//------------------------------// // CM: Get Home // Story: Melody of the Future // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// As X gathered himself for yet another attempt at remonstrating his wayward children, the entire tower on which they stood shook. "What's happening?" X called out worriedly. "The Tower wasn't designed for this level of action!" Epsilon called back out. "It's taken all it can, and its structural integrity is past its limit! It's collapsing!" Omega and the others quickly leapt back into the Memezord before dividing them back into the animal forms. "Hop on!" Leviathan ordered as her leviathan swam up, its back large enough for all of them to climb on. "What about Axl?" Octavia called out worriedly. "I've already picked up his signal on Earth!" Phantom stated quickly. "He's safe. We're not!" Massimo grabbed Octavia before she could argue further as the entire group landed atop the leviathan mech. "How are we going to do with reentry?" he asked worriedly. "I designed these babies!" Leviathan pointed out. "I took everything imaginable into account, and even some things inconceivable. You'd probably be fine if I had to fly this thing through a black hole! ...not that I'm in a hurry to test that theory..." At that point, speech became unwise as the mechs began descending into the atmosphere. As Leviathan stated, reentry proved not to be a problem. The Leviathan mech descended slowly in an up and down wave motion, so that its downward velocity was never quite enough to start creating re-entry heat. The Turtle mech descended in a spinning discus, with the Wolf mech absorbing the reentry heat. The Falcon mech cut through the air like a blade, while the Dragon mech spiraled in, dispersing the heat. While the descent was time consuming, it was completely safe for all involved. Once they were within the atmosphere completely, descent to sea level went much faster, allowing a gentle landing in Giga City...where the amassed forces of the Maverick Hunters and the Rebellion Army were working together to maintain order under a surprise figure. "Everything under control, cousin?" Omega called out. The brown haired young man turned towards them with a smile. "Indeed it is," he confirmed. "Once the broadcast of Sigma hit, everything was in disorder for a time...but our family reputation was strong enough to bring everyone under my banner." "Mikhail?" X called out in surprise. "Is that you? I haven't seen you in years!" "Been busy with Mother and Father preparing for this, Uncle," Mikhail responded readily. "Thomas and Albert are doing their parts as well. Tom's spent the past decade worming his way into political circles, getting the political capitol to be appointed chief of the planetary council...and Albert's already organized the world's scientists and researchers under his guidance to capture the falling SFM energy for study to prevent world-wide overcharge." "...so between the three of you, you now control the political, military, and scientific governance of the world?" Zero asked in surprise. "It's actually for the good in the long run," Mikhail pointed out logically. "We're brothers, so we actually know how to get along and compromise." He turned to Octavia. "And Albert's already retrieved Axl. Apparently, he was found in stand by mode next to Sigma's real body...though the head was missing and it looked like his Plasma Core had been ripped out of his chest." "Are we going to have to worry about the head?" X asked worriedly as Octavia breathed a sigh of relief. "Not according to Albert's report," Mikhail reassured him, turning to a data pad. "Apparently, the plasma burns on the neck suggest that Axl somehow made Sigma bite his own plasma core open." "No more Mortal Kombat for that boy," Octavia murmured, doing her best to sound chiding but failing miserably. "For the moment, the press is almost here," Mikhail continued. "They're going to want to interview the heroes of the hour." X groaned, rubbing his forehead. "I'm not sure we're up to interviews now...we're all tired..." "Actually...I meant The Guardians," Mikhail pointed out, gesturing to Omega and the others where they stood by their mechs. "I...took the liberty of arranging the story leaks so that most of the credit for saving the world this time went to them." Zero blinked at Mikhail, stunned. "Why?" "So that the rest of the world won't make a fuss when you quietly retire and focus your energies on helping Octavia find her way to her home planet, now that literally every obligation you have to this world is fulfilled complete with new heroes you can trust to whom you can pass the torch?" Mikhail answered carefully, seeming confused at Zero's confusion. "Well that's all well and good as far as Dad, Uncle Zero, and I," Octavia pointed out. "But what about Axl? And the others - Cinnamon, Marino, Massimo, Epsilon-" "I am a relic of the Maverick War, meant to bring it to an end," Epsilon spoke up. "Now that my mission has been fulfilled, I have no desire for accolades. I shall instead seek out Albert to assist in the Supra-Force Metal research. Scarface has never been one for fawning...and I am certain Massimo and Ferham have no need for any but each other's hero worship at this point." "And I'd honestly rather not go that public," Spider added. "Not to mention I think Axl, Cinnamon, and Marino will be of the same mind as Massimo and Ferham...once we find Axl." "No need to search too much," a familiar voice spoke up from behind them. "I deliver, too!" Octavia spun in surprise. "Dynamo?" "Sensei?" Spider gasped in stunned amazement as Dynamo gently settled Axl - still very dazed - on his feet between Cinnamon and Marino, Tango curled up around his neck like a scarf unmoving. "If you're talking about sending Octavia home, I'll be going too," Dynamo stated simply. "I've...done my job. And I've left someone skilled to take care of things in my stead." Reaching out, he gently patted Spider on the head. "...Sensei..." Spider murmured softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Prometheus is gonna want to come too," Dynamo added. "We've...both got someone we've missed all these years." "...Vinyl..." Octavia whispered, surprised at the strength of the yearning that entered her voice.