The Mission 4 : The Meeting
The blue-light appear into thin air, placing the hunters where the missions belong. The aerial city .sky lagoons According to the summary of the mission, the mavericks are not only captive humans but also the innocent reploids. The most scary in this mission and must be finished fast, is that that innocent reploids are also near the mavericks, change of there are infected are also large. Not known too if the mavericks itself are the new generation or the old generation. Up until now, there are no demands of exchange in releasing their victim with anything.
The hunters are already making a plan, with X trying to pursed the mavericks Into releasing all of the victim, Zero ready to terminated all of them quickly if the pursed not working, and Axl who'd blend in, to releasing all the victim when the pursed is not working.
The victims and the captivators are in the upper level of the lagoon tower. X who'd go up directly, while Zero and Axl would use an emergency stairs to go to the upper level. Axl will find one of the captivator to steal and used their DNA to blend in. And so, the mission has begun.
One of the captivator, with the green helmet and armor, holding a gun is currently seeing into one of the screen panel surveillances camera that watching every movement in every side of the tower and saw X whom had currently entered the elevator.
"Sir, seem we'd a company, and that none other than the maverick hunter X." The maverick given the salute and given a confirm to its higher position.
"I see, are there another beside the blue bomber?" The maverick, which looks like the mastermind, is wearing a black robe and hood in his head, hiding his feature, unrecognizable.
The green reploid turn his head to the screen and see nothing beside X. "No sir.."
"Keep watching, the other must be hiding somewhere. And let's we're welcoming him..As well.."
Meanwhile, the location of Zero and Axl, whose are currently defeat the one that had guard the emergency door without making it to explode and hacking into the surveillance camera that's keep watch on the emergency door area.
"Done, with this, they're never known what coming to them." Axl is descended from hovering around the surveillance camera. Having his cable had been unplug from the camera and now approaching Zero who is carrying the dead maverick in his shoulder.
"Do your job, Axl" Zero indicate through the dead maverick in his shoulder who hanging limply.
"I'm on it, Zero" Axl is starting to absorb its DNA. He is touching the maverick DNA Core to started the process.
After Axl extracted the DNA core, they started to hide the corpse and enter the emergency door. The view would be the unpleasant one, because the stair is really high and in circling motion to the big pillar in the center.
"Who's the one that had an idea to create a 50th floor tower with only one stair to the top?" Axl started to whine, when he saw what he must to deal with.
"Don't whine, Axl. There's a mission we must do" Said Zero, his processor trying to calculation the outcome for having through this obstacle if he and Axl must to assemble to X and finished the mission in time with the best result.
"Yeah right, I'm, envy you cause you can get to the top with you double jump skill" Axl glance at Zero .
"I'd take that as a comment to the one who had a hover, wings blade and better start to used it" Zero said with sarcasm in his tone. He is walking near the stair.
"Then, the one that be last on the top would be do anything to the winner, how about a deal?" Axl speak, daring Zero with his happy tone, while his two arms crossed behind the back of his helmet.
"Deal!, I'm going first!" Zero already using his special skill, the double jump and almost in 500 meters to the top
"Zero!, You're cheating!" And followed by Axl, who is releasing his wing blade behind him into flying mode, approaching Zero.
"There's no cheating, when we're racing against time, Axl!" Smirked Zero, while he's keep jumping and jumping through the top.
"Hey!, wait for meet!" and so two of them racing keep going to the top and up.
The sound of footsteps echo through the hall. The blue bomber had been walked mindless through the hall, his mind is racing and his emotion is absurd, he MUST calm himself, must not panic…Everything going to be alright. He must focus into the mission, hope no more of the bloodshed is spill, he's really scared; don't know what to do if those happen. He'd enough for it.
Seem, too much thinking in his mind, X 's not notice if he already make to the main gate and his helmet meet with the gate, creating a really loud 'Thud' voice. His head is spinning and really hurt due to his foolishness, he's moans while holding his head in a hurt manner. Maybe inside, the maverick cannot hold their laugh, seeing their mortal enemy in ridiculous state not in some kind serious business, to think that what so mighty maverick hunter they fear can be really careless.
"Open the gate, let's we're all welcoming him" A chuckles can be heard within the voice of shadowed Maverick.
"Yes, sire!" The maverick is push the button near the panel, allowed the system to open the gate in hissed sound, sliding slowly.
"Welcome to our humble headquarter, maverick hunter X" The shadowed one greet X.
"This is not your headquarter, maverick" X answered curtly, he id trying to identify the maverick who's greet him that wear a hood and black robe.
"Ah yes, unfortunately but only a temporary, anyway.." The maverick seem want to toy with X, by his voice and attitude.
"You know, why I'm here right?"
"Of Course..But with what to exchange them?" X had to bit his lip, for not notice sooner, that the mavericks would have their demand to release the captives.
"Who are you?" X asked, he need to buy more time before his two partners can came in time.
"No matter…Why not you see for yourself, for a while X" His right hand gesture to where the captives had been put. Surrounding by five mavericks, each hold a different weapon and keep watch, guarding on the captives. Another maverick had come in from the door behind them, and talking on one of them, seem exchange the shift. The other one then walking to the door behind them and gone. "Take a good look, the captives, we'd captured between the reploids and the humans"
X did take look, and what he's notice, that there's a big gap between the captive humans and reploids. The humans seem scared even both of the races becoming a captive and most of the reploid captive had they head in downward manner, not even look into the humans.
"Seem that you had notice something and why we'd start our game?" With a snap of his finger, suddenly the two mavericks had taken one of each captive randomly and roughly, before X can't even react. And put both of them in front of X, while holding a gun and hold into the captive heads.
"Which one would you choose to save, X ?" A smirk play in the shadowed maverick.
"That human? Or your friend, this innocent one? You choose one, you betray one." Both hand, gesture on the captive beside him, showing an option, which X must choose.
"Once you choose, we'd release the entire one you chose, and slaughter the other one. And remember you can only choose one." X can feel the maverick smirked in his face.
"What are you intend, by doing this?" X eyes darted from the victim to the maverick; his mind is calculation the outcome. Of course, he'd choose the humans, it's his priority. But he'd also want to save the reploids, he don't want anyone die.
"To gain something, you must sacrifice something, that's the laws of equivalent..In other word, you can't save everyone. You're not a hero without something to sacrifice with, you must choose.."
"And also, I'm not a patient person. If you can't choose, the both captives will die. Your time is short,X, I'm counting in 5 seconds." Flooding by doubt, he can't make up a mind; he's in panic state and he don't have much time left
"Zero, Axl where the hell are you in the time like this…"
Zero and Axl can't believe what had they just heard, they'd never thought, the maverick can this calculating and would do this kind harsh action. It's confusing them. But they'd wait until X can decide then they can take action and know what the mavericks are intended to do. Not much time left anyway…X…. You must think wise and fast or otherwise…
"…U…man" A voice snap X from his mind, it's the reploid that held in front of him who's speak.
"1" The shadowed maverick starting to count down.
"?" X is surprised, his eyes a little wider.
"2"
"Humans, just save them, we can protect ourselves…" The caption reploid in front of X is just smile.
"3"
"But.." X is still had his doubt.
"4"
"Beside, you're not alone…X…"The word, is bring X back to reality, he don't have time to think, all he can rely is his instinct now.
"5! Shoot them! Times up, X" With a snap of his finger, the two maverick starting to push their trigger gun, and X with fast as he can dash merciless into the human captive stand. All the captives whose not become a victim, closing their eyes afraid of the outcome..Time seem in slow motion….
A sound of shooting the energy bullets can be heard within the range, X get closer to the human victim and holding the human safe, while his right leg kick into now unmoving maverick, fall backward with the hole in the side his abdomen, then exploded. While the other had a hole in his head then exploded, creating a smoke to where the other victim is held. Shock by what just happen, the mastermind had moving into the safe range, waiting for the smoke to disappear. When it's happen, there is a shadow silhouette that standing up. Showing a two gun in both hand, when the smoke is gone, the figure is showing the one that just shoot two mavericks is actually the other victim, the reploid .
"You're slowpoke X!" the voice shout playfully, while his body transform in binding light into the black-red armor, auburn-spiked hair sticking in his back helmet and cross shape mark in his face.
"How?" X is sound surprise. Never though the caption would be Axl.
"How we'd talk about it later, there's mavericks we must terminate.." Axl pulled out his twin gun. One of the gun is locked into the shadowed maverick, with a smile attached in his feature.
"My..My, seem we'd another company…." The shadowed maverick seem not surprise of the unexpected occur.
"Yeah, too bad for you too, because it's only you alone now.." After Axl spoke, there are a lot of explosive sound that make X and the maverick look to the other captives held. Seeing a smoke that dissipate slowly, revealing a red armor maverick, with his saber in his right hand and a blond hair flowed freely in the back of his helmet.
"Who are you anyway?" X asked. Having release the human he just saved, back into the group.
"Seem I'm really forgotten to introduce myself, my bad…" The maverick is bowing, giving his greeting to the three hunters "Name Cedar, remember that." He removes his cape and robe, revealing a long violet hair, his black jacket and a facial marking in his face.
"You're the mastermind behind this, right?" X's lifting his buster to Cedar.
"That's correct, but also not correct, because I'm not the only one who making this brilliant plan." A smirk still attached into his feature
"You mean there's someone behind this. Beside you?" X eyes showing he's serious.
"Yes and no, because I can't give you anymore answer, and it's time for me to leave." With a flick in his finger, the floor starting to rumble and something had jumped in front of Cedar. A Mechaloid that look like a giant snake, hissing it's tongue and its red eyes focus into the hunters.
"And if want to know more, why don't you ask your prototype friend. And we shall meet again." With that Cedar is gone, teleport into unknown place. Replace by the snake mechaloid that keep hissing.
"Wait!" Before X can halt the runaway maverick, the mechaoloid had whipped his tail toward X, making him hit his back into the wall, crumbling it into pieces of rock
"X!" Both of Axl and Zero shouted in unison, trying to come closer to X but halted by him.
"Help the captives to the safe place first! I can handle it by myself! Now go!" X is jumped; ready his buster into full energy and start shooting into the snake mechaloid, which hit the head and hissing in pain.
"But…" Before Axl can speak more word, but stopped by the hand in his shoulder. Making him to look back and meet with Zero who meet with X eyes, giving him a approval.
"Alright X." With that Zero just walked away "Let's go Axl, he can handle it.." Zero's started to given instruction to the captive to evacuate quickly.
"Hey X! We'd back as soon as we can! Make sure you'd survive!" Axl shout, then both starting to lead the entire captive into the emergency door to get out from the tower. X given a nod.
"Maverick! Your opponent is me!" X shouts and started to shoot in random area to distract the mechaloid snake and seems to work out. The snake is walking toward X and prepare to beaten X into lump.
A smoke appears from the hole at upper tower, floating up into the sky, showing there's something going on inside the tower. A reploid with a red protector in his eyes and his blue-sky hair floating in the back of his helmet and a dark-blue armor, look like a mercenary was seen walking into the tower while whistling in happy tone and a smile appear in his feature.
"It's show time."
A panting of breath was heard inside the upper tower, smoke and debris are everywhere. The snake had damaged really badly, while X not showing any mayor injury, only out of breath and barely a scratch in his whole body. Unfortunately, before X even starts focusing his energy, the snake makes unexpectedly action. The snake is diving into the floor, showing no sign of coming back to attack X. And that what make X realize something.
"It's runaway!" X following the mechaloid by using the hole that's created. 'Hope its not targeting civilian' too bad for that, his thought was wrong.
"X! Do you hear me!" His communicator is buzzing, the Alia voice is sound in urgent.
"What's Alia?" X is inspecting. Checking the hole, which lead to.
"The Signal of that snake maverick is leading where Zero and Axl are!"
"I'm on way Alia. Make sure you'd already contacted them!" X is jumped into the hole. Sliding in.
"I'm still searching their signal wave, hope is not too late!" The communication is cut off.
"This way! And please be careful!" Axl is leading the captives to step down, using the stair, while he'd using his flight skill, flying behind the last captive. He 'd heard something from his communicator, but before his audio hears anything, there's a blast behind his back. Smokes appear and debris is falling over. Before he can looked behind and identified it, there is long slash made from a tail hit his abdomen. Making him flying over the other wall, creating a big crash.
"Axl!" Zero, shouting. He's in the bottom floor, watching the last captive down and run to the exit. Then he starting to jump pretty quickly, that's when his communicator active to late…."Zero! The maverick signal is near your area!"
"It's already in here!" He'd jump again; hope he can catch up with it.
Axl sight is blurry he can't see everything clear, and his function is hurt all over. He'd hit his back really hard, he'd tried to regain his sense and his audio is hearing something hissed near him.
When his vision is clear, he'd tried hard for not to scream. The head of the snake mechaloid is close with his face while the body is hanging in the center pillar. The snake eye met with his. He can feel the tongue licking his face. 'Yuck, I'm better clean myself after this.'
The snake mechaloid was opened his mouth, showing two long and sharp fangs, ready to bite Axl. Axl close is eyes again, tried to face the outcome that will happen. He can heard Zero shouting his name and another of sound slashing into something.
The second time he'd open his eyes, he was saw the same thing. But the snake mechaloid is just stand still while the mouth keep open. He felt someone pull his body, holding his hip in a strong arm, away from the snake. "You okay kid?" He's recognized the voice who'd holding him, was jump, going toward where Zero stand who had stop jumping, then he can see the snake is exploding and a shocked face in Zero feature, seem also recognized the mysterious reploid who'd just save him.
A sound of someone sliding from the hole that'd made by the snake is showing the maverick hunter X, whom now get out from the hole and landing near Zero with his back was shown.
"Zero, Axl are you alrig-" When X turn over, his sentence is stopped when he'd saw the third person really are, who's lowering and release Axl body from his arm to stand up, that also saw the face of the one who's save him.
"Dynamo!" Three of them shout in unison, one with anger, one with shock and the last in cheerful manner.
"Hey, long times no see kid" Dynamo's giving his salute to Axl and patted his head, while Axl'd also giving back with his cheerful smile.
"You know each other, Axl?" X's awake from his shock, asking Axl how he even know him.
"Of course, this is Dynamo. He's once work together with Red Alert!" Axl smile, happy to met with his old friend.
"Hello X, Zero. Long time no see to you too" Dynamo giving a playful smile into the two hunters but reply with killer aura emitting from them.
"You know each other too?" Axl surprised with the two hunters know Dynamo.
"Yes… But that was unpleasant meeting for us" Zero glare at Dynamo, who's taken a step back unconsciously.
"Why are you here anyway?" X asked. Never trust Dynamo really well. If he's here that mean there's always a trouble.
"Hey, that's a negative thinking and beside I'm here because of a job a mercenary.." Dynamo's tried to giving an explanation. Raise his both hand, don't want to making trouble with the two hunters "To saving a specific mother and a child that hold captive by the mavericks in Lagoon tower, by their beloved father request" He's then refer to the man who is just running into the mother and child captive. Hold them, hugging them really tight. Never want to lost them again anymore.
"But seem you'd saved them all anyway…See ya, later Axl." Dynamo is smile, giving a wink. With that he leap toward the one which giving him a job. Gone within the sight.
"Let's go. There is more report to make." A groan can be heard in Zero voice, after X saying that. A blue light are covering the three hunters, return to the headquarter. Witnessed by Dynamo who is still smiling. 'We'd meet again anyway.'
There's actually a reason why we're put Dynamo in it. To think he's a mercenary and the Red Alert were actually a gathering of more mercenary into one group or community with same ideal. And maybe they 'Once' work together. He would play as a great role in later chapter. The Cedar name, maybe if you'd play X7 you will recognize this character. I'm just using him, for a while. I'm really too lazy to create the Original character and seem don't fit within this story, so I'm using the character from X1-X8 to play with and maybe some of MMXCM.
And about this captive idea, it can be really tricky and hard to predict what its should be to do to write. If you're a reploid and had a law that infused within you, then you'd choose human instead reploid. If you X there's would be always a contradiction. It's natural if you choose human to be your priority. You'd sacrifice your own kind (the Reploid) to save human. Doesn't its mean that you would betray your own kind. The reploid can think too and have emotion. X doubt can be seeing in all MMX game. And the conclusion is always same. He is not Alone to face it that what make him always strong to face it.
The next chapter would be really long to make. Since I'm must to create from the scrap in my Data… Hope I can upload fast. And thank you for reading this. And see you next chapter \(^0^)/
Disclaimer: We don't have anything in Megaman X it's belong to CAPCOM.