Author's Note: So I have decided to expand "Variable X" into a full adaptation. This chapter will focus primarily on the antagonists, and elaborate a little bit more on the "hostage" situation I mentioned previously.
Death Rogumer, the day after the attack
If not for practice at maintaining a professional composure, Storm Eagle would be shaking uncontrollably. Sigma had been furious when the former had called to report the foiled attack. Though the attack had lasted long enough for Sigma to mobilize his armies without opposition, they had not been able to attack while the Hunters were distracted as Sigma had planned.
It was not so much the commander's wrath that Storm Eagle feared. Rather, it was what he could do to others as retribution for Storm Eagle's failure that scared the avian Reploid. True, most of Sigma's anger had been directed at Vile for disobeying his orders, but as Storm Eagle was in charge of the operation some of the fault would invariably lie with him. Nonetheless, Storm Eagle continued to give orders as the airship prepared to dock, trying to ignore Sigma's presence in the docking bay
To his surprise, Sigma did not proceed to berate him as Storm Eagle disembarked. Instead, the commander was focused on Vile.
"It seems your combat skills are about as proficient as your ability to follow orders." Though Sigma's tone was calm, it had a dangerous edge to it.
"Not to interrupt sir..." Storm Eagle inquired.
"You are free to go for now, Storm Eagle. We will talk later."
"Yes sir." With that, Storm Eagle left the bay, trying not to break into a run. Sigma turned his attention back to Vile.
"It wasn't my fault! Zero showed up to save that pussy! And you of all people should know he's better than me!" the bitterness in Vile's tone wasn't lost on Sigma. Though the latter admired Vile's determination to surpass Zero, Sigma decided that Vile needed to be taught his place in the Reploid rebellion.
"Silence!" he roared. "You brought it upon yourself by refusing to follow orders, Vile! Had you spearheaded the assault X would not be alive right now! We knew full well that Zero was handling matters elsewhere, and by refusing to lead the attack you dragged us down and gave Zero the time he needed!" Throughout all this, Vile had remained impassive, continuing to boldly stare into Sigma's eyes.
"You know the punishment for ignoring orders, Vile..."
"So why don't you go ahead and punish me? Go ahead, 'Commander', take that fancy sword of yours and cut me in half like everyone else!" Vile mocked.
Instead, Sigma turned around and left without another word. "You should thank Storm Eagle for trying to justify your case," the commander said over his shoulder as he disappeared. "And remember that I will not forgive your failure a second time. If you are so strong, prove it to me, or die trying."
"Hmph!" Vile knew Storm Eagle was a goody-two-shoes to the point that it infuriated him, but he hadn't expected the Reploid to stick his neck that far out for him. Especially when Sigma almost literally had Storm Eagle by the neck. "Maybe I have misjudged him," mused the purple Reploid. "Or Sigma could be playing another one of his mind games. Hell, I'll bet even Storm Eagle himself regrets it in hindsight even if it is true." Vile briefly considered paying Storm Eagle a visit to inquire, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Let that stupid bird do what he thought was right while he could; the first casualty of a war is always morality. He was too wrapped up in his thoughts to hear Sigma's ultimatum, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Next time, it would be a duel to the death with that red blondie and his blue bitch...
Prison, Sigma Palace, one hour later
Debriefing Sigma on the highway attack had not been nearly as excruciating as Storm Eagle figured. True, the Reploid's expectations had been overexaggerated, but Storm Eagle was surprised to see that Sigma remained calm throughout the entire affair. Sigma had even allowed him to visit Teal in the palace's prison, a rare privelage. Storm Eagle had done so illicitly in the past several times, but this was the first authorized visit since Sigma's rebellion started.
As Storm Eagle descended the lift into the prison, he looked around. Many of Sigma's more radical and unstable Reploids were stationed as guards here for sheer lack of other uses. Sigma might believe in rebellion, but he certainly didn't believe in ethnic cleansing like these robots; after all, Sigma knew that humanity had created Reploids in the first place. Just being here made Storm Eagle uncomfortable though even these undecorous Reploids respected him to the last man.
The two didn't have much to talk about, since Storm Eagle had visited his girlfriend just before departing for the highway raid. For violent radicals, Sigma's guards treated Teal very well, though Storm Eagle wasn't sure if this was only because of his standing. Though Teal disapproved of her love commiting crimes against humanity, she didn't have the heart to ask him to stop. The life of a Maverick Hunter was often fraught with emotional qualms and loneliness, and Teal didn't want to leave Storm Eagle when she had given him a way out of his tumultuous life.
"Teal, I can't do that. You know that Sigma has safeguards against that." Storm Eagle sighed with no conviction in his voice. Teal had floated the idea of them escaping right then and there.
"I know, Storm Eagle. I'm just so tired of all this fighting. We should get away from it, find a place to settle down." Teal looked at the silver engagement ring on Storm Eagle's hand as she spoke and lifted her right hand, which bore a similar ring, into her lover's view.
"I wish..." Storm Eagle's voice trailed off. He knew that even if they both survived the current course of events they would be wanted fugitives. "I wish it could be so. For the first time since I joined the Hunters I've found a way to cope with my job as a killer..."
"Don't say that! It's not true!" Though Teal lacked any real conviction in those words, she had already seen the extent to which Storm Eagle's guilt and grief over killing his fellow Reploids had taken him before Sigma's rebellion started. And now, her lover had just returned from attacking a highway filled with humans. There was no real way to justify her words anymore, but Teal uttered them anyway in the vain hope that it would push his feelings aside if only for the slightest moment.
Storm Eagle was about to continue when one of the guards tapped him on the shoulder. "Sir, Commander Sigma has requested your presence."
The avian Reploid gave a nod of acknowledgement before looking back at the guard. "Just one more thing." The guard nodded and opened Teal's cell. Storm Eagle stepped inside and they wordlessly embraced each other, Storm Eagle folding his wings around them both. The moment was quickly broken when the Reploid warden walked by.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded. Storm Eagle quickly removed himself from Teal's arms and walked out of the cell, closing the door behind him, the guard quickly locked the door as he did. "Can a human even get impregnated by - " The warden's expression quickly softened upon seeing who he had yelled at. "My apologies, Storm Eagle. Some of these degenerates have been pissing me off. Look, a lot of us respect you greatly, but that can't help you if someone decides to inform Sigma of our leniency."
As if to underscore his point, a line of hostages walked past. As one of them slowed down the guard that had shown Storm Eagle so much respect stepped forward, knocked the man off his feet, and began beating him with a nightstick. "What are you, enjoying this, you sick fuck?" After several more blows, the guard lifted the prisoner by his neck and tossed him into the middle of the prisoner line. "What are you retards looking at? Keep moving or you're sorry ass is next!" When a child hesitated to comply, the guard snapped, "What's the matter? No speak English? Let me teach you!" With a sickening thud the nightstick made contact in the worst place.
Storm Eagle had seen enough. Ignoring the guard, he gently helped the little girl to her feet and walked with her to her new cell, holding her hand to comfort her. Once she had gone in and the doors locked, he turned and walked towards the lift, throwing a disgusted glance at the stunned guard as he passed.
Hangar bays, Sigma Palace
Boomer Kuwanger stared out at the expanse of Abel City sprawled below. It was laughable to think that Sigma Palace stood so close to their primary targets and yet the massive citadel had gone unnoticed in the weeks prior to Sigma's rebellion, especially because it was located on a plateau. Behind him, several crates of spikes, along with miles of power cables to energize them, were being loaded onto a transport. Suddenly there was a crash from the opposite side of the hangar, and Boomer Kuwanger facepalmed as several minecarts rolled across the floor.
"You know those are a terrible idea. You're giving the Hunters a much better chance of breaking through your defenses."
"So be it. If the Hunters make it past my defenses, they will still have to fight me for control of the mine."
"Your warrior pride blinds you, Armored Armadillo. Remember, we are to protect the installations that we capture, not destroy the Hunters."
"You worry too much, Kuwanger. Nobody can stand against us!"
"There is always Zero. And I'm worried about X..."
"Bah, the Hunters are having Zero play Sherlock right now, and X couldn't hope to stand against us! We were both S/A-ranked Hunters!"
Boomer Kuwanger sighed. "Armored Armadillo, Sigma spoke of X having limitless potential. X may not know he has it within himself yet, but I believe the Commander's words. He is among the best judges of both physical ability and character I have ever seen."
Armored Armadillo grumbled but didn't argue.
"If you'll excuse me, I must be ready for the commander's attack order," Boomer Kuwanger intoned as a technician walked over to him. The former stepped into his transport and the craft took off shortly afterwards.
Armored Armadillo remembered Sigma's words as accurately as the rest of the generals, but while the others had hesitated and questioned their leader, Armadillo had simply acknowledged them and left. He strongly believed that a warrior should fight to the last, and if that was what it took to further Sigma's objectives, then he would gladly lay his down for the sake of his fellow Reploids.
"Do you think the Commander knows what he's doing?" A new voice spoke from behind Armored Armadillo.
"I am not one to question Sigma's orders, Spark Mandrill. Besides, with your limited intelligence I doubt you could either."
"I'm not the brightest spark in the power plant, Armadillo, but I have a feeling this might backfire on Sigma."
"That's hardly an explanation befitting you..."
"But you know that I only joined this rebellion because of my loyalty to Sigma. So why does this come as a surprise?"
"It is not my duty to judge, Spark Mandrill. I simply thought that you usually require more explaining than just that to be convinced."
Spark Mandrill sighed and began to walk away. However he immediately ran into over a fueling drone, knocking them both over. As Spark Mandrill's left arm came in contact with Armored Armadillo's back, there was a flash of electricity and the armor plate fell to the ground.
"You imbecile!" Armored Armadillo quickly re-attached the armor piece and stalked off without another word. Spark Mandrill clumsily got back to his feet and lumbered off to oversee the loading of one of his own transports.
Throne room, Sigma Palace
When Storm Eagle reached Sigma's throne room, the Maverick leader was waiting for him with an expression of interest. "Hello, Storm Eagle."
"I apologize for my delay in answering your summons."
"There is no need to apologize. I understand." Was that genuine sympathy in Sigma's tone?
"Do not mistake my leniency for compassion, Storm Eagle. As you know, your army is poised to attack the Abel City Airport. It is imperative that this phase of our rebellion go smoothly. At all costs. Am I understood?"
"Sir..."
"I know you did not misunderstand me Storm Eagle. Securing the city's infrastructure will leave humanity and its defenders crippled. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste and an advantage I will not relinquish easily."
Suddenly, Sigma's allowance of a visit made sense to Storm Eagle. It wasn't that he was being generous: it was because Sigma knew that it most likely would be the last time Storm Eagle would ever have a chance to see Teal again.
"Let me make it clear, Storm Eagle. You were partially responsible for the failure of the highway attack. If not for the fact that I have further uses for both you and Vile, you would both be piles of scrap right now. I will not be so forgiving of failure next time. You would be better off laying down your life against the enemy than returning to me in defeat. Now go; your army awaits your command. Attack immediately."
"Yes, Commander Sigma." Storm Eagle bowed nervously and retreated from the throne room.
Behind the commander, a large screen displayed a map of Abel City, with eight red dots signalling the objectives of his armies. Sigma reached for a microphone and hailed the other seven Maverick generals. Immediately, their faces appeared on the perimeter of his screen.
"The time is now, gentlemen. Strike swiftly and severely. Secure your objectives and hold them at all costs. Remember that the conquest of these facilities is vital to our rebellion. There will be no retreats or excuses. Good luck."
Cutting the transmission, Sigma proceeded to hail the leader of the Reploid resistance in Abel City. "Begin your attack as planned. My armies are in position and making their move according to plan."
"Very well, Commander Sigma. It is long past time that we bring humanity to its knees for its crimes against our kind."
With nothing more than an acknowledging nod, Sigma cut the transmission. "Our plans are proceeding perfectly," he spoke to Velguarder. The robotic wolf growled as Sigma scratched its ears. Looking up at the portraits of the eight Maverick generals arrayed in front of him, Sigma wondered which one the Hunters would target first.
Author's note: I wanted this chapter to explore a little bit of Sigma's side, even if some of it seems somewhat irrelevant. I added the prison brutality to show that even "Mavericks" have their differences; by comparison Vile looks tame. Besides that scene, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please rate and review!
A thing regarding Teal: unlike in the manga I made her human because I figured with a boyfriend in Sigma's army she'd join if she was a Reploid.