The Quest - Book 2 Ch. 9
By Eliad Sholomovich

ABANDONED WAREHOUSE SOUTH NEO-TOKYO

Spark Mandril entered the cell. He threw Ryu and Chunli on the floor ruffly. Then he left the cell and locked it.

"You guys O.k?" Ken asked. Chunli answered in a hoarse and tired voice "I'm fine just a little weak but Ryu's in bad shape"

Ryu was lying on the ground. He breathed slowly and weakly. Crimson stained his arms and legs after Sigma tore him out of his chains.

Ryu clenched his teeth and pushed himself into a sitting position. He opened his eyes and then smiled "Ch..Ch..Chunli y..you're safe" he coughed out.

She smiled weakly "Yes I'm fine just hold on Ryu." Ryu clenched his teeth and strained against his aching muscles to stand up. He stood straight his feet slightly shaking.

"W..We gotta get out of here. I think I can break the wall with a Shinkuu Hadouken but then you'll have to escape without me" he said weakly

"No way. We ain't leaving you here" Mariko protested. Ryu smiled but held his chest "I'm afraid we don't any other options Mariko. I'll open your chains when I find the panel. you guys run as fast as you can to the MHHQ Maybe X will be able to save me"

Chunli tried to protest but didn't after seeing Ryu's face was full of determination decided not to. She rose to her feet. Ryu cupped his palms and blue energy amassed. Then he thrusted his palms forward towards the wall.

The fireball slammed into the wall tearing threw it. Ryu quickly ran threw it and found a panel. he punched it and the chains unlocked and the door opened.

Ryu shouted "Now go qucikly!!" The group took a last glimpse at Ryu as he started running down the hole in the wall. The alarm went off with a loud ring and red lights flashed.

Ryu ran blindly threw the corridor. "I hope we meet again soon" he prayed and continued running.

On the other side Chunli and the others ran threw the corridors. They heard running footsteps. They hid behind a corner. They saw dozens of reploids all with weapons armed entering the cell.

Sigma was among them. His face reveiled his anger He punched the wall making a dent. "Don't just stand there you idiots.FOLLOW THEM!!!" Sigma shouted and they all passed into the hole Ryu made.

"I hope you survive Ryu." Chunli said everyone nodded and they ran toward down the corridor.

MEANWHILE ALPHA SECTOR'S ROCKET BASE

X dashed towards the base. His mind racing forward "I can't believe my friends could betray me like that. Why do reploids go maverick? What if I do too one day?" X troubled thoughts hindered his progress.

He reached the base. It was swarming with Reploids. He scanned them and his eyes narrowed "The former Hunter units" he whispered to himself

Then he went wide-eyed and was barely able to choke a gasp. He saw them bow before Zero. X felt as if he was stabbed in the heart by a dagger and someone was twisting it.

"Why did Zero have to turn too? I thought he'd be the last tho betray HQ. But not only did he do that he's also leading the rogue hunters." X thought to himself.

X eyes widened in sadness. He had made Zero promise to take him out if he ever went Maverick. Now X saw it as his duty to do the same for Zero.

X waited until he saw all the members leave. X charged his Cannon. The whining sound caught Zero's attention. He turned to see X standing on a hill glowing in gold.

Zero grinned and dashed towards him. "I'll rip you apart X.For Iris's sake. She didn't stand a chance and neither will you" He thought to himself.

X jumped off the hill and stood his hands at his side. Zero stopped 12 feet from him. X eyes were full of sadness and pain. "Why Zero? Tell me why?"

Zero's eyes however blazed with anger "Don't play innocent with me you murderer" Zero bellowed and leapt into the air swinging his green beam saber.

X somersaulted over the swing and landed behind Zero. Zero lunged again stabbing at X's chest. X dodged but still didn't strike Zero "How could you Zero? Lead an army of mavericks to destroy the hunters. They were your friends!!!" X shouted in anger.

Zero was just as angry "Some friends I have. You backstabbed me and now you'll pay for it" Zero said and picked up a nearby generator he threw it at X. X jumped over it and hovered in midair with his special thrusters(boot upgrade see MMX4) Zero cried out in frustration and anger.

His anger brought forth something he had forgotten of. His mysterious past was finally fully returning to him.

"I was Bass and he was Megaman. Now I remember everything." He stopped and started laughing. "The Irony of fate Me and Megaman in a duel just like old times" Zero said

X looked confused "What are you babbling about Zero?" Zero looked at him "Oh I forget you have no memory You little titanium pest. It doesn't matter I remember why I was built."

X sighed "Why were you built Zero?" Zero smiled wickedly and a W appeared on his green head crystal. Then he lunged while shouting "To destroy you Megaman!!!" he shouted and swung his saber.

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE ABANDONED WAREHOUSE SOUTH NEO-TOKYO

Ryu raced down the corridor. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he was found. He was glad he could at least save his friends wife and daughter.

His heart raced and his muscles burned in pain and ached from fatigue. He was breathing raggidly and his body was wet from cold sweat.

His body couldn't continue this punishment for long. First his Body was shocked to near death and now the cuts he had on arms and legs had created a huge blood loss.

Ryu's skin was red from fever and exhaustion. His vision became hazzy and dizziness got the better of him. Finally he collapsed and fell to his knees.

Ryu heard distant voices. He recognized Sigma's deep voice. "I don't care how long it takes find them!!" he shouted in anger.

Ryu saw a side corridor. He tried to get up but found his body refused to comply. Ryu strained against the pain, he channeled his Chi into his body "Must make it" he whispered to himself.

He finally managed to reach the side corridor. Then he heard a long clang. He heard Sigma shout "How many times have I told you dolts to clean the flo..." Sigma said before he actually looked at the liquid.It was dark crimson red. "Human blood" he whispered

He smiled and motioned them to be silent. The mavericks followed the trail of blood. Ryu could hear them talking. Ryu channeled his Chi. He needed to occupy long enough for the others to escape.

He waited until he heard Sigma's footsteps then he shouted "Go ahead I'll wait here and stall them" Sigma motioned the mavericks to get ready. They prepared to enter the corridor.

Ryu cupped his hands and whispered to himself "Must take down as many as I can". Yellow Chi energy amassed into his palms. He clenched his teeth as the pain of standing was horrible.

The mavericks rushed into the corridor and heard a shout "HADOUKEN!!!" Ryu shouted and released the Denjin Hadouken. The projectile slammed into three mavericks and they exploded violently. Ryu in the chaos kept running as fast as he could.

Then he heard a voice "Get Him" A laser passed an inch to the right of his head. "NO!!! YOU IDIOTS BRING HIM BACK ALIVE" Sigma shouted.

The mavericks used their thrusters Ryu knew it was too late. He stopped running. And instead stood silently. He channeled his Chi for one last attack to take down as many as possible.

His body glowed in faint blue. As the mavericks approached. He leapt into the air into a Shinkuu Tatsumakisimpuukayku. The power of his Chi enabled him to damage the Reploids. but his foot twisted and broke from the impact upon the metal.

When he landed he collapsed. Horrid pain flooding his body. He held his foot. Sigma was the last maverick left.

He approached X a smug smile upon his face. "Your proving to be a pest Ryu. But luckly for you I still need the information you have"

He grabbed Ryu by the collar and picked him up.

MEANWHILE

Chunli and the group found the corridors empty from any enemys. "Ryu I hope we don't cost you your life" Chunli said.

Ken gulped "You gotta admit his plan is working so far. But I wouldn't worry about Ryu he's a tough one he'll survive I'm sure." Ken said but in his heart he felt worried for Ryu just like Chunli.

They managed to exit the compound. "How the h*ll are we supposed to find The MHHQ anyway?" Mariko asked angrily. She was still upset with her father's decision and the way everyone agreed.

Chunli gulped "It doesn't matter now we need to move fast we'll worry about that later" She said in a determined voice. She wasn't ready to see Ryu sacrifice his safety for nothing.

They rushed towards the east. There was a sign above them as they reached a junction. It read left to Alpha sector,Right to Omega sector and Straight for Zeta sector.

Chunli looked at the signs and spoke "Lets go for the alpha sector" The group nodded and ran to the left road.