#testing my resolve

Zero folds his arms.

ZERO: What?

Captain ticks in frustration.

CAPTAIN: Tsk. ‘What..’ You destroyed the entire Repliforce Marine Base!!

X: (reacting) WHAT!?

ZERO: (grinning) Hm.  You’re welcome.

CAPTAIN: How…?  Our teleporters were down and you got in undetected, no less.  What, did you wait there over night?

ZERO: …Iris took us this morning, directly.

CAPTAIN: Hmph. A physical teleport through her Repliforce Network, huh?  Resourceful… but still reckless!

X: My God, Zero.  You could’ve been killed!

CAPTAIN: You were all reckless!  You both should’ve told me you were leaving.  Instead, I find out that eight of my most notable Hunters are invading the Repliforce Marine Base through the Media.  And as far as I knew, X, you were completely missing!!

X: None of us were expecting the Network to go down like it did.  Had we never been hacked, you would’ve seen us on screen and we all would’ve been on coms, like usual.

ZERO: My Team would’ve been able to teleport home sooner too…  That would’ve saved the Armored Air Cavalry a lot of grief.

CAPTAIN: (glaring) Are they okay…?

ZERO: For now, yes.  But some of them need medical attention.

Captain closes his eyes tightly and pinches the middle of his brow, as he can feel a headache coming on.

CAPTAIN: Wow.  So you mean to tell me that... over night, X, was stranded at Split Mushroom’s laboratory while Cyber Peacock was chewing at the insides of our Network.  While Zero, went on a covert mission of his own, with Iris and Takuma’s help.

ZERO: (confirming) That’s right.

CAPTAIN: Then, our allies from the Legion picked X up on a Jet, while Zero and our very own Armored Air Cavalry obliterated the Repliforce Navy and began an assault on their Air Force…

X grimaces as he stares at Zero.

ZERO: I guess you could look at it that way.

CAPTAIN: How else am I supposed to see this!?

ZERO: We were Surviving!!  Jet Stingray deserved Retribution after destroying Sydney and our Maritime Unit.  You know that!!  I didn’t intend to engage with Spiral Pegasus from the Air Force, but suddenly there he was, and we couldn’t get home!

X sighs, exhausted at the thought of their close call.

CAPTAIN: (deducing, inferring) …Until X came home first.  And solved our problem in Cyber Space.

X: Gear-Rig was the first to pick up on what was going on.  He force-teleported Zero and the others to the Lab immediately.

CAPTAIN: Good. 

He pulls up an their mission roster on the halogen screen and inputs the new data.  The mugshots of Split Mushroom, Cyber Peacock and Jet Stingray all become black and white.

CAPTAIN: Well, with 3 more Mavericks down and you both home safe, I suppose all I can say now is that I’m glad you’re okay.  But don’t Ever worry me like that again.  From now on, we need to be more organized with our Communication.  We don’t have Doctor Cain any more as our middle man.  It has to come directly from you.

X frowns at the sound of his name, but they both nod in affirmation.

X: (nodding) You’re right.

Just then, a worried Iris teleports in to Central Command, looking around, concerned. Zero gasps at the sight of her.

IRIS: (gasping) Zero!

ZERO: (gasping) Iris!

She runs to him and they both hold each other closely, before Captain clears his throat.

CAPTAIN: Ahem! It’s good to see you Iris…

Iris awkwardly looks at her Maverick Hunter Superior and salutes him.

IRIS: Er.. Good Afternoon, Captain.

After saluting him, she puts her arm across her face and activates an internal screen from her wristband.

IRIS: I've got a message from the Repliforce.

Colonel's message is synced and displayed through the HQ Halogen screen.

COLONEL:  Zero! I'll be at the Memorial Hall! Be there!

Zero narrows his eyes and clenches his fist hard.

IRIS:  Don't go, Zero! Don't fight him!

ZERO:  This is a matter of personal pride now. There's no avoiding this... I must go.

X: Hey, WAIT!!

Before X finishes his sentence, Zero has already teleported away.

IRIS: Nooooo!

She begins to sob.

X: (exasperated, breathy) God, damn it.  Just like that…

He kneels down, feeling defeated as the sores from Cyber Peacock’s attacks continue to swell around his body.

X: (frowning) What’s it gonna take for him to listen??

Captain looks over to Iris, who wipes her tears away and turns around, worried.

CAPTAIN: …Her…

She turns to Captain.

IRIS: ..Hm?

- cut to-

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

INT. MEMORIAL HALL – DAY

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

- Pan to an overhead view of the golden Hall. -

 The vast emptiness of the room makes Colonel’s steps echo throughout the chamber.  Colonel paces around, waiting for Zero’s arrival.  He looks around with a stern face.

ZERO: (o.s, calling out) Colonel!

His eyes widen at the sound of his voice.  He leans in, surprised to see that he showed up.

COLONEL:  What!?

Zero stands on a platform by the wall with his Saber out in his hand.

ZERO:  I'm disappointed in you, Colonel!  /Hrraaaaah.

Zero /jumps down to Colonel’s position and takes an overhead slash at him.

Colonel backs away as he quickly pulls out his red saber and parries against Zero’s attack.

Zero jumps after him and attacks him again.

Colonel swiftly dodges out of the way on stage, but Zero dashes over to him, still a short distance away.

COLONEL:  (shocked) What do you think you're doing?

Zero stands upright with his head tilted down.

ZERO:  It's not too late. Stop the coup now!

Colonel closes his eyes 

COLONEL:  ...Never.

ZERO:  If that's your decision...

Zero stares at him and hesitates for a moment.  Then, he decides to go for it.

ZERO:

Prepare yourself!

Zero attacks Colonel again with an overhead slash. Colonel holds his saber up and blocks his attack, as a spark erupts.  When their sabers clash, they make an eerie electrocuting sound.  More sparks erupt as they continue to battle. Clashing their sabers back and forth, neither are able to gain an advantage on one another. 

ZERO: Rrrrr…

COLONEL: Uaaah.

The two struggle as they grit their teeth and grunt at each other, until a large spark from their sabers, separates them apart. They are equal.

From a further distance, the two look at each other with malice as they stubbornly hold their sabers up.

Colonel is about to advance when suddenly his sister cries out from just below the stage.

IRIS: 

Stop, please! Brother, please, don't you remember? Zero saved my life!

Colonel struggles to process that information.  After what he’s done to their Army, Navy, Guerilla soldiers and a portion of their Air Force, the idea of Zero’s simple gesture seemed meaningless now!  But that was his sister, after all.  The least he could do was give him a free pass.

Colonel’s face softens up as he looks at his sister.  Then he drops his guard.

COLONEL:  ...Hmm... Very well, then.

He turns to Zero.

COLONEL: I'll spare your life for now... but next time there will be no mercy. 

Colonel walks away without looking back.

 At the foot of the stage, Iris holds her hands together as she watches her brother walk away in awe.  Then she turns to her boyfriend to try to reason with him.

IRIS:  Zero, please! Don't fight with my brother! If you do, I'm afraid that one of you may end up...-

Zero jumps off of the stage and lands further ahead of her.  Without turning around, he simply clenches a fist. 

ZERO:  Someone... must stop Repliforce...!

IRIS:  Zero! 

She lightly reaches for him from her frozen frame.  The idea of watching her brother and her lover fighting like that again worries her to no end.

 -Pan to an overhead view of the Hall as Zero walks out of the room.-

  - Fade out -

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

EXT. OMU DESERT – Offsite Testing Area – DAY

------------------------------------------------------------------------  

- Fade in -

Caption: November 24th, One Week Later.

 In an abandoned and forgotten area, Infinity Flea and his Weapons Testers have been hard at work, creating an obstacle course so that he can finally test his Giant Mech, Elucida’s abilities.

Dr. Laye, Gate and Alia arrive by Sky Car and exit the vehicle upon landing.

 DR. LAYE: Alright, we’re here.  This had better be good.

She puts on a pair of sun glasses as she closes her car door.

GATE: (excited) Oh, I’m sure it will be.

They all walk over to Infinity Flea’s team of testers.

DR. LAYE: I still don’t approve of this you know.

GATE: Come ooon, Lana.  If this thing works, it’s gonna solve all of our problems!

ALIA: (worried) …Or create new ones…

Gate looks at his colleague, bewildered.

DR. LAYE: Bingo! I concur with Alia’s sentiments.  Let’s get this over with.

 As they reach the weapons testers, Allen turns around and greets them.

ALLEN: Heeey, guys!  You made it!!

GATE: (happy) Hey, Allen.

Allen shakes Gate’s hand and gives Alia a hug.  Dr. Laye remains at a distance as she looks up at Elucida with her arms folded.

DR. LAYE: So, this is what you’ve all been working on.

The Giant Mech is standing in an open obstacle course with a track and short walls for enemy props to pop out.

ALLEN: Yep, yep.  A safe training course in the middle of nowhere, so no one can get hurt.

DR. LAYE: (unimpressed) Hmph.

Glen runs over to them.

GLEN: Hey guys, its about to start.

ALLEN: Alright, great.

The collective group walks over to Ron and Victor who stand by a soundboard with a microphone.

VICTOR: Alright, Mijinion this is it!  Are you ready??

INFINITY FLEA: (filtered) I was born ready!!  Yeeehah!

Victor /shakes his head once, almost like a tick.

VICTOR: /Heh.   Alright.  Here goes!

 -pan over to Infinity Flea in his Mech, Elucida. –

 Infinity Flea gazes at the training track before him as a Traffic Light goes from red to yellow to green.

 INFINITY FLEA: Yeeeah!!

 - pan out of Elucida’s cockpit -

 We see Elucida fly out on a walled up track as cardboard cut outs of Repliforce soldiers peer out from various pockets.

 INFINITY FLEA: (filtered) Hah!  Rocket Punch!!

 He knocks out two cardboard groups of soldiers to his left and right with the respective hands.  They make their way back into their proper sockets as Elucida flies ahead and encounters a larger and more threatening group of Raiden Ride Armor soldiers.

INFINITY FLEA: (filtered) Hahaha.  Laser Eyes!!

 Elucida’s eyes glow blue and shoot out two piercing lasers that destroy the cut outs immediately.

Elucida turns the corner to find a small wave of armed mechaniloids known as Giga Death.  The Giga Deaths carry missile launchers at the end of their arms and a distinctive central launcher on their face, which serves as a nose.

 INFINITY FLEA: (filtered) Hehehe.  Hand Beams!!!

 He puts out both hands as they glow red, and blast two wicked beams of plasma at the Giga Death cut outs.

 Elucida flies swiftly past a maze-like contraption to test it’s agility.  Then it comes upon the ultimate cardboard cutout; Infinity Flea’s ultimate goal – General.

 VICTOR: (o.s, filtered) Okay Mijinion.  This is what we’ve been waiting for.  Let her rip!

 INFINITY FLEA: (filtered, maniacal) Heheheaahahahah!!!!  Missile Pores!

 Suddenly, small holes open up amongst the entirety of Elucida’s body.  All along it’s arms, chest, legs and even face, small holes have opened up where tiny missiles peer out.

-pan inside the cockpit-

Infinity Flea grins as he is about to press the button.

 INFINITY FLEA: FIIIIRRRREEEEEE!!!!!!!

 Suddenly, the cockpit flashes with red light as a tiny alarm sounds.

 INIFINITY FLEA: Huh??

 The word “JAM” appears on the small screen of his console. It flashes rapidly along with a red blinking light in his cockpit.

 INFINITY FLEA: WHAT!?  OH NO!!

 -pan outside of Elucida-

 The Giant Mech violently explodes in an instant, as every missile had locked inside all of it’s pores.

 -pan over to the soundboard-

 Dr. Laye, Gate, Alia, Victor, Allen, Glen and Ron stare at the explosion, completely flabbergasted and blown away.  They all share a collective terrified gasp.

 GATE: (distraught, shaken) Oh my God!!  Don’t.. Don’t tell me!

Alia looks over to her colleague and puts a comforting arm around his shoulder.

GATE: Not another one!!!

He slumps in defeat and leans his head in towards hers as she comforts him.

ALIA: I know, I know sweety..  It’s gonna be okay…

DR. LAYE: (sighing) Well.  This was a waste of time…

Glen and Allen gasp. Alia gives her a disappointed look but doesn’t say anything, where Gate doesn’t even react at all.  He’s used to her ridicule at this point.

Ron continues to look at the damage in utter shock.

RON: Oh man, I can’t believe it!!  We had everything down to a T.

VICTOR: Apparently not..

RON: (sad) Yeah…

VICTOR: (v.o, thinking) Heheheh…  And now all of your money is mine…

- fade out -

------------------------------------------------------------------------  

INT. MAVERICK HUNTER BASE – Dining Hall - NIGHT

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

- fade in -

Caption:  Thanksgiving, Later that night.

 Captain sits at the head of a long table with X and Zero sitting to his left and right side. Next to X, sits his 17th Elite Unit – Alecto, Castor, Pollux, Juno, Aeson, Xanthe, Zephyr and Double. Next to Zero, sits his 0th Shinobi Unit – Tau, Takuma, Venzo, Daiske and Bahena. Next to them are the 5th Police Squadron – Jenna, Alex, Evan and Orestes. Across from them are the Armored Air Cavalry – Ren, Rayven, Burn Bishop, Stone Rook and Arboreal Owl. Next to them are the 9th Special Ops Hunters – Recon Raccoon, Scorche, Baryon, Frenzy Foxkit and Freeze Alopex. On the other side, sits members of the 11th Medics and 12th Miners – Psi, Cassandra, Lifesavers, Rho, Sierra and Oliver Across from them, the 13th Polar Wolfpack sit by the 14th Special Unit who are very thankful to be alive. Dave and Lucas of the 15th Research Division join the Legion Allies – Zarrick, Gear-Rig and Skid. At the end of the table, the 16th Unit Environmentalists sit with Green Noir at the head.

 They all join hands and bow to each other respectfully as a way of saying ‘Grace’.

 CAPTAIN: This year has been hard for us.  It doesn’t need to be said, the profound loss we have felt in recent months since the events of this Summer.  But… regardless.  I am Thankful for the Family that I have right now.  I am Thankful for all of you.  To be working with such a Resilient Team of good people.  And in this trying time of confusion and dishonor, I have faith that we will come out on top.  Here is to proving ourselves to the World once again.

They all toast.

RECON RACCOON: Amen, let’s eat!

FRENZY FOXKIT: Haha, yeah!

The two rabidly dig in to their plates with no table manners.

JENNA: (sheepish grin) ..You guys..

ZERO: Hah.

They all partake in their specially crafted energen that resembles human food.  The idea of Reploids eating has always been preposterous, but Doctor Cain insisted on this tradition since the Maverick Hunter Organization began.  Now they can’t imagine a year without it.  This is their first Thanksgiving without him.

-pan over to X’s side of the table-

X: I’m thankful for the little Ceasefire we’ve had all week…

ZERO: Hmph.  I’m not…

X: Is Iris still not talking to you?

ZERO: I don’t know…  We’ve texted.  She said she’d come back after she had some time to think.

X: Uh oh..  That could be a while.

ZERO: (worried, anxious) Ya think?

X lightly chuckles.

X: Heh.  Whenever Marty said that, it meant that we were done for about a month.  But then she’d come back so much sweeter and nicer, like nothing ever happened.  Then the process would repeat again and again if we disagreed on something..

BAHENA: That’s not a healthy relationship.

X: Hmm…  Yeah, I didn’t think so either.. But now I still miss her…

DOUBLE: Ah, cheer up my Liege.  You’re a catch!!  I’m sure you’ll meet someone else.

X smirks.  The rest of the Elite Unit give Double a dirty look.

Xanthe whispers to Zephyr’s ear.

XANTHE: (aside, whispering) Yo.. What’s up with this ‘Leige’ garbage?

ZEPHYR: (aside, whispering) I know. He’s such a suck up!

X: Heh.  I know, Double..  It’s strange.  It’s not a matter of want or even need…  I just.. miss her presence.  Even being annoyed by her..  If that makes any sense.

DOUBLE: (confused) Hm…

VENZO: It doesn’t.  But that’s okay.

DOUBLE: Haha!

DAISKE: It does…

VENZO: Hm?? How?  Why would you miss being annoyed at anyone?

DAISKE: It’s about the lost interactions, Venzo.   And the missed opportunities that you never had…

TAKUMA: Oh gee..

DAISKE: I miss Misora so much.  And I never even got the chance to really get to know her!

BAHENA: Hey.. Diaske, we talked about this.

ZERO: Ah, geeez.  I didn’t mean to make this a whole mope fest.  Look, I hope Iris and I get better, but really.. I’m fine.

X: Are you sure?  You’ve been pretty twitchy since the Repliforce got quiet.

ZERO: I’m just bored, man!  And I can’t shake the idea that they’ve been up to something terrible this whole time.

BAHENA: We’re still standing…  The World is still spinning.  I don’t see the problem.

ZERO: Ugh..  You don’t get it.

X: We’ve needed the time to recover and reassess where we stand in all of this.  I think the fact that neither of us have heard or done anything is a great thing.  It might mean that we’ll actually get to settle things once and for all, peacefully.

ZERO: Hmph.  I doubt it.  But I guess you never know..

X: That’s the spirit.  Hey, why don’t you come with me when I investigate Magmard?

ZERO: Ahhhh, I dunno.  He knew you better than me.  Honestly, I think it’s just a waste of time.

X: Ah, come on. It'll be good for you.

ZERO: Maybe..

X: There's more going on here and we all know it.

ZERO: Maybe we’ll find out something useful.  At the very least, we’ll get stronger…  And that bastard will get what he deserves after betraying his Unit.

X makes a pleased smile.

X: There ya go.

Zero smiles for a moment, until he looks around the room and wonders what dinner would be like if Iris were here with him.  He makes a melancholy face as he rests his head on his hand and his mind wanders.

-cut to-

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

INT. REPLIFORCE HQ – Dining Hall – NIGHT

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Iris shares the same melancholy face as she stares at her Energen crafted food.  The Repliforce is sharing in the Maverick Hunter tradition, as it was something that their former Human Admiral Jenson would also participate in, along with the rest of the Hunters.  This would be their first year performing the tradition independent of the Maverick Hunters.

General sits at the head of the table with Colonel to his left and Iris to his right.

Next to her sits Spiral Pegasus and Storm Owl of the Air Force along with a number of Raiden Soldiers.

On the other side of the table, Burn Dino-Rex and Magma Dragoon sit next to each other, while Frost Walrus sits at the head, far away from them.  Between them is a series of Knot Berets.

GENERAL: Hm.  I don’t understand the Human Tradition of Thanksgiving, but I do recognize the concept of providing comfort for one another as a Family.  And now more than ever, our Repliforce needs that.

COLONEL: Agreed.  In honor of the Admiral, we continue this tradition for the first time without the Maverick Hunters.  And hopefully, this will be the first of many years to come where we prove once and for all that we do not need them.

IRIS: I’m sorry.  I can’t do this…

The entire group startles.

REPLIFORCE: Hm?

IRIS: This whole War..  It’s just become so… Petty!  I can’t take it.

COLONEL: Sister..  Is the idea of Reploid Independence really ‘petty’ to you?

GENERAL: We were mislabeled as Mavericks and attacked by the Hunters without just cause.

IRIS: Well… When you put it like that…

COLONEL: We want to live in a part of the World where only Reploids exist.  Our own Colony where no one can bother us.

IRIS: That does sound nice…

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Well, if this week indicates anything, it won’t be hard to initiate the next phase of the plan.

STORM OWL: (affirming) That’s right.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (interested) Oh?

BURN DINO-REX: The future of the Repliforce lies in the heart of Space.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (curious) Reeeally?

STORM OWL: It has become painfully clear to us that this war amongst the Maverick Hunters will bear no fruit in the long run.  It may in fact, end in a stale mate.

MAGMA DRAGOON: So you’re retreating to Space?

GENERAL: We are not retreating anywhere.  We are simply expanding our operation, outside of what this planet can provide for us.  And if anyone dares to challenge us, we have prepared for that as well.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Interesting…

GENERAL: Dragoon, you sit amongst us and yet you still act as if you do not belong.  How come?

MAGMA DRAGOON: Hm?

GENERAL: You’ve joined our faction, and truly disassociated yourself from the Maverick Hunters for the sake of our cause and yet…  You’ve been so distant.  Tell me.  What have you been up to?

MAGMA DRAGOON: Heh.  Well, to be honest, I’ve been training.  You see… I figured once word got out that I joined Replioforce, X and Zero would go right after me.  So I hid myself away in a Volcano in anticipation that I’d be the one to take them down.

Colonel, General and Iris share wide eyes as they look at each other.

GENERAL: Hm.

COLONEL: One week ago, I would say that is not necessary.  But now, I think your pre-emptive gesture is very welcome.  In fact, I am grateful for it.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (smiling) Heh.  The pleasure will be all mine.

Iris frowns.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: I squared off against Zero and a few Hunters myself.  He looks tough, but not impossible to beat. 

IRIS: (uncomfortable) Can we change the subject please?

Spiral Pegasus gives her a puzzled look.  He thought that they were done, but she certainly wasn’t acting like it.  He shifts his eyes back to Magma Dragoon.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (ignoring) Do you… want any help?

Magma Dragoon shakes his head with a smile.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (confident) I’ll be fine.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Suit yourself.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Just installing a few troops and some Giga Death Mechaniloids inside the Volcano, would do.

COLONEL: Sure!  Consider them yours.

Magma Dragoon narrows his eyes with a grin.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Excellent.

At the far end of the table, Frost Walrus eyes the fiery Reploids with jealousy.

FROST WALRUS: Ahem, Colonel.  Have you given any more thought to my project?

Colonel and General eye each other uncomfortably and then look over to him.

COLONEL: Err, uh yeah.  At this point, we are not exactly sure if your Geo-thermal device is necessary yet.

He nods and looks down at his food.

FROST WALRUS: Mmm.  Well..  Just let me know.  I can do a lotta damage with it.

GENERAL: That’s exactly the reason why we are avoiding it. 

FROST WALRUS: Huh??

COLONEL: If for some reason, we found ourselves in a position where the entire World has turned on us and there was no other recourse but to freeze this planet, then yes..  Your device would prove very useful.  But for now, we are really confident in our plan to Colonize Space.

FROST WALRUS: Hmph…  Figures…

The Repliforce all look stoic as they finish their plates in silence.

Iris looks down at her food with Zero on her mind.

IRIS: (v.o, thinking) As long as we don’t fight each other any more, that’s all I care about.

- fade to -

------------------------------------------------------------------------  

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING – Sigma’s Apartment – NIGHT

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Sigma and Isoc watch his monitor carefully.  Isoc has a look of awe on his face while Sigma is beaming with content.

ISOC: So this is why you weren’t afraid.

SIGMA: Precisely.

The two of them look at an image of Space.  Multiple colonies are under construction by the Repliforce, including a large weapon that appears to be a cannon, pointed directly at the Earth.

ISOC: But our army is so diminished.  We could have done this differently.  We should have manipulated the Repliforce more forcefully.

SIGMA: (annoyed) Not another word.  You’ve been questioning my tactics since this alliance has been formed. The Repliforce and the Maverick Hunters have been tearing each other apart, which has been very entertaining to watch.  I can see that this will come to an end all too soon, however. 

ISOC: That’s what I’m worried about.  We’ll be left with Nothing!

SIGMA: Wrong.  If the odds don’t play into our favor… I am prepared to step in.

ISOC: (relieved) Oh thank goodness, there’s a plan B.

SIGMA: Hahahaha.  You fool…  I care not for these trivial matters.  My essence can transcend death and life itself, now.  At this point, the entire thing is a Game.

ISOC: (confused, fearful) Death… and Life???

SIGMA: Heeheheehhee. Hahahahaha!!  Right now as we speak, my consciousness is exploring the vastness of space.  I’ve been training my Virus form to adapt and become stronger.  One day, I might be able to manipulate all the elements.

Isoc stares at the vacant look in Sigma’s eyes from the body, before him.

ISOC: Oh my God!  You’ve become Cosmic.

SIGMA: Hahahaha.  Now do you see why the Great Repliforce War is meaningless to me?

ISOC: U-uh.  I think so…

SIGMA: Why win a War…  when I can have the World?

His body gestures to the computer behind him as we see a purple cloud resembling Sigma’s face floating idly by the Repliforce Space Weapon.

ISOC: (awestruck) Oh, my God.  (v.o, thinking) If what he’s saying is true…  Then we’ve already won.

- cut to-

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

INT. LAYE LABS – Weapons Testing Wing – NIGHT

------------------------------------------------------------------------  

A frustrated Blaze Phoenix looks at the room with the rest of the weapons testers.  He searches Infinity Flea’s desk for plans or evidence of anything that might have gone wrong, but he finds nothing.

BLAZE PHOENIX: AAaarrrgh!  I can’t believe this!  There’s NOTHING!!!

The weapons testers mourn their missing leader.

RON: I can’t believe it either.

GLEN: Just like that..

ALLEN: He’s gone!!!

VICTOR: Let’s face it guys.  There’s nothing we can do, but move on.

Blaze Phoenix growls and aggressively mumbles.

BLAZE PHOENIX: We were gonna take them head on!  That Mech was gonna destroy their forces!!  And now it’s all GONE!!!

VICTOR: Not necessarily…

His co-workers perk up.

RON, GLEN & ALLEN: Hm?

VICTOR: I found out through a reputable source that our weapons have been sold to Burn Dino-Rex of the Repliforce.

RON: Really?

GLEN: So.. What… does that mean?

VICTOR: Well, on the surface, nothing.  But… for our purposes, it means that I know where one of them is.  And since this is illegal activity, it means that he doesn’t expect company.

ALLEN: Oooh, no waay.

Victor nods confidently.

VICTOR: Way.  He buys off the books and he’s stationed at Sunhouse Mountain in Kenya.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Oh man!  This could be it.  We would’ve gone there with Infinity Flea!

RON: We can still go!!  We’ll just grab our best weapons and give him Hell!

ALLEN: (inspired) Whoa, yeah!!

GLEN: Let’s do it!

BLAZE PHOENIX: Alright!  I’m in.  It sucks that we didn’t get to do this with Infinity Flea, but.. this is what he would’ve wanted.

ALLEN: Damn right.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Victor, can you hold the fort down when we pay this guy a visit?

VICTOR: (grinning) Definitely.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Excellent!  We’ll go out tomorrow during our lunch break.

GLEN: Ooh, hehe. I like this!

- fade to -

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

INT. MAVERICK HUNTER BASE – Control Room – DAY

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Caption: November 25th, 21XX.  The next day.

 X and Zero stand tall by Captain at his Central Console.  Double sits at a console desk by Captain’s side, where Red Noir used to sit.  Iris’ console, which used to be manned by Blue Noir is empty.

Captain looks at his two best Hunters with a smile on his face.

CAPTAIN: Alright you two.  Go out there and give him Hell.

They both share a nod and a resolute grin.

X: (grinning) We will!

They walk to the teleportation platform and stand on it.

Zero gives Captain a thumbs up, and X clenches a fist with a determined smile on his face.

 -Freeze Frame. Grainy Effect.-

 NARRATOR: With a renewed resolve, X and Zero are about to embark on their next mission against the treacherous Magma Dragoon.  Will their investigation shed new light on the Maverick Operation at hand, or will they be left with more questions?  And what will the Repliforce do if they prove successful?  I’m afraid that this ceasefire may be short-lived.