***LH***
Lumine studied his findings...looked at all the information he had…
The findings seemed to point more and more to Zero…
Did Zero have the power he so desperately craved? The purple haired reploid typed at the computer he was gathering his information from.
If he could pinpoint those power fluctuations….if he could identify the reflecting powers that the Raven possessed….
...wait….reflecting….
Lumine put a hand to his chin for a moment, and turned the computer screen towards another subject….the subject that Copy X was after…
...the Moon.
The moon reflected the sun...so...the fact that the Raven was capable of reflecting attacks right back towards her attackers...that pretty much confirmed she was in fact the moon…
...and with her emotional attachment to Zero….
"HEY! DIRECTOR GIRLY AFT!" Sobek's voice mocked over Lumine's computer speaker.
Lumine looked back upwards, his eye twitching heavily and pressed a button.
"Sobek, I'm BUSY. Can't this wait for another-"
"NOPE! No time! Master X has a special guest with us! Your presence is demanded by him."
"...I'm….busy-"
"Master X, Lumine says your orders don't matter to him-" Sobek started to say over the line.
"YOU SLAGGING LITTLE-" Lumine grabbed his head and gritted his teeth tightly. "FINE! I'M COMING YOU SLAGGING SCREWLOOSE!"
"Thank you cupcake!" Sobek mocked over the radio. "I'll see you around, girly hips!"
"WHY YOU NO GOOD-"
The line went dead. Lumine growled and SMACKED a hand to his face and slooooowly slid it down his face.
He hated Sobek…..he hated him SO. MUCH….HECK! He hated all FOUR of the Lieutenants! Sobek was a slagging IDIOT who caused way too much trouble. Foxfire was FAR too loyal to the Four Guardians, AS WAS SHADOW….
Sandstorm….Sandstorm was just plain stupid….
And they were all keeping their eyes on him! They were such nuisances and needed to be-...
Lumine paused...and looked to the side, his eyes narrowing slightly….
...he typed a few things into the computer, putting a hand to his helmet. "Victor….come to my office and finish the research….I need to tend to the X wannabe…"
***RB***
Raven let off a LOUD yawn and trudged through the halls of the rebel base. The sun wasn't even up yet...why the heck did Jaken call her so early?
She hadn't even had the opportunity to break her ALARM CLOCK yet!
Rubbing her face, Raven found her eyes getting heavy…what time WAS it? Why did Jaken call her? Why not Colbor? Or Cilantro….wait…did she just call Chateau 'Cilantro'? Heh….that's funny….that's-
"OOOFFF!"
Raven turned the corner and ran SMACK into Zero, before falling backwards and landing on her hands and toosh. She let off a groan and looked up towards Zero, who was looking down at her with a bewildered look.
She only stared at him for a moment….before she scoffed. "What? Haven't you heard of 'coffee' before?" She grumbled. "I kinda don't HAVE any to wake me up, so I can open my eyes, so I can actually SEE in front of my nose."
Zero rolled his eyes slightly and offered her a hand. Raven absently took it and allowed him to help her up, looking at him with a tiered expression.
"Why are you up so early?" Raven grumbled, letting off another yawn. "Trying to get your turn in the training room, before I get there first?" She asked.
"Have you seen Ciel?" Zero asked, completely ignoring Raven's question and looking around the halls briefly. "We haven't been able to find her."
"Maybe she's ASLEEP?" Raven grumbled, letting off another yawn and frowning towards Zero. "Humans do it from time to time….except for ME apparently, because I always seem to get woken up way too early."
Frowning, Zero looked back at Raven. "Ciel hasn't been answering her radio since 2 in the morning."
"There's this thing…" Raven gave Zero a sarcastic look. "It's called SLEEPING? Humans kinda NEED it to-"
"Raven, Ciel was on night watch in place of Colbor tonight." Zero looked back towards Raven. "...The last time she spoke to any of the other night guards was at 11:15."
Raven was slightly more awake now, looking slightly concerned. "...wait….If you haven't heard from her since 2, then why was her last transmission at 11?"
"She was supposed to report at 2." Zero replied, a deadpan look on his face. "Chateau called her radio and he received a signal...but no reply."
Raven was now fully awake, narrowing her eyes.
"...did he happen to zone in on where that signal was by any chance? Maybe she fell asleep and her radio pinged her location?" She suggested.
"I haven't asked." Zero looked back towards Raven, frowning. "...I'd need to ask-"
"ZERO!"
Raven and Zero paused and looked down the hallways where Jaken was waving frantically at the two and running towards them. "Zero! I've found Ciel! She's wi-..." Jaken paused and blinked at the sight of them….
….before he flailed his arms. "Is this REALLY the right time for you two to be holding hands and cuddling right now?!"
Raven and Zero blinked….before they noticed their hands were still locked….
….before YANKING away from each other and turning.
"Is there a POINT to your endless BLUSTER, clock work?!" Raven waved a hand in the air. "If you know where Ciel is, can I go back to BED?!"
"MY NAME IS JAKEN!" The reploid screamed, getting into Raven's face. "HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT TO REMEMBER?!"
"Where is Ciel, Jaken?" Zero asked, his expression never changing. "Did she just forget to change her frequency or somethin-"
"Zero! Copy X has contacted us!" Jaken turned to the former Maverick hunter, flailing his arms. "HE HAS CIEL IN NEO ARCADIA!"
Zero blinked. Raven's eye twitched.
"WHAT?!"
***NA***
"So once that shipment gets to the eastern sector, then we can prepare the pantheons to strike the rebel base directly." Shadow typed at his computer, with Harpuia standing behind him, looking at the readings that Shadow's screen was offering. "All we need to do is inspect the shipment before transfer."
"Those energy cells need the best kind of containment." Foxfire agreed, sitting in a nearby chair and typing into her datapad for a moment, before turning it around and offering it to Shadow and Harpuia. "I recommend a D-5 "S" series to make sure all bumps are accounted for."
Harpuia took the datapad from Foxfire and studied it briefly...before he nodded and looked towards Shadow. "Ensure the shipments are encased properly. This strike NEEDS to go perfectly and without a hitch."
"Right away Commander Harpuia." Shadow took Foxfire's datapad from Harpuia and started typing in the formulas and codes. As he worked, Foxfire put a hand to her head and let off a small yawn.
...it had been a long night...and she technically STILL wasn't finished. For this strike to work, she needed to get everything right….
She needed to check and re-check calculations….ensure the supply...make sure the right troops were assigned…
Foxfire glanced towards her hands...
….Raven….
Her calculations had also been slowed by the research she had been putting in on Master X….
...from what she had learned so far….Dr. Thomas Light had meant X to be a symbol of peace….a warrior of peace….protection….
….but….he NEVER mentioned that it was supposed to be just for humans….
...and yet….Master X was so focused on humanity….so ready to ensure humans were happy….
...Repliods were set aside…
...even his own soldiers….
Setting aside those soldiers had caused some of them to rebel...
...so….how did that ensure 'peace'?
"Did you hear me Foxfire?"
…..
….
"...huh?" Foxfire paused and quickly looked upwards, seeing Shadow and Harpuia looking at her. She paused and blushed, before clearing her throat. "I'm sorry. What?"
"Could you accompany me to the Air Batalion to double check our jets to make sure they're at top rate?" Harpuia asked. "Shadow is staying in his office to finish the data."
Foxfire nodded and stood. "Yes of course, Commander Harpuia. Please allow me to contact Command-"
As she spoke, the door opened, letting in Shadow Man and Phantom. Foxfire blinked and a blush came to her face.
HOW THE HECK DID HE JUST KEEP APPEARING WHENEVER SHE THOUGHT OR MENTIONED HIM?!
"Harpuia." Phantom's attention was on his brother, a serious look on his face. "I have reason to believe we may have a mole in our system."
Harpuia faced Phantom, as did Shadow, who looked somewhat concerned about the idea of having a mole. Harpuia on the other hand, had a sarcastic look on his face.
"Noooo, ya think, Phantom?" He made a motion with his hand. "Master X has been allowing freaking LUMINE in on this task of retrieving the two lights, and you THINK we have a freaking mole?"
"It's not Lumine to whom I'm referring." Phantom replied plainly, walking over towards Foxfire and holding out his hand to her. "Lieutenant, allow me to see your Datapad."
Foxfire pointed towards Shadow, who blinked and gave the datapad to Phantom. Once Phantom had it, he took out his own datapad and pulled it to a particular screen, and showed it to Harpuia.
"Foxfire is my Lieutenant, yes?" Phantom droned, making Harpuia give off a weird face.
"...yes."
"So her data should be exactly uniform to my own, being apart of the Cutting Shadow Squadron, yes?"
"...yeeeess?"
"Then why is her data showing different readings than my own?"
Harpuia blinked...and took the two datapads into his hands….before he looked towards Foxfire, confused. "You DID update this morning, did you not?"
"Wh-" Foxfire jumped up and took her datapad from Harpuia, scanning over it...and pointing towards a particular part of the screen. "Yes I did! It even says so in this corner!" she replied, looking spooked.
Harpuia looked at the tech again….before turning to Shadow. "Lieutenant let me s-" he paused when Shadow was already handing Harpuia his datapad. When Harpuia compared his datapad to Shadows….he looked bewildered.
"...what th…." He looked back towards Phantom, a strange look on his face. "Who pointed this out?"
"Leviathan did." Phantom replied, putting his hands behind his back. "She claims that Lueteniant Sandstorm's data wasn't respondting to th-"
"Commander Harpuia….Commander Phantom." Came Copy X's voice over the coms. "Please report to the main briefing room immediately."
"Right away, Master X," Both Harpuia and Phantom sounded off, before Harpuia looked over towards his brother. "We'll bring this to Master X's attention while we meet with him. Has Leviathan recovered from last night?"
Shadow paused and looked over his shoulder. "...What Commander Leviathan injured?" he asked. "Does she need medical assistance?"
"No, she spent the night being up Commander Fefnir for doing something dumb….again…." Foxfire muttered lightly, making Harpuia smirk. He looked over towards Shadow and smirked wider.
"Why, Lieutenant? Are you….concerned about Commander Leviathan's wellbeing?" Harpuia leaned against Shadow's desk, crossing his arms and raising an eyeridge.
Shadow paused and slooooowly looked up towards Harpuia, a wince on his face. This only made Harpuia smirk evilly.
"Is there….something you want to tell me, Lieutenant?" Harpuia teased.
"Something, perhaps, you can enlighten us with?" Phantom slowly leaned over on Shadow's other side, making the ninja Lieutenant clear his throat softly.
He….had….a BIG….mouth….
"...Commanders." ShadowMan cleared his own throat, motioning towards the hallway. "I'm sure Master X is expecting your presence soon."
There was a pause in the room...before Phantom glanced towards ShadowMan….and looked towards Foxfire. "Come with us." he said firmly.
Foxfire paused, before nodding in understanding, walking past ShadowMan and following Phantom out of Shadow's office.
"Let's go too, Shadow." Harpuia looked towards Shadow, a frown on his face. "Master X seemed urgent. This may require all of us."
Shadow nodded and stood from his chair, pressing a button on his console and grabbing his datapad. As they exited the office, Shadow grabbed ShadowMan by the scruff and dragged him out of his office.
"Wh- HEY!" Shadowman growled and got himself stable, crossing his arms at Shadow. "I'm perfectly capable of walking out myself!"
"No one is allowed in my office without me in there." Shadow said simply, locking the door behind him and frowning. "I don't need my office messed up."
Shadowman scowled at Shadow, before pushing past him and following the others as they headed for the briefing room to see what it was that Master X wanted.
Shadowman narrowed his optics very slightly….Shadow couldn't possibly be catching on to the bigger picture….could he?
As the group walked into the room, they were perplexed to find Copy X sitting on his throne….
….with Ciel in handcuffs sitting at his feet.
Foxfire winced sharply and put her hand over her mouth at the sight, stunned to see the rebel leader in the room.
WHAT THE HECK WAS CIEL DOING HERE?!
Foxfire caught the eyesight of Ciel and the two locked gazes for the longest time….practically everything disappeared….no one else existed…
It was just them…..
….once friends….
...now enemies…
Flashes of the past entered her mind….she saw two girls…..Ciel…...Raven…..both of them happy….both of them hopeful…
….and then…..flames…..
"...Lieutenant!"
Foxfire gasped and quickly stood up straight, ripping her gaze from Ciel and looking towards Copy X, who was pointing towards Ciel.
"Get our guest something to eat. I will be handling the rebels."
"...y-...yes…..Ma-...master X…." Foxfire managed to utter, her throat feeling dry and her entire body shaking. She turned for the door, stumbling slightly, a look of terror on her face.
Shadow's mouth went agape and he grabbed Foxfire's arm gently. "Fox…..Fox what is it?" he whispered, studying her features. She was….bloody terrified...just like when she had discovered Raven had been their enemy….or when she found out Master X was trying to locate the lights….
...It was like all of this was directly affecting her in some way….like she was connected to all of it…
Shadow paused when he locked eyes with Foxfire….her eyes were glazed….foggy even….
Before he could say anything else, The sounds of the computers warming up and calling could be heard. Shadow's attention went towards Copy X and the Guardians, and he slowly released Foxfire's arm, allowing her to quickly exit the room right as Leviathan, Fefnir and their Lieutenants came in.
As the Guardians and Lieutenants assembled, the screen came to life revealing an extremely pissed off looking Zero-
"GIVE HER BACK YOU NO GOOD SORRY EXCUSE OF A CLONE!" Raven's voice could be heard in the background, though Zero didn't move from his spot.
Copy X stood from his throne and smirked slightly. "Oh, Zero….you've finally answered." He slowly made his way to the computer screen and placed his hands behind his back, a smirk on his face, yet a dangerous look in his eyes.
"I have a proposition for you." Copy X hummed pleasantly.
"AND YOU CALL THE REBELS THE MAVERICKS YOU COWARD, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU-"
Raven's rant could be heard in the background while Zero narrowed his eyes at Copy X and scowled. "Do you honestly believe I would just hand over Raven to in a hostage agreement?" He growled lowly. "This isn't like Phantom's little lap cat that I don't care for; you are literally asking me to trade one friend for another."
There was a moment of silence on the other end…..well….aside from Raven's yelling and cursing….MAN she had a potty mouth….
Copy X chuckled lowly and waved a hand in the air. "Oh Zero….you misunderstand me." He purred. "I don't intend to give you Ciel back at ALL."
"What-"
"WHAT?!"
At the statement, Raven SHOVED Zero out of the screen frame and shook her fist at the screen. "YOU SLAGGING SON OF A GLITCH! YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF CIEL BEFORE I COME OVER THERE AND RIP OFF YOUR CLONED HEAD YOU ONE BALLED BAS-MPPHH!"
Raven was GRABBED by Chateau and Jaken, and was dragged off screen, still snarling and yelling her head off. After a moment, Zero came back onto the screen, his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched.
"And what exactly is your 'proposition', then?" Zero growled. "If you have no intention of giving Ciel back-"
"I'm going to be blunt with you, Zero. The only reason I have not completely annihilated you Maverick rebels yet is simply because you housed Ciel. I am charged to protect humanity after all."
Copy X put up his hand, showing all five of his fingers. "But now that I hold her, nothing is keeping me from tearing apart that base piece by piece and shooting everything in sight until I get the holder of the skyfire."
Zero clenched his teeth and Copy X smirked. "You have five hours to completely surrender to me….Before I send my entire army to wipe you out."
The screen went black.