Disclaimer: I don't own any of these Megaman X characters.
AN: Here's the first chapter of my new fic. It deals with the X5 ending from the perspectives of different characters in the game.
I am still working on Specter, I just need to finish hammering out some of the next chapter's details.
Since I'm back in college, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update my stories.
This first Chapter is X's POV.
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X5: Facing Death
X
I've certainly had better days . . .
In the last 24 hours a colony almost crashed into the planet, almost every reploid in the world has been infected by the Sigma virus, my best friend fell under suspicion of being Maverick, and I got into a battle with Zero, my aforementioned friend, that left us both almost too exhausted to fight Sigma. Then after Sigma's new body blew up, I found Zero blown in half, I got shot in the back by a half-dead Sigma, and now I'm dying. I've definitely had better days.
I still can't believe how Sigma used Zero and me to spread the virus like that. He lost to us on purpose, knowing that when he died the virus would spread all over the world. The only consolation is that we kept the Eurasia colony from falling to Earth and killing everyone. Sigma said the whole reason he went this far was to awaken Zero's true self . . . What did he mean by that? Could my best friend, someone I've known and trusted for over 20 years, not be who I thought he was? Is his true self a Maverick? Is that why the new form of the Maverick virus has the same power readings as Zero?
No . . . It has to be Sigma just playing with my mind. Like that crack about a former ally of mine making him that insanely strong body and who hated me as much as he did . . . I don't know anyone who could make something like that. Well, maybe Alia could, but she would never willingly help somebody like Sigma.
What if Sigma was telling the truth about Zero though? No, nobody is their true self once they've been infected by the virus. It's like their very souls are warped by the virus and they become someone else entirely . . . at least that's what it did to Sigma . . .
I suppose I should be thinking about how unfair it is that I'm dying. Oddly enough even though I don't want to die, the fact that I am doesn't bother me. I've had a good run. Most reploids don't usually live to be 24; many lose their life in an uprising or get infected by the virus and are destroyed before they can live that long. Hunters usually have a life expectancy of five to seven years; the fact that I've survived doing this job for over two decades is nothing short of phenomenal.
What does bother me is leaving behind my friends when they are about to face one of their most daunting tasks, rebuilding the planet. My other regret is that I couldn't save Zero's life. I could go to my grave a lot easier knowing he was still around to carry on the fight against Sigma and the Mavericks . . . as it is I must simply accept that in the end I couldn't even help my closest friend escape death the way he saved me years ago.
So, if I've accepted that I'm going to die then why do I still desperately cling to life? A few reasons come to mind. First, I don't want to cause my friends to suffer anymore than they already have during this rebellion. They've had to watch the planet come to the edge of oblivion and as well as have many of their comrades become enemies. That's part of why I'm still holding on . . . in some vain hope that my friends can help me so that they won't have to lose another friend because of today's tragic events. Another reason that I'm still clinging to life is that, somehow, I know Sigma will be back and I'm not sure if the Hunters can handle him without Zero or me around to fight. There's also one other reason, aside from the fact I don't really want to die. It's not so much a reason as it is a feeling that I've left something undone . . . that there is still something I must do, but I can't figure out what that is just now.
I remember asking Zero once what felt like to die. He simply said "Dying hurts like hell." Well Zero, you were right, dying does really hurt. I can't remember ever being in this much pain before . . .
Zero . . . You must be in worse shape than me right now. You were already dying when I found you and the shot that Sigma hit us with couldn't have helped your condition any. You're my best friend and I couldn't save you. I'm sorry we wound up fighting each other. Maybe things would have been different if I had just tried a little harder to avoid a fight. I just hope you understand that I was worried about you . . . I just wanted you to go back to the base and show everyone you weren't a Maverick, that Lifesavor's fears were unjustified. Why didn't you trust me enough do that and to let me handle the rest of this on my own? Zero, why were you so determined to not to go back to the base even if it meant fighting me? Were you afraid of something? You even accused me of being a Maverick before we fought. Did really think that I was Maverick?
Regardless of what happened here today Zero, I still consider you my best friend. How could I not? You've been like a brother to me and you even risked your life to protect me from Sigma today after our fight. I hope that means you still consider me to be your friend.
It's almost funny. After taking so much damage my helmet's communicator still works. I can hear everyone in the control room, but I'm too damaged and tired to send a reply . . .
Signas my friend, I know you just took over as the Supreme Commander of the Hunters not that long ago but it looks like you'll have to hold things together without me and Zero there to help. I know this will leave you in a bind, but nothing can be done about it. It shouldn't be any problem for you though; you handled yourself pretty well considering this was the first major crisis to occur on your watch. Most of the other commanders I've known would have needed a few more years of experience before being able to handle something like this. You'll be fine. I know the Hunters will survive and rebuild the Earth as long as your there.
Douglas, take care. Your skills are going to be needed more than ever soon. Undoing the damage form the colony debris that's impacting the planet is no small task. Not to mention you still need to repair the damage to the base caused by the virus. At least you won't have to worry about me wrecking anymore of your landchasers.
Since I can hear Alia better than the rest, the feed must be coming from her headset. I've never heard her like this before. She's pleading for me to respond, she sounds so desperate. Now Alia's trying to get an emergency medical team teleported out here . . . I can hear Signas replying that they can't send anyone till this area is confirmed safe. He's worried about any remaining Mavericks and that new virus that appeared here. Alia's pissed now. She's yelling at them to either send someone or she'll go by herself. She sounds angry, but I can hear the fear lurking beneath the anger in her voice . . . the fear that it's already too late to help me and Zero, that she's about to lose two of her friends . . .
Alia . . . You're one of the few people who understand and share my feelings about fighting. I suppose that's part of the reason why we got along so well, we both wanted an end to this stupid war and to finally live in peace. I know you've always been a little protective of me and how you worry about me when I go on a mission . . . it must really be hard to sometimes not be able to do more than sit and listen as your friends fight for their lives. I'm sorry for the pain my death will put you and the others through.
I guess I should have listened when you asked me not to come here, that you had a bad feeling about this place. That should have been a warning right there. You almost never make a judgment about a situation based solely on a feeling like you did today. I know I told you that everything would be okay and that I'd be back with Zero in no time. I'm sorry that I couldn't keep my promise. Maybe you were right and I should have let Zero handle this place by himself. I just hope you understand why I did what I did. I couldn't just turn my back on Zero when he might have needed my help.
Besides, I had to prove that Lifesavor was wrong about Zero being a Maverick. The only way to do that was to try and bring Zero back. If he had turned out to be a Maverick, then it would have been for the best that we fought here. If we had waited and Lifesavor had been right, Zero could have attacked the base and put everyone in danger. I couldn't risk that Allie. That's why I had to go and see Zero for myself. I thought that if he was okay then he would return to base and put everyone's fears to rest . . . I never imagined that he wouldn't willingly leave this place or that we would actually fight each other.
I can feel myself slipping away . . . My vision is gone . . . My memory module is malfunctioning, picking and showing memories at random . . . My communicator just went dead . . . or did my audio sensors go offline? It doesn't matter . . . The last of my power is fading fast . . . I guess this is it then . . .
Not yet . . .
What was that?! Who are you?! What do you want?!
Actually, I want you to rest and relax for now . . . Hold on, X . . . Just for a few more moments.
Wait! Who are you?!
Calm down X. Everything is going to be okay, I just need you to go to sleep for a moment. You'll feel better when you wake up, I promise.
That voice . . . it's so familiar . . . it can't be . . .
I'm sorry this had to be your path in life my son. Please let me help you, it's the least I can do.
Okay. I'll let you help me . . . Thank you, father . . .
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