying the computer. "You think this is a GAME?! WHERE IS DAISY YOU BASTARD!?"
"My My, Such profanity, Commander Harpuia." 'Axl' chuckled and glanced over his shoulder. "Your sweet little flower is right here with me…though…currently wilting." He moved to the side, revealing a large reploid with wings behind him, holding Daisy in the air by one arm…
…Daisy was dangling in his grip, shivering and whimpering, a knife embedded in her stomach and a large blood stain on her shirt.
"DAISY!" Harpuia look horrified at the state of his girlfriend in the hands of this large bird-like reploid.
"YOU MONSTER!" Phantom's voice came from the Neo Arcadia side of the screen.
Ciel gasped in horror, slamming her hands over her mouth, while Zero looked on, completely frozen in place.
Axl?...this….this wasn't right….he thought that Axl had died…Axl HAD died…Axl…would…NEVER do something like this!
It made NO sense! WHY?!
"A-Axl-" Zero gritted his teeth, clenching his fists and shaking. "...Axl! Leave the human out of this!"
"Oh that's right, you've always had it soft for humans, haven't you Zero?" The reploid on the other screen chuckled softly. "It's too bad…I really don't have anything against this nice lady." He reached over and trailed his finger across her jaw, making her whimper. "But taking the life of an innocent is the best way to show I mean business."
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER YOU SICK BASTARD!" Harpuia snarled in fury.
"You can have your precious girlfriend back Harpuia…" Axl smirked. "...If you manage to get Zero and the Raven to hand over the powers of the Sun and Moon to me."
Zero gritted his teeth angrily, while Harpuia seethed.
Ciel trembled lightly, horrified at the sight of this innocent girl who was caught up in the power struggle…simply because she was close to Harpuia…
"...Axl…is it?" she asked breathing out slowly, earning the reploid's attention.
"...is it?" the reploid smirked pleasantly at Ciel. "...do you know who you're addressing?"
Ciel gritted her teeth…
"...you want the powers of the Solar Flare and the SkyFire…"
"You have processing like a steel trap, Doctor Ciel." Axl chuckled lowly.
"...if we provide one for you…what is the guarantee we will recover this girl?"
"Only one? My dear Doctor…" Axl rubbed the back of his hand against Daisy's cheek and slowly trailed his fingers down to the knife in her stomach…and TWISTED it.
Daisy SHRIEKED, causing all members of the opposing calls to react with a mixture of horror and fury.
"...this girl now has four more hours to live since I have deepened her wound." Axl purred, smiling wickedly. "However…if I remove the blade, she will die in a matter of minutes…" He chuckled lowly and gazed towards the leader of the Guardians. "Sage Harpuia….you do love this woman, do you not? If you want to recover her with time to get her to a hospital…you will arrive with BOTH fires at the remains of the D-5 building."
He put his hands behind his back. "If you arrive with only one fire…" His grin got insane. "I will remove the blade from this sweet girl's stomach and insert it into her heart. You have my word."
"NO! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Harpuia snarled.
"Axl! Please leave her-"
The call ended abruptly, cutting off all lines, leaving Ciel and Zero to watch the now blank screen in horror…
Zero gritted his teeth, his eyes wide in shock and disbelief…
Axl…Why would Axl do this? Why would Axl toy with the live of an innocent person? Why would Axl…
…..go Maverick?
"...Tch!" Zero turned and stormed out of the control room.
"Zero!" Ciel turned and quickly scampered to the door. "Zero WAIT! You need ammunition! You need to get rations!"
"Then tell Chateau to have them ready within FIVE minutes." Zero shot back, continuing down the hall.
As he stormed by, Raven nearly ran into him, sipping at a juice box. She paused when he blew past her and blinked, watching him continue down the hall.
"Hey Firetruck ass! What's with th-"
The reploid got on the elevator and immediately started going down, not so much as looking at her.
Raven blinked. "...rush?"
"Raven!"
She turned, noticing Ciel approaching her, looking at her pleadingly. "We need your help…"
***NA***
"DAISY!" Harpuia screamed as the line went dead. All four Guardians watched the screen in rage…before Harpuia turned and quickly started running for the door.
"HARPUIA!" Foxfire quickly turned and bolted after him, SNATCHING his arm and trying to drag him to a halt. "STOP! You can't go RUSHING into this!"
"Let GO of me Lieutenant!" Harpuia snarled. "Did you not HEAR him!? I have FOUR hours!"
"It's a TRAP, Harpuia!" Foxfire kept her grip on the lead Guardian, trying to keep him as still as she possibly could. "You need to stop and THINK for a moment!"
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
Harpuia turned back and PUNCHED Foxfire across the face, sending her to the floor.
"HARPUIA!!"
"FOX!"
"HARPUIA!"
The calls from the other three Guardians rang through his audio receptors.
As soon as she landed on the ground, Harpuia suddenly felt his world stop upon realizing what he had done. Foxfire stayed on the ground for a moment, and glanced back at him.
Her lip was now busted and a small stream of blood was dribbling out of her mouth…
He shuddered and took a step back, his eyes widening. "F-...Fox-...Fox I-"
To the side he saw Phantom coming-...but what he DIDN'T see coming was Foxfire quickly getting on her feet, and SLAMMING Harpuia into a wall.
"HARPUIA! STOP AND THINK FOR A MINUTE YOU IDIOT!" Foxfire snarled, causing Harpuia to flinch, looking at the Lieutenant in shock. The action caused Phantom to stop in his tracks and gawk at the scene before him. Even Leviathan and Fefnir now looked spooked.
After a tense moment, Foxfire turned her head and spit out a little blood from her mouth, before gritting her teeth. "Harpuia! LISTEN to me you lovesick moron! This reploid SPECIFICALLY asked for YOU by NAME. He told YOU to bring him the fires. He took YOUR girlfriend and used her as bait FOR. YOU!"
She kept him pressed against the wall and sneered at him. "Don't you get it!? This slagger is going to try to KILL you! Because he somehow KNOWS you love Daisy! Because he somehow KNOWS that you will want to get her out of his grimy hands!"
Foxfire's voice rose. "Don't you understand?! He's EXPECTING you to come in filled with rage, so he can easily end you!"
There was a long moment of silence in the room, Harpuia gritting his teeth in a mixture of rage…shock…horror…
"...F-...Foxf-"
"Harpuia! We're GOING to get Daisy back…but we need to have an effective strategy so we can get her back quickly and get her straight to a hospital." She roughly let him go and prodded his chest. "Because I don't know about you, but I plan to watch you MARRY this girl, and that's NOT going to happen if Either of you die!"
She scowled and took two steps back. "I've already lost Shadow, Sobek and Sandstorm. Do NOT take another brother from me…do you UNDERSTAND me?!"
Harpuia panted, watching Foxfire in shock…and watching her busted lip bleeding.
After a moment, Foxfire wiped her mouth and turned, heading back for the computer, quickly typing at it.
Leviathan slowly approached Foxfire, holding out a hand. "...Lieutenant-"
"The D-5 building is still standing even after the fire, yes?" Foxfire frowned, looking towards Leviathan, a frown on her face.
Leviathan was taken aback. Was Foxfire…taking charge? Shaking that off, the Guardian nodded slowly. "Yes. The only thing that remains from it is a skeleton of what it once was."
"Many soldier remains still lie there." Phantom replied, slowly making his way towards Leviathan and Foxfire, glancing towards Harpuia scornfully. He started to reach for Foxfire, however she put up her hand to stop him.
"Then there isn't much means for cover." Foxfire crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes…she looked up towards the others. "We're going to have to ask for aide from the rebels."
"What?"
"The HECK to you mean?!" Fefnir waved his arms in the air. "We don't need them to perform a rescue!"
"Yes we do!" Foxfire pointed towards the screen. "That reploid thinks Zero is the Solar flare for some stupid reason! The idiot obviously hasn't done his homework, but that's beside the point! SINCE he thinks Zero is the Solar Flare, while everyone foolishly assumes that Raven is the SkyFire, he will be using that as his card to end Daisy!"
She scowled. "We show up without those two, then that monster will kill Daisy!"
There was a moment of silence as the Guardians weighed Foxfire's logic. After a moment Harpuia frowned, glaring at the floor for a while…before looking up.
"Fefnir. Leviathan. Phantom. Get ready to teleport to the outskirts of the D-5 building. Foxfire, contact Ciel while we make our way over."
Foxfire paused and turned, putting a hand to herself. "I can easily contact her from the site-"
"You are not coming."
Foxfire paused…and turned facing Harpuia. "I need to! With Daisy's wounds she'll need-"
"YOU. Are NOT. Coming!" Harpuia glared at Foxfire. "You are staying here where it's SAFE! I am NOT losing another Lieutenant, Foxfire! You're staying here! That is an ORDER! AM I UNDERSTOOD!?"
Foxfire gritted her teeth as Harpuia stood over her, standing his ground, daring her to challenge his rank.
The air was so thick…it could practically be cut with a knife.
"...yes…sir." Foxfire frowned as she replied, watching as Harpuia turned and started heading for the door.
"Guardians. With me." he ordered firmly, the other three following him without question. The four Guardians all exited the room…though Harpuia did glance back towards Foxfire very slightly…before exiting, closing the door behind him.
Foxfire stayed still…and turned, quickly typing into the computer, eyes narrowed.
***RB***
Raven quickly got her naginata fastened to her armor and looked around quickly for Zero, praying to Arceus that he hadn't already left without her. She managed to locate him coming out of the supply room, an upgrade to his armor as well as a canister in his hand.
"Zero-"
"Raven you need to stay here."
"I can't, I have to go with you or he'll-"
"Raven. I have three hours and forty minutes." Zero pushed her out of his way and headed for the elevator. "Chances are the Guardians are already there."
"They probably are." Raven turned and quickly followed, narrowing her eyes. "Zero….Zero TALK to me."
"There's nothing to say." Zero replied firmly, boarding the elevator and slamming his fist against the button.
Raven quickly hopped on the elevator before it could start going up without her. "Zero you're not going alone. I have to come with you. Who is this reploid?"
"Raven stop."
"...Zero how am I supposed to accept you being my strength, when you won't accept mine?"
Zero was quiet for a moment…slightly glazing in Raven's direction. She was giving him a hard look…which made him glance away.
Raven felt herself get frustrated…She couldn't continue badgering him…he was obviously in pain…and he wanted to keep that pain away from her…
….she needed a gentler approach.
The girl let off a slow breath…before she slowly reached out and softly trailed her fingers against his face, gently turning his head to look in her direction.
Raven took a step closer and caressed his face, her hands moving down to cradle his neck.
Zero gazed into her eyes, a stunned look on his face. He had NEVER in his life experienced Raven being so….gentle. He shut his eyes for a moment, feeling his body tense from the soft touch of her fingers…how warmth was filling his very being…
"...Raven…"
"Zero…I want to be your strength when you need me…but I can't do that if you don't trust me…" Raven mumbled quietly, taking another step up and putting her forehead against his. "...Tell me about Axl…so we can fight him together."
Zero slowly reached up and rested his hand on her forearm…he had been planning to take her hands off of him…but the warmth of her touch…the gentle song of her voice…
….She was right…he couldn't expect her to completely trust him if he refused to fully trust her.
"...Axl." He muttered lightly. "...Axl was…like a brother to me."
For a moment he only listened to the sounds of the elevator going up. "...this doesn't make sense though…he was killed…a long time ago…and even if he WERE still alive…this goes against everything he ever believed in."
"...Why wouldn't he go after the fires, Zero?" Raven asked seriously. "Was he not interested in power?"
Zero was silent, closing his eyes and trying to dig out all the possible memories he could of Axl…of X…of Red Alert…and all the New Generation reploids…
"...He HAD power, Raven." He replied seriously, opening his eyes and frowning. "He had the ability to shapeshift into any sort of reploid he got data on. However, he also had the ability…to completely nullify the Maverick virus. He was…INCAPABLE of going Maverick…or at least that what had been explained to us."
"The Maverick Virus was what caused several reploids to go crazy 200 years ago right?" Raven narrowed her eyes slightly. "So Axl….COULDN'T go Maverick?"
"More accurately, he had the ability to choose." Zero looked at Raven. "Axl was the prototype of the New Generation reploids…reploids who were capable of transformation…and since they needed data to be able to transform, they possessed an ability that blocked the Maverick Virus…however…it could still be downloaded into their system….willingly."
Raven looked spooked for a moment, glancing to the side. "...but there was evidence that Axl died…RIGHT?"
"That's why none of this makes sense. Axl's code had left his body." Zero narrowed his eyes. "He was GONE….we couldn't recover him."
"Then that could only mean that someone is PRETENDING to be Axl and using his form to bait us…" Raven suddenly paused when she remembered the day the Lieutenants had been killed…she had seen a big reploid transform into another reploid before disappearing into the halls.
"...uh Zero…are there any OTHER New Generation Reploids still around?"
Zero paused…and he suddenly scowled.
"...Lumine."
***D5***
"It won't be much longer now, my dear." Lumine watched from an upper room that hadn't been completely destroyed by the fire as he spotted a teleportation activate…..followed by a second one.
"Perfect…both Zero and the Raven have arrived." Lumine put his hands behind his back and glanced over his shoulder, watching Daisy laying on the ground, breathing shallowly. The girl was getting close to death and it would be easy to go ahead and kill her now, since all the players had arrived…
But he wanted to see Harpuia's agony.
"Vector." Lumine made his way to Daisy's shivering body, changing his appearance back into the form of Axl.
"Go welcome our guests while I prepare our little princess for her prince to try to save her." The reploid brought Daisy into his arms and looked over towards his partner, a wicked grin on his face. "It's high time Neo Arcadia knows the New World I crave to bring."
Vector slowly nodded, before changing his own form into a blue bird-like reploid. Spreading his wings, he shot into the air and swiftly started flying for the new arrivals.
'Axl' looked down towards Daisy and smirked at her when she weakly looked up at him, fear in her eyes.
"Any moment now…and your pain will end, princess."
