Chapter 8, Disposal centre.
Old surface city
Zero had left the Resistance base and was making his way to the Disposal centre on foot, he would have taken the ride chaser but it would have been too easy for the enemy to spot it.
Zero had just entered an old deserted city, according to Ciel this was the quickest way to the Disposal centre, this city had clearly seen better days, there wasn't a soul in sight neither Human or Reploid, there was broken down vehicles littering the cracked road and every building was damaged so badly that it was amazing that they hadn't fallen apart.
"So what exactly was this place" asked Zero into his communicator which was linked with Ciel back at base, "It used to be a big city before the Elf wars, but now this is all that's left" answered Ciel, Zero supposed that he should have guessed that, everything was ruined by that war.
Zero continued to make his way through the city, as he did so he noticed how quiet it was, in his passed missions with the Maverick hunters Zero was constantly going into battle zones where he would have to fight for every step that he took but here there was nothing, in a wired way Zero actually found this to be more unsettling then his passed missions.
"So tell me about this Disposal centre, tell me everything that you have on it" said Zero becoming sick of the constant silence, "Well, as you was told this is one of Neo Arcadia's most secure centres, they use it to destroy the Reploids who they judge to be the most dangerous" said Ciel.
"And they build it this far away from their main city" said Zero, "Yes, they didn't want the general public to see it, especially since most of the Reploids who are sent there haven't even done anything wrong" said Ciel.
Zero still wasn't too sure about this, he was only going on this mission so he could get an idea of what Neo Arcadia was really like, if he got to this Disposal centre and found that everyone in there really was a dangerous Maverick then he would just leave them there.
"What type of security should I expect" asked Zero as he walked around a crater in the road, "There's dozens of Pantheons paroling the area around the centre, they also have mounted guns on the building" replied Ciel.
That didn't sound good, Zero would have to stay out of sight if he didn't want to get torn apart by those mounted guns, "What about the inside" asked Zero, "We don't know, no one's ever been able to get inside and survive before" said Ciel with sadness in her voice.
"This just keeps getting better and better" thought Zero sarcastically as he continued on his way.
Disposal centre.
After close to an hour Zero neared his destination he could now see the Disposal centre, the Disposal centre was a large building made of metal that resembled a factory, if it wasn't for the guns mounted all over it and the countless Pantheons standing guard outside it would have looked like just another abandoned building.
Zero analysed the building, there was Pantheons all over, it was going to be very difficult for him to get inside without being seen, Zero could try and fight his way in but that would rise the alarm and that was something that Zero couldn't afford right now.
Zero looked closely, while every possible entrance was guarded there was some that was less protected than others, this gave Zero an idea.
Zero made his was closer to the Disposal centre using the ruins of the broken city as cover, soon Zero was close enough to a Pantheon standing near a side door to enact his plan, Zero fired a shot from his buster shot and hit the Pantheon in the head taking it down instantly.
Before another Pantheon came around and saw what had happened Zero emerged from his hiding place and stood the dead Pantheon up against the wall, at a quick glance the Pantheon looked like it was still alive and doing it's job, this would give Zero a few minutes to get inside.
Zero entered through the door, the inside of the Disposal centre was rundown as if it was repurposed from an old factory, (Zero expected that this was the case), the walls had chipped paint and the floors was dirty, clearly no civilian was supposed to see a place like this it would destroy whatever perfect image of Neo Arcadia that they had.
As Zero continues into the facility he began to hear the sound of crushing metal and pistons, there was also something else that Zero couldn't quite make out right now but it almost sounded like shouting.
As Zero got closer he realised that he was right, there was a voice shouting, no screaming, "Please, please no, I didn't do anything please, arrrr", then there was another crush of metal and the voice was silent, Zero didn't like the sound of this one bit.
Soon Zero found the source of the sounds and what he saw was horrifying, when Zero had heard that this place was used to dispose of Mavericks he had imaged violent, insane Reproids attacking everything and trying to break out while the guards tried to keep them under control, however this was completely different.
Zero could see countless cells holding far more Reploids then a single cell should, these Reploids wasn't fighting or attacking or acting violently at all, they was all sitting in their cells with looks of pure terror on their faces, Zero didn't even know that a machine could look so scared.
In the middle of the room there was a large pit leading to a huge crusher that was stained with the red oil from countless Reploids.
Two Pantheons dragged a Reploid from his cell and took him to the pit, "No, please don't" said the Reploid as he tried to break free but the Pantheons was too strong, the Pantheons throw the poor Reploid into the pit and he was crushed until he was nothing but broken scrap metal that was soon dropped down to places unknown.
"My god this is horrible" said Ciel who could see everything through Zero's helmet feed.
This was madness these Reploids wasn't Mavericks, Zero had seen Mavericks and he could tell that no a single Reploid here was one, they was all being killed no murdered and they was all scared too death at what was coming.
The Pantheons moved to another cell to collect another Reploid, but they never made it that far Zero had seen enough, Zero dropped down from where he was and sliced the two Pantheons heads clean off.
All of the trapped Reploids was staring at Zero from their cells, some looked at him with fear while others had a spark of hope to them.
"Who are you" asked the nearest Reploid who sounded even more scared then he looked, "My name is Zero, I've been sent here to save you all" said Zero, as soon as Zero said this looks of relief appeared on everyone's faces, "Oh thank you, thank you so much" said a Reploid who sounded like his prayers had been answered.
Zero was about to open the cells when he was stopped by a voice, "I wouldn't do that if I was you intruder", Zero looked up and saw a green falcon Reploid flying down, he must have been watching from the ceiling.
All of the jailed Reploids was immediately terrified by the falcon's presence, "The warden" said one of them, "Warden?" questioned Zero, "That's right, I am Aztec falcon, sparkling with lightning, member of the Strong air battalion, and the warden of this prison for Mavericks" said the falcon.
"Now then intruder surrender now and you will be allowed to stand trial for this" said Aztec falcon as his wings surged with electricity, "I doubt it would be a fair trial" thought Zero as he put his hand on his weapon.
"Did anyone here receive a trial" asked Zero, many of the jailed Reploids was shaking there heads, "That is not my concern, my job is to execute these Mavericks" said Aztec falcon, "Do any of these Reploids look like Mavericks to you, can't you see that their innocent" said Zero.
"Clearly there's no hope for you, you've already gone Maverick and therefore you will die along with the rest" said Aztec falcon as he charged at Zero.
Zero jumped over Aztec falcon and drew his Z-sabor and buster shot, Aztec falcon turned around and swung his electrified wings like swords, Zero blocked the first hit, then ducked under the second and finally blocked the third.
Zero kicked Aztec falcon back then he opened fire with his buster shot landing a couple of hits before Aztec falcon began to use his wings as shields, "Impressive Maverick, your far stronger then any of these pieces of garbage" said Aztec falcon referring to the jailed Reploids.
Aztec falcon took to the air and stuck himself to a wall, he then began to fire electric blasts at Zero, Zero move fast dodging the first couple of attacks but then he was hit by a blast and forced to his knees by the shock.
"What, how could an attack like that knock me down" thought Zero, he had taken more powerful attacks then that during the Maverick wars and they had never done this much damage before, was his body not properly repaired even after all this time.
"Perhaps you not as strong as I thought" said Aztec falcon as he charged at Zero ready to cut him in half, however Zero recovered and ducked under the attack, at the same time he also slashed with his Z-saber cutting Aztec falcon's left wing off.
Now without one of his wings Aztec falcon spun out of control and landed hard onto the floor, "No, I will not fail, I was chosen by Harpuia, I was assigned here by Master X" said Aztec falcon as he struggled to his feet.
Aztec falcon didn't even get a chance to continue the fight because as soon as he was on his feet he found himself looking directly into the barrel of Zero's buster shot.
Zero fired shooting Aztec falcon in the head, the damaged Reploid struggled for a moment before his systems began to shut down and he fell backwards into the crusher, the crusher activated automatically and Aztec falcon was crushed into scrap.
All of the jailed Reploids cheered for Zero as he walked over and opened their cells, the now freed Reploids all thanked Zero some of them even hugged him, "Zero are our scouts in that group, are they still alive" came Ciel's voice over Zero's communicator..
"Everyone calm down, there are still plenty of Pantheons here" said Zero, this caused everyone to settle down and remain quiet, "Now then, is anyone here from the Resistance I heard that a squad was captured" asked Zero.
A single Reploid stepped forward, "I'm with the Resistance Mr Zero sir" he said unsure what to call Zero, "What about the rest of your team" asked Zero, the Reploid looked at the crusher "Gone, I'm the only one left" he said sadly.
Zero could hear Ciel gasp through his communicator, "Zero please just get everyone out of there" Ciel said with a quiver in her voice, "Right everyone follow me, I'll lead you out of here" said Zero.
As Zero led the Reploids out the way that he came he began to think back to what Aztec falcon had said, Aztec falcon had mentioned that X was the one who had sent him here, this combined with what he had seen here only confirmed what Ciel had said.
Zero really hoped that the X that everyone was referring too wasn't the same one that he had known.