April 14, 22XX
Hikari Academy
X is on his way to school and he keep staring at his phone and wondering how he got an app that can open Portal wondering what was that about, he decided to tell his friends about after school.
Hours Later
School has ended, and X is on his way to see his friends and explained to them about what happen yesterday, then he overheard students gossiping.
"What's up with the body being found in Shibuya? That's so freaky!" One of the female students commented.
"I know, right? And the cause of her death is unknown… Really freaky." Her reploid friend stated.
"My senpai told me it was a third-year named Mimi found picture of that dead Reporter."
X decided to ignored their conversation, and he see his friends waiting for him.
"Hey, X…" Sting greeted.
"Hey, guys…" X greet back at him, and noticed that Storm Eagle and Zero aren't here. "Where's Storm and Zero?"
"Storm has some business to take care of at the Student Council Room, and Zero headed to the school rooftop to meet someone he knows." Armadillo explained.
"I see." X understood.
"Hey, Sting… Do you hear?" Palette asked him. "Mimi-senpai's supposedly the one who found pictures of Yuki Maizono. And I've heard she's been interview by reporter who keep asking questions about a Dead Reporter."
"I wonder if that's why she looked so down… She doesn't seem to be at school today either." He noted as he look concerned for his friend.
Hey guys!
Then turn and see Douglas approaching and his armband is blue meaning he's a second year.
"Douglas! You're here!" X exclaimed.
"Yeah... I am. Good to see you again, X." Douglas greeted and noticed something. "Hey, where's Zero and Storm?"
"He went to the school rooftop to meet someone. Storm Eagle is at the Student Council Room, cause he have some business to take care of." He explained.
"I see... Well, I guess we have to wait for him and Storm." Douglas suggested.
Pallette then noticed Cinnamon leaving the school. "Huh? Hey Cinnamon, are you helping out at the inn today too?" She asked her friend.
"Things are really out of hand right now." Cinnamon said. "I'm sorry."
She then left the school in a hurry looking downtrodden.
"Is it just me, or does Cinnamon seem so tired today?" Axl observed.
"I guess they're running her ragged…" Pallette said, somewhat sad at her friend's problems.
"I hope she's okay." Alia said in concern.
"Don't worry about her. She'll be fine." Pallette reassured.
"If you say so." Alia replied and then turned X. "Oh… And X… Is there something you want to tell us about yesterday.
"Yes. I have something to tell you all about what happen yesterday…
Moments later, X explained what happen yesterday, he tell them about a Blackout happened at his apartment and he also tell them about the App that can summon a portal to somewhere.
Really? An App can summon a portal." Douglas skeptically question. "That's ridiculous, there's no way it can summon a portal like that."
"Yeah, even though we have technology that teleport us anywhere anywhere, but a phone can summon a portal? That's crazy." Axl said skeptic.
"It's true." X seriously said, but his friends aren't quite convinced for what he's saying.
"X… There's no way an app can do that, you're just imagining things." Alia doubt.
"Guys! I'm serious!" X argued.
"Alright, if you're serious. Then show it to us." Layer suggested.
He's right, X. Show it to us.
They all turned and see Zero and Storm Eagle and they're with two familiar Reploids. It was Slash Beast and he has a Red Armband, make him a third Year and Wheel Gator who has a blue armband stand him as Second year.
"Zero, Storm Eagle… You all here." X said.
"Yeah, after at the Student Council Room." Storm state. "And we also brought Slash Beast and Wheel Gator to come along."
"Storm Eagle, Zero… You're here." X said.
"Yeah, X… And I brought Slash Beast to meet up with us." Zero said.
"It was great to see you again, X." Slash greeted.
"You too." X smiled and noticed the Red armband on Slash Beast. "And you're a third Year?"
"That's right. And also a Student Council President like Storm Eagle." Slash added and look at Zero. "Iris did call me saying that you're attended to Hikari Academy."
"Yeah, and I didn't know that some former members of Repliforce are attending to Hikari Academy." Zero remarked.
"I know, right." Slash agreed.
X then turn to Wheel Gator, who seems to be in bad mood.
"And Wheel Gator… You attend to Hikari Academy too, as second year." X comment.
"Yeah, I am… So what?" Wheel Gator rudely said.
"Excuse, Wheel Gator. He's not in a good mood after he got himself, a detention for breaking his school locker." Storm explained.
"Hey! I forgot the combination for my locker, so I have to use my teeth to get it opened." Gator defend.
"That doesn't mean you have to break school property for it. And the Principal warned you, that if you do that again, you'll be suspended." Storm strictly warned.
"Whatever." Gator scoffed as he cross his arm and look away.
"Anyway, X. You said that the app can summon a portal, right?" Storm recalled.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Then show it to us." Zero suggested.
"I will… But... not here." X refused.
"Huh? Why not?" Sting asked.
"I don't want to cause a scene in front of the students and the teachers." X explained.
"Hmm… Then I know just the place for it." Storm declared as he leave this school. "Follow me, everyone."
"Really? Where?" Axl asked.
"You'll see, come on." Storm said as X and the others follow him to somewhere.
Dorm
The group arrived at the Dorm, apparently this is what Storm Eagle talked about. X, Zero and Axl look around the Dorm.
"The Dorm?" Axl asked. . The others rooms are available for others students or guests
"Well it's too bad for us." Axl said. "Zero lived with Colonel and Iris at their home, X live in an Apartment of Odaiba, while I lived with Red and Gungaroo in Yongen-Jaya.
"Man, why can't he let me to live in a Dorm with you guys!? I don't want him as my guardian and treated me like a kid." Gungaroo complaint.
"He has his Reason, alright." Hyenard said to Gungaroo as he poet.
"Alright, X. This place looks okay, might as well show us the portal you talked about." Zero suggested.
X pull out his phone to prove them that an app can open a portal, the other are waiting for him to show them the portal, but… nothing happened. The portal didn't show up like yesterday.
"Nothing happened?" X respond.
"You see that, X? It was all a dream" Douglas proclaimed.
"But… it did show up last night…" X recalled in confused.
"You must be seeing things, X. Probably because you can't get enough sleep." Storm proclaimed as X continue staring at phone wondering why it's not working.
"Storm Eagle. Since we're here… can you give us a tour around the Dorm?" Zero asked.
"Well, since you, Axl and X are guests in our dorm like Gungaroo is." Storm state. "I might as well. Follow me everyone, I give you a tour around the dorm."
They all followed Storm Eagle for their tour except X, he still keep looking at his phone wondering why it's not working. He seems confused about why it appeared on his open and why it can't open a portal right now. He was about to put away his phone knowing that it's not working, then a Notification appeared. He look at it and saw the same Icon, and he wonder if it's working, he press it and it say
Time Portal Opened
Then a Portal appeared in the Lobby, and X was surprised to see it and proves that it's not alone, the others came back downstairs during the tour.
"And here we have the kit…chen…" Storm trailed off when he and everyone saw did the most bizarre thing.
"What the!?" Pallette exclaimed.
They ran towards X and look at the Portal he just opened, everyone was in the state of shock.
"H-How did he do that!?" Sting exclaimed. "Is that a new technology for the phone?!"
"No!?" Douglas denied. "There's no way, a phone can do that!"
"Still… it looks like he was telling the truth." Storm said in disbelief.
X keep staring at it and wondering what that portal leads to, he wants to know what's in there as he stick his head in there, making his friends even more shocked.
"Whoa! What are you doing!?" Hyenard exclaimed as he saw his friends stick his head into the portal.
"Oh my goodness." Pallette gasped.
"X! What do you see in there?" Zero asked seemingly not surprised.
"Nothing… and it looks like a Tunnel." X answered.
"What do you mean 'Nothing'." Alia questioned in shock.
"And what do you mean 'Tunnel'." Armadillo added in shock
"X… Come out of there! It looks dangerous!" Gungaroo panicked.
"The Kangaroo's right! Please come out!" Layer pleaded.
X wants to know what's in there, then suddenly a strong force began to suck X into the Portal. He scream for help, his friends are trying to pull him out and they also got suck in too, and they all scream through the portal.
???
They all come out of the portal. And they landed pretty… rough, to say the least.
"Man… What a rough landing." Gungaroo groaned.
"It's everyone okay?" Storm asked as they all nodded to him. "Good."
"Hey… Where are we?" Hyenard questioned as he look around.
They all look around, and see nothing but Gears, Clocks, Crystal and floating platform including paths from different direction.
"Don't know. And I don't think we're in Tokyo anymore." Zero proclaimed.
"Yeah…" Slash agreed. "But what is this place."
"Who knows." Axl said.
"Well… What are we gonna do?" Pallette asked.
"Let's look around." Zero suggested.
"What? Why?" Layer asked.
"We need to know what this place is." Zero explained.
"No, Zero!" Pallette refused. "We need to get back to the dorm."
Pallette looked around the place that she realized that she did not know how they entered this strange place. "Wait a minute… Which way did we come in from? I don't see a way in...or out!"
"What? That can't be right! H-How could that be!?" Wheel Gator exclaimed.
"A-Are we trapped in here?" Gungaroo stammered in fear.
"I don't know…But… I don't want be stuck here!? I have a volleyball practice tomorrow." Hyenard panicked.
"No! No! No! No! This can't be! I don't want to be trapped here!" Pallette panicked.
"Everyone, Stop!" Slash called out to them and got his attention. "Good. Just calm down for a moment."
"He-He's right. Let's just stay calm." Sting stammered.
"I am calm." Zero said, calmly.
"He said 'STAY CALM'!" Sting yelled at Zero.
"Everyone, please… Calm down… I know you're all scared, but take a deep breath and calm down." Armadillo advice.
They all take a deep breath to regain their composure, while X is looking around the place, wondering what this place is. And then he spot someone in the distance. And it's seems to be walking off to somewhere, X began to wonder who that person is, and he chase after that Silhouette leaving his friends to regained their composure.
"Alright. It looks like we're calm down now." Alia said. "So… How can we get out of here?"
""Is there really a way outta here...?" Layer asked.
"We got in… so we must be able to get out somehow." Douglas said logically
"That's true, but…"
"If there's no exit, we're trapped, so let's look around and find our way out." Storm declared.
"I agreed. Let's go, X." Zero said, and then noticed that X isn't here, he look around for him. "X? X! Guys, X isn't here!"
Everyone react to hear this, they look around for him. Then Storm Eagle saw him running off to somewhere. "Over there!"
"X! What are you doing! Come back!" Zero shouted as he and the other chase after him.
X is still chasing after that silhouette, wondering who that might be. And then stopped as he's now in different area that look a suburb area, he look around to find that silhouette wondering where they go, and he saw that mysterious silhouette walking off to to another area, he continue to chase after it. And then he come across a building, and he wonder if that mysterious person is inside. He open the door and enter it, and search that mysterious person. He look around and found no one, and he though that mysterious person is in here. And he was so sure that person went inside.
X!
He look behind and see his friends approaching him. Zero look so Upset.
"X! What were you doing!? Wandering off your own like that!" Zero scolded.
"Sorry, Zero." X apologized. "I was chasing after someone."
"Really? Who was it?" Alia asked.
"Don't know. I saw that mysterious person wandering around, so I chase after them. When I arrived in this building, they're gone." X explained.
Zero Sighed. "X, you could have just tell us, you can't just go on your own without us."
"I know. I'm sorry." X apologized and look ashamed.
"Anyway… Where are we?" Douglas asked as he look around the place.
Axl pull his phone to call Red to help, only to find that it has no receptions. "Great, no service." He groaned.
"Well, we have to get out of here. This place give me the creeps." Sting said as he's about to leave, then noticed something behind him and the others. "Huh?!"
"What's wrong, Sting" Armadillo asked in confused.
"Uh…behind you…" He said, awkwardly. They all turned around and sees the walls, and look shocked.
"Wha!? What is this?" Layer exclaimed.
The wall behind them is covered in posters, with the face cut out. From the looks of the place, it seems to be TV Studio that looks abandoned and they all noticed the Newspaper scattered around the floor.
"Whoa! Are these Posters?!" Gungaroo exclaimed.
"Looks like it ..." Storm comfirmed.
"Check out these posters. Their faces are all cut out… Someone must really hate this person…" Alia said, looking at the torn posters that were all over the walls of the studio.
Wheel Gator noticed a smashed cameras on the ground. "And look, the cameras were all smashed up."
"And what are these newspapers?" Alia curious said as she pick up, and then look surprised. "Everyone! Look at the newspaper."
They all look at newspapers all over the ground, and have the same reaction as Alia. The Newspaper they look at are about the Maverick Wars. Sigma, X-Hunters, Dr. Doppler, Repliforce War, Eurasia, Nightmare Investigation, Red Alert and New Generation Reploids.
"These Newspapers are they… Maverick Wars related?!" X exclaimed.
"It is…" Zero confirmed. "Look at the date and years, these newspaper are long time ago."
"Someone must done some research about the Maverick Wars." Layer comment.
"Guys… We should head back… I don't like it here." Sting said looking uncomfortable.
"Yeah. Let's out of here." Gungaroo agreed and then groaned in pain. "I don't feel so good."
"Me too. I don't feel well." Pallette said, and doesn't feel well too.
The group feel terrible like they're sick or something probably because of the atmosphere they arrived. They all leaving the TV Studio and headed back to where they came from, Storm take one quick look of the torned poster and he find it very familiar to him like he seen it from somewhere.
The group all arrived at the place where first got here.
Whew. We finally made it back here..." Layer said, before looking around. "Wait... What's that...?"
They all looked up, and saw something hiding from them. "Th-There's something over there!" Douglas said.
A figure came out out of it's hiding spot and approached the group. It looks like a bipedal, fluffy white creature with a yellow pompom, a catlike visage with yellow cheeks, and full-length red bat wings extending from his mid-back. He has a medallion pinned to his chest.
"What is that?" Pallette asked cautiously.
"I don't know… But I never seen a model like that before." X remarked as he stared the bipedal fluffy creature.
"Did they build this reploid?" Axl questioned.
"What? No! They would never build something like that." Douglas refute.
"Well, was is that thing? A Stuff Toy?" Gungaroo guessed. Then the Creatures look ticked off for what he said.
"I'm no stuffed Toy, Kupo! I'm a Moogle!" The bipedal fluffy creature yelled. And it voice confirm to be a boy.
"Whoa! It can talked!" Pallette exclaimed.
"Of course, I can, Kupo!" The Moogle said look irritated. "And don't you dare call me a stuff toy."
"What is that thing?" Armadillo questioned.
"Wahtever it is, it doesn't look Hostile. Even though he's a bit ticked off for calling him a stuff toy." Zero proclaimed.
X approached him, and ask him something. "Hey… Do you what this place is?"
"This place is known as the Time Realm, Kupo." The moogle answered.
"Time Realm." Douglas said in confused.
"Yes. A Realm where time and space are connected, Kupo." The moogle explained.
"Time and Space…" Douglas murmured. "That's sounds alot like Time Travel."
"It is… Anyway, you have to leave this Realm, Kupo. Or else the monsters will get you.
"Monsters? What are you talking about?" Hyenard asked in confused.
"There's no time to explained! Also someone's been throwing people in the Time Realm. You better get out of here or else the monsters might get to you, Kupo!"
"Huh? Throwing people in? What're you talking about?" Storm asked.
"I dunno who's doing it, Kupo!" The Moogle insisted." I just want them to think before they go doing things like that, Kupo"
"Hey, what's your problem? What gives YOU the right to yell at us like that!?" Gator snapped, causing the creature to be startled by the shouting as he cower behind X.
"I already told you…Kupo" He said timidly. "A-Anyways, you should hurry back."
"What it comes down to is, you want us to get outta here, right? Well, so do we! We just don't know how." Sting retorted.
"Well, you must have something that brought you all here, Kupo!" The moogle countered.
X noticed what he said, he pull out his phone and wondering if that Portal he open can take him and his friend back home. He press the Icon
Time Portal Open
The portal appeared in front of everyone, which startled them to see it appeared again.
"What the?! That again?" Douglas questioned.
"Is that our way out?" Armadillo guessed.
"It is, Kupo." The Moogle confirmed. "All you have to leave right now!"
"What about you?" X asked in concern.
"I'll be fine just go, Kupo!" The Moogle insisted.
"You heard him! Let's get out of here!" Sting said agreeing to the Moogle's word, as he head into the Portal first.
Everyone went into the Portal and X is the last one to go in, then he pause for a moment and look around for a bit.
"Um… is something wrong, Kupo?" The Moogle noticed.
"Yeah, but… Have you seen anyone here?" X asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Kupo?" The Moogle asked.
"Because I seen someone walking around this place. Have you seen them?" X asked again.
"Beside me or people get thrown in the Time Realm, Kupo" Moogle proclaimed.
"Yes." X nodded. "Have you seen them?"
"No… Not really, I don't seen anyone who walk around in the Time Realm, Kupo." Moogle said. "And you have to leave rightbnow, before the monsters gets you, Kupo.
"Um… Okay." X hesitate as he headed to the Portal.
Dorm
The group came out of the portal and see that they're back at the dorm safe and sound.
"Did we… make it back?" Hyenard asked.
"From the looks of it, yeah." X confirmed, as he exit the Portal last.
Gungaroo, Sting and Hyenard look around frantically, and start to cheered and relieved that they made it back out of that crazy Time Realm alive. That is until the three instinctively embraced each other, and then realized as they back away from each other and act like nothing happened.
"Man, glad we made it back alive." Axl said in relief and he look at the Clock, see that it's 7:30." Whoa!? It's half past seven."
"Oh no, we have to get back home! Red's waiting for us." Gungaroo noticed.
"Looks like we were in there for quite a while…" X added.
Storm was going to Zero, X, Axl and Gungaroo to go home until he sees a familiar poster on the bulletin board.
"Hey, that's right!"
"What is it, Storm?" Zero asked.
"Look at the poster on the bulletin board." Storm said as, as they look at what he's pointed.
"Huh? What about it?" Layer asked.
"That's the poster we saw in the TV Station from that world, with newspaper scattered all over." Storm pointed out. "Doesn't it look familiar to us?"
"It is?" X questioned.
"Come to think of it… You're right." Alia noticed. "The face was cut out, but now that I look at it, those posters were posters of Ms. Ohya Utada.
"The girlfriend of Shin Kudo?" Armadillo recalled.
" Yeah, she's been all over the news lately." Alia added. "Something about... her boyfriend cheating on her with that reporter lady who died the other day."
"Hey, so does that mean...? That strange TV Studio we found from that world along the Newspaper scattering around… Could it be related to that Yuki's death...?" Douglas theorized "…Was she doing some researching about the Maverick Wars before she died?"
Then Sting Chameleon stopped him. "No! I don't want to think about it anymore." He exclaimed. "We gotta stop talking about the Maverick Wars again, alright!"
"Sting's right." X agreed, knowing how he's still horrified about Maverick War. "I don't want to talk about that war too."
Then some of them feel tired and dizzy, probably from the Time Realm they entered.
Wheel Gator groaned. "I don't feel good. I'm going to head back to my room and lie down." he said as he leave to his room in the dorm.
X, Zero, Axl and Gungaroo left the dorm and headed back home seperately after wondering around in the Time Realm.
Iris and Colonel's Estate
Night
Zero arrived at Iris and Colonel's Estate looking tired after his experience in the Time Realm, and he saw them watching together and they both noticed Zero.
"Ah, welcome back. Come sit with us. " Colonel said, as Zero sit down with them looking tired.
"Are you okay, Zero? You look tired." Iris asked in concern.
"I'll be fine, Iris." Zero reassured.
"Um… Zero… I… Well… I doubt you'd know… But have you heard anything about a student from your school named Mimi Hoshi?" Colonel asked.
"She wasn't at school today." Zero answered. "But I do know that she's the one who found photos of Yuki Maizono."
"I see… Well… To be honest… we got a call from her brother. She's disappeared. We've got people looking for her, but she hasn't been found yet…" Colonel explained and then Sighed. "First a Dead Reporter and now a Missing Student… What's going on here?"
And now, more on the case still casting a shadow over in Odaiba. Not long ago, The Reporter Yuki Maizono was found dead in Shibuya. Up until now, the cause of her death is unknown. But the police investigation has found that she had been staying in the Odaiba Inn next to the Inami Temple."
Zero raised an eyebrow about what the news said. The Odaiba Inn... the one that Cinnamon works part time… Including the Inami Temple Rainy Turtloid work and lives.
"She had apparently been staying there alone. Perhaps she was taking a vacation to recover from her ordeal...?"
Zero continue watching the news, until he feel sluggish and more tired then before and began to feel dizzy.
"Hey… Are you okay?" Colonel asked in concern. "You look terrible."
"I don't feel so good." Zero groaned. "And I feel kinda tired."
"You should head back to bed, zero." Iris suggested in concern. "Maybe you'll feel better."
"Yeah, you're right." Zero agreed as he head back to his room.
April 15, 22XX
Zero came downstair and look better since yesterday and saw Colonel leaving before noticing.
"Good, you're awake. I'm off." Colonel greeted without saying a word, as he drive off to work.
"Brother got a call from General, saying there's urgent business." Iris explained.
Zero understood for Colonel and he seems concern for Iris being alone at home now that her brother head to work.
"You should go to School, Zero." Iris suggested.
"What about you?" Zero asked in concern.
"I'll be fine, I have to look after the house." Iris said, as she head to the backyard to look after her garden.
On the Train to Hikari Academy, Zero overheard some student talking to each other.
"When I looked, I saw three police cars zooming by." The red haired girl began.
"You live by the police station, don't you? Did you hear anything?" The white haired girl asked.
"I heard some yelling, but nothing more. Total disappointment."
"Geez, you need to pay more attention to stuff like that. How else are we supposed to get the juicy stories?"
Zero then see flying Police cars heading to Odaiba, wondering what's this all about for.
Hikari Academy
Afternoon
All of the students gathered around in the school's gym due to an emergency assembly.
"Hey… Did you see it yesterday?" One of the female reploid students said as X, Zero and Axl overheard their conversation.
"Of course, not… What, is that rumor for real?" Her friend said.
"I dunno, but it seems like a lot of people have seen it."
Pallette look around in worries. "Where's Cinnamon? Why isn't she here… … I wonder why they're holding a school assembly all of a sudden." She remarked before seeing an odd expression on Sting's face. "Are you alright, Sting."
"Huh?" Sting respond.
"You seem so silent." Armadillo noticed.
"I'm okay, thanks… " Sting assured and then look at Storm." Storm… Have you seen Mimi-Senpei?"
"No… I haven't seen her, but only her brother coming to school." Storm state, which make Sting grow worried.
"Really?" Sting said as he look around for Mimi Hoshi. "Senpai… Where are you?"
"Everyone, please, be quite." The teacher said, earning everyone's attention. "The school assembly has is about to begin. First, the principal have something to say." The teacher walked to the side to allow the principal to walk to the podium.
"Students… I… have to regret a quick and terrible announcement to make…" The principal said in the microphone. "One of our third year student Ms. Mimi Hoshi… has passed away."
The students were caught off guard by the announcement.
"Passed away…!?" Alia exclaimed.
"It… it can't be." X said in disbelief.
But amongst all of the students here, Sting Chameleon took this loss the hardest. To say that he was surprised by this was an understatement.
"Ms. Hoshi was found deceased early this morning… The reasons behind her passing are currently under investigation by the police. If they ask you for your cooperation, I urge you, as students of this academy, to provide only the facts." The principal continued. "All right, please quiet down… I have been assured by the faculty that there's been no evidence that bullying or robot attacks were involved in the incident. So, mind what you say, not only to the police but to anyone who asks…"
"Found dead…? How could this happen…?" Pallette muttered as her classmate was thinking about something…
"Mimi Hoshi is… gone." Storm Eagle said in shock and noticed that Sting Chameleon is not here. "Guys… where's Sting Chameleon."
They look around and saw Sting Chameleon running out of the gym, apparently he's so upset to hear that his friend Mimi Hoshi is Dead. The group are now concern for him and wondering if he's okay.
After the assembly, the group were walking down the hall looking for Sting to see if he's alright, when they overheard a few other students.
"They died the same way as that announcer, right? That's so creepy..."
"Well, last time, it was found in Shibuya, but this time she was found in Odaiba. It's gotta be a serial murder case..."
"Someone said the cause of death was unknown to us."
"Unknown...? C'mon, this isn't some sci-fi drama. Maybe she was killed by someone like stalker. Isn't that scary?"
"Haha, sounds like someone had a nightmare. The media's been brodcasting their interviews nonstop, so maybe they just had Mimi on the brain."
They walked away, still chattering. "It's easy to toss around theories if you're not personally involved." Storm scoffed, disgusted by their apathy. Especially since it was someone from this very school.
Then Sting approached the group looking sad to them.
"Sting? Are you alright?" X asked in worried.
"No… I'm not." Sting answered sadly then look at the Group. "Guys… have you ever though about that world we came in?"
"What? Why are you asking that?" Douglas questioned.
"I know I said we should forget what just happened to us yesterday…. But something kept bothering me..." Sting said. "I began to have a hunch that Mimi been in the Time Realm before she die
"What!? How can you be so sure?" Pallette asked in surprised.
"You heard Senpai's body was found in a similar situation as that Reporter...? Including the cause of death is unknown? Maybe... Just maybe, but…" Sting theorized.
"What are you getting at?" Alia questioned. "Hold on... are you saying...? People... die… in that world?"
"Maybe… but I'm not sure" Sting said. "But something tells me... I just can't dismiss it as coincidence."
"You might be right, Sting… there's too much factor to add." Zero added.
"Yeah, and remember what that creature said." Sting reminded. How that place was dangerous, and we should leave before the monster find us? It also said that someone's been throwing people in there."
"He did say that." Storm recalled.
"And that studio with the posters on the wall along with newspapers of Maverick Wars... It has to have something to do with the Reporter's death." Sting continued. "I mean... don't you think there's some kind of connection there? Couldn't that would have something to do with Senpai and the Reporter's!?"
He turned to X. "Well… what do you think, X?"
"I think… you might be right, Sting..
but I have a feeling what you might say next." X hesitate knowing Sting is going to do.
"Yeah. If the studio with posters and newspaper of the Maverick War were related to the reporter's death, there should be something related to Senpai's." Sting proclaimed.
"Sting…" Pallette said in worried. "Don't tell me..."
Sting nodded. "Yeah... I'm thinking about going in again. I want to find out for myself."
"D-don't do this." Pallette tried to argue. "You should just let the police handle this, and-"
"You think we can rely on the police!?" He snapped. "They haven't made any progress on the Reporter's case. Besides, even if we told them about the world inside the TV, there's not way they're gonna believe us!
"Well, I could show it them on my phone, but then I'd be taken into custody." X said, looking at his phone. "They'll want to figure out how I got this app, but then might endanger their lives, cause this place is full of monster that the creature warned us about." X noted.
"Yeah. And beside, we are Maverick Hunter, Repliforce and Red Alert." Sting pointed out. "Why can't we do this again? We can't just rely on the police all the time."
"We know that, Sting. But things have change now. The Maverick Wars is over, we're no longer do this anymore." Alia replied.
"I know that, but this is different from the Maverick Wars!" Sting shouted, which startled the group of his outburst, then he calm down a bit. "Look, if you don't want to help me, that's fine... It's just... I need to know why Senpai had to die like this."
"Sting." X said sympathetically, realized how Sting has taken the death of Mimi Hoshi personally.
"After what I've seen and what I've put together, there's no way I can ignore it now… That's why it's up to us to investigate, and we're doing it right now." He seriously said then turned to X. "Sorry... but you're the only person who can open the Portal with that phone of yours. I'll be at the Dorm."
He quickly ran off, as the group look shocked to see how acted so serious about going to the Time Realm.
"Man… I didn't see him acted that way." Axl said in shocked.
"Yeah… he's look so different." Gungaroo added.
"I guess he can't handle Mimi's death seriously." Storm proclaimed.
"I can kinda understand how he feels…" Pallette said in concern. "But we can't be sure we'll be able to get out safely again. What should we do...?"
The Group began to think about what they should do, can they go to the Time Realm to investigate or not. Zero, Slash Beast, Storm Eagle and Armored Armadillo look at each other nodded and about to leave the School.
"Storm, Slash, Zero, Armadillo… where are you going?" X noticed.
"We're going with Sting." Zero answered, much for their surprised.
"What!? Not you too!?" Pallette exclaimed.
"Yeah… and Sting does have a point. We used to be Maverick Hunter, Repliforce and Red Alert, we can't rely on the police all the time." Storm state. "That's why it's up to us to investigate the Time Realm."investigate that other world."
"But… that world is dangerous. And beside you guys don't have your weapon functions on you." Alia pointed out.
"Yeah… But me, X and Axl still got our weapons." Zero said as he pull his Z-saber, which surprised his friends except Axl and X.
"He's right." Axl admitted as he pull his guns.
"What!? But I thought the Government removed our Weapon functions." Alia pointed out.
"They did. But they allowed me, Zero and X to keep it, cause we're the ones who ended the Maverick Wars." Axl explained as he twirl his guns.
"Okay then…" Layer said then look at the others. "But what about the rest of you and Sting?"
"Don't worry, we find a way to protect ourselves." Slash Beast assured. "Even though it's dangerous for us, but we done all kinds of missions and battles as Maverick Hunters, Red Alert and Repliforce. And it's time for us to take action.
"That's right." Zero agreed then look at the others. "So… Who wants to come with us?"
The group look at each other, then Pallette shake her head to them not to go to the Time Realm with them and Sting, not knowing what's beyond that world.
Well… count me in. I want to learn more about the Time Realm." Douglas volunteer as he raise his hand.
"So am I. " Axl agreed. "It's been so long for a good fight."
"Me too! I wanna kick those monsters butt that little guy said." Gungaroo eagerly said.
"Yeah, all you want to do is to act all high and mighty, Kid." Gator deadpan, as Gungaroo glared at him for calling him a kid. "Well count me out, I'm in no mood to go back."
"Me too… I can't go with you guys." Hyenard refused, much for Axl and Gungaroo surprise to heard what he said about refused to go to the Time Realm.
"What!? Hyenard… You're not coming with us?!" Axl exclaimed. "But you're a member of Red Alert like me and Gugnaroo.
"Yeah! We are a team, and we look out for each other as members of Red Alert!" Gungaroo said.
"I know… But… I just can't. I'm sorry. Hyenard frowned and look ashamed.
"Well… If you insist." Zero said to Hyenard then look at X who look hesitated. "What about you, X?"
"Huh?" X respond.
"Do you want to go to the other world with Us?" Zero asked.
"I don't know… But do we have to?" X hesitate.
"Of course we have to, X. You the one who can open the portal to that world." Zero said seriously. "And if you don't do this, more people will be killed by that world. And you know how Sting's feel for losing a friend like that, he counting on you to help him out."
"But… But I… I…" X hesitate to speak up, then understood Zero's word including Sting's pain for losing someone, and so X sigh reluctantly about this, for inside the Time Realm. "Okay… Let's go."
Good." Zero replied then look at Alia and Pallette. "Since you two aren't coming with us to the other world. You all stay behind with Palette, Wheel Gator and Flame Hyenard."
"Come on, let's head back to the Dorm. Sting is waiting for us." Armadillo said as they headed off to the Dorm to see Sting.
Dorm
Sting is waiting for his friends with a rope around his wrist, so he can investigate the Time Realm with them. And he saw them coming to the dorm.
"You guys are here." He greeted them.
We came to stop you, idiot!" Pallette retorted. "Please, Sting… You really shouldn't do this. It's too dangerous."
"I can't! I have to do this" Sting refused then began to think. "If we're able to come back once, right? If we go in from the same location, maybe we'll meet that strange Moogle again."
"Maybe, is NOT an options." Pallette said trying to reason Sting Chameleon.
"Listen, I just can't ignored and act like nothing happened." Sting explained.
""That's true, but..." Pallette tried to talk him out but then Storm held his arm to stop her.
"Pallette, please stop." Storm said. "You won't be able to convince him." He turn to Sting. "We're going with you, but Hyenard, Gator, Alia, Layer and Pallette stayed.
"That's okay… I understand." Sting replied. "Don't worry, I'm not going in without a plan. Pallette, I'm leaving you in charge.
He handed her an end of the rope.
"Huh? Is that a Rope?" Gungaroo asked.
"We'll go in with this tied to me, so I want you to hold on to this and wait."
"Wh-what? Then is this a lifeline? C'mon, wait a sec…" Pallette pleaded.
"X… Can you opened the portal." Sting asked ignoring Pallette's pleading.
"X! Don't do this!" Pallette begged.
X look at them, he understand why Pallette doesn't want Sting to go in the Time Realm knowing how dangerous it is that the Moogle warned, then he turned to Sting knowing how serious he was for going into the Time Realm. He want to stop him too, but he know that he can't talk Sting out for this, he has no choice. X sighed and pull out his phone and open a Portal to the Time Realm.
"Alright. Let's go, everyone." Zero announced as they all nodded to him.
"Guys! Please! Don't do this!!" Pallette begged as Alia and Layer held her back.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine, Pallette." Axl assured her.
"And… Whatever you do… Don't. Let. Go." Sting advice her.
"Guys! Please! WAIT!!!" Pallette yelled.
They all went into the Portal to the Time Realm, the Portal began to close and cut the Rope.
Di-Did that portal just… Close?" Hyenard stammered.
"It did." Layer comfirmed.
"And the Lifeline… did it just." Alia hesitate.
"Yeah. It got cut." Gator deadpan.
Then Pallette went down on her knees as the realization sunk in. "See...? I knew this wasn't going to work... Now what…" She asked in tears.
"Well… All we have to do… is wait for them to come back." Layer suggested.
"If not…" Pallette said in fear.
"Then they're done for." Gator sighed as Pallette whimper in fear, The others hope that their friends will come back safe from the Time Realm.
To Be Continued