Chapter LXVI: An Old Foe in a New World -Draco

Adrian landed next to the group and transformed herself back into her more human-like form. It really didn't seem to bother anyone anymore that she could even do that.

"Well? What's the reconnaisance report?" Draco asked. Adrian looked at him oddly, as if confused. "Um...what did you see?" He smiled.

"Nothing but a small town further upstream. Couldn't spot anything in the forest." They heard another loud noise in the distance, but they assumed it was just more thunder.

"Maybe that's better than trying to chase a storm don't you agree?" Draco asked Alicia. She nodded. "So what are we waiting for?" He made a dramatic pose and pointed in the direction of the would be headed. "Let's go!" They all stared at him. Alicia sighed.

"Oh stop it! This isn't a cartoon you lunatic." She complained.

"He probably just has a lot of passion, that's all." Gelid assured her.

"Passion gets annoying after a few years. Trust me." She shoved Draco and they began moving ahead.

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"That's odd." Draco started as they walked along. "I almost feel bored for the first time since we've been here."

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing." Alicia answered. "I'm starting to get a little tired. Think we're almost there?" She turned to Adrian.

"It wasn't far. I think it should be..." Her sentence was cut short by Draco, who had shoved them all behind some nearby foliage. He signalled for them to stay quiet and lay low. A small stampede could be heard approaching, and a second later, a group of lizard-like creatures passed them by as they hid. They looked more frightened than threatening, but no matter how they looked, they figured it would still hurt to get trampled by them. After a short while, the stampede ended, and no more creatures were approaching.

"What would scare them away like that?" Gelid asked.

"Sounds like our cue to figure it out." Draco replied. He poked his head over the foliage and made sure nothing else was coming. "Let's sneak in and have a look see no?" They could hear some loud sounds coming from the direction of the town. They finally got close enough to see the actual homes that made up the town. A few were torn down. That's when they saw a robot surveying the area. Then one more appeared. Then another. "Oh crap! Mavericks!" The final blow came when a large mech appeared, piloted by another reploid that looked like a woman. "Eeeeeek!" If he weren't whispering, he'd be crying out like a little girl.

"Eeeeeek!" Alicia followed suit.

The pilot looked around, and seemed almost disappointed as she shook her head. Aside from her mech, she didn't seem as threatening to the other two. She was not all that much taller than Draco and looked like she didn't even have a weapon. Her long red hair rested over her black cape. She had no helmet, but she still had purple armor. Her face did show the seriousness of her intent though. "What a pitiful group of beings. Not even worth my trouble! We may as well take over a mound of dirt." She growled. "This is an even stranger planet than I thought. Odd weather, and different species. But its resources seem almost untapped. We can take over all the resources we would ever need, and if we find a way back to Earth, even better. Move on! And get these stacks of toothpicks out of my way!" She waved the arm of the mech and leveled one of the homes with no trouble. The rest were destroyed by the other robots as they began to leave.

"So that would be Nova?." Gelid asked. The two nodded.

"I don't see why you're so afraid. Without that machine she doesn't look very powerful?" Adrian asked impatiently, as if wanting to go after her.

"Oh she is!" Draco reassured her. "She doesn't even need a weapon. She can control massive amounts of really painful energy, and even make some solid energy objects, like a sheild or a blade. She's pretty smart too. She used to be a scientist. She was in a nasty accident, and no one expected her to live much longer. She had already built a prototype of a new reploid, and being as desperate as she was, she had someone help her try and save herself by transferring her mind to the new body. The miracle was, that it actually worked, but not completely. Something in her mind kinda corrupted, and now she figures, if you've got the power, then may as well make everyone kiss your feet."

"Typical." Adrian said. "So what do we do about her?"

"Stay out of her way for now." Alicia suggested. "We can't confront her yet, what with being outnumbered and all, but we may have to since we know her intent. Let's see where she goes." After a bit of hesitation from Draco, they followed her little army. It was only a short walk later when they heard Nova yell out another command.

"Halt!" Everyone stopped. "This is where I told our reconnaisance to meet us. We'll wait here for them. Then we'll start moving again." She stood up, and was lifted from the mech by what looked like a platform of energy that she was controlling. It disappeared as she landed on the ground, and began giving more orders. A single bush in front of her was the only one in the clearing. She moved her arm back and swung it toward the bush without touching it. A split second later, the bush disappered as a column of light purple energy suddenly bursted from the ground. Nothing but ashes was left in the radius of the explosion after the energy disappeared.

"Now I see why you're fearful of her." Gelid pointed out.

"What now Doc?" Draco asked.

"We can't do much, and they probably won't move for a while. Let's get ahead of them and take a break. I swear I'm gonna fall over if we walk much more."

"Fine." Adrian agreed.

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"Hey cool! The second satellite is in range." Alicia said as she heard the beep from the device she was carrying. She put down her dinner, wiped her hands, and picked up the scanner. "Let's see if there are any points of interest nearby..."

"Not that thing again." Adrian sighed.

"Don't worry, we're just surveying. Wow, take a look at this!" On the screen was a map of the area. It wasn't very detailed, and only larger objects were even visible. But two things stood out. An odd, large yellowish building surrounded by other smaller structures. The seconds was a more earthly looking town. "So, where should we go next? Nova could strike at either one. And if we don't want her bossing us around when she takes over this place, she's probably best confronted while all her forces are busy attacking and stuff."

"That's just wonderful!" Draco said sarcastically.