He hadn't gone far when he stopped. Somthing didn't smell right. While he couldn't actually smell, in place of his fake nose was a scanner capable of picking up particles generated by objects that caused smell, it was a reasonablely close enough to the real thing.

In the air he picked up a faint mettalic scent drifting in the air. He sniffed again and got on all fours putting his ear to the ground. About 2 or 3 miles away he heard them, foot steps. He sniffed at the air again, it didn't match any of his friends back at the other camp so it could only be one other thing. He focused his eyes, as they telescoped the region in front of him to it's maximum level. The figures were blurry, but he could recognize im easily enough, drones.

He estimated they'd reach his area in about 2 hours. "What to do", he thought to himself. He thought about alerting Zero, but he had no way of knowing if the transmission would be tapped into or if it would even make it at all at this range.

He then started to consider his other options, flying back to where the others were was out of the question as he had no way of knowing how many other drones there were in these woods and he'd probably just wind up leading them back to the others. Engaging the drones head on, would only result in giving his position away as odds were the drones were directly linked to whatever had sent them.

He thought harder on the subject. There was only three of them, if he could some how seperate im. He might be able to take im out one by one, but then he'd have the problem of the possiblity of them being equipted with tracking devices in case of failure. Then he'd have to deal with somthing bigger and quite possibly more powerful.

The repliod feline stood there thinking for about 30 minutes when suddenly a animal cry of some sorts filled the air, and persisted for a good hour or so until it stopped. He growled as the screeching of whatever it was, didn't make his situation any better. "Great now if things aren't bad enough, now I gotta put up with whateve beast...", he paused in his train of thought as a idea suddenly struck him.

What would the repliods here do, if they found the remains of their drones savaged not by maverick hunter and maverick weapons, but by the claw and teeth marks of a creature of some sorts. They'd probably just discard it and look some one else and think none the wiser of it. He smirked slightly and checked the drone's progress again. Only 1 more hour for they reached him. He'd have to act fast.

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

The three drones continued their search of the current invaders that had recently snatched away a valuable prisoner from one of their compounds in this region. They couldn't of gotten far, as the one they had rescued had been damaged to a point where the others couldn't travel too fast without worry of further injury.

Their programming was simple, patrol each quadrant each day around the attacked prisonhold till ither invaders were found or they were ordered back to base for additional orders/programing.

A sounding of a twig caught their attention suddenly, as one of them was sent to investigate. As the lone drone walked off scanning the area around it, it barely had enough time to react when it heard somthing land behind it and pounce.

The sounding of roaring and mechanical struggles of the repliod alerted the remaining two. By the time they got to where the third had been ravaged, they had found it had been dismanlted in a horrid type fashion as it's parts layed strewn about with claw and teeth marks all over.

Jaguar looked down from his current hiding spot up in the trees. The fake maulng had apparently fooled the remaining two. Now it was just a matter of waiting till they got close enough so he could jump im from behind.

He didn't have to wait long, the two stepped closer to assure their findings and that the drone wasn't beyond salvagaging. They heard the same sound the last repliod had heard, as two hands brought im down to the ground and everything went black.

After making sure, the three were completely disabled. He started to inspect them to see if he couldn't hack into their databases...if they, if any was still functioning. He had no luck with the first two, but the third one he could just barely access with the terminal on his right buster.

There was little data to be found, cept one thing. The other areas where the other patrols were at. None of them posed much of a threat, accept for one and one was more than enough. It was a group of five whose daily patrol took them only 3 miles away from where the main group was camping

"If any of them were to strain too far off into the woods on their own...", he didn't even wanna think about it. He had to figure out a way to warn them, but how?.

It had been a hour since Jaguar had taken down the three drones he had run into. Standing over their mauled remains, he looked around thinking. "If from what I found out from one of their data bases is true, then the main camp and possibly Ep and Alpha(depending on where they are), are all in serious danger of being discovered.

He knew the drones themselves didn't pose much of a threat, as they were lightly armored, armed, and it only took a few hits to bring one down. But, their main threat was that if they were indeed directly linked to the main intelligence who controlled all the repliods on this planet. Then a few scout drones could become a whole army if the hunters and maverick's position was found.

He reconsidered, the comlink. 2 days ago, him and Zero had use the comlink without interruption and so far there'd been no signs of it being tapped. But then again he had no idea of knowing how long these drones had been in the woods and whether or not they'd been in here before or after that event. No, he couldn't risk using the comlink system, less he defeat his purpose.

Flying directly back to the main campsite was out too, as all that would do is give the drones somthing to shoot and, if they had the computing compacity, follow. He couldn't risk that ither. So both using his jetpack and comlink wasn't a option.

His weapon adapters had been his next option. Though so far he hadn't seen anything that he could possibly use. He was about to reconsider using his comlink when suddenly one of the weapon adapter/tools caught his eye on the holographic projecter on his left arm.

He'd seen the image several times in the park as part of a memorial, or as a replica in a museum and he'd seen several people keeping additional replicas as pets. Jaguar stood there for a few moments staring at the image of BEAT, from the old Megaman vs Wily Wars, as a idea slowly formed in his head.

Now he had no idea how this adapter worked, as he had never once used it and wasn't sure as to whether or not it just mearly called any BEAT you kept as a pet;and obviously that wouldn't help him as he was light years away from earth and as pets weren't allowed in his apartment; or if the replica in his buster actually materialized one for whatever task you had for it. "Only one way to find out", he said to himself.

Switching his left arm to buster mode, he switched on the adapter hoping for the best. Closing his eyes, he hit the fire trigger praying he wouldn't hear a error message. At first he heard nothing, but soon he heard the generator that was his replicator turned on. Opening his eyes he saw the faint blue outline of the small mettalic bird begin to appear. At first, he saw the simple mechanics and then more advance modules take shape till finally a complete BEAT sat there.

He poked it once or twice to make certain it wasn't a hologram. The next thing he did, was access it's mainframe and see what he had to work with. It had just enough storage space for the job he had for it. Next came, the message he had for Zero. It was short and simple, but clear enough to point out what he had found. He also included a detailed map of the patrol skedules of the drones he had found and the best way to avoid im. Fourth came the task of reprogramming and the installation of the tracking unit for Zero's energy signature. When he was done, he rechecked everything to make sure the messenger pidgeon would get the job done and wouldn't short out or suffer a hard drive crash at mid journey.

Once he was sure everything was set to go, he made a second BEAT to take the same message for Ep(Including Ep's energy signature for the 2nd BEAT to track) and what route he and Alpha should take to avoid the patrol routes of the drones. After rechecking both BEATs, he sent the two on their way and watched as they vanished from view carrying the two information disks in their beaks.

He knew several things could still go wrong. While a drone probably wouldn't pay any attention to them, a wild animal might mistake them for real birds and try to make a snack out of them. Or they could run into some bad weather and short ciruit given their old technology. Then there was the chance that Zero and the others had already been found, and that the BEATs messages would be useless. He tried not think about that as he made his way back to his temporary campsite.

Zeb was kind of staring dumbly at Gohan, trying not to pay attention to Sigma and Zero. Gohan was probably wondering if something had shot-circuted in the reploid, because she had been doing this for a few moments now. ((heh, sorry, Zebu. ^_^; dun kill me.)) Destiny, on the other hand, was watching the two closely. As Zero and Sigma turned to walk away, Destiny jumped to her feet, making both Zeb and Gohan jump, and ran to Zero. Grabbing his arm, she held him back until Sigma was a little distance away.

"Listen, Zero. This truce may be all well and good, but understand that I will not take orders from Mr. C-I mean, Sigma. I don't even like taking orders from you, since we're probably the same rank. I'm not trying to cause trouble...just know that I will not hesitate to turn him into scrap metal if her tries to order me around."she let go of him, started to turn, and then said one more thing. "Oh, yeah, and do we have a spare sabre? Or even some parts I could build one with? Just wondering."

With that, she walked back to Zeb and Gohan, sitting down next to Zeb, who looked at her strangely.

"What was that all about?"

Destiny shrugged. "Nothing. Just asking about a sabre."

Though Zeb didn't quite believe her, she let it slide. No use in getting Destiny all worked up. Instead, she finally looked at Sigma and Zero, who were walking off.

"Do you think we should follow them?"

(After Zero and Sigma left camp to look for Ep and Roe,Zero comes across the Carrier BEAT)

Zero:Huh?...what's this?... (takes the disk in BEAT's mouth,then running it using his comm link)...not good...,I have to go back to camp,Ep...be careful...(with that he Dashes at his fastest speed possible back to camp,where he finds four blips on his internal radar system)...they're already here..

(Zero arrives at camp,everything seemingly normal,as three of the four drones appeared out of the morning mist,firing their blasters into the camp)...

Zero: Zebuhachi,Destiny...EVACUATE!!! (sends the co-ordinates of the new camp to Zebuhachi's communicator) Get out of here,I'll join you shortly!...(with that Zero Draws his Sabre and Dashes at the Drones,Slicing two of them in half by spin slashing them,while dashing between them,finds the third one,arms his buster,then firing multiple shots blasting his head off,the fourth comes out of nowhere,kicking Zero to the ground,with a blaster in his face, waiting for Zero to Surrender)...

Just as Zero thought he was about to be finished or captured, the drone was abruptly pulled away from Zero and dragged off its feet.

Alpha had clamped his jaws around the drone's chest. As it struggled to get free from the dragon, Alpha crushed its chest cavity and dashed it against the ground, shredding it to pieces. Having destroyed the drone, Alpha roared loudly, a specific set of tones that everyone from their demention recognized as a signal of a defeated enemy. The roar echoed through the woods, shaking the ground in the remote area.

Zero sat up, seeing Epsillon near by, out of breath. Ep and Alpha had been about halfway to where Jag was when Alpha picked up on the signal of the drones. At first they had been infront of Ep and Alpha, several miles away doing scouting, unaware of the two at the moment, but then Alpha detected some near their camp. Ep and Alpha had made an immediate return to the camp, and just in time it seemed....

Gohan: (following Zeb) Should we go back.

Zeb: No,Lets go ahead and go to the new campsite

Gohan :I'm going back (dashes as fast as he can back to the old campsite)Gohan (looking at Alpha and Epsillon) When did you two get here.

Zero: didn't I tell you to go to the new camp.

Gohan: No,not really.You told Zeb and Destiny to go back. (just then a drone jumped onto Gohans back out of nowhere dissableing Gohans systems momentaraly)

Gohan: Help meeee.

It took Zeb about a minute to realize that noone was following her. Destiny, being Destiny, had completely ignored Zero's order and was back at camp fighting off a mechaniroid or two. Gohan had followed Zeb for a while, but he too had left. Zeb stopped in a tiny clearing, blinking around herself in shock.

"What am I doing?" She muttered to herself, "Running? Sheesh. I *hate* running!" And with that, she spun on her heel, only to come face to face with a seven-foot tall mechaniroid. Zeb screeched loudly in surprise, then disappeared in a flash of light, reappearing in a tree. The mechaniroid was looking around, confused. Apparently, teleporting at will, without coordinates, was a weird concept in this world. Zeb snickered to herself, and the mechaniroid's head snapped in her direction. Still laughing, Zeb held out her hand, making her sabre appear, then grabbed it and dove out of the tree. The mechaniroid dodged, but not enough. Zeb's sabre cut it neatly in half, exposing large amounts of sparking circuitry. Putting away her sabre, Zeb kicked the mechaniroid in the chest, and realized that she wasn't even wearing her armor. She shook her head at herself, then teleported into her armor, sleek, white, and aerodynamic, studded with large purple diamonds. In another flash of purple, she disappeared.

(gets up after the attack,brushing the dust and dirt off...)

Zero: (to Ep and Alpha) thanks...that Drone caught me off guard... (feels wierd after saying that as it rarely happens)

(then Zero turns his attention to the rest of the group)

Zero: Now the enemy knows EXACTLY where we are,I suggest we move to Jaguar's Location but not all in one group just in case we're being followed. Also,in future...I hope you all take my orders a little more seriously... when I say Evacuate...you move...That may sound harsh...but as far as Hunter Ranks are concerned, I'm not sure about you two (Talking about Zebuhachi and Destiny) but between myself,Ep and Alpha,and Jaguar...I out rank you...but Unless Signas or another higher ranking hunter appears, Listen to me,I know what I'm talking about...

With that being said, I also want to thank you all...I surely would be either Six feet under and around or in an enemy base under interrogation if none of you had shown up... Destiny, You asked about a Sabre?...(looks around notices one of the drones is holding one...(Pries it out of his hands,handing it to Destiny) the Sabre charger is on it's back...I can't get it off...not without destroying the energy relays. If you can do it any other way,be my guest.

Destiny was looking slightly disappointed that she hadn't actually gotten to fight, though at the same time she was rankled by Zero's attitude. He hadn't really said anything offensive, but in Destiny's mind he was still treating her as a rookie. Glaring at him with enough venom to tame a rattlesnake, she had just opened her mouth to begin inuslting him when he thrust a sabre in her hands. Surprised, she nearly dropped it. Vaguely recalling that he had said something about a charger, she attempted to recover herself.

"Charger. Right." She glanced at the drone, slowly regaining her senses. "I could get it off, but I don't need it. I can just configure the sabre to my energy signal.."

Lost in thought, she suddenly jerked her head up, looking around wildly. Jamming her yet useless sabre into her previously empty sheath, she bolted in the direction that Zeb had gone, yelling over her shoulder.

"You stupid Tinheads, you let Zebu go off on her own!"

Kicking off, she flew to gain more speed, seemingly oblivious that she, too, had let Zeb go. Even though it was highly unlikely that the reploid needed help, at this moment Destiny was uncharacteristically worried about her friend, probably because in this world which they might not escape from, Zeb was her only real friend.

(after Destiny flew off the rest of the group could hear painfull mouns and screams) Zero: What was that.(just then they saw a torn and battered electrical arm fly out from the edge of the woods)Zero: Ohh no I forgot about Gohan. Gohan: ( missing an arm and screaming in pain.usualy he would be able to take the drone with ease but his systems were frozen . The drone had been pounding on Gohan .Just then Gohan managed to get his systems operational.Standing up he reached for his sword.That was the last thing the drone saw.Gohan had allready cut him in half.Then slowly Gohan walked over to the rest off the group)Gohan: Thanks for helping me (just after saying that he fell down)

It didn't take Destiny long to find Zeb, considering the reploid was already on her way back, having destroyed a good number of mechaniroids by herself. Destiny found her walking happily back to camp with her sabre still ignited into a flaming purple blade, spinning it like a baton. Destiny quickly landed and bonked Zeb upside the head, apparently having forgotten the thing about Zeb being her friend.

"Zebuhachi Takashi, what took you so long?!"

Zeb sighed and put away her sabre, giving Destiny a look very much like an annoyed school teacher.

"I was busy killing things, sorry."

"Whatever." Destiny said flatly, with crossed arms, "Let's go back."

"Right." Zeb said, sounding as though Destiny had ruined all her fun. She grabbed the human's arm and teleported back to the main camp.

(as soon as Zero felt he was rested up,decided to take a head count,finding Ep and Alpha,Zebuhachi and Destiny,Jaguar was at the other camp...the only one missing was Gohan...)

Zero: Has anyone seen Gohan?...

(as the others looked around and shook their heads,he takes off looking for Gohan,soon finding him)...

Zero: man...you got it bad...(picks him up and brings him back to the Camp)

Zero: (still carrying Gohan) Man.....what happened to you.

Gohan: The drone somehow froze my systems and started useing me as a punching bag.

Zero: How did you lose your arm.

Gohan: He shot my arm and then ripped it off.................do you know of a way that we could put my arm back on and fix it up real quick.

Zero: (To Gohan) if X were here it might be possible,because it'd be a simple Laser Welding,I'd do it...but my Buster is a Pulse Type as opposed to a micro-blast chamber Buster...hmm,maybe I could ask Alpha or Epsillon...

After some very long disbelieving stares on Destiny & Zeb's parts, Zeb finally stepped forward and seized Gohan's unattached arm. She gave him a scrutinizing (I hate that word... and I can't spell) look.

"You *are* metal, right?"

"Yeah..." Gohan said, skeptical.

With that, Zeb put the arm in place and held it there. In a second, her lower arm flashed into purple plasma, taking along Gohan's arm and upper shoulder with it. The plasma swirled once, and then flashed back into solid metal, appearing as it should be. While Gohan gawked, Zeb stepped backwards and gave Zero a slightly rude glare.

"Don't you people even have elemental bases? Plasma?"

Zero stared. "Uh..."

"And you call yourself a reploid. Some people, jeez..."

Zeb walked back of into her corner with crossed arms, and as soon as she got there, Destiny leaned over her and whispered, "But, Zebs... I didn't think you could do that on low power."

"Can't." Zeb whispered back, "It was really stupid, but I'm beginning to get annoyed with this world. They put batteries in their sabres, and call me "hachi" all the time, and can't use plasma. It's weird."

Destiny nodded a little, watching Zero examine Gohan's arm, seeing that it was, indeed, seamlessly reattached, and that Gohan could move his fingers.

"I don't trust any of them, Zebs."

"Yeah..."

As Zeb and Destiny moved alittle away from the group, Epsillon came up to Zero and motioned to him. They both walked away from the group alittle, enough for some quiety private conversation.

"What is it Ep?" Zero asked in a low voice. Ep hesitated, glancing back over at Zeb and Destiny, still engaged in their own talking.

"....I'm not sure I trust them..."

Zero stared at Ep for a while. One of the odd but dependable things about Ep was his ability to judge people, and he was usually pretty definite either way. To say that he was unsure was to take caution.

"Any reason why you feel like this?" Zero whispered.

"I know they don't trust us, but the things they're saying, and doing...that Zeb girl, that energy she used...it's like she's got very low level Energis powers..."

"What?" Zero said, almost alittle too loud, then quieted down. He looked back at Ep again. "Are you saying she's an Energis? How?"

"No, no. Definitely not. Her body would never be able to take the strain of being even a weak half-Energis. And for lack of better words, she's too arrogant to be an Energis. She barely thinks about what she says or does before doing it. I'm just saying her powers are slightly similar, and I think she can do more than she's showing..."

Zero looked back at them, still whispering to Ep. "Any suggestions of action?"

"Let's just watch and wait. It's possible they're still adapting, like we were..." Ep whispered back.

"And if not?"

"...then they might me Mavericks...."

*Off someplace, quite the distance away, stands a lone reploid..he looks like a very old model, something out of a museum perhaps. His armor is cracked in several places, from years of battle and no repair. On his right shoulder, on the armor, there rests a Maverick Hunter symbol, tarnished slightly. As well on the symbol, it shows his rank, proving how old a model he is, displaying "Commander" on it. He's right now looking over ruins. What they are, remains undetermined and unknown. He shifts standing positions, the clinking at his right hip reminds him of the fact he still has both his sabre longswords.*

Oddly quiet....*He thinks..(Perhaps there's someone here..I can't get a fix on them though..blasted radar..)*

*Following his scouting out of the area he awakened in, Diablo decided it would be best if he continued to scout, yet not in a confined area. A few minutes prep is all he'd need, to make sure he could defend himself adequately if need be.*

Armor integrity...95%..It'll have to do..Core energy level..85%..Better watch myself...

*He reaches down, removing from two clips, a pair of sabres, the hilts though, are slightly longer than what a standard sabre would look like. It's not ornately decorated though, so as not to draw attention to himself..His fingers pry open a small panel in each sabre, on the handle itself*

Sabre energy at 40%..I won't last more than 20 minutes if I'm jumped. I had better watch myself..

*With that, he reclips the sabres to his 'belt,' picking a direction, generally that towards more buildings, and walking on. Each step brings up the question in his mind of 'Who will he encounter, if anybody at all?' and 'Will they be hostile, ally or enemy?'*

Zeb watched Zero and Ep go off by themselves, fretting that she had offended them with her little performance. She turned to Destiny, who now had a small panel on her new sabre open and was fiddling with the delicate wiring, frowning somewhat.

"Hey, Des? Do you think that I was a little too rude? I didn't really mean to offend them, bu-"

Destiny cut her off with a wave of her hand. "I would have said it myself, eventually." She grinned. "I'm finally starting to rub off on you."

The grin faded from her face slightly as she turned back to the sabre, poking at the innnards of it once or twice. Zeb leaned over to glimpse what she was doing, even though mechanics were entirely lost to her.

"Having trouble?"

Destiny nodded, looking up from the sabre again. "The wiring is almost entirely different from what I know. I can still do whatever I want to it, but its going to take me longer."

"Gonna make it like your last one?"

"Yeah..even if I wasn't, I still have to adjust it to my energy signal before I can use it."

Sighing, Zeb flopped backwards, staring up into a sky so much different from the one that she knew. Throwing her a quick glance, Destiny followed her gaze upwards, knowing exactly what was on her mind. Setting down her sabre, she nudged Zeb with one foot.

"Don't you worry, Zebu. We'll get back there someday, to Zero and Damien." She smiled at the thought of Damien. "I'll just bet those Tinheads are teaching the poor kid all sorts of bad stuff while I'm gone."

Zeb smiled. "Probably. And my guess is you'll come back to find your boots filled with Jell-O. X is probably using every chance for revenge."

The duo stared off towards the clouds, each now lost in their own thoughts of loved ones left behind.

(as he and Ep were walking off, he began to wonder why they were here on this planet...knowing that they're here to help in some way...also still wondering who or what is the enemy here...)

Zero: (Turning back to Zebuhachi and Destiny) You know what? I'm glad you two spoke up to me when you did... I wasn't concentrating on the task at hand...I haven't asked you yet,but do you have any clue who we're fighting against? Who's our enemy...and please before you answer keep in mind of our Truce with Sigma.

It a very distant possibility that it is Sigma's Goon Squad, but I highly doubt Sigma would stoop down to using Drones on Highly skilled Hunters...um...I'm not sure,but were either one you a Hunter or a freelancer in your timeline?

I can tell that one of you is...that wasn't meant to be offensive in anyway...but It's one of those answers I have to know.

Destiny shrugged, not having any idea, but perfectly happy to pretend to know everything.

"Who are the bad guys? They're the ones who are attacking us, of course!"

She said this as though it was extremely obvious and cleared the whole thing up. Zeb gave her an exasperated look, but before the reploid could say anything, Destiny had continued.

"Yeah, we're both Hunters. I'm (i'm guessing, Des, tell me if it's wrong) SA rank, and I lead the 14th unit." She jerked her thumb at Zeb, apparently thinking that the reploid couldn't speak for herself.

"Zebs over there is SA, too, I think. She's on the #0 Unit, but she's too dumb to lead anything."

At this point, Destiny was silenced as Zeb smacked a hand over her friend's mouth.

"That's quite enough from you for about a year." Zeb said before turning to Zero. "Yes, we're Hunters. The terminology we use is a bit different from here, but I've heard your terms before. Except for this 'freelancer' thing. What's that?"

(after hearing the answers to some of his "Dumb" questions)

Zero: Destiny...you're leading Dragoon's Unit?...that's a heavy undertaking since it's a cavalry unit. As for the Term "Freelancer", that's a reploid who hunts down Mavericks (Irregulars) or other Malfunctioning Reploid outside the Jurisdiciton of the Maverick (Irregular) Hunters. (Then Looks at Zebuhachi and Thinks to himself)

Zero: (To Himself: if she's in unit #0 she's with me but in another dimension or timeline...that explains quite a bit...)

(he thinks of some of the questions asked,smacks himself in the head)... boy,that was a dumb question.

(looks back at the pile of scrap metal that had been four Drones)...We should move out and find Jaguar...more than likely the enemy has located us by now, I suggest in order to avoid being tracked, we split up and meet at these coordinates (transmits the location to Zebuhachi, Destiny, Ep, Alpha VIA comm link on an encrypted frequency that is used by Hunters when they feel they're being spied on)

I hope to meet up with you there...also,if you get caught in a fight, Don't hesitate to call for help,ok?

Gohan: (sitting on the edge of the woods mumbleing to himself and watching the rest of the group start to split up. not noticeing that they were leaving)

*Hmph.....Mumble..mumble*....huhh..........Hey guys wait up for me.ahhhhhh.Now what to do.It seems that I have two choices #1:stay here and most likely face more drones. or #2:go and try to find them and get lost..............well that's not really much of a choice now is it.

Gohan: (gets up and goes in the same direction Zero left in) Hope I find him.It would be bad if I got lost.Well I could cut myself out but that would lead a bunch of trouble my way.Well I'm not lost ye so for now I don't have to worry.

Zeb was able to grab both Destiny, Ice, and Gohan through a series of confusing acrobatics (ooc: read: plot devices) and teleport to the coordinates given to her by Zero. In a blast of firey purple light, they reappeared in a small clearing. (Zero: I'm guessing here...) Destiny stumbled over to a tree to get over her teleportation sickness, and Gohan gave the two Hunters a strange look.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Ah, humans and teleporting don't seem to mix well."

Gohan opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as the other Hunters appeared around them. Zeb quickly located Zero and Epsillon, and ran over to talk to them.

"Hi," She said, sounding stupid. "I wanted to let you know, what I did with Gohan's arm is normal in my dimension. All reploids can do it." Zeb shrugged slightly, "I didn't know it was a big deal here. I've just become... um, dependant on my plasma, a little. I can try not to use it if you want."

Destiny appeared behind Zeb, apparently out of thin air.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you before we left, but yeah. I lead Dragoon's unit. I got it when he turned Irregular."

"'Maverick'." Zeb corrected.

"Whatever. He turned evil, and the drunken human calling himself our leader gave the unit to me."

Since Zero and Epsillon were now talking to Destiny, Zeb used the opportunity (I hate that word, I can't spell) to slip (in plasma form- a featureless, purple blob [more or less]) over to the edge of a clearing and into a tree. If Destiny was going to make a fool of herself, Zeb wasn't going to be involved.

She was in the process of poking at a large violet Diamond embedded in her sabre when another thought hit her. She leaned out of the tree and shouted over to the other Hunters. "Hey, what about Sigma and Roe?"

Destiny stopped talking immediately after making her last comment (from the previous post). Epsillon was glaring at her with such ferocity that it silenced even her. He looked like he really wanted to throttle her. After a moment of this glaring, Ep stalked off quite a distance, seeming at though he was fuming.

"What was that all about?" Destiny asked.

"I'm guessing your comment about a 'drunken human' is a reference to Dr. Cain, correct?" Zero asked. Destiny nodded, still confused. Zero also nodded, understanding what had happened. "Well, you see, that 'drunken human' in our demention is the one that built Epsillon, and he's been sober for a good many years before Ep as built." Zero looked over in Ep's direction as what Destiny had said finally begun to sink in on her. "You've just made a very bad insult about Ep's Grandpa."

Destiny grimaced, realizing how potentially bad this could be for Hunter/Hunter relations. She was about to go over to Ep and try to sort things out, but Zero stopped her.

"Leave him alone. He'll come back over when he's ready."

Destiny stared after Ep, for once rendered speechless. Turning to Zero again, she opened and closed her mouth a lot, making her somewhat resemble a fish.

"But..I.." she stopped, looked at Ep, then back to Zero. "In our demension, he really is, though! He sucks up liquor like a sponge!" Realizing she was digging a deeper hole, she tried to make amends. "Of course, things are a lot different between dimensions, you know, I'm just relating my experiences and.."

Fumbling around to find the right words and utterly failing, she turned and skittered off by herself, commenting shrilly about her sabre needing more work. Zeb sighed, emerging from her hiding place and approaching Zero.

"Don't mind her. In fact, feel special that you actually got to see Destiny unable to speak." She giggled. "It doesn't happen often."

Zero: Destiny,I'll go talk to him if ya want...but I still think you should leave him be, he won't stay very angry for long...also he's not one for rash actions...however in the future,you might want to refrain from making fun of Dr.Cain...I learned that early on...So,I wouldn't worry about it.

(after looking around for a little bit he soon finds Ep still sort of fuming)

Zero: (To Ep) hey,pal...don't mind her comment, but at the same time remember something, we're all from different timelines and dimensions...so perhaps in their Dimension Dr. Cain hasn't found his direction yet, whereas in ours he has. Look, I don't need everyone bickering...we don't know when and where this enemy is going to attack,and I need everyone at their best ability.

Ep, is there anything you can tell me about this enemy?

"Leave me alone..." Ep said to Zero, his voice no longer mad, but sounding more like depressed. Ep's back was to Zero, so he couldn't read his expression. Ep had his arms crossed and his head hung slightly, either staring at the ground or his eyes closed, Zero couldn't tell.

Even for Ep, he seemed as though he had acted a bit too feircely for Destiny's choice words. And now with the way he was acting, it all added up.

'He's homesick,' Zero thought silently. 'With everything that was happening, he was probably too distracted to think about it, but Destiny reminded him...'

"Do you want to talk about it, Ep?" Zero asked to him.

"Just leave me alone..." Ep said again, quieter than before.

(as he looks at Ep...Zero finds himself in the same boat with Ep...just not as bad)

Zero: Look,Ep....I want to be home just as much as you do...and to be honest...I think you were in the right to explode like that...(turns around to leave) but remember something, we're all on the same team here...soon enough we'll be home with X squishing you on the Rec Room's couch (laughs a little)...

*He's been wandering for days..yet nothing's happened. Diablo feels a bit more at ease having not encoutered any hostilities while travelling, never once veering off course by more than a foot. The only slight downside that he can see is that he hasn't detected anybody at all yet, worrying him slightly..*

Well what the heck..There has to be someone here...right?

*Seemingly talking to himself, yes...*

*He doesn't seem to realize though, that he's drawn much closer to civilization, particularly closer to the stray hunters: Zero and Epsillon. It doesn't take him long before his personal radar picks them up. Within a one second window, he switches his radar to passive, hoping to GOD he wasn't detected...but with one second, anything can happen.*

*Curiously, he does his best to sneak towards where he detected Zero and Epsillon, trying to gain a visual indentification on the both, as he knows not who they are. As a safety precaution, he has his left hand by the sabre on the left side of his 'belt'*

*Thought...* (I seriously hope I don't regret this....) *With that, he pats his commanders badge and watches silently..*

Mentally, Destiny was still kicking herself. Even she knew when she had actually offended somebody, and here they were, stuck in some strange dimension, and she had to go and piss off one of their few allies. So, once more, she was off on her own, away from everyone. Zeb had tactfully left her alone, but Ice had trotted along after her, oblivious to her moods as usual. To vent her feelings a bit, she had once more opened a small panel in the hilt of her newly aquired sabre, fooling around with the wiring and occasionally zapping it with a laser-like blast from an index finger, to further personalize it to her energy signal. She had been absorbed in this task for about fifteen minutes when Ice lifted his head and growled deep in his throat, staring out into the forest. Stopping her activities, Destiny glanced in the direction he was looking. Even with her enhanced eyesight, she noticed nothing out of the ordinary.

"Quiet, you," she said, glaring at the tiger and returning to her task. "I need to concentrate."

Ice obeyed, but he stubbornly continued to watch the one area, finally getting to his feet and padding silently off towards the rest of the group. Scratching her head and sighing at the maddening difference in wires on this sabre from the one she was used to, Destiny did not notice him go.

Zeb was sitting on a low branch of a tree, half-heartedly prying leaves off her branch and dropping them onto the ground. It was a lot less entertaining than video games or the training room, that was for sure. She managed to get a leaf balanced on the top of her foot, and stared at it for a second before kicking it off and into the pile with the others. Bored, she looked around the clearing at everyone else. Gohan was drawing or writing in the dirt with a long stick, and Jaguar was nowhere to be seen. Zero and Epsillon were talking, most likely about herself and Destiny. Zeb groaned. She couldn't believe their entire circumstances. They had insulted Epsillon, but Destiny could hardly be blamed, even though she was. Neither one of the Hunters had been introduced to anyone, they had basically worked out who everyone was on their own. How should Destiny have known that Ep was one of Cain's reploids? Or that in Epsillon's dimension, that Dr. Cain wasn't the useless drunk he was in theirs? It didn't really matter, though. Ep would get over it eventually.

"I think he will, anyway..." Zeb mumbled under her breath.

Her attention turned to Destiny, who was still quietly working on her sabre. As Zeb watched, Ice's head jerked up in the direction of the forest, as did Destiny's. The human said something to the tiger, but Zeb didn't hear what it was. Finally, Destiny turned back to her sabre, and after a few seconds, Ice began walking into the forest, though Destiny didn't appear to notice.

"Great," Zeb thought, "I'll have to go save the tiger now."

With that, she swung out of the tree and landed neatly on the ground, throwing up a small wisp of dust. It was cleaner here, but Zeb had learned her lesson. She was now in black jeans and a pale purple t-shirt, which would hopefully be more appropriate for a forest. The reploid jogged over to where Destiny was sitting and poked her in the shoulder, causing the human to leap up and wave the sabre handle at Zeb, still with it's panel wide open. A flaming blade of bright turqouise shot out of the handle, much to Destiny's surprise. Of of sheer luck, she was able to stop the blade about a centimeter from Zeb's face, at which point she dropped it and it went out.

"So you fixed it, then?" Zeb asked in a would-be-calm voice.

"I didn't think I had, sorry about that."

"It's alright. Anyhow, I was coming to tell you that Ice is escaping."

"He's WHAT?" Destiny said, a tad louder than intended.

Zeb pointed to the forest. "Escaping."

"There?" Destiny asked, "He was growling at something. Probably a squirrel."

"Ice isn't stupid, Des. He's not going to leave you to go chase woodland creatures."

"So you're saying we've got to fight MORE of those Mechaniroid-things?"

"Maybe, I don't know."

Destiny leapt to her feet, grinning insanely. "Great! I have excellent timing, if I do say so myself! It will be much easier to fight now that I have this!" Destiny waved her slightly dented sabre handle, prompting a skeptical look from the reploid. "Let's go!" She said, happily, then charged into the forest without another word.

Zeb hesitated, then spun to address Zero and Epsillon.

"Destiny and I are off to chase squirrels, in case you wondered."

Zeb giggled to herself again, and then ran after Destiny into the woods.

Zero however, stared after them like they'd both gone insane.

"Squirrels?"

*While watching Zero and Ep...he notices that they are much more similar to him than expected. Who knows..perhaps they're reploid as well, like him..Only one way to find out though..and he's not about to take that path. He takes a second to check his personal radar again, though in passive mode. (A smaller detection range. 250 meters versus active which is 1000 meters. Mechwarrior example, not Diablo's oo;..) What he finds...*...*in a barely audible, if audible at all, whisper* "Aww nuts.."

*With a very small bend of the servos, he crouches further down into the bushes he's hiding behind, taking the opportunity to 'dust off' his commander's badge on his right shoulder. With any sort of luck, they'll notice it first before the sabres on his waist, and if he's even luckier, how damaged everything is..*

*He now lies in wait for whatever's coming..hopefully nothing too big or bad..*

(as Zebuhachi.Destiny and Ice Leave, Zero begins to put two and two together thinking "how stupid do they think I am?" he then begins to search the immediate surroundings)

Zero: (Before Leaving) (Drawing his Sabre) (Speaking To Ep) If I were you I'd be ready...(he then goes out loud)...Whoever you are,whereever you are,Come out!...(Zero then hears a rustling nearby,almost instinctively Arms his Buster)

*Zero's voice is more than clear to him, as Diablo's closest to him...*

(Out of the frying pan...)

*With that thought, Diablo stands up, revealing himself to Zero, to his right. Both his hands are in the air, to show a surrender/inhostile attitude. The commander's badge on his lapel (Sorry, I said it was shoulder, it's not >"He's gonna do something..". His armor looks a little dull, like a dark orange. There are also bits of red on the arms, bicep area, and red on the thigh area. There's a 'dome' on his chest, with a black center to it, and the top of his helmet looks the same as the dome, with a 'fin' over top of it, a sleek design overall, like he's more for speed...*

"Relax..and given whatever situation you're in, I can imagine that won't come easy. I'm not here to hurt you. At this point in time, I couldn't hurt the bush in front of me. I don't have enough power in my weapons systems to hold a sabre beam for more than three hours."

(Into the fire....)

Zeb, Destiny, and Ice simultaneously burst from the foliage on Diablo's left, the human saying something inaudible to both the reploid and the tiger. Seeing Zero at arms, both Hunters immediately drew their sabres, regardless of the fact that Diablo had his hands up. Unfortunately, Destiny's sabre was still bright turquoise, and she looked vaguely apalled at this development. Zeb, on the other hand, was staring intensely at the unknown reploid, the blade of her sabre pointed directly at him. She ignored his commander's badge. Any Irregular could pull that trick.

"What side are you on? Hunter, or Irregular?" She shook her head. "Excuse me, I mean Maverick."

Beside her, Destiny snorted. "Maverick..why they want to call themselves cows is beyond me.."

Zeb took her eyes off Diablo for a moment to glare at Destiny. "Will you shut up for once?"

Completely ignoring Zeb, Destiny turned to Zero. "Can we just march this Tinhead back to camp? I, for one, would enjoy sitting down while interrogating him. Besides, then we can get Ep's opinion."

*He's been monitoring his radar all the while. Destiny and her small group's arrival was nothing short of expected.*

"You don't see this badge? I had to earn this through years and years of service to the Maverick Hunters. The previous commander was reluctant to pass this badge down to me, I remember it so well...the corrupted soul.. managed to best him at his own assigned test to achieve the rank, hunt a professional assassin and exterminate him.."

*With a slight turn of his head, he looks at Destiny with a wry little grin*

"And I'm no tinhead. Tinheads wouldn't have managed to enter your radar range un-detected, plus, they wouldn't, nor should they have been able to get so close without someone, if anyone at all, noticing. Have you all forgotten how to hunt?"

*As a final gesture of peace, to him, he lowers his hands, unclipping both his sabres from his belt. He rolls one across the ground to Destiny and the other one to Zero. How they would take this, he doesn't know.*

"There's a 40% charge left in their batteries, I wouldn't last three hours in a sabre duel. Do with them as you please."

(turning his attention back to Diablo)

Zero: You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that unless you're certain that they're enemy...otherwise you get this kind of situation...Destiny, if you'd bother to inspect him, you'd note the commander's badge up by his shoulder.

(with that he disarms his Buster,sheathing his Sabre)

Zero: (he continues) what's wrong with your systems,that you've lost so much energy? (thinking at the same time(I've just lost the right to lead this group)

(turns away from Diablo)...Follow me

*He just stands there, arms still in the air, as he still has weapons pointed at him*

"If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer to stand here right now."

*He simply waits until Zero stops walking before continuing to talk, so all can hear*

"I snuck up on you and this other reploid here because I wasn't sure if you'd be ally or enemy. Gathering information via stealth would have determined that, but this tiger would seem to have found me out. Good nose. This demonstration, though it's according to hunter proceedure, could have resulted in your lives, with all due honesty. Tactical analysis says the best person to strike at first would be you, green one, then he sabre weilders, followed by you, red one, ending with the tiger, and any maverick would have struck at you already versus myself who's standing here waiting for you to make a decision at what alliegance I've taken up when the evidence is in front of your face. As I both haven't and won't draw my sabres, seeing as how two of you have them, and I haven't used my backup weapons to pick you off in that fashion, I must be no maverick, correct?"

*The last part of that speech was more directed to Destiny and Zeb.*

(turns around again,Facing Diablo)

Zero: hmm,you make a good point,because although it's not the first thing that is learned in unit#0,it is still an important lesson to watch potential enemies using the strictest of stealth techniques.

But, I'm curious...we all seem to be from Timeline or other Dimension...which one are you from?...

Gohan: ( sitting in his own little corner of the camp drawing pictures of swords and beam rifels in the dirt also at the same time watching the rest of the group talk to a new reploid) I wonder who he is. He doesn't seem to be an enamy.(taking a closer look he can make out the badge on his shoulder)Hmm....*gets up and walks to the the rest of the group* Hi...........*everybody looks at him like he just shot a blast into the sky*

Ep's expression had slowly melted to a low glare as he watched Zero and the new reploid talk. Ep still hadn't fully 'recovered' from Destiny's comments, and now, combined with everything else happening, then his guy had the gall to sneak up to their camp and declare Ep to be the weakest and easiest target to attack. Ep turned quickly towards Diablo and began to stride towards him, his scarf flickering almost ominously at his movement. He wouldn't choke down his dignity for another new reploid. Not again...

Ep stopped, standing between Zero and Diablo, both of them on either side of him, a short distance away. He turned to Zero.

"Zero, I will not respect him as a commander, and I have serious doubts about his qualifications as a Hunter."

Zero was suprized at Ep's actions. He didn't get a chance to speak though. Epsillon turned Diablo.

"For someone who talks as though they're very skilled, you've neglected to notice what you should truely be worried about, sneaking around and unfamiliar camp..." Ep started, distainfully. Diablo looked around. He didn't see anything...but...the longer he looked, the more he began to feel strange, as though he felt as though someone was watching him.

"Still don't see him yet?" Ep asked. "He's barely inches away..."

Diablo looked at the kid -he had to be a kid, he wasn't tall enough or looked old enough to be an adult...- wondering if there really was something out there or whether he was just trying to spook him...

"You would have never made it two steps if you were precieved as hostile..." Ep added, ominously.

Zero gave Ep an authorative, but slightly nervous look. Zero had figured out what was going on.

"Epsillon. Call Alpha off..."

Ep didn't readily respond for a moment, but then nodded, but not to Zero. Diablo looked in the direction Ep had nodded just as something began to fade into view. When it came clear, Diablo jumped back, startled. Zeb, Destiny, and Gohan were suprized at the sudden apearance too. Barely six inches away from Diablo was Alpha, who looked very ready to strike if necessary, or ordered. Diablo backed up further, but the dragon didn't make any moves, not even a millimeter. Alpha's glare perfectly resembled Ep's.

"You said I was the one you would strike first," Ep started. "You think I'm the easiest and the weakest." Ep glared even deeper. "If you want my respect, you have to earn it."

Epsillon straightened up, standing tall. "You said I was the first you'd take out, then that's what you'll have to prove. If you want me to respect you as a commander, than you best be ready to back up what you say. If you can't do that, then you deserve no more respect from me than a Maverick."

Epsillon turned away, walking towards a small clearing. He had issued his challange to Diablo's authority. He didn't need to do anything, he'd probably still be placed as High Commander, but if he didn't answer Ep's challange, he'd be branded a coward...

With a growling hiss, Alpha followed after his master, forcing anyone in his way to move aside. He'd sensed Diablo long before he'd arrived at the camp, but once he'd spoke about Ep in such a way, whether he meant it or not, things had begun to turn hostile. Alpha had claimed Ep as his master because of his strength. To call Ep and easy target was to give insult to Alpha as well....

They both waited in the clearing, far away from the others, waiting to see what Diablo decided...

All in all, Destiny agreed completely with Ep. The human glared at Diablo with a fierce intensity, her blindingly green eyes seemingly lethal enough to penetrate his armor. Disregarding Zero's comments to lower weapons, she kept her blade aimed directly at the new reploid. Zeb could tell by her friend's face that trouble was coming, and big time. Ep had probably told Diablo off, but Destiny's pride had suffered a blow, and now all Hell was likely to break loose. When Destiny spoke, her voice was tight, and dripping with scarcely concealed animosity.

"Listen, you. First off, I will call you a Tinhead if I very well feel like it. You dare to come here, sneaking about like an Irregular, and then proceed to insult all of us. Zero and Zeb may be too polite to say anything, but you hear this. I will not tolerate you barging in here and assuming that you're stronger than all of us. Put together, even! Zebu and myself rank very high, thank you, and Zero and Ep are, at the very least, on par with us. Even if you somehow avoided Alpha and muscled past Zero, Ep and myself, I can assure you that you could not outrun Zeb. Now I suggest you stop handing out rash insults. And never assume. We all know what happens when we assume. By the way, Zero, I agree with Ep. I will not follow him as a leader."

Her little speech given, she violently sheathed her sabre, slamming the hilt into the case, and stalked after Ep. A newly timid Ice followed her, glancing back at Diablo once or twice. Sighing, Zeb put her sabre away as well, watching Destiny go for a moment before turning to Diablo.

"I'm sorry for her little outburst. However, you said the very worst thing you could, I'm afraid. Please keep that in mind. It would also be wise to reconsider your position, and perhaps be more polite in the future. Zero, I'll leave him to you."

With that, she nodded to each of the two in turn, and walked away after Destiny, presumably to calm her friend.

(glares a look at the few reploids heading back to camp)

Zero: Wait just a minute!!, While I had my Buster Aimed at him I did an Energy and Virus Scan...he wasn't kidding about his energy levels...they are pretty low, and the Virus is nowhere to be found in his Systems...ok?...So,everyone LAY OFF, You're not going to like it If I go off.

(Turning his attention back to Diablo)

I'd Advise you not to challenge Epsillon...he looks small but in our timeline he's fought off Mavericks Such as Agile and held me at bay, so it's safe to say He's no weakling...besides...if he doesn't kill you...(pointing to Alpha(the CND)...HE will.

If you come to the Camp with us...stay close to me Alpha may not attack if I'm there.

*With but a few words, to no one in particular, as everyone but Zero's left..*

"I claim to be nothing. What I'm wearing holds no basis here in this timeline. A commander I may be, but not of this rag tag group of people....."

*He fixes a pointed yet softish gaze on Zero*

"I'm not going to return to your camp to be with those who can't relate or level with a simple vision assesed analysis. May I have my sabre back please? I'd like to stay armed as much as possible while here in unfamiliar territory. Here is where I shall set up my camp. Feel free to tell them where it is should they desire to come over and learn more about me, or run me through with their blade."

*With that, he sets his radar to active sensors, increasing both the distance he can detect things and the distance in which he can be detected. The group walking from him shows up on his radar. Doubtless he's shown up on theirs*

*Muttering quietly to himself*

"That green one has the mettle to be a fine leader..temper needs to stay in check though...however...only those insecure about their position challenge the threats instead of learn to counter them without fisticuffs."

"And If you're going to call me something..call me Diablo or don't call me at all..."

Destiny was, of course, fuming. Not that this was much of a change, but it was beginning to get annoying. Though Destiny was naturally tempermental, she usually wasn't quite this rude. 'If Destiny keeps this up,' Zeb thought, 'then we're never going to get home.'

Immediately after thinking that, Zeb stopped herself. They had to get home, Zero was there, and Mugen, Myna, Nita, even D3 (ooc: Zeb's sister, annoying room mate, creator, other sister, etc, etc). And Destiny's family too. Not to mention that the reploids here were so... inhuman. Yes, it seemed like a silly word to use on a machine, but it was true. Even now, Zeb could hear Zero and Diablo going on about scanners and radar and all that. Though Zeb was a reploid, she had no radar, no scanners, and had been greatly alarmed when Zero had sent her the coordinates, because she wasn't aware that she could do that either. Lucky Destiny, she was at least able to travel through dimensions without going insane from wondering why she had no radar. Zeb's vision shifted over to the human. Destiny's back was turned, her arms were crossed, and she appeared to be quietly fuming to herself again. Zeb sighed to herself, sinking gracefully into a sitting position in the middle of the ground.

"So what else is new?" she muttered quietly.

*****

"Stupid fricking Tinheads..."

Destiny was running out of rocks. She'd kicked them all at a small tree that appeared to be about to tip over. Destiny couldn't imagine why.

What did they expect from her? Here she was, in the middle of NOWHERE with something like ten reploids, and she only really knew one of them. It wasn't exactly Destiny's idea of fun.

She was, however, curious about the state of things at home. One thing that had been bothering her was Ice. He hadn't been around before she and Zeb were transported here. It could only mean that Zero must have been close by, and for some reason, Ice had gotten through the portal without Zero or Buddy. Ice must be freaking fast to have pulled that one off. But... it didn't seem like him, leaving Zero standing there.

But then, of course, it's quite probable that Ice was not expecting to fall ten feet into mud, and hadn't been able to stop when Zero had.

Destiny made herself stop thinking. She was over-analyzing things, though... she'd be sure to ask Zeb if she had seen Zero, THEIR Zero, before going through the portal.

Destiny was kicking the last of her rocks at the tree when she suddenly stopped, smacked herself in the forehead, and began hurrying back to camp. When she passed Zebu at such a fast pace, the reploid immediately began to worry.

"Unmei! What are you doing now?" Zeb said, scrambling to her feet and going after Destiny.

"Don't worry, Zebs. I'm just gonna comment."

That, however, did nothing to lessen Zeb's worry. Destiny, however, marched directly up to Zero.

"You lead the #0 unit, correct?"

Zero blinked. "Yeah.."

"Well, I lead the 14th, as you know, and Ep leads a unit. What I've just remembered is, that makes us all commanders, dear Tinhead. If Rusty over there is a commander, he still can't outrank us." She smiled smugly. "Don't know why I forgot that."

Still smiling sweetly, she whirled and walked back the way she came. Zeb was stopped dead in her tracks, gaping at Destiny. She, too, had forgotten that. Mentally, she smiled. Destiny somehow always got the last stab.

*He can't help but overhear Destiny's conversation with Zero, as he's still in the general area of the two. He shakes his head and calls out to Destiny..*

"IF YOU'RE GONNA CALL ME SOMETHING, CALL ME DIABLO, OR DON'T CALL ME AT ALL.."

(Blasted people....)

*After calling this out to Destiny, he ignites his saber, having recieved it back from Zero a few moments after asking for it. He ignites the 4.5 foot blade of energy, holding it next to the tree trunk of a fairly thick tree..He pulls back once, slowly..concentrating. Without warning, right as he reaches as far back as he can go, he swings the saber with a "VVWWOOMM." He stops it though..just where he held it before.. He repeats this a second time..concentrating still. On the third run, he pulls back, and with a small 'warcry' (Ever played Zelda 64? Adult Link's "HAAAHHHHTTT"), he takes a mighty swing, the saber once more making the "VVWOOM" noise as it cleaves through the treebranch, leaving a trail of energy in its wake, almost allowing viewers to see where the slash went.

The tree, now missing a chunk of wood the whole way through its trunk, teeters slightly on the brink of toppling down ontop of Diablo, Zero and Destiny, as it's a really tall tree. He notices this, and throws the ignited sabre down, pushing on it with both hands to try and send it the opposite way. After a minute or two, he sends the tree falling towards the opposite direction of the three, safely into empty woods. He picks up his sabre, still ignited, and begins to cut firewood for himself.*

"What is it with reploids and firewood?"

Destiny mumbled this to herself, not particularly caring that the reploids were all glaring at her (except for Zeb, of course, who was used to this). The human was getting rather annoyed with all the arrogance going on around here, especially because the reploids were doing it. Arrogance was her job, darn it! And if this random Tinhead thought he could just stroll in and take over, he was sadly mistaken! Destiny was on her way to go tell him off when she was stopped by Zeb appearing in front of her.

"Unmei," the reploid said after the blaze of violet surrounding her had disappeared, "give me a chance, alright?"

Before Destiny could respond, Zeb was already gone.

***

When Zeb reached Diablo, he was standing upright with one hand on his sabre (which was still ignited, considering that he had been cutting firewood). He gave Zeb a scrutinizing look. To his scans, she was a reploid, but she looked human. And for some odd reason, she bowed. "Hajimete, I'm Zebuhachi. Please forgive Unmei, she is very rude." Zeb paused for a second, eyeing the sabre and firewood. "Ah... am I interrupting?"

"I saw you coming on radar." Diablo replied, effectively dodging the question.

"Radar." Zeb repeated, "Weird. Oh, anyway, I wanted to let you know that Destiny hates reploids. 'Tinhead' is her pet name for my dimension's Zero, and she sometimes applies it to all reploids. It's nothing personal, I'm 'tinhead' too, at times."

"Ah," Diablo thought, "she is a reploid..."

"I haven't been told much about why we're here, but from what I understood, there is some sort of enemy here. So far, what we've fought hasn't been too bad, but it could get worse in the future. We may need your help," Zeb paused, and looked up slightly, "and as good as you think you are, I believe you may need ours as well."

Diablo looked her over again. What arrogance! Suggesting that he, a commander, may need the help of a lowly reploid like her. Lowly indeed... she was maybe five and a half feet tall, wearing human clothing. How pathetic.

Zeb, however, didn't notice this reaction, she was busy bowing. "Please consider coming to our camp. I only suggest that you try not to offend anyone, though with Destiny this is difficult. Thank you."

And with that, she pivoted neatly and vanished in a flash of purple.

*As he couldn't slip in a reply before Zeb left..he just returns to his task. No, she didn't interrupt anything important, it was firewood for pete's sake. As for her arrogance....it wasn't as such. He didn't find her arrogant in the least, minus the way she said what she did. It did hit him though..*

"I am strong...but I'm not that strong...allies are a must anywhere, battlefield included. The time will come when I need to turn to them for assistance, and a time when they will turn to me, as much as that green one won't want to.."

*He turns around. In one smooth motion, he shuts down his sabre and throws it into the air. After launching the sabre skyward, his hand slips into his forearm unit, a small barrel sliding out. He charges up a level 2 of 4 blast and fires it into the ground, creating a crater, and a fair sized one at that. The perfect fire pit. The barrel slips inside his forearm as his hand slips back out. He raises his hand skyward, catching the saber in his hand, twirling it in his fingers twice before clipping it to his 'belt'*

*He begins to throw a couple logs into the fire pit, followed by a bit of tinder and a few twigs. He unclips his saber again, holding the tip near the tinder.....waiting.... After a few moments the tinder lights up, setting the twigs on fire which in turn set the logs on fire. Soon enough, he has a fire going for himself, as Zero returned to camp when Zeb disappeared.*

"Priorities.." *He's reviewing what he should do tomorrow..* "Reaquire my second sabre longsword from the woman that has a complex with reploids...earn a bit more trust..heh..perhaps set up a longer distance radar...need the stuff though.."

*He doesn't know if anyone else will show up here. Zeb's arrival was and wasn't a suprise. Yeah, the radar did reveal she was coming, but he didn't expect anyone to even converse with him after the bad 'entrance' he made...*

Gohan: ( As usual sitting in his own litle corner of the camp) Huhh....I've been sitting down long enough.I should go and talk to the new guy.*gets up and dashes to Diablo. Walking up to him he can see Diablo looking at him from the side of his eye* Hey I'm Gohan.I thought that I would talk to you since I haven't said anything to you yet......*waits for reply*

*He's been staring into the fire he ignited, not paying attention to much else, radar included. When Gohan arrives and speaks up, be breaks his gaze away and looks up at him with thoughtful eyes.*

"I'm Diablo, I just arrived here. Why are you here, Gohan. Shouldn't you be with your friends at the other camp?"

*He waits for a second, the silence seems a little overpowering...well...above the crackle of the flame*

"I think you should go back. There's nothing here for you to do and that includes conversing with me. Forgive me if I sound rude."

Gohan: (looking as if somebody had ripped his arm off again)Now I see why nobody cares if you walk off a cliff.

Diablo: (surprised that some body could be this rude) I_(before he could say anything else he is cut off by Gohan)

Gohan:Well I have no time for you.See'ya. *with that said he dashes away to the rest of the group*

Sighing, Destiny watched Zeb converse with the newest addition, and she had to admit that she wasn't trying very hard to be polite. She rolled her sabre hilt around in her hands for a moment, sighed some more, and stood up. Bending over, she scooped up Diablo's sabre off the ground, and began walking towards him. A few feet away, she tossed his sabre towards him, using that as her introduction. The reploid looked up, a bit surprised at her apperance.

Epsillon sat on a rock in the meadow, still waiting on Diablo. He had no ententions whatsoever to associate with Diablo unless he met his challange. How things went after that, however, depended upon how the fight went.

Ep was working on his hemet, taking out some of his agitated energy on it. He'd gotten static occasionally, not enough for it to be a bother, but he needed something to work on. Alpha would lift his head to look up at Ep once in awhile, then lay it down again. Alpha looked like he was sleeping, but anyone who knew him, or any CNDragons, would know he was very much awake.

Ep continued to work on the helmet, away from everyone else, mumbling stuff to himself on occasion.

*He catches his sabre, spinning it in his fingers a couple of times before clipping it to his belt. By no means is he showing off, it's just habit.*

"It's a pleasure to meet you under...better circumstances. I'm Diablo, Commander of the entire faction of Maverick Hunters...er..well..." *He looks away kinda..* "In my dimension that is..."

*He sort of shrugs a little..a small, small hint of home-sickness shows. *

"Thank you for my sabre. I'm kind of shocked you'd come back here...knowing how arrogant I came off as to you. Though I must admit, I'm pleased to witness this. You all seem like a strong group and you all seem like you're capable of much. I wouldn't put it past anyone. I know better than to underestimate people...though..heh..I did not too long ago."

*He motions to the stump to his right, a ways away, but still around the fire. He was intending that for a log cutting stump incase he needed more, but it would make for another nice seat*

"Please, sit down, you must be tired."

*Destiny bows once more as she takes a seat upon the stump he motioned to. He waits a little before returning to the topic of ranks, sort of..a thoughtful pause.*

"I'm..not sure what you'd call that here...or even if you guys have someone in that position..think maybe..Sigma from long long ago..or Signas..recently, if you even know who I'm talking about. I've relieved Signas of his duty. He ended up having a complete systems crash due to Sigma's final taunt of the hunters...He couldn't take the sheer strategy he put out. I on the other hand..somehow..managed."

*Maybe not a necessary story, but it's conversation none-the-less...*

"Tell me...what's your story, Destiny?"

Zeb grinned to herself as she watched Destiny talking with Diablo. This was exceptionally entertaining, mostly because Neither of them had noticed the reploid, halfway up a nearby tree. Well, that may not be completely accurate. Destiny hadn't noticed her, but Diablo might have, considering his radar. Zeb tilted her head to one side. Radar... why didn't anyone in her dimension have radar? It didn't matter though, and Zeb's smile quickly returned. She had just seen something that she would never forget, it would be burned into the circuits of her mind for the rest of her life.

Destiny Cloud was trying to be polite!

Maybe it was because she felt guilty, Zeb didn't know. She'd been friends with Destiny for nearly all of her life, or at least the part that she could remember. But even after all that time, Zeb STILL couldn't figure out what Destiny was thinking most of the time.

Once, Destiny had been nice to Zero, but only because he had stolen one of her video games because Destiny had braided his hair because...

Zeb crossed her legs and leaned in closer, intent on hearing the conversation. She had been letting her mind wander, and was only able to catch a small sentence;

"...What's your story, Destiny?"

Zeb nearly fell out of the tree, she was leaning so far forward. There were so many things to tell! Their dimension was so different from here! Destiny would do one of two things, Zeb thought. She would either tell Diablo so much he'd wished he'd never asked, or she would say absolutely nothing. Sadly for the reploid, the former was her own sort of response, while the latter was more of the human's style. Zeb braced herself against a nearby branch and listened...