Theta found herself in a small forest just outside the city. She quickly took in her surroundings and checked that there was no other person present. Then she proceeded to take off her armour. Underneath she was wearing a black suit (not the type one wears with ties) which was made of a slightly protective material, but which she wore mainly to protect herself from the armour. There was a short struggle as she removed the metallic underpants she wore over the suit. How do the other reploids put up with wearing this thing? What’s the use? How often do people aim for the butt? It must be some kind of twisted fashion statement.

She threw on a white lab coat over this and pulled a pair of gloves over her hands. A pair of loose shoes were a nice change after the strangely oversized boots reploids seemed so obsessed with. She caught her reflection in a puddle of melting slush. Pulling down the sleeve of the suit to cover her metallic arm, she decided that she looked decently human. After all, the standard for humanity isn’t terribly high these days.

She stuffed her armour into a surprisingly small bag and buried it next to a particularly large tree. She buckled on her utility belt and slung another bag over her shoulders. And for the finishing touch, she tucked an official NISAR identification badge in her coat pocket. She stood for a while relishing the sheer genius of her plan before stepping out among the humans.

The first human she came across almost ran over her foot. "Outta the way!" The driver yelled, "don’t just walk into the middle of a highway, crazy woman!"

Must…resist urge…to blast him…into small unrecognisable bits. Resist temptation…to shred car into…bits suitable for consumption in fast food restaurant…Theta restrained herself and merely noted his license plate number for future reference.

The next car was a more advanced rover speeding along on a cushion of air. Theta flagged the taxi and it stopped a few inches above her foot. She entered the back seat with great hesitance. After all, the presence of semi-automatic weapons in the passenger seat along with the fact that the driver was in a bunny suit did little to reassure her.

The unshaven man turned around, "where to?"
"Maverick Hunter Headquarters, thank you."
"A technician, eh? Yeah, they got lotsa them running around the place."

Theta merely nodded and smiled in what she hoped was an inoffensive yet subtly patronising way. It wasn’t as though she feared the man. She simply didn't like possible homicidal maniacs.

"Hey, don’t ya dare think I’m crazy now. The company makes us wear these suits as a pre-Easter advertising gimmick. ‘Course, wearing these things, ya gotta carry ‘round a semi-automatic." He gave a heavy shrug and proceeded to exceed the speed limit by some 50%.

Theta decided that the taxi driver was a fairly kind man. After all, he only added an extra 20% onto her fare and dumped her for another passenger only a couple blocks away from Headquarters. Luckily, she met a professional loiterer who pointed the way to its main entrance.

She paused at the main lobby only long enough to flash her badge at the guard. He was used to having scientists and technicians drop in and waved her through when he saw that the badge referred to some scientific institute or other.

As she walked down the halls, she began to worry that someone might question her business here or recognise her. She tried to appear as relaxed and inconspicuous as possible while hiding her face. As a result, a few passing reploids began to wonder if there was something terribly interesting on the blank walls and ceilings. When a passing technician nodded to her, she almost had a heart attack before she realised that it was merely a friendly greeting. I’ve got to find the communications room before I die from adrenaline overdose.

Just then, she passed an open door which, judging from the sign next to it reading COMMUNICATIONS, she thought might lead to the communications room. There was a Hunter inside, so she suddenly found a great need to check all her tools outside the door until he left.

X’s voice suddenly came over the speakers, almost making her jump. "All units to assembly for briefing. All units for briefing."

Theta wondered at her good fortune as the room was vacated. She strode through the door and closed it behind her. She straightened her lab coat and attempted to admire how courageous and composed she had been.

Theta walked out of Headquarters and even smiled at the guard at the entrance. She couldn’t believe how smoothly it went. Dodging towards the forest behind Headquarters, she almost had to laugh. Right under their noses! Ha! I can’t wait to see Eagle’s face.

She didn’t have to wait long. Silhouetted against the moon, a tall figure rose from behind a tree. There was no mistaking Storm Eagle’s stature, plus the fact that he had wings. Theta walked up to the tree and Eagle flew down to a lower branch.

"It went perfectly," she hissed. "But you should get of here before they see you."
"Vile will be very disappointed in you," Eagle said, ignoring Theta’s advice.
"You better shut up and leave," Theta said, ignoring Eagle's comment which she didn't understand anyway.
"I’ll have to tell him you were caught. Or perhaps that I had to terminate a traitor," he said in a mockingly sad way.

Theta backed away quickly. In front of her was a maniac bent on revenge, behind her was the Headquarters of all whom she held in enmity.

Eagle confidently strode forwards. "Look at you, you’re a pathetic human."
"How human does this look?" So saying, Theta took off her left glove and shot at Eagle’s head.

He was quick to respond and a tree behind him met an untimely end while his head was slightly grazed. "You’re no use without your armour," he said, and unleashed a cyclone at her. Eagle was right, and Theta was not feeling very unhurt when she was thrown back a good distance by the shot.

She rolled to her feet and began to madly shoot at Eagle’s general direction. Because she had no armour on, the one hit she took made it difficult for her to stand. As she wavered there like one without a spine, Eagle came in for a dive. Luckily, she didn’t depend on her armour for speed, and she ran for her life.

X paused in his briefing. He heard the sound of reploids fighting something right outside Headquarters. There was a sound of something diving through the air. He told each unit to transport to its assigned position and await further instructions.

Running through the halls, he saw that the glider was gone. Presumably, Zero had already noticed the commotion outside. X checked his arm cannon and prepared to face the foe.

Onwards to Chapter Fifteen
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