REQUIEM FOR A REPLOID - CHAPTER 1: A New Hope
Scene 1: A Rough Start
(Story begins with Ciel narrating)
Ciel: In this day and age, people live in the ideal world they know as Neo Arcadia. Yet within their freedom, the machines that built the backbone of that utopia, Reploids, are being persecuted and executed for the smallest impurities...it's a pitiful age. As of now, we are in search of a legendary hero, lost in a forest time forgot. Only…I wish it were.
*cuts to the Pantheon chasing down Ciel and her guards*
Ciel: *panting as she runs through the forest*
*cutting to within Neo Arcadian headquarters*
Neo Arcadian Operating System: Attention – a resistance group has been spotted in Area 56. Requesting immediate dispatch…
*after some running, we cut to some soldiers firing at a Golem*
Soldier: W-what are these things? How can we fight them when we can't even make a scratch?
*Golem readies a laser*
Soldier: Oh dear lord-
*group of soldiers get cut in half* (record death yells)
*after some more gunfire, Ciel and her group encounter a door and catch their breath*
Pantheon (on Radio): We've lost them on our scanner. Soldiers, execute regular scouting protocol. Move out!
Milan (soldier): Whoa, what a door…wonder if it's to keep us out, or something horrible in…
Ciel: I guess there's only one way to find out. Let's get this door open.
Soldier: Y-yes ma'am! Now, let's see…*looking for an access panel* Ah, good, the panel's still working. Give me a minute to crack this. Hey, Passy-
Milan (soldier): Hey, you know better than that!
Soldier: Yeah, right…
*the soldier starts hacking the access panel, typing*
Ciel: Okay, but try to hurry up. We don't know when the pantheon will be back.
Passy: Ciel, I notice a strong presence-
*static noises pop up on the monitor*
Zero: What are you doing? You don't belong here…get out.
Soldier: Something's on the monitor, Ciel!
Ciel: *curious* Is it…talking to us?
Zero: I've only caused trouble for everyone…I'm no legend…so go back where you came from!
*monitor explodes*
Soldier: (surprised) It…exploded…in my face? *angry* That's it, this door's going down! *rigs bombs* Lousy piece of equipment…
Passy: I wouldn't do that if I were you.
Ciel: Hey! We need to keep a-
*door explodes*
Soldier: Haha, got it!
NAOS (Neo Arcadian Operating System): Attention all units! A small explosion has been detected. The coordinates will be sent to your HUD.
Pantheon (on Radio): You heard HQ. Remember, exercise caution when apprehending the subject.
Passy: *listening to radio* We've been spotted!
Soldier: Pssh, don't worry about it. I'll take care of them! *shooting* Now, who wants some! How about you! Or you!
Milan: So, where's this body?
Ciel: *mildly surprised gasp*
Milan: This…this is…
*screen changes to a picture of zero, in a hibernation state*
Zero: *mumbling* Iris…no…you don't…belong here…
Ciel: *disturbed* This…must be Zero…
Milan: Well…at least we found him! Now, how do we get him loo-
*soldier hits an EMP force field, soldier yells in pain*
Passy: It's protected by an EMP field…probably to prevent reploid grave robbers.
Milan: Shoot…now what do we do…?
Soldier: Guys…guys!
*camera focuses on the soldier guarding the door*
Soldier: I need back- *shot* AAAHH!
Pantheon: There they are! Fire!
Milan: Behind me! Oh great, we're cornered! We need to evacuate!
Ciel: But…but…
Milan: Don't argue with me! *shot* GAH!
Ciel: *shrieks* Milan!
Passy: Ciel!
*while Ciel is hyperventilating from the trauma*
Pantheon Soldier 1: X-29301, what's your status?
X-29301: All units either killed or captured. We've got one in captivity.
Pantheon Soldier 1: Good work. Inform the NAOS the statistics, send that soldier off to the recycling facility, and we'll be going out with you after we contain the human.
Passy: Ciel, snap out of it!
Ciel: *stops hyperventilating* Huh?
Passy: Ciel, please use my power…you don't have a choice.
Ciel: But…Passy, if you do that, you'll…
Passy: Don't worry. Besides, everybody at the base is counting on you to come back!
Pantheon Soldier 1: So, what are the Democrats gonna do with her?
Pantheon Soldier 2: Well, humans can't be taken apart and reused like us, but there's one place that'll fix their behavior right up.
Pantheon Soldier 1: Like where? An asylum?
Pantheon Soldier 2: Nope…prison.
Ciel: …Thank you, Passy…I'm sorry.
*Ciel holds her arms up*
Pantheon Soldier 1: *startled* Careful, she's got a cyber elf!
Pantheon Soldier 2: Easy, we're not here to kill you!
Passy: No, I'm grateful for helping you…good-bye.
*Ciel launches the cyber elf into the EMP shield*
Security OS: Security system deactivated. Disengaging locks.
*cuts to Zero within his mind*
Zero: Please, Iris, you shouldn't be here! I don't want to see you get hurt. You're not made for combat, so stop-
*a horrifying figure appears behind Iris*
Zero: Iris, behind you! Run! *startled* ...don't you see it?
*Iris turns around, stares, then shakes her head*
Zero: No…Iris, don't listen to it! It only wants you dead!
*the figure readies his weapon*
Zero: You…GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!
*Zero is enveloped in light, and the focus shifts back on reality*
Ciel: *amazed* Zero…has been resurrected…
Zero: *breathing heavily, awakening from a nightmare*
Pantheon: You're gonna pay for that, you delinquent!
Ciel: *terrified by the guards* Help me…please…
Zero: …all right, who's first?
Scene 2: Rescue
Pantheon Soldier 1: C'mon, fire you blasted gun! *notices the other soldiers* You try your weapons!
Pantheon Soldiers 2 and 3: We can't, it's jammed!
Zero: *grabbing a weapon* Ah, here we go…*charging* grrraaaah!
Pantheon Soldier 1: Aaah!
Pantheon Soldier 2: Help!
Pantheon Soldier 3: Reinforcements!
Zero: *looking around* …What happened here?
Ciel: A lot of things. We've been trying to find you for help, but all of our troops are gone now. I need to get out of here to the resistance, because-
Zero: Calm down. *jokingly* Besides, I wouldn't turn down a damsel in distress.
Ciel: *meekly* …Th-thank you…
*they encounter an insect hive*
Zero: Stay here, I'll clean them out! *after hive is destroyed* …after you.
*when encountering a ceiling spider*
Zero: Stay back! And…gotcha!
Ciel: *small gasp* Zero!
Zero: Got it!
Ciel: Thanks.
*when encountering spider hive at 4:20*
Zero: Okay, I've got this! Now come on you little- *hit* gah!
Ciel: Zero!
Zero: Just give me…a sec!
*Zero destroys the rogue spider*
Zero: Heh…guess I'm just a bit rusty.
*4:29*
Pantheon 4: There they are! Now get your clubs out and let's-
Pantheon 5: *on radio* Command, we've spotted 2 targets in an unknown lab, requesting a golem! Sending you the coord-
Zero: *after shooting* Don't know if we can sneak around anymore…
Ciel: We can still make it. I remember a door at the end of this hallway-
Zero: Hold it! I have an idea…
Pantheon: Dang it, we've got-
*explosion*
Zero: Not your problem!
Ciel: Zero!
Zero: Don't worry- *noticing he grabbed a cyber elf* hey, what's this?
Ciel: Oh, that? That's called a cyber elf.
Zero: Huh?
Ciel: How do I say it…it's like the programming in that monitor, only in a physical form.
Zero: Hmm…Pfft, whatever you say…
*when they encounter the dead end*
Ciel: Shoot! We must have taken a wrong turn. But where…?
Scene 3: You're Not In Kansas Anymore
*floor crumbles beneath Ciel, Ciel shrieks*
Zero: Gotcha!
Ciel: *excited, calming down* You…you…thank you… *sigh* This place looks like a pre-historic laboratory. If we're lucky, we could find a trans-server to warp us back to the resistance base.
Zero: So, about this base you have…
*they come across a dead end*
Ciel: Oh great, the passageway's collapsed…should we go back?
*Zero hears mechanized sounds via enhanced hearing*
Zero: *gasp* Get back!
*a hand busts through the rubble to grab Ciel, Ciel shrieks, then Zero runs to find her in a golem's grasp*
Ciel: Zero! Don't fight it, run! You can't shoot it with your gun!
Zero: Only one way to find out!
*after some fighting with the golem*
Zero: …dang it! *noticing something strange* Huh?
*suddenly, a hilt flies from a computer, and extends a plasma-like blade*
X: Use this, Zero.
Zero: Wait, who are you?
X: Hurry…you have to save her. Don't waste time!
Zero: A-all right! Now, I've gotta use this right, or I might split Ciel in- *hit by laser* gah!
*time freezes, showing Zero's subconscious*
Storm Eagle: *teaching* Zero, the first thing you need to know about a sword is that it's no different from any other weapon. Like a knife or a gun, the strength of the sword depends on the wielder, to strike critical points on the enemy…
*time resumes*
Zero: *focusing* Find a point…then SLASH!
*golem is struck at the throat, then explodes*
Zero: *sigh* …whew…
Ciel: I…I can't believe you were able to destroy that golem…* excited* we were right! You MUST be Zero, the legendary reploid from the Maverick Wars!
Zero: *confused* Zero…is that…my name?
*Zero experiences a flashback*
X: *solemn* Zero…if I ever become a maverick …will you terminate me?
*ending flashback*
Zero: *in pain* Ugh…I can't remember…
Ciel: Just relax for a minute. You have hibernation sickness. It's a miracle to get you up and running so soon…I apologize for forcing you to wake up. And…thank you for saying me. My name is Ciel, and I'm a scientist that majors in Reploid Engineering. We should go back to the base, before more of the Pantheon arrive.
Zero: But…what if I'm not the person you're looking for?
Ciel: Hmm…Really? Then who else would have saved me from that golem?
*Ciel exits, Zero starts to exit…*
Zero: Why did that voice…sound so familiar?
*Zero catches up with Ciel*
Zero: So this…is the trans-server?
Ciel: Yep, and it's still active. So, you get on there, use the control pad on the side, and select the resistance base. Don't worry, I made it easy for you!
Zero: Okay, I see the panel… *starts getting weirded out* So…like this?
End of Episode 1