[JOHNY BOMB!]

“Best of it?” Vash asked.

“I want to take a break from all this run around. Mavericks, mercs, Hunters and other forces are all happening at once. And we know damn well that every city on this planet are not gonna see peace in awhile either” Ezekiel explained.

“Isn’t that why we got the upgrades, to keep up with everyone?”

“True but I’m not so sure ever since you’ve returned . . .”

“What do you mean?” ask Vash as he sat down on a nearby couch.

“Your reactor core; it frequently sends off an unstable signature” Ezekiel points at Vash with shameful waving nod of his index finger.

“So there’s a huge bull’s-eye on my back aye? I shouldn’t be surprise by this then.” Vash states.

“. . . And you’re aware of the consequences then?”

“Yeah, no doubt about it . . . I know what your going to say Ezekiel, and I’m not just some brand-new reploid model that came fresh from a factory. I’m strong enough to take care of myself.”

“Look I’ve found you in a lab long ago, all broken and beaten up--"

“I know, you don’t have to bring ‘that’ up again” Vash says irritably, wanting to avoid that particular ‘incident’ before meeting the large reploid. “Ezekiel this isn’t like you, you’re starting to ‘care’ all of a sudden.”

Ezekiel sighs with a chuckle, realizing who he was again because of his friend statement. “Vash . . . You’re right. I think I’ve gone soft since I haven’t doing a little bounty hunting in lately.”

“I think being mercs would be a more productive occupation than chasing bounties” Vash reminds the large reploid of his ‘last’ chase; long ago when Ezekiel still had some allegiance with the Federation Army, chasing a certain radioactive criminal.

“Oh yeah . . .” Ezekiel suddenly gets up and clasps his hands together. “Okay enough soap talks” snapping back to his mercenary ways with a grin, “I suppose you wanna go for a test run with your new body modifications?”

Vash quickly gives off a blissful smile, eyes shining with glee, “You mean it!? I thought you said it be too ‘dangerous’ for me? Really I can go?”

Ezekiel shrugs with minor annoyance by Vash’s bright smile, “Ugh jeez, you’re like a kid. Yeah, you can go.” The elephant-reploid then grabs an insect shaped communicator device from his breast pocket, pinching the ends of the mic and tosses it at his partner, “Here . . .”

Vash catches the device with a palm and hooks it up by his helm, then the communicator grew a thin silver antennae. “What’s so special about this comm. link?” tapping the antennae.

“I call this little tech, the Mosquito; it can withstand irritable background noises like sandstorms or blizzards, even jamming devices with EMP currents while giving off crisp clear audio feedback. It can send a frequency signal up to nearly 3,000 miles. Something I’ve been keeping for awhile….”

“Whoa, nice” Vash complimented as he swirls the device in awe with his finger tips, but quickly changes the subject before he heads off. “But what of the methane gas we’ve been searching for? Isn’t that one of our main priorities?”

“Yeah . . .” Ezekiel then flips opens a small lid from his wrist, “While we were gone from here, I uploaded a piece of my memory bank into this data chip.” He shows a computer chip to Vash in shape of a thin strip of paper. Then inserts the strip into a slot from his wrist terminal and uploads it into it’s hardware; saving the evidence for later. “Since I’m the only reploid I know that have smell receptors, I thought I can keep track of it and use it for some other time” He explains, “That way we won’t lose the potency of that scent.”

Vash nods in agreement, hearing that their other agenda is still in tact. He soon twists his left wrist with the grip of his right hand, and vice versa, a low-bass beeping echoed; powering up his body, ready for action. Gathering his weapons, he downloads some coordinates giving by his friend, Ezekiel, to set off a journey for a training exercise. “All set, destination?”

“Hexagon City” answered Ezekiel. “The city’s known for their tall structures, great walls, steep slopes, congested buildings and elongated street ways, making it a ideal place for free-running (Parkour)….”

“Hexagon City? Why there?” he cautiously ask.

“According to my scanner, it’s the only place that’s not infested with Mavericks or those pesky Hunters. Though I can’t guarantee you’ll be completely safe since there has been Maverick activity uprising NEAR the metropolis. So anything can happen.”

“I’ll be prepared for anything my friend” Vash reply in confidence.

“Very well . . .” Ezekiel responds and nods.

[Vash to Hexagon City]

[JOHNY BOMB!]

Ezekiel examines into the scanner, seeing a marker of Vash moving at high speeds.

“Should of used the newer models Vash, you would of gotten there a lot faster” mention Ezekiel.

Quote

“I know, but these ‘wheels’ of this ride-chaser. The modern ones that hover doesn’t compare to old fashion” Vash argues.

“I hear ya” Ezekiel agrees. “So how’s that comm. link I gave ya? The Mosquito?”

Quote

“Perfect. The reception is great, and just over 700 miles (1126kilometers) away from base, it sounds like your right next to me.”

“Good. Say why not takes a stroll around the city’s skyscrapers there? I want to test out the Mosquito’s communication strength from a high point, at the same time we can test your new found abilities . . . well your physical abilities anyways.”

Quote

“Roger.” Vash

Quote

“Which highest point where talking about here?” he asked specifically.

“Anywhere Vash” answered Ezekiel, “Just have fun . . .”

[JOHNY BOMB!]

Over the comm. link Ezekiel suddenly twitched irritably by what sounded like a waterfall of kitchen utensils crashing down, “Ugh! . . .What the hell was that!?” he shouted.

Quote

“Oh sorry, Ezekiel, that was me” Vash respond.

“What happen back there?” Ezekiel demand.

Quote

“I, I sort of slammed onto a window and ended in another building but I’m fine now. Thanks to the ‘modifications’ my auto-repair system is rapidly healing my injuries” he replied.

Ezekiel caresses his tusk, pondering on Vash’s reckless action, feeling that this might attract some unwanted attention on such a busy metropolis. “Vash, double-back to base. You’ve already made a scene here, let’s go” he ordered.

Quote

“Alright but . . I’ll swing back to the lower levels to avoid from where I came from.”

[JOHNY BOMB!]

Ezekiel listening into the comm. link of Vash's location..."Vash get the hell out of there now!" he shouted.

Quote

"Don't need to tell me twice!" Vash quickly answered.

Quote

"Ezekiel, I'm trapped, think you map this building and find me another exit.." Vash asked calmly

The elephant reploid snarls like a rabid dog, frustrated by the answer. He rapidly types in the navigation system to find the building schematics. Then a sudden sigh by the outcome shown on the monitor. "Negative, all exits are locked down. Cant you like, rocket yourself from where you came from?" Ezekiel suggested.

Quote

"Through the window? I could grapple my way down, or up the roof with the tools you given me.....Well never mind that now.

"Damn...Looks like you got no choice then, you have to enter Hyper Mode to glide out of there."

Quote

As much as I hate it, you got a point....Hyper Mode!...What on Earth?"

"Vash, what happened?"

Quote

Deleted, h-how?"

"Couldn't help but to over hear but what got DELETED!?" he demanded.

Quote

My Hyper Mode it's gone.." he replied.

"Impossible, no way a reploid's hyper mode can be missing unless someone----" Ezekiel's eye suddenly widen, realizing who the culprit was. He clinches his fist in anger then taps hard onto his fore head, realizing the mistake that he and Vash had made. He sighs for a bit, "Vash is there anything else in that folder?" he asks.

Quote

"Yeah, just a video file...

"I knew it, I knew it I knew it I KNEW IT! Never can trust that bastard" Ezekiel cursing about the Merchant.