(Unknown location, unknown time. Two shadowy figures are at a small table in a room that's lit only by a dim, dangling lightbulb. Figure #1 starts to speak in a gravelly— but also kind of electronic— voice.)

Figure #1: So… You want our help, but what reason to help you, outside of the fact that you have so much zenny to your name, do we have?

(The lightbulb flickers, but instead of becoming pitch-black, the room suddenly gets a lot brighter. We can't tell who Figure #2 is because of his big cowboy hat and bulky overcoat, but Figure #1 is clearly Mattrex.)

REX: Damn… I thought that that lightbulb was at the brightest setting possible, what with such a low amount of power left.

(Mattrex reaches up and crushes the lightbulb in his right hand.)

REX: Now… back to business. Have you, as I had requested, brought the proof?

(Without saying anything, Figure #2 nods and slides a small suitcase onto the table. He then opens the suitcase; it's full of money. Mattrex doesn't take a single zenny, but he looks it all over to make sure none of it's counterfeit.)

REX: Very well. I believe that we have a deal…

 

(The next day, up at Lavender Castle, which is floating over the Pacific Ocean. Everyone walks into the briefing room… Well, ALMOST everyone.)

REX: Well, shall we begin?

(Mattrex sits down; the flames on his spine set the chair ablaze.)

REX: Well, look at that.

(He rises to his feet again as the chair deteriorates into nothing more than ashes.)

REX: Do you know what this means?

Indy: You should watch where you sit down?

Shadow: Only we can prevent forest fires?

 REX (Facing Grizzly Slash): No. (Turning to Axle the Red) No. It means that someone has to obtain or create chairs more resistant to fire for the base. Axle, you are the one who will do it.

Shadow: Aww, why me?

REX: For that snide remark.

Shadow: But I don't wanna, so there. XP

 REX (Becoming angry): You will. That's an order.

Shadow: Obey orders from you? Pshh! Yeah right!

REX: I assume that the briefing will be postponed, everyone. (Turning back to Axle; clearly irritated) Do you WANT to die?!

 Shadow (Assumes a fighting stance): Bring it sucka!

(They fight. Mattrex, who holds Axle's weakness and is the victor, then takes Axle the Red and throws him into the Iron Fist Room.)

 REX (Clapping the dust off his hands while facing the door to the Iron Fist Room): I knew that this room would be useful.

(The door opens a few minutes later, and Axle falls out, almost dead.)

Shadow: Ouch… FUCK! THAT FUCKING HURTS! (Faints)

(Now that that's aside… Back to the briefing room, right?)

 REX (Standing in the briefing room, tapping the table with his fingers impatiently): So, why the hell are… (Stopping himself from using the American names)… Dark Necrobat and Shining Firefly so slow today?

Vincent: You NEED to ask…?

REX: Ordinarily they're not this slow— so yes, even if they have certain… time-consuming interests… I DO need to ask.

Nine: Bet you anything Elvont's up on the roof trying to invent Reploid sex… Any idea what the Doc's working on?

 Santo-bot (Pointing at the sliding glass entrance to the briefing room as Shining Firefly approaches): You can ask him ahora.

 Dr. Zap (Entering with something in his hands): Good news, everyone! I've just created the GREATEST INVENTION EVER!

 REX (Unimpressed): Surprise me.

(The doc presents a bizzare-looking device and puts it on the table the other Critical Masters are sitting around.)

Indy: Uh… Doc? This is a toaster… with a spoon taped to it. And a string of Christmas lahts wrapped around it.

Dr. Zap: Bah, you're all just uncultured Philistines! (Picks up the device and strokes it) There, there, my precious… the bad men are done now.

 REX (As cynical as ever): And WHAT, pray tell, does this so-called "great invention ever" do?

Dr. Zap: Well, that's just the thing. I have absolutely no idea. (Slips sheets of paper onto the table) Now, if you would just sign these release forms…

Indy: Wait, whah would ah need this?

Dr. Zap: Well, in five seconds, I'm going to press the button on this remote that comes with it. And since I don't know what it does…

Shadow: KILL IT WITH FIAH! (Hurls the device against the wall; the device breaks into pieces)

Dr. Zap: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! My pride and jooooo-o-o-oooooy! (Bursts into tears)

Nine: Well, THAT wasn't cool, Shadow!

 Vincent (To the Skiver): Hey, hang on! Did you HONESTLY think that was going to do something amazing?

Santo-bot: ¡Calamar! We didn't even get a chance to see what it does!

Indy: Ah wasn't lookin' ta get blown ta bits if it worked, though!

(Everyone starts to bicker; Dark Necrobat silently enters and just watches on the sidelines.)

 REX (Slams down his hands on the table and shouts at everyone): Are you quite finished?!

(Everyone sits up straight and shuts up, with slightly nervous looks on their faces— Well, except Volt Kraken and Dark Necrobat, who just look a bit uninterested.)

REX: Good.

 Nine (Mumbling, a bit sad): I still wanted to see it work…

(Mattrex looks around to make sure he was just hearing things.)

Nine:

REX: I received an offer from a wealthy anonymous client just yesterday. He promises to give one hundred thousand zenny if we retrieve some protected information from the Maverick Hunter headquarters. This information would consist of statistics and data concerning X and Zero.

Dr. Zap: What's he need that information for?

REX: That much I do not know, as it does not matter.

Dr. Zap: Eh?

 REX (With bitter sarcasm): My speech was not slurred, was it? (Looks around the briefing room for anyone to speak up) This is an opportunity like no other to gain a generous sum of money, and for little effort. What ARE the chances of coming across someone else who will overestimate the price of that for which they are asking as extremely as this client? (Takes another look around) Anyone? Hm?

(Volt Kraken makes a sound like a cough, but otherwise everyone is silent. Mattrex then turns around and turns on the videophone system there so he can talk with Tracii, who's still in her lab a couple of rooms down.)

REX: Tracii, find out the coordinates for Maverick Hunter headquarters.

Tracii: Got it. (Begins typing in coordinates on her omnilingual keyboard) Okay, I got them. The coordinates are…

(Outside Maverick Hunter headquarters. The next time the clock strikes 12:49 A.M. The Critical Masters are hiding around the corners of nearby skyscrapers and sneaking looks at the tall and huge building that is the Maverick Hunters base. There are two guards in front of the main entrance.)

 Elvont (Next to Mattrex, speaking quietly to him): We're not seriously just going to use the main entrance, are we?

REX: Don't question me; I have taken everything into account. (Pauses) Necrobat, you shall fly over and activate Dark Hold, so as to immobilize the guards. You are aware that your Dark Matter has no effect on any of us…

(He turns to face the Skiver, the only other Critical Master hiding behind the same building.)

REX: …That is, except for the Skiver. He shall remain here and stand watch, and shall alert us when Dark Hold stops working and then again if the guards should be aware of our intrusion. Is that an acceptable plan?

Elvont: I still think there must be a better way than just using the front entrance.

REX: Unless you can formulate an entire plan which I'll accept, just do as I say.

 Elvont (Under his breath as he flies up into the air and then towards the guards silently): I doubt you'd accept it unless you created it yourself…

 

(Dark Necrobat then flies over the rooftops, trying to stay hidden from view. When he's closer to the entrance, he hovers several feet over the guards's heads without saying a word and activates his signature move: Dark Hold.)

REX: Everyone, we have approximately ninety seconds. Move in!

(Dark Necrobat stays in place over the guards as the other Critical Masters except for the Skiver start to move in towards the entrance.)

 REX (To Tidal Whale): Santo-bot, attack the guards from the side.

Santo-bot: ¡Cierto, Jefe!

(Tidal Whale runs off to the side and splits from the rest of the team by climbing up a tall building nearby. The other Critical Masters step within the 50-yard radius of the Dark Energy sphere surrounding Dark Necrobat, but the Dark Energy doesn't affect any of them even though the guards can't move.)

 Santo-bot (From the top of the building he scaled): ¡Estrella Fugaz! (Jumps off the roof, rolling in midair before landing on one guard) ¡Hurracanrana! (Jumps, wraps his legs around the other guard's neck while the guard isn't looking and brings the guard to the ground)

 Elvont (Sarcastically): ...Subtle...

 REX (Walking up to the fallen guards and talking to Dark Necrobat): It was, at the least, less expected than Axle the Red standing in front of the guards and throwing a Spike Ball at them.

Shadow: True dat, G.

 Vincent (Punching Axle the Red): Don't do that again.

REX: Besides which, wasn't security immobilized as well because your Dark Hold is in effect?

Elvont: Speaking of which, you're going to run out of time if you don't get in there now.

REX: Everyone, into the building.

(Mattrex enters Maverick Hunter headquarters; all the Critical Masters follow, with Dark Necrobat taking up the rear. Dark Hold wears out about twenty-five seconds after Necrobat enters; when it runs out of power, the Critical Masters are walking down a dim hallway.)

 Indy (Scratching his head with his normal-sized hand): Uh... Anyone got an ahdea which way we wanna go from here?

REX: I think to have some knowledge on the subject, actually. Before I shared the mission with you all, I first explained it to Tracii, who gave me some maps of Maverick Hunter headquarters. We are headed in the correct direction; don't open any doors, just continue down the hallway and do not turn unless continuing in the same direction is not an option.

 Dr. Zap (Eyes darting around nervously): I'm just surprised security's not all over us by now...

 REX (Under his breath): Murphy's Law, if you please, be so kind...

??? (From behind): FREEZE!!

(The six Critical Masters turn around; X and Zero were waiting.)

 Zero (Completely devoid of emotion): Don't move.

 X: What are you doing in here? Come quietly and don't make me hurt you!

 REX (Grumbling): I'm not surprised. (Speaking at a normal volume) I don't stop what I'm doing for the likes of you, X. Everyone, we must advance. (Turns around and continues on)

 Zero (To X): We have no choice, X. They won't surrender, so we have to stop them with force.

 X: I guess you're right... (Charges up his X-Buster and begins firing down the hall where the Critical Masters are)

 Dr. Zap (As a shot hits the wall two feet from him): Awk! (Flies away and hides near Grizzly Slash) Er... We've got to pick up the pace!

 REX (As X-Buster shots hit the walls): We must outrun them and reach the room before they can!

 Zero: No. Come back here. (Dashes ahead and prepares to attack Axle the Red with a fiery Shouenzan slash)

 Shadow (Jumping about with his head on fire): AHHH!! HOTHOTHOTHOTOUCH!! OUCH!!

 REX (To himself, having stopped to look): He didn't delete the techniques which he had learned from the Nightmare Incident... This may be difficult. (To the group) Tidal Whale, Volt Kraken, you two shall remain behind to slow down X and Zero. Once you're done, contact Tracii so that she may lead you to our destination.

Vincent: Got it. Heheheh, this should be fun...

Santo-bot: A un lado, Calamar. I'll take on Zero if usted lucha con X.

 REX (To Grizzly Slash, Axle the Red and Shining Firefly): We must continue. They'll rejoin us soon, but we four need reach that database as soon as possible. Let's go.

(The four then keep going down the dark hall, leaving Volt Kraken to fight against X and Tidal Whale to contend with Zero.)

 

Santo-bot: So, Zero... let's get started!

 Zero: As you wish. (Jumps off the ground and towards Tidal Whale)

 X (Pointing his arm cannon at Volt Kraken): I don't want to fight you.

 Vincent (Calmly): That's good.

(X lowers his arm and relaxes.)

Vincent: Because that means you won't fight back! Hahahahaha!

(He launches Tri-Thunder at X, then levitates off the ground and launches a second round of it. X does a dash jump to get onto the wall behind him, does a wall kick to scale the wall and then jumps off to avoid the second round as the bolts of electricity touch and roll up the wall.)

 X (Running to avoid the next Tri-Thunder rounds thrown at him): Come on! Why must Reploids fight like this?

 Zero (Turning to the side while performing a three-slash combo with his Z-Saber): X, get your head in the fight. There's no other way, you know.

(Tidal Whale creates a set of Frozen Earth blocks and sends them out fast; Zero doesn't scale them in time and is forced into the wall behind him. After he hits, the ice blocks then break.)

 Zero: Ugh... (Slowly gets up) Why didn't I use Hyohrohga... (Readies himself to attack again)

 X (Dashing to avoid another Tri-Thunder): Zero, that can't be! That has to be wrong! (Ends up right in front of Volt Kraken when he stops)

Vincent: What gave you that idea? (Charges electricity and prepares an Electric Punch)

 

(Meanwhile, outside...)

 Nine (To himself as he peeks at the façade of the Maverick Hunter base from behind a building): Man, they're taking kinda long... What's keeping them?

(Back to you, Mattrex.)

 REX (Rushing down the hallways with Grizzly Slash, Axle the Red and Shining Firefly following): Our target is not much further from here, you three! According to Tracii, we must ascend one more floor via the atrium ahead of us, advance on down the hallway to the end and go into an elevator to reach the database.

Dr. Zap: I'm pretty glad no alarms have been— (Alarms start wailing and lights flash red) ...set off...?

Indy: Damn...

Shadow: That Murphy guy you mentioned doesn't like you, huh, REX?

(The group runs into the atrium and meets with a horde of guard Reploids.)

 REX (Facing his allies): Axle the Red, Grizzly Slash: Stay here and slow down these guards.

Indy: Ah can do that.

 Shadow (Saluting): Aye-aye, captain!

REX: ...Very well... Iz— Shining Firefly— come to the database with me.

Dr. Zap: Er... Right.

REX: Critical Mass, you have your orders! GO!

(They get to work. Grizzly Slash and Axle the Red stay on the lower floor and are swarmed by guard Reploids while Mattrex and Shining Firefly work their way up the stairs, but a few guards block Mattrex's path.)

REX: Are you joking?

(He launches Screen Fire, a flamethrower-like attack which burns all the guard Reploids in his way.)

REX: Shall we go, Shining Firefly?

(He starts down the hallway towards the database. Shining Firefly flies after him, but when they get there...)

 REX (Looking through the files): I don't see anything. Firefly, are you having any luck?

 Dr. Zap (Typing rapidly on the keyboards): No... Unh-unh... Eh? What's that doing there? ... CRIMINY!! CERTAINLY NOT THAT!!... I don't even want to THINK about this one... Blast it, I can't find the goshdarn files!

 REX (Turning away from the computer he was in front of): Do you suppose... Someone came before us, copied the files and then deleted the source?

 Dr. Zap (Stopping typing): It looks like it; I checked everything I could.

REX: Shit... It appears that we must fall back. We must return to the starting point and then to Lavender Castle.

 

 Guard (Appearing in the doorway, pointing his arm cannon): Don't count on it.

(Mattrex and Shining Firefly look at each other and nod. Shining Firefly then aims a Hotaru Laser at the guard, knocking him back. Mattrex then jumps onto the back wall and comes down in a Body Crush maneuver, landing on top of the guard.)

 REX (Standing up and then stepping over the guard): We ought to move quickly.

Dr. Zap: Er... Right. (Flies out of the room after Mattrex)

(The two run back into the elevator, and Shining Firefly presses the button for the right floor. The two Reploids who keep coming after Axle the Red are waiting outside, however.)

 Reploid #1: Well. We were looking for Axle the Red, but this is a nice catch.

 REX (Not moving, but folding arms): You'll need drag us out of here.

 Reploid #2: Okay, now you're cruisin' for a bruisin'!

 REX (Coolly): Come after me, then.

(The two Reploids step forward, but not as if in a hurry.)

REX: Now!

Dr. Zap: Er... Okay...

(On that command, Shining Firefly holds down the "Door Close" button. The doors on the futuristic elevator ignore that someone is in the doorway and close in on the Reploids, planning to crush them from both sides. The two Reploids scream in pain.)

Dr. Zap: Oh dear... I don't like this idea, 'Rex...

 REX (After the Reploids have been stuck between the doors for about fifteen seconds): It's all right. They've suffered plenty. Release them.

Dr. Zap: Okay.

(Relieved, he releases the button; the doors separate and the two Reploids fall down, hurt and disfigured. Mattrex and Shining Firefly pass them and then run down the hallways, leaving Hotaru Lasers, Tail Beams and Ground Fire blasts to damage the guard Reploids long enough to get by. Eventually they make it back to the atrium, where they meet up with a rather-battered Axle the Red and Grizzly Slash, who have just taken down the last of the guard Reploids.)

Indy: Ah've seen enough guards ta last me a long tahme... (Turns head as if to crack his neck)

Shadow: Any place we could recharge?

REX: Actually, I believe that such a room exists. According to the maps which Tracii had shown to me, an Enertron lies behind that door to the right of the stairs.

Indy: Ah say we try it out before we go.

Dr. Zap: Shouldn't we get the others first, though?

REX: I doubt that they are suffering from significant injuries.

Dr. Zap: Good point.

(So, the four enter the room and pile into the Enertron. About thirty seconds later, they step out.)

Indy: Ah feel all enerjahzed again! ... (Clutches stomach with his larger, clawed hand) ... Damn... But ah'm still as hungry as before...

 Shadow (Noting the alarms that are still going): I just wanna get out of here! These alarms are worse than "Shackler's Revenge"!

REX: Understood. We have a few more teammates with whom to regroup, and then we shall leave.

(The four exit the Enertron room and head down the hallways until they get back to where Tidal Whale and Volt Kraken were battling with X and Zero. The two Critical Masters are rather damaged and seem low on energy.)

 REX (As he runs up): We were too late. Someone else had already copied and deleted the original collection of the data which we had come to retrieve.

 Vincent (Looking over Mattrex and company): Why do you guys look completely unharmed?

Dr. Zap: Er... Looks like they were pretty injured, sir... (Hides behind Grizzly Slash)

Vincent: Did you find a place to recharge and not pick us up first?

 Shadow (Nervously): ...Yes...

Vincent: Well, let me correct the problem! (Prepares to launch a Volt Barrage at the four)

REX: We have no such time, Volt Kraken. We must leave right now and return to base.

Santo-bot: Es verdad, Calamar. Come on. (Leads the way by stepping on X and Zero)

 X and Zero: Ouch... X_x

(The six leave the building the way they entered and meet up with the Skiver. Later, in Lavender Castle's entertainment room...)

Vincent: So, any clue where a certain bat went off to?

 Elvont (Entering the room): He's right here... (Holds up a small disc) ...And he's got the data.

REX: So you accomplished our goal WITHOUT OBEYING ME?!

 Elvont (Calmly): That's right.

REX:

 Santo-bot (Getting up and trying to help settle things): ¡Ay! Take it easy, Jefe!

Shadow: So YOU were the one who swiped it before 'Rex could?

Elvont: The end justifies the means, doesn't it?

Dr. Zap: But how did you get there before we did, and without getting caught?

Elvont: That's my little secret.

 REX (Relatively calm, but testy): At the very least, it would suffice to say that I can present this data to my client. (Gets up, takes the disc and leaves the room) I shall return shortly.