Chapter 4
Chaos. That's the only word that could explain Hunter Headquarters. The massive outbreaks in maverick population was completely unprecedented, the casualties mounting into the dozens in the past few days. Strangely enough, the mavericks were all vague targets, no connection at all with each other, yet to well timed to be coincidence. Every three hours, another maverick attack would break out, usually a civilian or animal-type reploid, and the hunters would mobilize. By the time the problem was silenced, another breakout would ensue nearly across town, forcing the hunters to spread themselves thin. These attacks were too well-timed to be an accident, which made General Haze's hypothesis that much more believable.
But, one detail had not reoccurred in any of the recent attacks: There was no sign of an interfering party, like the one involved in the enforcer case. Another strange thing was the complete lack of any military grade reploids becoming maverick, only helpless civilians.
Dark threw down his datapad with an exasperated growl. All this information pointed to obvious outside influence, not the random jumping of the virus, but not a single clue had been revealed as to who the perpetrator was. Even though the creator/spreader was bothering him greatly, it didn't bother him as much as the complete disappearance of the reploid responsible for taking down the maverick enforcer. A thorough check of all high-grade hunters was commissioned but none of the hunters had the skills necessary or knowledge required to completely immobilize a volatile anti-riot enforcer.
"Damn it." Dark stood up and walked towards the entrance to his tent. Peeling back the fabric and roughly moving it too the side, he made his way towards their impromptu command post. Three female data-reploids frantically relayed hasty messages to waiting hunter squads, apparently another outbreak was in progress. Dark glanced at the screen to see that exactly three hours had gone by since the last attack.
"Where is the attack coming from this time?"
The yellow data-reploid hastily replied, "It's coming from west Shinjoku, the industrial section. Apparently a small, D-class 38 model got it's hands on a small amount of armaments from the security station within the complex. No casualties as of yet, sir." Turning back to the situation at hand, she began relaying orders and information with the same fervor as before.
Several command posts, much like this one were placed at various points throughout the region. Small, but powerful servers relayed information instantaneously between the separate outposts. Even so, the information that was needed never passed through those screens.
Reaching to his helmet, Dark hit his communicator, "Lina, I need you to give me any new information you have on Private 13 and Lieutenant Fore."
"Unfortunately, sir, nothing as of yet has been revealed. The virus itself seems to have left no trace within 13 or Lieutenant Fore, whatsoever."
"More no news, huh? If this case doesn't start showing some results soon..."
"I'll inform the autopsy specialist to broaden their inquiry, then."
"Thanks, and find their records, all of them, and send them to me, as well as any and all mavericks within the past twenty years."
"Yes sir. How are things in the field?"
"Another attack, this one's at Shinjoku Industries."
"I see, but sir?"
"What is it, Lina?"
"Isn't that ksh doned? Why ksh anybody be thksh first plkshhhhh" The transmission broke abruptly.
"Lina? Lina, report." No answer returned his inquiry.
"Commander Dark, we've lost all communications!"
"What!? What's the cause?"
"We don't know, but whatever it is, it's completely blocking any transmissions in or out!"
Several screams erupted from the northern side of the base.
"Attack! We're under attack! Two mavericks to the northern side of the camp!"
"Get all non-military personnel out of here! All hunters are to follow me!"
"Understood, Sir!" The Reploid ran off towards the command center as fast as he could run.
As Dark made his way to the battleground, three hunters beckoned to him.
"What's the enemy force?"
"Only two sir. We should be able to take them easily now that we have time to respond. They got Aiko, Foray and Rept in the surprise attack. Orders, sir?"
"Take what's left of unit three around back towards the command post, to protect it and recuperate. Have Units one and thirteen provide heavy fire and support," He nodded towards the other two. "You come with me. We'll hit them from the sides, understood?"
The two he was referring to gave a curt no and drew their weapons. The first was a light orange and black reploid with a slim build named Tornel. It wielded two beam knives tucked behind his waist. He wore almost no armor, only sporting a few pieces on his legs and left arm. An orange scarf covered his face, except for his crystal blue eyes. The other was heavier built, a dark purple and silver powerhouse that wielded two heavy plasma cannons as though they weighed nothing. His helmet was a box shape with a small antenna protruding from his right temple. His name was Raiden. The tactic was simple: while the two heavy arms units gave heavy support and cover fire, Dark and Tornel would weave their way up the right flank and wait for Raiden to draw attention to himself with superheated plasma barrages. Dark and Tornel would then either apprehend or dispatch the mavericks from behind, depending on the situation. Such a dangerous tactic often involved friendly fire, but this group had performed this tactic so often and so well that casualties overall had been only two, and both were from enemy fire.
On Dark's signal missile and rpg's crashed into the sandy hills beyond, throwing up flames and dust in such mass quantities that any visual contact beyond was impossible. Dark signaled to the other two and ran off to the right, Tornel on his heels. Raiden sprinted off to the left, surprisingly agile for his load and bulky frame. After a fewmoments of ducking and weaving behind anything that could be used as cover, Dark and Tornel reached their destination. All that was left was to wait for the barrage from Raiden. After several deafening moments, green flashes could be plainly seen even through the dense smoke and dust.
"Move!" Dark and Tornel charged forward towards the smoke searching for any sign of resistance. Placing sonic emitter visors over there eyes they scanned the landscape. The pulses from the visors were porwerful enough to detect anything solid, even in this condition. They could clearly see Raiden several dozen yards away, but no sign at all of the enemy.
Where ARE you? Dark scanned further to the right two make sure that the mavericks didn't decide to turn tail and run. Seeing no one, Dark assumed that the earlier barrage had eradicated the mavericks. He was about to call off the barrage when he realized that communications were down. Cursing under his breath, he began to run back to the outpost. Suddenly all fire ceased from the support groups. Dark sighed, well, I'll have to reprimand them for disobeying orders, but I'll go easy on them, since they just saved our budget.
After rounding a dune, he stopped in his tracks. What the hell...
Before him were the remains of the entire fourth and thirteenth units. Every one of them was either torn to shreds or mauled beyond recognition. Internal fluids ran freely from their lifeless bodies, even the dry ground being unable to drink all of it.
An outraged roar emanated from their right side. Both Tornel and Dark turned sharply to glimpse an enraged Raiden rushing towards the outpost. Tornel, seeing his companion, charged as well, running parallel to Raiden, easily overtaking his friend, but rather than stopping him, he past him completely. Dark was utterly in disbelief. Those idiots! Dark began to run as well, but kept scanning the surroundings as he went. He had a bad feeling about this.
"That was refreshing wasn't it?"
"..."
"I agree. This was almost pathetically easy. Didn't put up much of a fight, did they?."
Two reploids stood atop the ruined outpost, the servers completely blown out; nothing more than a smoking heap. The first one was a green reploid with lighter green armor. His helmet was tapered back to a point a foot beyond his head, and two small turbines were imbedded in both of his temples. His crystal was black and his face had a maniacal look, tears of blood flowing freely from his amber eyes. His back sported a third turbine and dual scabbards that faced toward both of his shoulders. His boots were bladed on the bottom and one of his wickedly serrated katanas was embedded in the body of a female yellow data-reploid, the other was being wiped off on the body of another dead reploid.
His companion was colossal. A sixteen-foot red scorpion with blade-tipped legs sat there making a meal of one of the fallen hunters. It's tail was in the shape of a stinger, but with fourteen rotating sections, each serrated. It's semi-transparent 'flesh' rippled with activity as it's internal organs absorbed the fallen hunters. It's four pincers worked with sickening efficiency and speed as it dismembered several reploids at a time.
"Once you're finished there, let's go see if any of the others are still playing, I'm bored."
"Monsters!! If you want to play than we'll have to suffice. Though you won't be alive for much longer to play with us!"
"Oh," The green reploid turned to his partner. "Looks like you missed a few mice, Scorpio."
"Chicashic"
"Well, if they managed to survive, then they can't be as pathetic as the trash we disposed of."
Raiden and Tornel hadn't slowed down and bared down upon the mavericks. Raiden reversed his cannons so that the flared out end could be used as a hammer. Placing the two cannons together, they fused into one giant weapon. Tornel whipped out his beam knives, holding them in reverse. He dashed to the leftattempting to flank the green maverick. Raiden showed no such strategy as he just charged his towering opponent, gathering as much inertia as he could as he brought the hammer down upon the monstrosity. Scorpio merely blocked the hammer with one pair of claws as it cast away the remains of a tan reploid for favor of greater prey. Raiden pulled back the hammer and rotated it end over end to bring the dual plasma cannon to bare. A harsh green light began to collect in both barrels as the plasma began to superheat. Scorpio began to cautiously back away while lowering his tail behind him.
"This is for all my friends you've killed you damned maverick!" Florescent green liquid rocketed out of the barrels, connecting with the maverick's upraised pincers. Even though the vast majority of plasma collided harmlessly against the giant pincers, a small amount splattered onto it's face. Crying out in pain the beast began to retreat awkwardly, stumbling around in it's pain. Not allowing the maverick time to recover, Raiden once more reversed his cannon to it's hammer form, charging forward with the hammer's head nearly dragging along the ground. Grabbing a small lever, he activated a small booster in the opposite end of the hammers head, bringing tremendous force behind his upward swing. The head connected with a solid crack as the monstrosity was sent flying head over tail, landing with a thud several yards away, throwing dust everywhere.
Panting, Raiden jogged over to the squirming giant. But, at his approach, Scorpio's tail embedded itself into the sand, it's segments rotating madly. Before Raiden could react the beast had retreated underground, a line of internal fluid following the path down. Cursing at his ineptitude to finish it on the first blow, he whirled around searching for any sign of it's return. The sounds below him began to quiet and eventually die out completely. The maverick was seriously wounded and wouldn't be able to fight until vital repairs were made. Turning around to see how Tornel was fairing in his fight, he began to walk back to the wrecked command post.
"Are you here for revenge? Against me for taking the trash out?"
"No, only to fulfill the mission that they failed to carry out."
The maverick grinned. "Oh, is that what they taught you in hunter school? That's pathetic! I can see your anger in your eyes, it's delicious!" Picking up a female corpse by her hair, he brought it to his face. "Look, she's crying...because you don't feel her pain and refuse to avenge her. But, I felt every delicious moment of terror and pain that she experienced." He ran his tongue over her throat, lapping up the blood that still ran down her lifeless body.
"That's enough! I'll be dead before you desecrate another body!" Tornel jumped forward towards the maverick's right side.
"Here, she wants to see you." The maverick tossed the corpse at Tornel, colliding with him in midair. Instinctively, he reached out and took hold of her, landing on the ledge of the command post. "See? You do care about her. So why don't you show me your hate and anger? It makes the kill so much more fulfilling than just fear!"
"You will pay for this. She didn't deserve this." He ran his hand down her face, closing her eyes. He lay her down on the broken monitoring station. He turned towards his enemy. "You could have struck me down."
"Where's the fun in that? But, your not angry enough yet, looks like I'll have to change that. For the sake of entertainment, mind you." He retrieved his blade from one of the corpses, bringing both of them to bear. "The only question is which way will work the fastest?"
"You're sick!"
The maverick gave a broad smile, fresh tears of blood falling from his eyes. "Why thank you! For such a compliment, I might as well as reward you. My name is Sagittarius, the red-eyed beast. The pleasure is all mine." He bowed deeply, his wicked smile broadening even more.
Tornel leapt forward, not allowing his opponent to raise his head, bringing down both beam knives down upon Sagittarius' head. He was abruptly halted by the pair of katanas crossed over his target's head.
"Where are your manners? It's not polite to strike while your opponent is addressing you." He raised his head a maniacal look spread across his face. "Looks like your anger is taking over. So now we can play!"
The turbine on his back flared to life, propelling the maverick into the air. Extending one blade before him and holding the other behind him in reverse, he dove with abandon. Tornel decided to meet the charge with one of his own. Activating the boosters in his feet, he rocketed towards Sagittarius, knives held out ahead in a cross shape. An instant before impact, tornel veered to his left flipping his daggers toward his opponent. Both imbedded themselves within the shoulder and side of Sagittarius. At the same time, the maverick flashed both of his blades in a large arc, bringing one high and the other low. One nicked his shoulder while the other cut deep into his leg. The propulsion in one booster was cut off abruptly, causing Tornel to plummet wildly to the ground. Before crashing however, he flared his booster, flipping him upright as he landed hard, almost tearing what little of his leg was left, off. Wincing at the pain, he forced himself to stand. Directly ahead, Sagittarius landed softly, fluids flowing down his right side.
"This is more like it. Only when one is faced with death does one feel truly alive! Only when he who brings death is faced with death does he feel true joy! Now, come! Let the slaughter begin!"
"Your twisted love pain will be your undoing." Tornel brought a small handheld switch forward and pressed the button. The two beam knives embedded in Sagittarius' back revealed fourteen small openings, from which jetted out small barbs. All twenty-eight of the projectiles ripped through the maverick's body, embedding themselves in the ground before him. Attached to each of the barbs was a thin cord. Several small motors reeled the cords back in, forcing the maverick to stumble forward and eventually flatten him against the ground. Sagittarius coughed up internal fluids as he tried to force himself back up.
"The harder you struggle the more damage you inflict upon yourself. So don't try anything."
Sagittarius began to laugh uncontrollably. "SO GOOD! THE PAIN! YOU DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING!" He lay his head on the ground. "I hope you enjoy pain as much as I do." He used both of his swords to cut through the cords, and began to rise.
"Stay down." Pressing the second switch caused the beams to reactivate, stronger than before as they punctured him completely. Sagittarius fell to his knees.
"You...will not...beat me...at my game." He rose once more, and ripped out the knives, further increasing the damage that he sustained. Fluids freely poured from the gaping holes in his chest, yet he didn't fall. He brought his katanas forward, crossing them. "There's something special about these blades. Normally they rip instead of cut, to inflict the most pain possible. But the real reason that the blades are serrated is this." Green tendrils of light began to spread from the serrated edge, forming a multi-toothed saw, each tooth measuring several inches long. "You won't be cut by this blade, you'll be torn to pieces."
Tornel couldn't move due to his leg's injury, and both of his knives lay meters away. He brought his right arm forward and opened a small compartment. Three small needles extended forward. Thousands of nanites inhabited each needle. All it took was one to kill a reploid. Unfortunately, Tornel's arm was slightly warped from the battle, and he lacked the accuracy necessary to launch the senbon. His only choice was to wait until the maverick was at point-blank range. He was fully aware that such a decision was suicide, but he didn't care; this monster had to be stopped at all costs. He focused on his target, waiting for him to close in.
Then he was gone. One second he was there the next he was gone. As he began to turn he heard a voice behind him.
"Game over."
His back exploded in pain as the swords tore through his flesh and organs. He fell forward, leaving much of his workings impaled upon the swords. His vision faded as the ground approached.
He was dead before he hit the ground.
"Nice game, buddy. That was the most fun I've had in a while." A crash came from behind him. "So, your finished as well?"
Scorpio limped forward, the body of Raiden hanging limply from it's stinger.
Sagittarius turned around. "Well, looks like he got you good."
Scorpio hissed and through the body away.
"Not in the mood, huh? Well, finish up quickly so we can get out of here."
"You're not going anywhere, bastards!" Dark stood there, eyes hardened, but betraying no emotion. His rapier was pointed at Sagittarius and a handgun pointed at the other.
"I'd love to play, but our time frame is up. If we don't hurry back, then he'll be very angry."
"Don't move!" He began to charge his handgun and his rapier began to glow blue..
"Too late." Scorpio teleported away in a white flash and the light began to envelope Sagittarius. "Bye bye!" and then he was gone.
Dark lowered his weapons and collapsed to the ground. One of the unbroken monitors flared back to life. Urgent pleas cascaded through the speakers, but dark didn't answer. He couldn't. How could he say that he was the only one left alive?
This was the second time.