GLaDOS: „The authoress would like to remind you that this story is a non-profit, fanfiction crossover. All features and characters are belong to their respective owners, excluding Cyrr, Emma, Ciano and the storyline itself. Please support the official release!

Also, the authoress would like to encourage you to leave notifications, comments, and critics; furthermore, she wishes you a pleasant time.

Fanfiction project: Memento starts in 5…4… - Wait, what? Oh! The non-existent engineers just reminded me of something. You can choose three alternate storyline, and if you aren't tired of reading, or survive without critical brain damage, there's a surprise for you after each story.

So, choose your favorite character, and let's make science!"

Sorry it took so long, but finally, Axl's here too! (Actually, this chapter turned out longer than expected. Maybe Axl's chatty personality affects the storytelling as well...) Those who just stumbled across this story: welcome to Project Memento!

The favor

If there was one thing Axl hated – besides betrayal – was boredom.

That was the reason why he was such a hyperactive kid, though X and Zero told him he matured a little lately.

That was the reason why he hated waiting.

And that was the reason why he hated paperwork. With passion.

Seriously, who in their right mind would give freaking paperwork for a soldier whose only job supposed to be kicking maverick asses?! At least they could give him something exciting to write about, but nooooooo! He had to collect every single name whose property had been damaged during his missions. Address, contact, what had been destroyed, how much was it worth, etc., etc., etc…. WHO CARES?!

He knew it was a selfish thought, but times were soooo much simpler with Red Alert – before they all went nuts, of course. They simply prepared for the mission, kill that maverick, retreated, and end of story. No "facing the consequences of their action", no hours of mission briefing (when you have to tell the same story over and over again, with the smallest details), no cleanup, and definitely no paperwork!

Everybody can accuse him being heartless, irresponsible, selfish spoiled brat, but try being cool and collected with a pile of unfinished work, and an approaching deadline. Add 48 hours without sleeping, and occasional, boring patrol missions to the mixture, and voilà! We've got the rare sight of a grumpy Axl.

"Hero's work my ass…" he grunted "Aaaaaaaargh, I'll never be able to finish this stuff! I swear I'll tell Signas to hire more secretaries, or gimme a pay rise if he wants to see papers so badly…"

Axl yawned, and stretched out his aching back. Funny, so far he thought only humans have such problems… He looked at the clock just to realize it was 2 AM in the morning. Yes, the HQ was open 24/7, and there were no regulations how much time they spend in their office. Oh, the joys of being a hunter…

All right, let's get this over with… He grudgingly took a paper from the top of his pile, and started to read once more. However, the information just flew straight through his thick scull. The letters wavered and merged into a big blur…

…need sleep…

…now…

If someone was listening carefully, they could hear a soft knock as the young reploid's head hit his desk.

...

"Axl! Axl, wake up!"

"…leave me alone, I gotta save 'er…"

"AXL!"

Someone had been shaking his shoulder and now slapped him. That finally snapped him out. Axl let out a big yawn, rubbing his eyes and head.

"Gee, X… that hurt… "

His mentor and colleague, X, just crossed his arms and shook his head.

"If you're tired, Axl, just go home, or get a capsule. Believe me, it's way much better for you, than just dozing off on your desk."

"I know, I know, but… I couldn't help it. I gotta give these to Signas in two days. I can't waste time!"

"Time spent on proper relaxation is never wasted. You can do much more and better job with a fresh mind, than just sitting on it non-stop. You can't really work with a fried out brain."

"I love you X, did'ya know?"

X laughed in a good nature. It took a long time, but finally, they could mend things together with X, and started a new bond of friendship. He was more willing to take Axl as a… sorts of an apprentice.

"Hey, if nothing else comforts you, I'll let you know I have just the same amount of work left, and the deadline is today." X said with a little grimace.

"Nah, you know what? Let's make an office pajama-party, where we do paperwork, and worry ourselves to death. With free coffee."

"Sounds like fun, eh? I'm sure Zero would approve, if he hadn't slept in again… never mind. Listen, Signas needs us in his office within five minutes, so you'd better get ready. It took long enough to wake you up… Hey, speaking of which…" X turned to him, his expression mischievous "…who was that 'her' you wanted to save so badly?"

"Oh, shut up!" Axl grunted, but his mentor didn't miss his embarrassed blush.

"Okay, okay" X chuckled. "Let's go."

He swore Signas' voice could easily make grizzly bears go to their winter sleep - in the middle of July. Even though he was awake and well a second ago, Axl's mind switched back to "zombie mode" in the first five minutes. He yawned. At least they don't have to bear with his "eccentricities" this time, eh? He'll just stand there, quietly, and follow X wherever the hell they're going to patrol again. His mentor always backed him up when he forgot something anyways.

The briefing was relatively short (little less than half an hour), but when you can perceive the world as a big blur, it feels like eternity. X was freaked out at some point, but his mind was too sleepy to process the meaning of it. Maybe it's one of his "why-must-we-fight" moments again…

The truth is, the longer he was a maverick hunter, the more he realized X did have some point. Believe it or not, the hunters still valued life. That, and the clean-up process they had to do after each battle… If only there would be a possible way to put down mavericks peacefully... X tried, and he wasn't alone. But… they had a war to handle. Times like these, they couldn't hesitate. Their foes didn't back down either, and none of them so far had listened to them. If they tried to talk, they'd just waste time, while innocent people are getting hurt or killed.

… Too bad Axl's brain was currently incapable to think right now, let alone this deep. He was away in la-la land, when suddenly…

"Axl, let's go!" his mentor's voice snapped, cutting through the bubble. He blinked a couple of times, only to realize he was alone, in front of Signas. X was already at the door waiting for him. Whoops!

"Oh! Uuuh… Yeah, X, I'm coming! Goodbye, sir!"

He hastily left the room, and hoped Signas doesn't mind sparing him from some humiliation. Thankfully, he chose not to say anything.

X and Axl walked in deep silence, until Axl spoke up:

"So… where are we going, again?" he yawned.

"WHAT?! Axl, don't tell me you've slept through the whole meeting!"

"Hey, I hadn't have a proper recharge in two days! Besides I thought it was one of those boring patrol missions again, so…"

X raised an eyebrow.

"We're about to go to space and rescue a runaway hostage, or fall into a deadly booby trap. You call that boring?"

Yeah, yeah, deathly and stuff…space…WAIT WHAT?

"Whoa, wait a sec! Did'ya just say space?"

X was about to reply, but then, they heard running footsteps. Soon a familiar, blond reploid skidded to stop in front of them.

"Hey, X, Axl" he panted "I guess I missed the whole fun, didn't I?"

"You seriously need to move closer Zero." X rubbed his forehead. "It's not the first time you're late this much."

Yeah, Zero was pretty much a sleepyhead like Axl. Especially in these, hectic days, but the bastard can easily shake off being late like a boss, just because of his rank. Oh, how he envied him… Of course, Axl respected him, along with X as well, in his unique way. After all, if it wasn't for Zero, he would end up getting killed or stuck in jail. Not fun. However, who wouldn't be a little jealous of a high ranked, handsome, badass warrior who was the ultimate crush of every ladies?

"Signas can forgive me a couple of times." Zero shrugged. "Anyways, I'll make it up for him, if he's so mad."

"But not Alia…"

"Are you going to rub it in further, or just give me a recap finally?" he grunted.

"Fine, fine…" X sighed.

He made sure to give a quick jab into Axl's ribs, before he continued.

"Basically, we have a complex mission here. Part one is investigate and guard a laboratory named Aperture Science. It's near Michigan, under the ground."

"Never heard of it."

"I guessed so, because the lab was founded in the 1960's. Which means it's roughly… three hundred years old. Also, there weren't much activities recorded from them."

"WHA?!" Axl chimed in finally. "Three hundred?! And that place still exists? How the hell?!"

"That is something we might find out later. The point is, they have important research there, and the last thing we both need is to let them fall in maverick hands."

"What do they have?" Zero cut in.

"We have no clue." X admitted with a sigh. "We'll find out more later, when we actually can contact with the CEO. Signas described her as an AI, but he didn't say she's a reploid."

Zero crossed his arms.

"If not a reploid then what?"

"Umm… consciousness trapped in computer perhaps? Remember the lab is really old. Older than the reploid race."

This started to sound like a messed up sci-fi, Axl noted mentally.

"X, for the Holy Motherpad, this is no time for guessing! Just give facts!" Zero blurted.

"I know, I know, but we don't have much." X waved his hands in a calming motion. "Anyway, our other target is a moon rock mine and the other unit of the Aperture, behind the Moon. An evil force called the Innovators, had ambushed it, and took a hostage. She is a famous scientist, and she was in charge of this space lab we're talking about. Her name is Ciano."

Hmmm, Ciano… it sounded familiar. One might be surprised about this, but Axl was doing a little research in his spare time. He was looking for the scientist who could have a possible connection to his existence, or at least a lab where his technology was developed. Maybe he stumbled across that name a long ago, but wasn't important for him, so he let it slip away.

"She managed to escape however" X continued. "Now, she's on the run in deep space. She could only speak with us only once, then, we lost her. She gave us two coordinates, and that's all."

There was silence. Finally, Zero spoke up, his voice more serious than ever.

"X… you do realize this is far not enough information for us, don't you?"

"Yes, and so does Signas. He said we will wait for two days, in case we can gather some more data. Also, everybody will have to keep their eyes open. If there's any hint this might be a façade, we will be retrieved immediately."

Zero's expression darkened as he nodded slowly. Axl was silent too, and this time it wasn't because of absent-mindedness. He noticed X wasn't happy either. They all understood this might be nothing, but a trap.

No words came from them, until X suggested to have a coffee. Even though it was far past noon, the day was still long… However, as the trio came down the cafeteria, a shriek pierced through the air and their ears.

"ZERO, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Beside Axl, Zero shuddered, and he didn't need to ask why.

Hehehe… maybe Zero can get away with many things, but there's no way in living hell he would be an exception in Alia's eyes… Let's just say, this time, he won't be envy for his friend/mentor in the next couple of hours…