Repliwolves

Part Five: First Battle

Weeks past by in a blur. It was hard to find the time to be mad or upset over Poison. Axl and X treated Heart well, and even Zero cut back on his sharp tone and harsh gestures.

Even though things were going smoothly, Heart knew this peaceful life couldn't last forever. It nearly broke him in two when a Hunter returned with deep claw marks on his chest. He had died shortly after, due to what looked like poisoning. Heart knew right away Poison was behind the attack.

Now he was readying his battle armor, which consisted of a helmet to shield his head, and armored plates down his spine. It was time he began to repay his debt.

"Are you sure you want to fight?" Axl asked. The Hunter was gearing up, packing a pair of cuffs, a shocking device and two guns.

"I've fought Mavericks before," Heart replied. "How hard can it be?"

"Pretty hard, IF you don't know what you're doing," Zero piped up. Heart ignored him and slipped the helmet over his head. It was bulky and a little uncomfortable, but at least he'd be protected today.

X walked in, looking worried. Heart wanted to believe it was because of the battle ahead, but he knew the truth. It was the recent attack that had shaken X.

"X, you know if Poison was behind that attack, I'd attack him on sight." Heart barked. X smiled, but continued pacing. Heart looked at X, then to Axl, worry written across his face.

"Does he normally do this?" Heart asked. Axl nodded. "He's always been a worrier," he explained.

"Hey ladies," Zero shouted. Heart noticed X's teeth gritting, and Axl's hair bristling at the insult. "If you all have nothing better to do, we need to go," Zero continued, eyes narrowed with a rage yet to show. Heart knew Zero was right. He leapt to join them at the exit to the base.

Heart ran alongside the hover bikes the Hunters were riding. Even though Axl offered to let Heart ride behind him, Heart had to politely decline. He liked being able to run, and besides, it warmed him up, got his thirst for battle really going.

By the time Heart and the Hunters had arrived the scene, the Mavericks had already began their slaughter. And there he was, the very sight of his face sent shivers down Heart's armor. Poison, still alive, horribly scarred and scrawny. Worse, his eyes were wild with rage, tearing through the reploids around him with ease.

Heart hesitated, then howled and raced forward, Axl, X and Zero right behind him. He felt his teeth sink into metal and threw the Maverick to the side. Just then claws grabbed his helmet, yanking him backwards. Heart yelped, and lashed out with his claws.

"And all this time, I thought you were dead," Poison's voice whispered in Heart's ear. Heart turned his head. Poison looked even more hideous close up. Part of the painted fur was melted off, eye black with a yellow pupil.

Poison stared at Heart. Then promptly yanked the helmet off and sank his claws into Heart's forehead. Poison pulled back, before finally letting go. Oil dripped down Heart's face. Then Poison lashed out at Heart's throat, tearing his fur to shreds, oil dripping down Heart's chest.

Heart winced, but he wouldn't cry, not for this Maverick. He grabbed Poison, holding him against one of the many walls around them. Poison growled and kicked Heart's stomach. Gasping, Heart fell to the ground. Poison stalked over and Heart struggled to regain his footing.

Poison backed away, malice and triumph shining in his good eye. "Yes Heart," he growled, clawing Heart's cheek. Heart fell back down. "You look tired, how about you stay here, until I can properly dispose of you," Poison snarled, a laugh embedded in it.

Poison rushed over the Axl and bit down in the reploid's leg. Axl screamed in pain and surprise and he grabbed his gun, as if hoping to retire Poison then and there.

But Heart knew that Poison didn't go down so easy. He whipped to one side and slashed his claws across Axl's scar. Axl wailed in agony and clutched his face.

The wailing echoed through Heart's head. He stood up and on shaky legs, start running forward. Even at the speed Heart was traveling, there was no way he could reach Axl before Poison killed him. Oh Axl I'm, so sorry, Heart cried internally.

Dark fur flashed past Heart. Was it Fidget, ready to fight to the death? The fur was dark blue. Green saliva flew from the Repliwolf's jaws and on his head was a tuft of golden fur. It was Quick!

The Repliwolf howled and bit down on Poison's tail. Poison twisted his head around to snap at Quick, but screamed as the acid began to melt away his tail. Heart smiled. Quick was still alive and he was fighting for a reploid he didn't know.

"Axl!" Zero yelled to the young Hunter. Heart tensed as Zero rushed over, sword ready to tear into Quick. "No!" Heart cried out. He bunched up his muscles and soared through the air, landing squarely on Zero. "No one hurts my younger brother!" Heart barked.

Quick looked to Heart and nodded. "Thanks Heart," he said with gratitude. Heart opened his mouth to reply, but then, Alia's voice echoed over their transmitters. "X and company! Retreat, there are too many!" Alia exclaimed.

Despite Heart's desire to end more Mavericks, he knew that would be suicide. "Quick! Get Axl and let's go!" Heart called to his brother. Quick looked at Axl, his gaze soft and full of sympathy. He wormed his way under the reploid until Axl was directly on his back.

Kicking up dust, Quick followed Heart out of the area, the triumphant cries and shouts of the Mavericks echoing after them.

"Axl will make a quick recovery. Oh, heh! No pun intended!" Quick said brightly.

Despite this, Heart knew that X and Zero were deathly worried. Tonight's defeat nearly cost them a friend. All because Heart couldn't get to him.

Signas approached them, curt and calm. "Axl will sit out your next mission," he explained. "But another Maverick uprising has taken place in Vanilla Desert," Signas went on.

Heart tensed. He had never seen Vanilla Desert, but from the stories he had heard, that was not a place for them to go. Covered in quicksand, Heart and his new friends could die out there with no way of anyone knowing they were gone.

"Heart," Signas said. " you don't have to go if you don't want to. "

Quick bounded forward. "Commander, I'm ready to go!" He barked with enthusiasm. Heart gasped and jumped up. "No, even if Vanilla Desert is dangerous, I'm not letting Quick go without me," he growled.

"Who's up for a little adventure?" Heart asked his team. X and Zero exchanged looks of excitement and Quick's tail was wagging so hard, Heart thought it'd fall off.

"Alright," Heart answered. "We're in Signas."