Chapter Text
Two hovercycles blasted through the forest as evening drew ever closer.
“Where are we going!” The rider of the blue one demanded for what felt like the umpteenth time.
“For the last time X, you’ll see! You can be so impatient, I swear!” The rider of the red one snapped back with a laugh.
“Well I have things-“
“That can wait! Geez, need to figure out how to pull that rebar out of your ass before you become as stiff as the new guy!”
“He’s been here almost two years, Zero, he isn’t new anymore! And he has a name!”
“And until he stops being tight, that’s all he’ll ever be! Now keep up, I know that little cycle of yours can go faster than that!”
It is 21XX A new revolution of robots that think and have wills of their own have been developed. They are called Reploids. Though highly advanced far beyond what was thought possible there have been errors, and they have been far from perfect. Those who lose themselves to flaws and viruses are called Mavericks. And those who fight them, Maverick Hunters.
The red one finally slowed down, the blue one following suit as they reached their destination upon the mountain side, next to what looked like an ancient shrine for travelers, now becoming rotten and fallen apart.
The red rider took off his helmet and grinned as the blue one simply stared at the city below, blond hair flowing in the breeze.
“Told you it would be worth it.”
The blue rider scrambled with his own helmet to show a mess of dark brown, almost black hair.
“That’s…whoa. This is…This is amazing! How the heck did you find this!”
“Oh my usual way, riding until I find something interesting. This was probably some hiking trail for humans back in the day or something. But hey, I’m not the human expert, Commander X.”
X scowled at him and sighed, getting off his cycle to look around properly.
“It looks…like this used to be a place of pilgrimage. Probably to a god of the mountain. Shame that shrine isn’t in better repair, I’ve only seen photos but the ones that are kept up these days are thousands of years old.”
“Well MAYBE if someone got out of HQ more often, he might see shit like this.”
“Zero…”
“What I’m just saying.”
“You never just say, you always have a point to make.”
The red Hunter gave him a look, elbow between the handles of the cycle and propping his head on a fist.
“You want my point? YOU need a break, that’s my point.”
“Zero…”
“And if say my name that way one more fucking time, I’m forcing you into hibernation and we’ll be gone for an entire week. Not even Cain will know where we are. And Headquarters will just have to live with that.”
X felt his cheeks grow warm at the very idea and semi prayed the darkness could hide the fact.
Zero smirked triumphantly at the silence and finally dismounted his own cycle.
“That’s what I thought.”
It had been two years since the Second Sigma Rebellion and the threat of the Mavericks known as the X Hunters. What was the ruin of Abel City’s Headquarters and founding branch of the Maverick Hunters had finally been rebuilt thanks to the concerted efforts of acting Commander X and Captain Zero, two of the last remaining of the old guard before the first rebellion. And for a good long while, there was peace. A program had been developed by a Reploid called Dr. Doppler, a protege of the father of Reploids, Dr. Cain. Its function, to rehabilitate and cure those affected by the Maverick Virus. In turn, he was given great funding for his own island city known simply as Dopple Town, a perfect city where Reploids and humans were seen as equals and lived in harmony with nature. But peace never lasts forever. And miracles rarely ever stay miraculous.
“It’s nice up here.” X murmured, fighting hibernation as he and his friend laid upon the natural grass of the mountain side.
“Oh yeah and not a soul in miles. Well except the occasional mechaniloid. Seen a few flying around, but pretty sure they’re checking for dumping or something.” Zero agreed.
“And it’s damn nice to get a break for once. Let the new guy do his job for once.”
“His name is Signas and he’s-“
“Lt. Commander, I know. Yeesh you think I don’t pay attention in briefings or something?”
“You rarely look like you do!”
“And your shouting is ruining the quiet, X. I’m sure your mountain god or whatever isn’t happy you’re disturbing the peace either.”
X made a noise of absolute frustration but silently agreed as they listened to the wind flow through the trees.
But then reality had to shatter their ideal.
Attention all Maverick Hunters! Attention all Maverick Hunters!
Headquarters is under attack!
Repeat! Headquarters is under attack!
Both shot up.
“What?!”
X scrambled for his cycle while Zero scanned the city below them.
“This is Commander X, request for further information!”
It is just as I said, Commander, they claim-agh! They claim they are under orders from Dr. Doppler! Please we need back up! They’re trying to take out the navigation tower first!
“Zero and I are on our way! Spare nothing in repelling the attack!”
“Fucking-I can see the blasting from here! I say a dozen or more aerial units! Can we have even an hour where shit doesn’t hit the fucking fan!” Zero swore as he turned away to mount his own hovercycle.
“Has there been efforts to evacuate Dr. Cain?”
Yes, Commander. A new voice came on the commlink.
He is being escorted from his lab as we speak. These Mavericks will not have him, you have my word.
“I’ll hold you to that, Signas. We’ll be there soon as we can.”
But keeping that was going to be harder than they thought.
For the building had already been breached.
“Sisters, take the doctor and go. I’ll hold them off!”
“Astraeus, don’t be a fool! You are hardly trained!”
“And Eos is more so, I’m aware! She will be a better protecter for you! I can deal with the rabble!”
Cain watched with anxiety as his youngest turned and ran the opposite way, a new plasma blade already making quick work of the first mechaniloids.
“My boy….”
“Doctor, Astraeus would rather be dismantled than see you hurt.” The beast beneath him murmured, a white tiger with stripes of the dawn.
“You’re…you’re right, Eos. Much as it pains me that you have to think of my safety above your own.”
“Are we not combat units, meant to fight?”
“You are still children.”
“We are Reploids.”
Cain sighed.
“You’re more than that, you’re-“
The tiger stiffened beneath him and then snapped into a sprint.
“Eos, you need to warn me before you do that! Cann-Wait…Cannossa! Good lord, if she’s loose, I can’t imagine the building will be up for much longer!”
“Then we must leave.” The tiger responded.
“No, it means-Oh nevermind! I’m sure she’ll at least be entertained. By the looks of things, we need all the help we can get.”