The trip through the desert was awkward at best. Harpuia couldn't doubt that, instead trying to keep his eyes forward on the sea of sand dunes rolling by, and listening to the steadily increasing silence stretch further. He slowly glanced to the seat a few feet from his own, and couldn't help but notice the uncomfortable frown on X's face. The sand rover was built for combat and speed, not for comfort, after all. An all too clear concept apparent by the grip of the smaller Reploid's hands on the armrests. Fefnir had been forced to stand, the scarlet Reploid holding onto a handle above his head, shifting his weight with the bumps and jostles the monster of a vehicle sent at them. It wasn't exactly slow going, X having commanded all speed to fetch the wayward Gamma, and Harpuia wasn't going to disobey.

While Phantom had managed to settle some of X's fury, he had not been able to change his mind on waiting for her to return. Instead, Neo Arcadia's pragmatic leader had split them up, leaving the Water and Shadow General in place to keep curious eyes away, while Fire and Air accompanied him. It wouldn't be too much longer before they reached their destination now, and he wasn't quite sure what would happen when they got there. He wasn't sure he wanted to, but if there was trouble... this would be their first real combat experience. His fingers twitched on the wheel at the very thought, unsure if he was anxious or excited at the prospect before them. He tried not to let it show, knowing very well how strict X's code of ethic was; avoid any and all trouble, resolve what they can by speech or flight. Battle was only necessary in the direst of cases.

The Sage was sure his master prayed for no such urgency to befall them.

=xXx=

Everything was dark, and so very, very cold. These were the first thoughts her foggy head registered, her internal workings rebooting back to functionality with soft beeps. Numbers and energy readings scrolled over her vision, percentages she didn't have time to calculate. No damage? Asides from the headache and what she hoped wasn't a dent to her helmet, she appeared to be unharmed. Excellent. When the reports finally faded, Gamma was able to lift her head and survey her surroundings, groaning softly as her limbs creaked with protest. She was hit a lot harder than she thought.

There wasn't much light to see by, but with a few adjustments to her vision, she was able to make out detail. The walls were once dark colored and perhaps polished titanium, but with the amount of age these had seen, they were now dented, and covered in rust, and what she assumed was bare wiring here and there. Something about the place seemed uncomfortably familiar, and for a moment Gamma was unable to banish less pleasant memories from her head.

Red lights flickering, the hum of plasma-energy based shields keeping her from escaping. The smell of oil, spreading further across the floor from a crumpled figure-

Gamma's mind jerked back to the present, shakily moving her arms to coil about her. It was in the past, it wasn't happening again.

But if that was true, what was that ominous stain marring the floor so close to her?

It couldn't be the same place, she assured herself. The base had been destroyed; she saw it with her own eyes. There was no plasma shield here either, only bars. She could break through them. Surely they weren't made of anything that tough. She was slowly getting to her feet, but her limbs protested, and the hydraulic cords in her knees quivered. Wobbling along, she managed to lurch towards the bars, but the moment her fingers clamped down on them, her triumphant smile vanished, noticing a shadow that detached itself from the wall. The voice that came from that shadow made would have stopped her heart, if she were human.

"100 years later, and you're still as easy to trap as a mouse."

A reploid stood before her, but unlike her and the only other Reploids she knew of, his armor was not the trim, upgraded 'new age' style. He was from another age, though he did not seem decrepit or broken down. The armor itself was a mix of hues ranging from black, gold and dominantly violet. His helm showed no human 'face', but instead a knight-styled helm, with only a slit where the Reploid's visual units saw from. Most threateningly, mounted on his shoulder was an oversized canon, leaving him formidably protected. His cackle made her entire body shudder. "You really must have not learned anything, brainiac. Not only do you show up here alive, you scamper straight into my hands. Well," she was sure if he was able, a smile would spread onto his features. "Man, you really are a screw up, Gamma. Do you like what we've done with the place?"

"Vile..." Her voice struggled to form the name, grappling with the déjà vu that was beginning to overwhelm her. How was this possible? How was he alive? Surely the Maverick Wars would have wiped this rotten bastard off the face of the planet. X wouldn't have let a monster like him live... would he? And if he was alive...who else was? Frantic, Gamma tried to scan her surroundings, but to her displeasure, something was jamming her signal. Nothing could be sent out, nothing could check in.

She was alone, utterly and completely. And she wasn't exactly sure if this monster was the only one she had to worry about.

=xXx=

"This is where her trail stops, Master." Fefnir's grunt interrupted X's dreadful imagination. They had easily navigated through the broken city, following the energy readings X's stolen bike had left behind, and now found that very same bike parked on the very edge of the one place X did NOT want to be. Like Gamma, they had been unable to pick up on any electronic signals in the area, leaving them wondering if this place was abandoned after all. X had insisted this was not the case, but even their absolute trust in their creator wavered just the slightest. For now, however, they all just stared down at the ruins below, relying only on their normal senses to understand the situation. Normally, X would never had ventured out this blind, but he had little choice if he was going to bring his fifth General back in one piece. So here they were, just three Reploids; Harpuia ever watchful, Fefnir eager to crush something, and X having left behind the old, faded robe that usually covered his frame.

The absence of this one key trait left behind the peaceful, human-like air X usually bore, instead showing what he truly was. He did not require a weapon, after all, not bothering with the notion as he suddenly stepped to the crater, making his way down at a light sprint. Fefnir sputtered.

"O-oi! Master! Wait a sec!" He flung himself down after him, hefting his huge arm canons the entire way down and practically stomping as he jogged. Not to be left behind, Harpuia sighed, and trailed along at their backs a bit more cautiously.

X ignored them both, and Fefnir's annoyed huffing and puffing, his mind moving even faster than his feet. Why would Gamma leave the bike behind, out in the open? There was no doubt she was here, but where was she? Had she not seen they were here? Where WAS she? It set his processors buzzing, and he only ran faster, one single prayer repeating over and over silently to himself. If it was ignored, he couldn't fathom what he would do. Frantic now, he ran all that much faster, not even hearing Harpuia's shout.

Please, just be safe…