Disclaimer: All characters and locations belong to their respective owners.
A/N: Even though the "Zero wipes out the Classic Rockman cast" theory has been debunked by Inafune-san himself, I thought I'd try my hand at it. I don't know if there are any other Zero-offs-the-Rockman-cast stories that begin in media res, but what the hey. Enjoy.
The End
If he had been a little quicker, a little smarter, a little stronger…maybe if he had been all of that, he could have stopped it. The monster that took everything away from him in a matter of minutes.
Zero. Such an appropriate name for one who harbored no remorse, no mercy, no emotion except cold-hearted brutality and sadistic glee.
Quickman couldn't believe Wily was capable of creating a terrible creation. This robot – no, this beast – had to be the physical manifestation of the mad doctor's hatred: toward society, toward lawful authority, toward Dr. Light, and, most of all, Rockman for foiling his many attempts at world domination. It was nothing compared to the numerous Robot Masters he conjured in the past years, they who fought the Blue Bomber with a mélange of weaponry and programmed athletics at their disposal.
Zero didn't need brute force, pure speed, or special devices unique to a robot's systems. No. All it had was the blazing green saber in one hand, a large buster cannon in the other, and, when unarmed, its two bare, oil-slicked hands.
There was no hope, not a chance in hell. Protoman was in pieces, a hole in his chest and his parts sparking. Bass was struggling to his feet, wounded but not down. Rockman was severely battered and minus an arm – his Buster arm, kneeling before the crimson destroyer. And thrown to the side like a rag doll, her head crushed like an aluminum can and blonde tresses drenched in black gold….
Quickman clenched his jaw, the grip on his Quick Boomerang growing tight and painful.
Damn you, Wily!
Damn you, Zero!
"DAMN YOU!" He cried, and he lunged at the devil with every ounce of his name, boomerang raised above his head like a guillotine.
Zero looked up.
"DAMN Y—!"
ZZZUMPTH.
The yellow boomerang pinwheeled through the air.
A wet, choked sound escapes Quickman's lips, oil and spittle flying from a mouth opened in surprise. His eyes rolled skyward, disappearing into their sockets.
The world fell away and, quite strangely, rose at an unnatural angle.
He heard his name being shouted, but by whom he could not tell. His audio receptors were engulfed in a tide of roaring static. Warning signs and schematics of reported damage flashed in his darkening vision like blood-streaked lightning.
WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.
Another sound fled from him, a sort of half-sigh, half-croak which droned on a dull, dead note.
WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.
The world closed began to close in around him.
'I failed….'
WARNING.
Time slowed.
WARNING.
'I'm sorry….'
WARNING.
His life blinked in and out, memories old and new. Creation. Training. Fighting. Rockman. Protoman. Roll. Dr. Light. Repairs. Upgrades. Running. Jumping. Racing. Friendship. Rivalries. Enemies. Laughter. Smiles. Sickness. Tears. Horror. Loss. Pain.
WARNING.
Zero smiled and lifted his Buster.
WARNING.
'Forgive—'
BANG.