Rex to the Rescue

BASE X

4:50 PM

"We have to find a way out of here…" Melanie says.

"Yes, you definitely have to find a way out of here." A voice interrupts as Poison walks up to their cell. She signals two henchmen behind her for Mr. Kemper to be taken out of the cell. They open the lock and Melanie kicks the cell door into their faces and like an alarmed systems, gun are pointed at her by the others.

"Try anything silly again I dare you and your dad's corpse will be the last thing you see" Poison threatens.

"Melanie, it's alright" her dad assures her.

The men stand and drag him out of the cell then strapped him into a chair.

"Now, let's play a game. I will be asking you a few questions. Each wrong answer, you get a jolt. Interesting game, isn't it? Now let's begin" Poison declares.

GAVIN'S HOUSE

5:00 PM

"That guy's got me itching for some action right now. I would literally follow any one that comes knocking" Shiro announces

Gavin laughs then teases "Fighting isn't good for you you know?".

"Don't rub it in, I mean when I was in the mountains, there was always something to do so I'm not exactly used to not having anything doing"

"Got to say, I kind of feel the same way. Before I came back, we were attacked and I thought I was going to enjoy my last battle before I come but lo, grandpa said no. I guess sparing is the closest to a fight we could hope for".

They both lay silently in the grass looking in the sky, their swords on the floor by them just then like a launched torpedo Shiro suddenly sits up and Gavin does so as well. They stare at each other for a moment before Shiro asserts "This presence, he is here again" and having said that, they stand and run out of the house like cheetahs dashing after prey.

Zarx is leaning on his motorcycle arms folded staring downwards. A light breeze tosses his hair around followed by haze which slowly dissipates, revealing two figures who come to a halt some meters from him. "You didn't have to use that pellet. It's annoying" Shiro complains in a low voice.

"Sorry my bad. Thought it would make the entrance cool which it did by the way"

"Whatever"

"You do pay much attention to your surroundings don't you?" Zarx says lifting his head. The two stare at him for a while without a word. "Quit staring, it's impolite" he snarls

"You are one to talk. You also don't seem scared, as you should be" Gavin taunts.

"What? You gonna throw another shuriken at me?"

"Something tells me a guy like you isn't here for a chit chat. What do you want, Zarx?" Shiro demands.

"You know this guy??" Gavin whispers

"Do you ever pay attention to those you go to class with?"

"Jeez you could just say he is from school"

Shiro ignores him.

"That's no way to welcome a friend"

"First of all, we aren't friends. Secondly, you should appreciate the fact that I'm not picking a fight with you for spying on us"

"Wow, was that me?? Didn't know that was me".

"Zarx, what do you want?" Gavin queries.

"Alright let's cut to the chase. I need your help"

"By help do you mean him or me?"

"Both of you".

The duo look at each other then back at him.

"Spill it out. What kind of help do you need from us?" Shiro says.

'They are weirdly more receptive than I thought. I was probably over thinking things'

Zarx gives them his phone. "Some friends of mine have been held captive there and I need your help to rescue them"

"And why should we help you"

"Because you might regret it if you don't"

"So your million-dollar plan is having us follow you to break into a military base with 100 heavily armed men, like a shepherd leading his sheep to the slaughter? You sure are out of your mind"

"What was your plan again exactly?" Gavin questions.

"Erm, didn't make any. Thought we would just have to improvise"

"Oh great, he doesn't have a plan. He really is leading us to the slaughter... And what do we get if we help you anyway?"

"Depends, what do you want? But time is running out so can we please talk about that later?"

"Fine with me" Gavin affirms

"For me, I'm going to need that bike to get to wherever we are going" Shiro says.

"And what I'm I supposed to use?"

"Find another means of transport. Cause that's the only way I'm helping you"

"Okay fine" He concedes and picks his backpack from the bike.

Shiro tosses him his phone back and goes in to get his Sai blades as Gavin gets his sword. Zarx gives them comms and fixes Gavin's sword to the side of the motorcycle. Shiro straps his Sai blades to his shoes and puts the coordinates into the motorcycle's GPS.

"Don't think I'm helping you because I like you or something. I'm doing it because I want to. See you later, loser" Shiro announces. Gavin and Shiro speed off leaving Zarx behind.

"These two" Zarx says. He neurally activates the armor and it covers him. The claw marks in the armor give off a soft glow and jumping onto a building, he follows them.

"How are you doing back there. We might end up completing the mission before you arrive" Shiro teases.

Zarx let's out a hearty laugh and declares "Don't get full of yourself. Look up"

The two raise their heads and see him atop a building moving so fluidly it seemed he was in his clothes.

"You've got to be kidding me." Gavin yells. "He is the shadow man"

"I'm no shadow man. I am Rex"

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Do really trust us that much that you are revealing your identity to us? We could just give you up you know. The cops, they are not far off" Shiro says.

"Didn't think you would do something that foolish... Death Stalker"

A glint of light flashes across his eyes and he grinds his teeth before replying "You really wanna die, don't you?" then speeds off through the busy street.

BASE X

5:30 PM

Armed men are standing around with some moving to and fro from time to time scanning the surroundings for possible intruders. One walks towards a wall, just then a dark figure appears in his field of view causing him to loose balance and drop to the ground out of fear.

The figures gleaming green eyes reflects in his eyes as it dashes past him, leaving him grounded. Accompanied by a loud bang and dust, a foot size crater appears on the ground where the figure comes to a stop stomping the ground, the dust covering almost half of the base. The shock wave sends those close by crashing to the ground.

Above the base wall a motorbike flies, a figure holding a sword standing on it. It flies over two henchmen who begin to immediately shoot at it. The figure with the sword jumps off into the dust as the figure riding the bike lands, drifts and knocks the shooters off their feet. Shurikens begin to fly out of the dust in all directions.

"Already scanned the area. Just a few are using guns. If they trust their combat abilities so much to not use guns, then let's show them how it's done" Rex remarks.

***

"Kemper, where are the files" Poison barks.

"I have said, and I would say it again, I… …don't… …know" Kemper sneers.

Her face immediately turns black as coal and she growls "Wrong answer" and after that presses a button, sending a jolt of electricity through him. He let's out a loud yell and his face slowly turns blue out of exhaustion.

"Noooooo!" Melanie shouts shaking the cell door violently. "Just stop it please" she pleads.

Ignoring her, Poison sends another jolt through him making him scream even louder than before. A man runs in and approaches Poison however she sticks a knife to his throat before he could speak.

"I thought I warned you not to interrupt me" she fumes at him.

"The base has been invaded. We are under attack" he manages to mutter out as a little blood drips from his neck.

"What?" she yells, removing the knife from his throat. He coughs. "Go prepare the car. We are leaving"

The man runs out and she removes a remote from her pocket and presses it. A vault in the far corner of the room opens and a 9 foot android steps out of it. It looks humanoid, however its head looks like a winged Viking helmet with key holes for eyes. Its hand are long and appear to have scales.

"I think we are done here Kemper. Have fun with my little toy" she sneers with a smirk and pressing another button the android advances towards them. She leaves with the other men as Melanie and Ace begin to shake the cell door violently.

Poison comes running out with more men yet her escape path has been blocked by the person holding the sword. It is non other than Gavin.

"This is why I hate children..." she complains in frustration. Looking to her right, she discovers broken steel pipes. "...they are too nosey" she exclaims as she picks two broken steel pipes from the pile and attacks Gavin fiercely with it. He blocks it and tries push kicking her however she evades and kicks him, sending him rolling to Shiro's side. He stands by Shiro who is holding Sai's.

"I don't have time to waste on this one. Mind helping?" he requests, to which Shiro smiles. The two move towards Poison to attack her...

Rex throws disk grenades into the crowd of henchmen coming around and disperses them before running inside.

"Alex, where are they?"

"They are still in the underground facility."

"Quickest route to them?"

"Go on straight ahead…".

He dashes straight through the long passage leaving behind a purple trail as he goes. Ahead of him is a group henchmen approaching. They stop upon discovering him and begin shooting at him. He moves swiftly from left to right alternatively through the on coming bullets and reaching the group dashes over them, only leaving behind a nerve toxin disc grenade which explodes and immobilizes them at once. Following the path displayed in his HUD he makes his way into the underground facility.

The android is about to hit Mr. Kemper as he enters. He sprints there and shoulders it back into the vault, and it goes crashing with a boom creating dents in the vault. He unstraps him and helps him to his feet. He could barely stand and has to lean on a pillar. Rex goes to the cell inquiring "Still think you can save the world on your own?" as he holds the door and pulls it off then throws it onto the ground. "You just don't listen, do you?" he continues.

"Was expecting. Glad you are here. Thank you" Melanie says with a smile.

"No need to thank me. We would talk about that later. First, let's get you guys out of here".

She runs past him to her dad but is stopped by intense pain as a bullet goes through her shoulder and she falls into Rex's arms just in time. He slowly lowers her down whiles Ace quickly takes of his shirt and uses it to stop the bleeding. She shrieks in pain. Her dad rushes there, picking a gun to engage the enemy but stumbles and about to fall. Rex holds him in time and entreats him to take care of her.

"I will take care of whatever that is" he says. He lays her on her father's laps and stands as all illuminated lights on his armor turn red.

"That does not look good" Ace mutters to himself.

The android is moving towards him. "No one is leaving this place alive. Especially after discovering this place" comes a voice from speakers on the android's head. It drops the small gun in its hand and pulls a larger gun out of its back ready to shoot. Rex throws a disc grenade at the weapon and destroys it. He runs and double kicks it on the chest. It goes flying back.

"Quickly, leave here" Rex shouts to the others. Mr. Kemper lifts Melanie in his arm and with Ace's help, they go out.

"Now it's just you and me" Rex says. He runs towards the android and throws a punch which it catches and hurls him into a wall, sending several cracks through it. It throws a grenade at him.

"Oh my I hate grenades!!" he sneers and kicks it back and it explodes in its face. "Haha just messing with ya" He runs and picks up the cell door, dragging it to create sparks as he goes along. "I have always wanted to try this "He says with arms lifted, and with all red lights in his suit brightening up, he smashes it with the door, which sends it flying back. It lands on it's feet and hands sending sparks across the ground as it screeches to a stop. He throws the door after it and follows through with a kick to the chest and then the jaw.

It retaliates with multiple punches of which Rex is able to block most. It then kicks him into a pillar sending cracks into it and he falls to the ground. It moves to stomp him but he slides past it and throws disk grenades which get attached to its neck and back. They explode and the android begins to twitch. "Alex, maximize power to my right arm". He runs with a fist as the lights in his right arm turn purple and gives it an uppercut, sending a powerful shock wave through the entire underground facility.

Poison is left tied to a bar. She presses a button embeded in her thumb and poisons herself. Shiro and Gavin come to help as Ace comes out with Melanie and Mr. Kemper, helping them to a pickup truck in the base. They put Melanie in the back seat and Ace joins her as well. Shiro rushes back to take Poison prisoner, but realizes she's been poisoned. "What have you done to yourself?" he questions.

"Death is better than captivity" she says and her head drops to the side. He unties her and shuts her eyes. Just then, an android comes crashing through the roof of the building with Rex right behind it like a torpedo. He flips onto the roof then rebounds upwards, smashing the android sending it crashing back through the roof. BANG!! it hits the ground sending debris all over.

Shiro throws him a bag of grenades yelling "You don't attack a base and leave it intact to be rebuilt again. You destroy it. Every bit of it". Zarx attaches a disc grenade timed 60 seconds to it and drops it through the hole.

"Go, go, go" Rex shout. Mr. Kemper enters the truck and drives off as the engine was already running. Gavin joins Shiro who is already on the bike and Shiro follows the speeding truck.

"Time for a mega jump" Rex announces and all lights on his leg turn purple. He jumps off the building sending a bit of crack into, then disappears behind a smoke trail as he base is engulfed in flames due to the grenades going off, causing a chain of explosions in the base. Rex throws a disc into the truck which lands on Ace. A holographic message projects. 'Come to central park tomorrow at 9:00 am". He looks through the window at Rex and nods.

"I will meet you kids later" Mr. Kemper says to Gavin who is by the truck. He nods and they split at a junction.

GAVIN'S HOUSE

7:00PM

Shiro pulls over in front of the house in time to see a stunt from Rex who jumps off a building transforming his armor back into a backpack before he lands softly.

"Show off" Shiro blurts out.

"Guys, thanks a lot"

"No need to thank us. Who would have thought Melanie was the one captured? Consider it as us helping a friend" Gavin chuckles.

"So we are cool"

"No we are not" Shiro cuts in abruptly before enquiring "We had an agreement. What's in for us".

Zarx smiles and mounts his motorcycle. "Come to central park tomorrow at 9:00 am. I got something for you" he declares and speeds off. The two stand there speechless as he disappears in the darkness.

"This kid..." Shiro says amused.

"Quit calling people kids Shiro"

"...whatever"

WELLS MANOR

7:20 PM

Zarx parks his bike and goes in. He goes to drop his backpack in his bedroom and proceeds to the kitchen.

"Oh you are back" his mom says.

"Yeah"

"Help me set the table. Here have this" she hands him a bowl of salad and a bowl of rice. Picking a tray with the sauce and other things she follows. Soon the table is set.

"What did I miss?" his dad enquires as he sits.

"Nothing dad, just finished"

"It's your turn to say the grace isn't it?"

"No it's not"

"Yes it is... come on..."

"Fine"

After a prayer is said, his mom serves and they begin their meal.

MELANIE'S APARTMENT

7:30 PM

Melanie's arm is in a sling. She walks up to a sofa and sits with a sigh. Ace comes in hurriedly with a briefcase. The doorbell chimes as soon as he enters. He drops the briefcase on the table and goes back to answer the door. He receives 4 plastic bags from someone and comes back in.

"What are those?" Melanie asks.

"Oh, just a moment. Let me put these down first." he says as he struggles under the weight of the four bags. He puts them on the table and announces "Just a little takeout I ordered"

"What dishes?"

"Chow Mein, Yang Chow fried rice, steamed chili and lime fish, Teriyaki chicken, Bibimbap and Spicy vegetable laksa"

"Wait, all that just for tonight?"

"Not exactly. You and your dad are out of commission for now, obviously and I can't cook. So we eat some tonight, then we refrigerate the rest for tomorrow".

"Then why didn't you just wait for tomorrow then place another order?"

"Ooohhhh..." he scratches his head.

Melanie sighs and leans back in the sofa.

"So where's your dad?" he enquirers

"Taking his bath"

"Okay. I'm going to set the table. You just rest here for a bit".

He picks the bags, goes to the dining room and begins to set the table, almost dropping some dishes one or two times but soon finishes and joins Melanie. He carefully opens the case laying on the table, revealing a transparent screen, covering a darker one beneath it. He lifts the screen and a stand slowly rises with it. The screen lights up revealing a keyboard which he uses to input a code.

The darker screen slides aside revealing what seems to be a mobile lab. He picks a small test tube from the side compartment, covers it and fits it into a round slot with a needle sticking out of it. He inputs another code and the darker screen slides back into place. A list of ingredients is displayed on the left side of the screen with a test tube image on the right. He drags some ingredients from the list into the test tube and selects prepare at the bottom right corner of the screen.

All things on the screen disappear except the test tube. A dial like object appears on the left with the tube still on the right, displaying the percentage of completion of whatever he is cooking, as the tube also fills up.

"Is that the serum you never shut up about?" Melanie asks.

"Yes. It's still cooking though."

"I told you I'm not going to use that, did I not?"

"Well as of now, you don't have much of a choice"

"Doesn't matter"

"Okay, so, let me get this straight. You prefer to go to school, arms in slings and tell your teachers and friends what exactly?"

She stares at him without a word for a moment before replying. "I don't know. I haven't thought that through"

"Well, there you have it. So you up for it or not?"

"Fine, just do it" she says laying back against the sofa.

'That was easy!?' he think before replying "Cool. Also, I did a little upgrade to this one so instead of 12 hours, it does the job in 5" he mentions with a smile. "So what do you think."

"It's cool. That reminds me, I couldn't even say a proper thank you to Rex. And I don't know when I'm going to see him again... ...to say thank you"

"Yeah about that, he says we should meet him at Central Park tomorrow at 9:00 am"

"Okay. Then we meet him there" she says smiling.

'So he suddenly wants to reveal his identity? What would make him do that? Or does he trust us that much?' endless thoughts begin to flood her mind. 'Maybe, I shouldn't worry too much. After all he saved us…' her thoughts are brought to an end by the beeping sound from the briefcase.

Ace removes the tube, picks a syringe and withdraws the serum. He removes a foldable tray from the briefcase and puts the syringe on it with some cotton and hands it to her.

"Look, dad is coming. Let's go eat. He would help you with that after"

"Wait, he knew?"

"Yeah, he told me to bring it. Come on" he helps her up and they go to the dining room.