Chapter 6: No Time For Fear!

I woke up sweating as my eyes snapped open and I glanced all ways, looking for any signs of danger. Once I realized that there was, indeed none, I turned my gaze to the only other recipient in the room. It was a sleeping Zero. I blinked as I glanced out the windows. It was dead black out there. Had... had Zero been waiting for... me? I smiled softly at thought as I pushed the capsule's lid up all the way. Zero, what a guy you are.

My boots clanked, but I knew Zero wouldn't wake up. Do you know how many times the emergency alarm blared, and Zero stayed fast asleep? Do you know how many times I had to kick him from his capsule? A ton of times. He was one, rock-hard sleeper, I tell you. Not even Axl could wake him up during the rebellion of Giga City, when he'd been fast asleep at the anti-resistance base.

Axl... My heart clenched again. Axl. I really missed my big brother. He was always making me laugh (something Zero does when he screws up and gets frustrated) and well... he was the first person that I can remember that I trusted. I stared out the window. Where are you... brother?

"Arain, Zero, we need you in the Command Room! All commanders and co-commanders, please have you units stand by and wait for your call! This is a code red! We've got Mavericks on the rise!" Alia called over the intercom, snapping me from my thoughts. I blinked in surprise. Mavericks had been on the low since I'd come back, probably still in shock since I'd just destroyed one of their main bases, murdered almost all their soldiers there, and had beaten Vile, the second worst Maverick out there (sort of; more like we had a stand off and I retreated hastily). I placed a hand on Zero's shoulder, telling him to get up. After getting no response, I flipped him off his chair before grabbing my saber (the only hand-held weapon on me when Hane had duped me) and racing out the hallway.

There, I met every unit commander and co-commander, including Six. I had skillfully avoided the A-ranked test for the past week-especially since I was weak from nightmares. I had used that as a sort of excuse as to not take the exams, but with how things were going, I was probably to be boosted anyways. Six and Hane joined up besides me, Six not even glancing at me as Hane asked, "What's happening?"

"Mavericks," I answered.

She blinked for a second, before nodding and turning frontward. "I guess it makes sense," she stated. "They're probably ready for us now, though."

I nodded and kept in stride. I'm not sure how they regrouped so fast... I thought. They should still be outta' commission. But the fact that there rising meant that they were expecting two things: that I'd either die at the base, taking a few Mavs with me, or that I'd actually escape (with or without my life). But... how? How did they know? Why have Zero trapped in a maze of an asylum? Did they... I felt my heart clench. Did they know that HQ would send me to retrieve Zero? That thought alone scared me. I didn't want to face the music: that I'd fallen right into the Maverick's trap. But I also had to admit this: however long they'd been doing this, they made sure everything was pieced together perfectly. They were ready.

Then so were we.

I made it to the Command Room before the others, surprising myself and Hane seeing as I hadn't moved any faster. To my understanding anyways. I lined up and saluted Signas as Zero jogged in, giving me a half-hearted glare, before saluting the Commander as well. After a few minutes everyone had lined up (unless they were still in the Med. Bay) and he told us "At ease, men." A map on the large screen behind Signas lit up and showed several territories, only eight of which had glowing yellow dots. "Five minutes ago our Navigators detected unusual activity from nineteen separate locations, of which consisted of old bases to past Mavericks, and a few of which are new. After taking dedicated time to finding which of these bases were truly important, we have been able to pinpoint which of the ones have major Mavericks running them."

Signas pointed to the nearest base, the jungle one. "From what we can understand of our energy readings-if they are true and the Mavericks aren't messing with them-then this is the base for Jungle Monkey, a New Gen who escaped shutdown from the Government after the Sigma Wars had been dubbed over. Apparently he's sided with Sigma," he reported. Whispers and hushed shrieks filled the room as most freaked out about the rumors being confirmed.

Sigma was back.

"We've already identified all the Mavericks of which need immediate conflict with and those of which the leftover units can handle. Alia, Layer, and Pallette have broken up the Units into the best groupings to find and trash the Mavericks immediately. But with the eight major Mavericks, we have a issue, as with the last A/S ranked mission." Oh god no. "These places are like mazes and have no pattern to their madness that we can find. So we'll have to deal with these hideouts one at a time using our only operative who will be able to remember the map layout and find their way. A?" Damn sneaky Mavericks... I thought as I walked up to join Signas, staring out stoically at the crowd.

I got like this sometimes-where I'll just go completely blank and stare out impassively (mainly when I'm terrified so Zero will recognize this expression). I stared out at the crowd as many (including Six) groaned in annoyance. Others (like the Rookies and my friends; Hane and Rock) stared at me with worried expressions. Zero gave me a look, trying to tell me I didn't have to do this was my guess. But I did have to. Who else was going to stop Sigma? "Attention Hunters, Rookies, and Navigators," I called, my voice monotone. I have to do this! I have no choice but to! "This will be our last fight with Sigma, do you hear me?! We will take down this lunatic and we will give the world peace! Commander X and Maverick Hunter Axl would want us to finish this!" I felt tears prick my eyes but I made no move to wipe them as I held them in. "We are going to defeat Sigma! We re going to defeat the Mavericks! WE WILL WIN THIS WAR!" I called. Everyone broke into cheers as I relaxed slightly, letting my shoulders slump.

"Alia?" I asked, turning to my Navigator. She nodded and sent me a small, reassuring smile, just as she had a week ago. "Right! Based on our data and information, we've deduced that the first Maverick to take on should be the New Gen Maverick Copy Kat. These Mavericks don't follow the usual protocol of element weapons, but Copy Kat's position is at our weaponry facility. We're already low on supplies, so I'm guessing they cut off our usual supplement. I'm sending in Team A of the Zeroth Squad and four members of the stealth division consisting of co-commander Rock and S-ranked hunters Delta, Shadow, and Bolt. We'll set off at 13 hundred tomorrow, so be prepared Hunters. Of those I called, debriefing will be an hour before you leave. Dismissed, Hunters!"

Everyone saluted before filing out back to bed. I slumped as I sat on the stairs to the ground floor, exhaustion sweeping over me. "You did a great job, A," Signas said, staring straight ahead. I glanced at him. "Is it the right choice? Going into the Mavericks' hands and following them into war? Do we really want to do this? Can we manage another war with as few casualties as last time? I just..." I stared forward with sad eyes. "Are we doing the right thing?" I whispered. Signas was quiet.

"We, the Maverick Hunters, are here for the safety of the citizens," he stated. "Casualties happen, especially in war. The only way to prevent too many casualties is to finish the war as soon as we can. To do that, we need you, A. You can't do what X did in the seventh war." I winced. "You have to step up and take this stand! We need you A. Without you, we might as well hand ourselves over," he stated as he climbed down the stairs and walked away. I sighed heavily as I stared at my hands. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly as I held myself and leaned against the stair railing wall. Teas began running down my face.

"Why?" I asked quietly, my voice choked. The whole area was clear; I was the only one in here. "WHY!?" I heard the clanking of boots as someone wrapped their arms around my shoulders. I glanced up, opening my eyes. I blinked as I thought I saw Axl, only to blink again and find Zero's worried face. I shut my eyes as I cried. "Why did you guys have to be overwhelmed!?" I sobbed. "Why did you have to go!? If you were all here then-then-then I-we... I missed you so much! How can you take the pressure of being a lifeline?! I can't do this. I'm not anything special! I'm just a-a-a-"

"Brave, selfless Hunter who would do anything for her friends," Zero continued. "You have grown up better than what X could have hoped, A. Especially without... without us." He grimaced. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, surprising me. "We should have been there for you. If we were, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe everything would be peaceful. Maybe the Hunters would of been disbanded. But that didn't happen." Confidence and determination entered his voice. "We did disappear and you did grow up without us. Now here's your chance: prove to us that you never needed us! You can-"

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" I screamed. He blinked. "YOU'RE ALL EXPECTING SO MUCH FROM ME! I CAN'T DO THIS! I DIDN'T BEAT VILE! I JUST RAN LIKE THE COWARD I AM! I CAN'T DEFEAT MAVERICKS! I CAN'T LEAVE! EVERYONE HERE IS GOING TO GET KILLED-" I stopped as Zero stood up, and I realized what I said. My eyes widen in shock. "Z-Zero, I-I am so sorry! I-I didn't mean-" He walked out the front door, not looking back at me. I held myself again and put my head in my curled up legs. "I can't do this," I whispered again.

"But the only difference is that I have to."

That turned out... weird. I wasn't too sure what was going to happen. But anyone would crack under pressure like this. I'm thinking of making a comic version of this. Agree? Disagree? Finish this then the comic? Did you like this chapter? I know it's small, and I'm sorry. But the action starts next chapter! How cool, right?! Copy Kat (how original, huh?) in the weaponry base of the Hunters. How did she get in? We'll find out!

And if anyone noticed, did you see what I did with the stealth unit members? Anyone? If you noticed one of the names, say it via comments! Chapter... um... 7! Yeah, 7! I'll be typing 7 now guys, so don't worry! Thanks for reading!