"What does your heart tell you?" Aragorn
"It is the duty of the strong to oppose those who oppress the weak!" Magic the Gathering card - Vengeance
Britannia was caught completely off guard. With the unexpected two pronged attack by the Black Knights and the Japan Liberation Front, Britannia's reinforcements we're slowly dwindling away. The Reploids that we're protecting their rear had also been caught off guard at that too. Mega Man X and Harpuria who we're guarding the main force had now left to deal with Zero. Everything was going according to Lelouch's plans. Cornelia was slowly by slowly falling into his grasp. And the Japan Liberation Front was now ready to show Britannia its true power. Tohdoh punched the number for the HQ on his TAC com for his Knightmare. Tohdoh's screen popped up on the computer as he began to speak to his superior officers.
"Sorry for being late Commander." He said.
"Tohdoh!" The General shouted. "You're alive."
"Commander." Tohdoh began. "Launch all of our remaining units against Britannia."
"Can we win against them?" He asked.
"If we prevent the main force from advancing, yes." Tohdoh said.
The General began to punch the orders and sent them all to the remaining Burai and defensive cannons that we're still alive in the area.
Tohdoh and Gilford continued their fight. Gilford could not break through Tohdoh's assault. Gilford thursted his Lance forward. Tohdoh deflected the attack and collided his blade with Tohdoh's lance. They held it in there for a few seconds before breaking off. Tohdoh held his katana towards the direction of Gilford. Gilford simply looked mad and stared into his enemy's Knightmare.
I heard that there was outstanding General's in Area 11 before our conquest. Could this man be Tohdoh? Either way, I won't be defeated.
Gilford continued his attack on Tohdoh. Tohdoh however out skilled him and managed to deflect each and every one of his blows. He continued his attack, toying with Gilford.
Axl continued to rush through the trees of Narita. He had his own orders to take care of. Axl knew that Tohdoh would not have appreciated him interfering with the fight. Tohdoh still kept his Japanese honor.
Axl dodged through most of the waves that we're moving through the forest. At times, he would forced to take out his weapons and turn his fire on enemy waves though. At one time, Axl had to run out to the open. Three Knightmares charged at him the moment they saw him. Axl flew into the air as they fired at him, missing with every shot. They angled their guns upward. Axl materialized large cannon and gripped it with both of hands.
"You know as I said before," Axl said before firing as he stood on top of it. "I should consider it funny how the five foot tall Reploid is using a bigger gun than the five story tall Knightmare!"
Axl fired two shots from the cannon, before making it vanish. The two Knightmares exploded in massive fireballs as Axl landed on the last Knightmare. Axl materialized what looked like futuristic Uzi's. He pointed the guns on the enemy Knightmare, and unleashed a fury of ammo into the Knightmare. Axl then made them vanish and flew away, before the Knightmare exploded.
Axl continued his advance through the forest until he came up to the JLF lounge. He saw that it was under fire by what remained of General Dolton's unit. Axl activated his com unit and then sliced through the communication of General Dolton's unit.
"A counter attack!?" Axl managed to catch. "At a time like this!?"
"What should we do!?" A solider shouted.
"Retreat!" Dolton shouted. "We must rendezvous with the Governor-General at any cost!"
"If we retreat now…" A Soldier said. "The damage to our units will be…"
"Idiot!" Dolton shouted. "If we lose the princes, the battle is lost."
Axl made a small laugh. He held his hand out and formed a sniper rifle, similar to the one that he used to defeat Harpuia with. Although this sniper rifle was not the same as a .45 rifle; as it took clips instead of single rounds. Axl took a pole like object (which was revealed to be a Tripod) and set up a position "behind" Dolton's unit. Axl attached the battery pack, but this time did not use the laser pointer. He adjusted the scope as he peered into it for the best possible view he could get. The ocular implants in his eyes and began to adjust for the best magnification of the area that he could get. He formed an ammo clip and locked it into place.
"I'm a total cheap ass for flanking these guys; but whatever." Axl said. "I didn't play fair when I retired mavericks back then, and I don't plan on starting now. I just hope winning this battle will stop the confrontation. Then I won't have to deal with this anymore."
Axl flicked the safety off, set the rifle to automatic mode, and fired several rounds at Dolton and his unit.
Expansion rounds. These little buggers we're some of the nastiest weaponry in the Maverick hunter's arsenal. Nasty little buggers I believe Scotty said before he died from that attack by Vile. Cutting edge technology allows the round to swell as it approaches it target. After contact, a detonator that is inserted in the round waits for about point-five seconds before going off, creating a small explosion in the body of the machine, and sending shrapnel everywhere. Technically, this is another version of an Anti-Reploid round, but Mechaniolids we're effected more by this because they needed more machinery to run and relied on most of their body parts...well let's see how they function!
The first few rounds smashed into the already weakened ground where two of Dolton's units we're firing mortars into the JLF defenses. Some of the cannons we're destroyed, but the rounds smashed into the ground and sent the two Knightmares rolling down the Knightmare, exploding on contact with the ground. Axl then switched towards a retreating group and began to fire at them. Five collided into the back of the Knightmare. The Knightmare fell down on the ground and remained motionless; for the pilot had been killed. The next one took ten rounds into the stomach and exploded. Axl continued to fire rounds into the enemy Knightmares. Of the ten Knightmares that we're retreating, seven of the Knightmares we're destroyed. Dolton looked at the ruins of his squad.
"Sniper!" A Soldier shouted, before Axl picked off his engine.
"A Sniper!" Dolton shouted. "Wait…this seems familiar."
Dolton suddenly flashed back and remembered the time when Harpuria attempted to enter the hotel the hijacking incident. Dolton when he studied the record images saw through the mass of gunfire a single shot that was far bigger than the rest fired from the building. He turned towards where Axl was and saw the same type of fire. Within seconds, he recognized that the sniper from earlier in that incident was firing at them.
"Men!" Dolton shouted. "Turn you're fire over there."
Three Knightmares turned their attention to where Axl was and fired their Slash Harkens. An eruption of sand and dust came from where Axl's location was. Dolton smiled as he believed he defeated the sniper.
His grin quickly changed to fear when one of his Knightmares we're shot by several expansion rounds. The unit exploded and turned into a massive fireball.
"No way!" Dolton shouted. "A normal man would have been ripped apart from a blast like that!"
"Dolton!" A Soldier shouted. "Above us!"
General Dolton looked up and saw Axl flying the air. Dolton zoomed in with his HUD in his Knightmare and gazed at it. He gazed upon Axl's armor and then began enshrouded in fear.
"That helmet." He began. "That armor…that eye…that sniper is a Reploid!"
No wonder Harpuia was shot down in a single round. If what I know about what that scientist said about these machines is correct, it would take a computer system as powerful as a Reploid's in order to be able to calculate through his movements.
Dolton aimed his gun at Axl. Axl was holding his sniper with one hand and used it to fire several rounds into Dolton's cohorts. They tried to fire, but the units soon found it difficult to hit him. The pilots we're used to firing at large targets such as the enemy Burai. They couldn't hit a target which could not only move and fly faster than a Knightmare, but was only the size of a pilot. Axl outmaneuvered Dolton's units and destroyed the three cohorts. Dolton knew that he couldn't defeat Axl and then ejected out of his Knightmare, right before it exploded. Axl simply watched Dolton's pod and let it be. He punched on his tac-com and contacted his superior.
"Axl to command." He said. "General man you copy?"
"Axl!" He shouted."You made it."
"Hey alright!" He said. "You guys are still alive! For a minute I thought that I talking to a bunch of bullet rattled skeletons."
Axl laughed for a few seconds. The JLF didn't respond.
"All right." Axl said. "I'll stay out as long as I need. Use this opportunity to escape."
"Thank you Axl." The General said before killing the com.
Axl flew up towards the top of the mountain and set up his sniper rifle at a position somewhere on the top. And after that, he looked out and waited. While he did, a transmission came to his tac-com. Axl pressed his ear to answer the com.
"Yes Tohdoh?" He asked.
His eyes grew widened as soon as the voice message reached him.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "…understood. Whatever you think is for the best."
Harpuia charged directly at Zero. Zero held out his saber and began to clash with Harpuia as soon he got in striking distance. Zero blocked his first few saber attacks and ducked to avoid his next slash. Zero then jumped to avoid the next attack as Harpuia stabbed down. Zero landed on his head and then leaped over him. When Harpuia turned around, Zero fired a Z-Buster and hit him. The explosion pushed him down as the open wound damaged him.
X then pointed his X-Buster and fired. Zero turned and ducked, but couldn't move fast enough to avoid being hit. He got hit in his shoulder. He held it for a few seconds as X charged for an attack. Zero deflected his saber attack.
Harpuria got up and threw his slash at Zero. Zero ducked and then punched X in order to push him back. He then attempted to use his saber and block Harpuia's second slash, but missed and was hit in the leg. He got on his knees as Harpuria charged for another attack.
"I have you now!" He shouted.
Zero eyed behind him to see that X was getting ready to fire another shot. Zero stood still as he saw the two ready their attacks. Zero stood still and waited for Harpuia to get close.
Then when he was, Zero rolled out of the way. X fired his buster and ended up hitting Harpuia.
"Harpuria!" X shouted.
Zero charged at X and then used his fist and punch X straight in the face. X was rocketed from his position and straight into a mass of trees to where his original position. Zero was disappointed when he struck him that it was not his saber arm, but it didn't matter to him. Zero leapt up from he was to a tree that was nearby. X and got out and Harpuia got up to see Zero standing there.
"If this how you treat your friends, I can't wait to see how you treat your enemies." Zero said.
"Why don't you come down here and see for yourself!" Harpuia shouted.
"Nah." Zero said as his hand turned into his Z-Buster. "I like my method better. Y-LASER; FIRE!"
Zero pointed his buster at the ground of where X and Harpuia were. He fired a straight beam of light into the ground and drew it straight across. Seconds later, a massive wall of debris and flame was emitted.
"Vice Governor Euphiema!" A commanding General shouted. "Please deploy this G1."
"No!" She shouted.
"But Euphiema!" Another guard shouted. "If we do not do something soon, the Viceroy-General's life will be in…"
"NO!" Euphiema shouted."Sister gave me direct orders to keep this position safe! There is a field Hospital and refuges. This G1 is the main back of our forces. Cornelia gave me strict orders to protect this position! That's why…that's why…"
Euphiema looked on the verge of a mental breakdown. However, in a mere second later, the R&D department appeared on the screen they we're looking at.
"Hello!" Lloyd said. "This is the research and development special envoy unit."
"Insolent!" One captain shouted.
"You are irregulars in this operation!" The commanding officer shouted. "Step aside."
"Well that is true…but…" Cecile began.
"That's why we have been waiting so patiently." Lloyd said.
Euphie stood still, trying to figure out what to do. She didn't want to upset Cornelia by deploying Suzaku. But they we're running out of options. And most of their troops had been KIA. To top it off, X and Harpuria we're not reporting to communications; although their signals we're still seen.
"Vice-Governor Euphiema!" Suzaku said. "I beg of you. Please give the order to the special envoy to mobilize."
"Insolent!" A commander shouted. "You just want the glory of saving the Governor-General to yourself. Besides, what can a number do?"
"If that is the case," Lloyd began. "What's the harm in trying then?"
While Lloyd was speaking to the rest of the commanding officers, Suzaku mouthed something to Euphie. Euphie's eyes grew widened. She then nodded.
"All right!" She said to the surprise of her commanding officers. "I give you leave."
"Thank you." Lloyd said as he killed the communication.
Tohdoh and Gilford continued to clash blades. Tohdoh charged in and was unable to hit him. Gilford threw him off and Tohdoh resumed his battle stance.
"This guy is something else." He said.
Gilford reached into his Knightmare's pocket and pulled out a chaos grenade. These weren't just normal grenades where after it was activated; it would explode after a set time. Instead, it would open up and then unleash a massive barrage of ammo at the group. Gilford threw the chaos grenade at the group.
"Scatter!" He shouted.
The Five Burai shot in all directions and dodged the ammo fired at them.
"Tohdoh!" One of Four Holy blades shouted. "What are we going to do about Cornelia?"
"If Zero is the kind of man I know…" Tohdoh began. "Then Cornelia will not be a problem. We must trust in Zero."
Tohdoh used his chainsaw katana and deflected another blow from Gilford's attacks. Gilford swung low and almost hit Gilford's leg system. Gilford leaped and dodged the attack. Tohdoh and Gilford once again began to fight.
Vlletta's units originally had Lelouch pinned down. But as soon as the counter attack began, half of Vlletta's units we're forced to defend Cornelia. Now the remaining half we're charging in an attempt to catch up with him. However, they soon lost track of him and we're then clueless on what to do.
"Vlletta!" Gilford shouted. "We need reinforcements now! Move up to our position."
"Yes!" She shouted. "We will go and fly you cover!"
"More importantly!" Gilford began. "Give me information on Zero's current whereabouts."
"Yes." She said. "This is Zero's predicted course."
Vlletta sent a prompt on Gilford's unit. It featured a 3D wireframe rendered valley with several blimps on it. Gilford shot up in fear when he saw it.
This is bad. This is where we originally planned to lure Tohdoh and his group. But Cornelia was on her way to there now. This means…
"Your Highness, Cornelia!" He shouted.
"I heard you Gilford." Cornelia said.
Zero and Harpuia continued to fight sword to sword. Zero blocked a horizontal swing. But then Harpuia used his free arm and stabbed Zero in the leg. Zero gritted his teeth, but then uppercutted Harpuia, stunning him. Then Zero used his saber and slashed his chest, making him fly away from him. X was building up more energy to use the Hyadouken. When Zero noticed it, he put his arms in the same position and began to channel the same attack.
"Hadouken!" They both shouted, firing the same blue energy at each other.
The spheres collided into each other and created a massive burst of energy all around them. Zero and X we're blown from their original location and flew into a wall.
When X hit the stone ground, his saber flew in the air. When Zero hit the ground, his D-Glave and Shield Boomerang flew out of his hands. Zero got up and leaped for his weapons. X did the same thing. However, they missed and ran into each other. X and Zero landed by their opponent's weapons.
Zero didn't waste time to get an edge. He grabbed X's saber and then duel wielded his weapons. X responded by soccer punting up both the D-Glave and Shield boomerang. Zero used both sabers and was able to twirl them around in his hands. He then held one normally and the other reverse blade style. X grabbed the D-Glave and twirled it in his hands. Spinning in front of him, above him, and on the right of him. He then grabbed the shield and then stayed behind it as if he was a Greek spartan.
"Spartans are tough." Zero said when he saw X's style. "But in no way are they immortal!"
Zero charged towards X and began to clash against his shield; using a series of swings and stabs and clashes against the shield. X used the spear and blocked several strokes left to right. But mostly he thursted the D-Glave at Zero. Zero dodged most of the attacks that came at him. At one time, X used the Shield Boomerang as an offensive weapon, swing horizontally. Zero almost got hit by the blades, but leaped back to dodge the stroke. Zero then stabbed forward. X backflipped over Zero's attack and then pointed his X-Buster at Zero. X fired it at him. Zero then leapt over the shot and the battle resumed on.
"The Z-01 Lancelot will use the mountain type board to traverse the landslide." Cecile said on the tac-com. "You accelerate to your max speed and then save Cornelia by liquefying the path."
"Understood." He said.
Suzaku continued to configure the system of the Lancelot until everything was good and ready. He then positioned himself in his signature pose.
"Hey Suzaku!" Lloyd said on radar. "I have to ask you a question."
"What is it Lloyd?" He asked.
"You hate war and when people die; yet you're in the military." Lloyd said. "Why is that?"
"I'm in the military so people don't die." Suzaku said.
"That contradiction might kill you some day." Lloyd said. "Ahhh…I'm sorry. Sorry!"
Suzaku was only able to glimpse Cecile's arm grabbing Lloyd's shirt before the screen went blank.
"Lancelot." He said. "ME Boost."
Suzaku punched the Lancelot forward and then drove on through the mountain.
Zero dodged X's swing forward and then used his foot to kick X in the face with a right roundhouse kick. X got knocked over, but then regained his balance. As he got back up, he threw the Shield Boomerang at Zero. Zero dodged the boomerang, only to be blasted by an X-Buster. Zero flew backward.
Harpuia then charged back at Zero and then sliced at his chest. Zero got to his knees again, but regained his composure within seconds. X grabbed the Boomerang as Zero duel wielded his beam sabers. X hide behind the Shield and used the lance to poke forward. Zero blocked some of the strokes with his saber. Zero had to block at the blade as he didn't want to break the D-Glave (for fear of Cerveau yelling at him). Zero was then flanked again by Harpuria and X. Zero had to use both sabers to deflect both fighters. But he was tired and in pain.
Axl continued to peer into his scope as he watched for any incoming attackers. So far, no one had tried attacking after Axl had defeated Dolton and his unit. As he monitored the area, he managed to zoom in where the fight was going on. He was curious at first to what was going on. He watched and then saw Zero fighting X and Harpuia. He watched X poke Zero, to which in response, Zero kicked X and managed to hit him. Harpuia then sliced Zero's back. He was going to hit another time, but Zero deflected the blow and sliced him. But he could tell Zero was getting tired.
"Oh no!" Axl said. "Zero's fighting X. ZERO'S FIGHTING X!? Oh shit!"
Axl began to run around in circles at where he was at.
"What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?"
Axl then sat down Indian style and began to think.
"…UGH…" He said. "What the hell am I going to do!? I…I…don't know who to side with. If I side with Zero, X will label me a maverick. I mean honestly, I serve the JLF which opposes Britannia, but I still view X as a friend. Joining Zero may make lose that friendship forever. But Zero saved me. And he's my friend too. DAMN IT! What the hell do I do!?"
Axl threw his sniper rifle on the ground. He was in intense frustration right now over what to do. Axl then opened his eyes slightly, put his hands to his heart, and then said something to himself.
"What does your heart tell you?" Axl asked himself.
Axl then thought back to the horrific stories of all the people who told him what Britannia had done to them. People being butchered for not agreeing with customs, the battle at Shinjuku and Samita. Axl had talked to many young recruits, and how the people had broke down as they talked to him. It was in that sudden flash of memory that Axl made his decision. He grabbed his pistol and cocked it into place.
What happens is nothing personal X.
Zero ducked from a kick by X. He then got up and kicked X in the face, knocking him backward. He then grabbed Harpuia's hand, who tried stabbing him. He grabbed his arm, pulled it up to keep his dagger from stabbing him. Then Zero punched Harpuia in the stomach three times, before punching him in the face. Then Zero used a Z-Buster in order to blast him back. Harpuia survived, but was severely weakened from the attack. X got up from Zero's and looked at his former comrade, who kept the two blades out and ready. X looked at him for a few seconds with a serious face. Then X made an angry sigh and put his weapon at rest.
"DAMN IT!" X said. "Every time I try and form a simple answer for what you're doing, I just keep getting more lost!"
Zero's eyebrow flicked up.
"Make sense X and make it quick." Zero said. "What are you talking about?"
"The actions that you are doing currently defy all logic of Mavericks and how they act." X shouted. "A Maverick wants to destroy all of humanity. That's what the virus is programmed to do. But you're not following the virus at all. You are supposed to be killing all of humanity. But you're taking the orders from a human to kill humans, and restraining yourself when necessary. I don't get it!"
Zero looked at X with anger.
"Do you have any idea how biast that response was!?" Zero said. "I'm not infected with any damn virus!"
X looked at him.
"Don't you get it X!?" Zero shouted. "I made this choice to kill a human! Everything I did was by choice. Not guided by some voice in my head or error in my program. I'm doing this because I am."
X looked at Zero still as he carried the D-Glave.
"I already know what I'm doing is wrong." Zero said. "But people have their reasons for fighting. My reasons are simple: I'm doing this to begin change."
"Change!?" X said. "What change!?"
"A change in humanity." Zero said. "People are biased against Reploid and themselves because of color, race, religion, etc. But that's mostly because of the government. If I take out the heart of the racism, then the battle will end and no one will have to die."
"What you're saying is nothing more than self-justification for murder of humanity!" X shouted.
"I'll shorten this then!" Zero said. "If I'm going to die, so be it. But from now on, I refuse to tolerate torture of humanity, even if it's by themselves. It is the duty of the strong to oppose those who oppress the weak!"
X nearly shot back from that response. What Zero said…was true in every way.
What Zero says is true. With that kind of logic, there's no way he's infected with a virus. So what's going on…wait a minute…I remember something. Lumine before we killed him said something about evolution. The way Reploids are similar to that of humans. In myth, science says that humans had to evolve in order to become who they we're. Although that theory is in shambles now, we know that a type of Evolution occurs in everything called "micro" evolution. We're more technologically advanced, but we are still the same. Our CPUs are connected to bio metal, which carries a small essence of biological matter. And the Force metal had properties that even confused Doctor Cain and even Doctor Light before both of their deaths. Is it possible that the Evolution that Sigma and Lumine said come to pass…over Zero, Leviathan, and Phantom? And that it effected their brains so they can think on the level of humanity? How is it? What the hell is going on? If that is the case, what the hell does Maverick even mean anymore?
Zero staggered to his feet and resumed his fighting stance.
"No matter what is going on, no matter even if your right, the time to think about it is not now." X said. "Murder does not justify murder! Zero: I WILL FINISH YOU!"
"I can't believe it." Zero said. "I open your eyes to my true intentions, and YOU STILL CAN'T ACCEPT THE TRUTH!"
X charged at Zero along with Harpuia from the back. Zero braced for the worst.
But then X was kicked back by an unexpected force of energy. He was round house kicked by Axl, who flew towards him. X landed, dropping the shield boomerang and D-Glave. Harpuia struck Zero's arm, making him drop X's saber. Axl managed to rotate fast enough and unleashed a barrage of machine gun fire. Harpuia staggered as the machine gun rounds penetrated most of his armor. Harpuia was then knocked to the floor. X got up from the attack. Zero tried to grab X's saber, but X used his Strike chain to grab it. He then reactivated it and pointed at Zero as Zero picked up his equipment.
And Axl.
"Axl!?" He shouted.
"In the flesh." Axl said.
Zero smiled as soon as he saw Axl behind him.
"Your a nuisance you know that?" He said. "Thanks."
X looked stupefied.
"It…it can't be." X said. "Axl…you couldn't have…"
"Sorry." Axl said.
"I can't believe this…" X said. "First I lose one comrade…now another!? What else must happen!?"
"THIS!" Zero said, aiming his buster and firing it at X.
X got hit by the Z-Buster and flew backward, as the buster penetrated his armor. Zero then grabbed the Sub-tank on his back. X got up to see Zero grab the Sub-Tank. X watched as Zero glowed a multitude of colors and all the wounds that he had taken regenerate before him.
"A Sub-tank!" X said.
"That's right X." Zero said smiling. "Now that I have the power I need, this battle ends now!"
"Our reinforcements are being dwindled!" A commander said. "Of the three hundred we sent, only forty of them are left!"
"We've got to find a way around this!" Euphie shouted. "A way that doesn't involve killing anymore than already has been!"
An explosion occurred where Euphiema and the guards we're. They looked to see their main computer system destroyed, several wires from the ceiling hanging out, and the power going on and off.
"Intruder alert!" A guy said over the radio. "Intruder alert! Intrud…BLAH!"
The com then went silent.
"Switch to auxiliary power and get camera feed!" Euphiema said.
Euphiema got the cameras up. One by one, prompts came up. Most of it was normal, except for a few rooms that had dead guards. Non combat personal (with the exception of Commanders) we're simply knocked out. Everyone else was killed. Euphiema zoomed in on one of the screens and saw Phantom charged towards three guards. They fired their machine guns, but Phantom got to close. He killed the first with a swing vertically. He then stabbed the next one in the stomach. The final guard was eliminated from a kunai in his throat.
"Oh no!" Euphiema said. "Emergency! We've been boarded by an enemy Reploid."
"Oh no!" Lloyd shouted.
"It can't be!" Cecile said.
Lloyd stared at the screen with disbelief.
I finally know Zero's plan. This was a con-joint operation to capture both Governor-General, and the Vice-Governor at one time. We just sent every man who could fight to the front lines. Any infantry we send now will simply get killed. What are we going to do? Even I didn't see this coming!
"No way!" X shouted.
"This battle ends now." Zero said.
"Harpuia!" X shouted. "Teleport back there and rescue Euphiema now!"
"Yes, my lord!" Harpuia said, as he turned into energy and vanished in a beam of light.
"He won't make it." Zero said. "We've won!"