Foreword/Disclaimer: I'd like to thank Nikki for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. And thanks to her and RMX4 for following. I appreciate you sticking around. I own nothing MMX, although that would be nice. OC's and story, however, are all mine.
Chapter 7- Maverick Lost
The report had come to Null's attention at a most inconvenient hour, and the carrier just barely escaped with his life. Tired eyes scanned through the words with little interest until the very end. Quickly dressing, she headed to her study, much to the chagrin of her 'guest' who she'd just as quickly dismissed. Once sealed inside Null carefully read each line of the report aloud, a volcano beginning to erupt in her chest.
"1100 hrs: Routine patrol of old Mega City ruins area. Lt. Vale and squad of three investigate the area after sighting one Human, one Reploid(class undetermined) leaving the area via Dragoon-class hoverbikes.
1122 hrs: Search of area finds excavation site of medium size. Several chambers discovered leading to dead-ends, with little to no gear or provisions on-site. Presumed to be Imperium S&R site inhabited during the hours of 0500-1100.
1140 hrs: Lt. Vale and company locate underground structure buried in the ruins. Inspection reveals former military-like base. Terminals indicate most of the facility is inaccessible due to cave-ins and weakened infrastructure. Lt. Vale speculates the base as being the former Maverick Hunters HQ, based on insignia found on-site.
0210 hrs: Lt. Vale and company manage to access several parts of the base and confirm speculations. Terminal access reveals energy signatures in base, with access being restored slowly throughout and encrypted communication being used on-site.
0230 hrs: Lt. Vale's company engages 'Unknown Force' and is rendered 'Unconscious' or Inoperable'.
0233 hrs: Lt. Vale engages 'Unknown Force'
0237 hrs: Lt. Vale's life-signs expire and communication with company cease. End Report."
Null held the tablet containing the report tightly in her grasp, barely containing her fury. Vale had been a kindred spirit, of sorts. Enjoying mind games and manipulations as much as Null, she was more prone to use her 'physical' appeal as opposed to Fear to get what she wanted. Several times, in fact, Vale had attempted such with Null. Although the transpiring events were enjoyable, Null decisions were never affected by such. Her loss, however, was a blow to the Armada that wouldn't be recovered from quickly or easily as she was well loved by all who encountered her charm. Null's fury finally boiled over as she snapped the tablet in half and tossed the remains at her door.
Before she could collect her thoughts a pounding came to the door, threatening to smash it down should it not open. Null knew who stood behind it. And she wasn't fully prepared to deal with HIM right now. As fate always seemed to have it, though, she would be left with little choice as the doors were practically wrenched into the doorjamb and a seething Brav entered her study.
"Who the FUCK is responsible?!" he roared, not caring if anyone was listening. Not caring that he stood before his Commander. He was emotional, and Null understood why. Over recent years, Brav and Vale had become somewhat of a couple. Usually they performed their duties and missions together, and this was something he'd blame not only the one responsible but himself for as well. He was on a mission for blood, and Null saw how to redirect him instantly in his outburst. So quick it wouldn't have been perceptible, Null composed herself.
"Unknown, Sergeant. As I can see, you've also seen the report. Else you wouldn't have almost torn my doors down."
"I'm in no mood for your games right now. I don't care what you say about this, Null. Whoever did this is MINE! NO ONE goes near that site until I drag a corpse out! If I see so much as a black SPECK near there, I shred it. I'm doing this alone."
"Brav..." Null started but quickly leapt to the side as Brav's Beam Longsword almost decapitated her. She felt the fury of that volcano growing again, but pushed it away. Brav couldn't hit her if she stood still, but that didn't mean she appreciated having a weapon pulled on her. She had a goal in mind for Brav now and needed a level head, not Fear or Fury, to guide him into the role. Null gave him her most sympathetic look, attempting to bring him back to hearing reason but he was gazing into the Wastes his thoughts lost in vengeance. Several tense moments passed before Brav finally lowered his weapon and spoke, a monotone of heartbreak and rage.
"No one goes near those ruins until I bring back a body. And if you think about sneaking me when I leave, know this: Next time I WON'T miss. And now's not the time to test the theory."
Turning to leave, Brav tossed Null an over-the-shoulder glance, a familiar look she'd come to call his farewell stare.
"I blame your 'Dog' as much as anyone else. He'd do well to avoid me too."
With that he finally departed leaving Null to reconfigure her thoughts. She'd expected all of Brav's actions, even the attempt on her life. What she hadn't expected was his closing remark about Kay. Their rivalry had always been encouraged, fostered at points by Null's careful manipulations. This new development, however, could turn that rivalry into a personal vendetta leading to the unneeded death of another link in her command chain. The volcano finally erupted as one of the aides stepped into the study to check on Null and he was lanced through the chest by a beam of deep purple hard-light that shot from her fingertips. Spreading her fingers, the beam split into five smaller rays and shredded the poor soul as Null stood seething.
"SOMEONE CLEAN THIS UP, NOW! AND GET GENERAL KAY HERE IMMEDIATELY!" Null roared.
Moments later, mess cleared away, Kay appeared at the door. His gaze fell to the stains on the floor then up to Null who was gazing out into the Wastes, hands clasped tightly behind her back. He cleared his throat and she turned to meet his eyes with a dark and cold state he'd not seen in ages from the commander.
"You requested me, ma'am?" he said, choosing his words carefully.
"Vale's dead, General. Brav has gone 'Rouge' due to it and believes you to be as responsible as whoever ended her life."
Kay couldn't keep the shock from his face, but cleared it away quickly. 'What in the seven Hells...?' Attempting to clear his thoughts enough to respond he was surprised even further when Null raised a hand to stop him from speaking.
"Because you pulled him off his usual duties to assist in the clean up actions in the Wastes." Null answered his unspoken question. "So now, we have a problem. He's gone to the old Mega City ruins in search of her killer. Should he succeed, he'll return here and attempt to retire you as well. Should he fail, it won't matter because he'll be dead. The problem: how to wrangle him back into the fray for the Armada WITHOUT significant losses."
"Ma'am, with all due respect to Brav and his 'abilities', I've no fear of him retiring me. I was designed to battle against Reploids like him."
"Not the point, General..." Null said with a tone so icy it almost froze Kay's fluids. "As of right now, Brav is an unknown quantity that poses a threat to our continued existence. Your new assignment is to make sure we get him back in as singular a piece as possible. He can be reprogrammed, if necessary, and have these memories wiped to make him effective once more. Get him back here, General. Or I may just consider letting him gouge your processors into slag. Dismissed."
Null' stone of finality left Kay no options to retort and, with a hasty salute, he set out knowing failure was NOT an option if he wished to continue breathing. Null made her way down to Sub-Level 60 to 'confer' with Lacadian. The scientist was knowledgable about the histories of the Maverick Hunters and Null believed she may provide insights. Entering the cell's chamber she was shocked to find Lacadian reading. As Null approached, she noticed WHAT the scientist was reading: Null's copy of X's memoirs. Another flash of molten fury began to build in her chest.
"Where...did...you...get...THAT?!"
Lacadian never took her eyes from the book.
"It was beamed in with my meal. And I must say, you've done a fair amount of handling this. But you must do so in a very tended way. It's in excellent condition."
Null was having a hard time keeping herself in check today, as the thought of disengaging the electromag containment field dominated her at the moment. Lacadian was too important, however, for rash actions to dictate her right now. Smoothing out her hair and regaining her composure, Null addressed Lacadian as calmly as possible.
"Well, enjoy it. I'd like it returned in the condition you received it. This visit, however, isn't a discussion of reading materials. What do you know about the Maverick Hunters former headquarters?"
This caught Lacadian's attention as she closed the book and set it down next to her uneaten meal. A cunning smile crept onto the corners of her mouth that added to Null's irritation.
"Apparently something you DON'T. How interesting."
"Don't play with me today, Lacadian. A beloved officer has been killed and I'm not of sound mind."
"You're never of sound mind. Your Creator made sure of that."
Null had no interest in Lacadian's attempts to goad her so she simply raised an open hand and began to slowly close it. As she did so, Lacadian's cell began to slowly descend into the bubbling pit. This brought a look of panic onto Lacadian's face that Null felt invigorated by. As the bottom of the cell hovered just inches from the vat, the vapors from the fluid began to melt the plexiglass eliciting a small shriek from it occupant. Slowly reopening her hand and raising the cell away from danger, Null smiled wickedly at Lacadian's fear.
"Now, let's talk like civilized individuals. Shall we?"
"You're insane! What do you know about 'civilized'?" Lacadian barked.
"Tell me what you know about Zero. Now."
Lacadian looked confused by the topic of conversation and Null sighed as she eloborated.
"Where was he Retired? Where is his body located?"
"I don't know. No one does. All records concerning Zero after the Repliforce Incident are either lost, deleted or don't exist. What do you want with his body anyway? The Maverick Virus that he produces is obsolete and was cured back in 29XX."
"That's not what I need him for. I need information contained within his processors and cognitive matrix."
Lacadian finally understood what Null was looking for, distress flooding her features.
"You can't do that Null... Nothing and no one can control Omega. He'll be just as quick to destroy you as anything else."
"Let me worry about containing 'The Omega'. YOU worry about pulling that information out of your pretty little head."
Null proceeded to walk out, barely hearing Lacadian's protests. Before exiting she turned to face her prisoner.
"Oh, Lacadian. I want my book back when you've finished it. Enjoy my notes at the end."
Two hours after his encounter with Null, Brav arrived at the excavation site. He thought about the report he'd read the entire ride, seething and preparing, an uncontainable need to shed blood and rend bodies consuming him. He couldn't allow himself to believe that Vale was gone, killed by some 'Unknown Force'. He'd find this source and exact a great deal of pleasure pulling them apart. 'Circuit by circuit until they feel EVERY ounce of pain that she felt. I'll make sure they NEVER forget you, Vale. That's my word...' Leaving his customized Phoenix hoverbike on a small overlook, Brav headed down to the site on foot.
Barely into his trek, his long distance radar chimed at him indicating movement around a mile from his position. Booster-Dashing to a nearby boulder, Brav took cover and activated the range scanner in his helmet. His HUD filled with data, including distance, model designations and current armament. He scoffed at the small force arranged two and half miles from his current position. '8 basic combat units and 2 snipers... No way THEY are responsible. Still... No reason to let Imperium soldiers keep breathing.'
Pulling several components from various places on his armor, Brav quickly assembled his rifle. Slapping a power unit into it and linking it into his HUD, Brav took aim and fired several rounds into the Imperium troops before Booster-Dashing towards them. His HUD alerted him, '1 hit, non-lethal, 2 kills', as he closed the distance with incredible speed and fired several more rounds into the group before they returned fire. Brav leapt into the air, his face set in a feral grin as he sped towards his targets ready to unleash destruction.
Shot after shot either missed completely or was diffused by his shielding system as Brav landed amongst his foes and slammed his fist into the ground. The kinetic energy Brav had built up during his high-speed approach, coupled with the shots his shield had absorbed, was stored by his armor and released when he slammed into the ground and unloaded a concussion wave that cratered the ground, crashed into his opponents and sent them scattering. Standing and drawing his Beam Longword, grin still in place, Brav attacked.
His HUD located the sniper unit, the other had been one of the confirmed kills earlier. Dashing with a speed far greater than than even Overdrive Programs allowed, Brav caught the sniper with a diagonal slash that bisected him from left shoulder to right hip. Spinning with his momentum his blade found a second target and tore deep into the solider's armor but left her alive. Driving his blade down into her chest finished her off. '4 down already... This won't take much longer...' he thought as he dodged to the left to avoid an incoming shot and closed the distance to his next target.
The already injured Reploid attempted to run but found no purchase on the ground and Brav drove his orange blade through his back, destroying the artificial heart and Core Life Support unit. With a kick, Brav cleared the dead unit from his weapon and faced off with the remaining three. Two held Beam Sabers the other was outfitted with a specialized Buster.
Brav turned his wicked grin to the Saber wielders and pointed the tip of his sword at them and charged. Both came as one to meet him and locked blades with the Maverick, who looked past them to the cannon unit who'd begun to charge his weapon. With a mighty shove, Brav freed himself from the blade lock and hacked a mighty blow that removed the sword arm of it's victim. Before the injured fighter could fall a swift horizontal swing removed her head. Her comrade, upon seeing her brutal end, rushed forward with a flurry of attacks trying desperately to strike Brav down. But he was sloppy and soon found himself impaled to the hilt on Brav's blade and with a twist, the Maverick silently ended the brave Imperium warrior's life. The cannon wielder was unaware of this fact, however, and held his fire in hopes of not destroying his ally. Brav snickered to himself and pressed his advantage.
"You're gonna send that Buster into Overload soon if you don't loose that charge. But, can you? You're both dead regardless. You hit me, the Void charge in my chest goes off and we ALL go up in disassembled particles. You miss me... Well, that's your buddy here turned to hot slag. You pull the 'Sacrifice' and HOPEFULLY the charge never fires off. So, Impy, whaddaya gonna do?"
Brav began to step towards the gunner and, at the last second possible, deactivated his blade and tossed the dead Reploid. Realization of Brav's stall came too late to the gunner as he unloaded his Buster into the flying body of his brave confederate, turning it into molten shrapnel. Brav had expected this and leapt into the air to land behind his target, took hold of his head and twisted with a sickening 'SNAP' breaking the solider's neck. Holding tightly to the now limp body, Brav wrenched with all his might and tore the head from its body, a spray of artificial blood and oil splashing across his face and chest armor.
Tossing the severed head to the side and admiring the carnage, Brav was pulled from his gory reverie by his HUD flashing a warning. He'd missed two and they were attempting to open a communication to Imperium Command. 'Cant have that.' he thought. Opening a panel in his forearm and punching three keys in quick succession, Brav's sinister smile deepened as his HUD flashed the message 'Communications Jammed'. A quick radar scan found his prey near the entrance to the site. Brav began to slowly stalk his way down to finish the job, shouting out to the survivor as he did so.
"YOU'RE ALL JAMMED UP NOW! DON'T PROLONG THIS ANYMORE THAN YOU HAVE TO! COME ON OUT AND DIE WITH SOME DIGNITY AND HONOR, INSTEAD OF COWERING IN A CORNER!"
"AND WHAT THE HELL WOULD A MAVERICK KNOW ABOUT HONOR AND DIGNITY?!" The stoic, yet frightened voice called back.
Brav sneered, and said to himself, "Fine, you little shits. Have it your way." Sliding his left hand up and reconfiguring several plates of armor around it, Brav arm converted into a Plasma Cannon similar in design to the old Maverick Vile's Shoulder Cannon. Taking aim near the makeshift tunnel mouth he opened fire with three huge blasts of red and black energy tearing gouges into the stone. His radar showed the duo retreating into the caves and he Booster-Dashed the rest of the way in an attempt to catch them before they scattered into the tunnels of the excavation site.
As Brav reached the entryway he was struck with a semi-charged Buster shot that pushed him back. His HUD flashed a diagnostic telling him his shield had ablated most of the blast, but its power level was down to 20% and couldn't handle another shot like that. Growling at his stupidity he fired several blasts into the cave, rending stone and kicking up dust clouds.
Switching his HUD over to IR to deal with the obscurity of the dust, Brav marched into the cave in search of his prey. After dealing with their comrades in short order, Brav felt his ire rising having to chase after cowards. 'THIS is why the Imperium will fail. Why it HAS to fall. The spineless don't deserve to live.' Brav's radar beeped and his HUD flashed a warning: 'Incoming Attack from the Rear' and he dropped to the floor as a Buster shot sailed past him.
Laying flat, Brav fired his Cannon behind him and watched the cowardly solider be enveloped by the plasma bolt and explode. The bright blast filled his IR filtered HUD and he was temporarily blinded by the intense light produced from the augmentation program. Shutting the light filter down, Brav rubbed his eyes trying to clear his vision, his optics had overloaded and the blindness was grinding his nerves. Another warning blared from his radar, but without sight Brav couldn't tell where the attack was coming from and he just rolle to the side until he hit a wall and heard a Buster shot sail past him.
Using the wall to lever himself up, Brav activated his Sonar Augment system and located his target ahead, but already in retreat. Roaring, Brav gave chase relying on his Sonar to guide him through the tunnels. After running around for what seemed like hours, but in fact was only a few minutes in a blind fury, Brav's vision cleared and he found himself staring down the barrel of a Buster. Brav stood still as the shaking barrel aimed at his head and smiled. 'Rookie. This'll be fun.'
"What now, boy? Can you pull the trigger? Something tells me 'no'." Brav taunted.
"Shut up! You killed them all because you're a monster. I'm not like you Armada Mavericks. I don't kill for sport. You're coming back to Imperium Command with me."
Brav laughed wholeheartedly.
"You really think so, kid? And what makes you think that's a possibility? You're shaking. I twitch the right way, you miss and die. YOU twitch the right way, maybe you get lucky and blow my shield out. End result: you die. Why not just accept it and I'll make it quick?"
"Because Mavericks like you never come out on top." came a calm yet powerful voice from behind Brav. "Not even two days out and already I have to wipe the floor with another of you. At least the last one was decent looking."
Brav spun around to face the voice, completely forgetting about the scared young solider, a burning hate building deep inside his soul and stared daggers at the blonde haired, crimson armored warrior.
"You killed Vale?" he asked the unknown Reploid quietly.
"Killed is a hard term for dealing with a trespassing Maverick. I prefer 'Retired'." came the cold response.
Brav gave up all pretense of civility, sarcasm and sanity as he loosed a blood freezing scream and swung his cannon towards his new enemy. It never made it, as the red Reploid moved with incredible speed and crushed the side of Brav's face with a palm strike that pixelated his vision. Unable to recover, Brav was further stumbled as his opponent laid into to his mid-section with a lightning fast four-hit combo ending with a somersault kick that floored him and left him dazed.
"If you and that ribbon twirler were Armada Elites, cleaning you up shouldn't take me long."
Brav growled and shook off the assault as he got back to his feet and again attempted to take aim with his Cannon. To his surprise, the blonde Reploid drew a Beam Saber and moved into a defensive stance. Brav would've laughed had he not been so enraged and fired, only to be completely shocked as the warrior caught the blast on his emerald blade and sent it into the ceiling of the cave. Seeing how each attempt to use his Cannon was thwarted, Brav reconfigured his arm back to normal and drew his Longsword. The crimson Reploid smiled.
"So you DO have other tricks in your bag besides that Vile cannon. Let's see if you're a better sword then gunner."
They dashed at each other in a furious collision of blades, exchanging flurries and parries so fast the eye would have a hard time keeping track. Brav's blade had the reach, but the red warrior had the skill and speed to match him strike for strike. The confines of the cave also made it difficult for Brav to set up the crushing blows his weapon was renowned for. During a particular pass, Brav swung too wide and his opponent dashed past him with a slash the left a rent in his chest plate and an ache in his ribs. For all the rage, fury and effort, it seemed that Brav was no match for Vale's murderer. 'NO! HE WILL DIE!' the Maverick screamed in his head and charged once more only to be grabbed and violently thrown to the stone floor, again blurring his vision.
Before he could recover again he let out a howl as a piercing hot flame erupted him his shoulder. He felt his enemy's blade pushing deep into the joint, threatening to tear the limb away with fire and pain. His HUD displayed more damage readouts then he'd thought he sustained in the short sword battle and the heat from the blade in his shoulder was raising his thermo reading into the red. He needed to get away, and fast, so in a desperation maneuver, Brav unleashed his Kinetic Wave attack, launching the red armored warrior and his blade down a tunnel. Brav stumbled to his feet and Booster-Dashed as fast as his failing systems could carry him and escaped the red demon in the cave.
He'd made it most of the way back to his hoverbike when his Boosters failed and he tumbled into a hard roll across the rough ground. Before he went into Critical Shutdown, Brav saw the massive frame of Kay looming over him and tried to grip the Reploid's leg but he was finished for now and slipped into unconsciousness. Kay collected Brav's body with a shake of his head and teleported away.
A/N: a nice bit of action this time around. Wanted to show off some of Brav's prowess before he ran into real trouble with our Hero. This isn't the last we'll see of the Longsword Psycho. And things aren't gonna remain bright for our heroes either, so don't get complacent. As usual, R&R. Appreciate any/all feedback. Until next chapter.