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 from three parallel storylines, 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!"

Yes, there will be three storylines, one for X (below), one for Zero, and one for Axl as well. (They will be uploaded as another stories, though.)

Thank you for your time, and let me introduce you to Project Memento!

The favour

It hadn't been a long time since their last battle against the mavericks. The world was more or less peaceful; at least there was no danger from evil maniacs destroying or ruling all over the Earth. For now.

X was sitting in his office, doing paperwork. The Headquarter was quiet, even though everybody knew the next battle of the endless war would be approaching soon. X looked up from his work, just to enjoy the peaceful sight through the window.

X's office was one of the few ones which looked at the small park around the HQ. Green was such a rare sight in Giga City, and X always found it pretty and calming whenever he looked at the tree next to his window.

Oh, look, a nest! X watched with fondness as a couple of birds flew over it. These creatures were so tiny and weak, yet he knew they would do anything to protect their family.

Even though X was a pacifist, gentle soul, who wanted to stop this endless flow of blood, he admitted a long ago that he had to take the X-buster again. He had to protect those who stood close to him. If words, with words, if in battle, in a battle. He can't stop unless the last tiny piece of Earth is lost as well.

Even if that last thing is his favorite tree with the nest on it.

A knocking interrupted his thoughts. Alia stood at the door, with a pile of papers and files in her hands.

"Hello, Alia. Can I help you with those?" he smiled.

"No, thank you, I'll manage" the blonde navigator shook her head. "I just dropped in, courtesy of Signas. He needs you in his office. Collect Zero and Axl as well. Please don't make him wait for long; he seems to be pretty worried."

'No, that can't be!' X's thoughts rang in his head. 'Did the mavericks make their first move?! This fast?!'

"Right away." he nodded slowly "Thanks, Alia."

"Oh, X?"

"Yeah?"

Suddenly, Alia's face turned murderous. But, before X could think of anything, she continued:

"Tell Zero if he forgets to switch on his radio again, I'll have his head! Seriously, I couldn't contact him since morning! What the hell he thinks he's doing…?!"

Alia stormed out of the office still cursing Zero, not noticing X had closed the door behind her gently. It looked like Zero would have a bad day again, and a mad Alia meant bad. With a sigh, X picked up the cell phone, and started to dial his friend's private number…

Later, X and a half-dosing Axl were standing in front of Signas' desk. Zero said he had slept in and stuck in a traffic jam, so he won't make it in time. He seriously needed to move in a closer apartment. His current one was in the other side of the city, at least half an hour from their workplace. Most of the time he just slept one of the capsules in the HQ. Either way he wanted to prevent lateness, or he was just too lazy to go home.

Signas cleared his throat, before he pulled out a single paper.

"So, you've came, X, Axl, and… Where's Zero?"

X scratched his neck.

"Umm, sorry Sir, but he won't be able to make it at least in another half an hour."

Signas muttered something under his breath, but still continued.

"We've recently got… a strange request. More than strange. The only thing we've received so far was their letter" he tapped the single paper on his desk. "Basically, a laboratory called Aperture Science is under attack of an enemy force who call themselves The Innovators. It might be just a rival laboratory's attack, but it might be…"

"Sigma?" X guessed.

"Either, or based on the small amount of details given us, a trap. X, this mission could contain serious risks, and we have absolutely no idea what happens next if we make our move."

"What about the scout teams? Or the E.R.S.T.?"

"We're in hiatus right now. And…" Signas' expression suddenly darkened. "About the Elite Reploid Scooting Team, I've received terrible news just now. Basically, a maverick spy fled into their ring, and manipulated them so much the corruption was beyond repair. They had no choice but suspend their missions until the interrogations and clean-ups are compete. They are in worse shape than us."

X's fist clenched, but soon, he regained his calmness.

"So… what do we need know of the mission, sir?" he asked.

"The mission has two objects at once: part one is to liberate a space station from the Innovators. The other part is, we need to guard the other, ancient facility on Earth."

Signas rustled with some other papers, before continue.

"There aren't many information, even if Alia tried her best to do a little extra research. As I said, the laboratory has an underground facility on Earth, near Michigan. It's been working since the 1960's."

"1960's?!" X jumped back in surprise "My creator founded his lab somewhere in 2080's, and it's nothing more than ancient ruins now! How could they keep it in shape at all?!"

"Don't ask, X. Back to the track, they're afraid the 'Old Aperture' might be a target as well, and they have important research there, so, they want us to leave small unit guarding it. The… uhm… 'CEO' of that lab is an AI called GLaDOS. They said we need to talk with her as well. The operators are trying to contact her as we speak."

Signas cleared his throat before continue:

"Our other target is, where the distress signal came from, is a space laboratory and moon rock mine on the other side of the Moon. This is called the 'Space Aperture'. The head of the facility is a well-known scientist: Ciano."

That rang a bell for X. He hadn't been into science as much since Dr. Cain passed away, but he could recall her name for gaining some prize or something.

"She said she was a hostage at the Innovators' base, but luckily she broke out. Now she's on the run, hiding somewhere in space, thus her reason why she can't contact us more. She also gave us two coordinates, and that's all we know."

"Really? That's all? No specifications, details, maps or anything?"

"The Space Aperture is supposed to be a top secret in all agencies. The Old Aperture though… it's way too old to find much more data in any of our database. We have to collect information on our own. If we accept this mission, of course."

"What if we go under cover?"

"That would be unnecessary. Our response to be figured out is not what I'm worried of. But I'm concerned of my men's lives. I've called you forward because I know if someone, then you three can do anything. But I want to keep you in mind that this might be just a façade, and if we receive any clues implying that, the whole mission would be cancelled immediately. Regarding that, we will wait another two days in order to get ready and gain more information."

"But sir! If the message said it was urgent then they need help right away!"

"I know X. But I don't want to fall into a trap and risk your lives either. I hate myself for hesitating like this, but as a leader, I can't jump into conclusions. Especially times like this. I hope you, who feels worriedness, can understand."

There was silence in the room. X had never felt the air this heavy since he once told Signas that he would quit from the squads. Since the Red Alert incident, he was restored, of course.

Signas eventually dismissed them. X was walking out of the office when he noticed Axl wasn't behind him.

"Axl, let's go!" he shouted back from the door.

The young one blinked like snapping out from some trance.

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

He hastily left the room as well, before Signas could conclude 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?"

"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."

"Signas can forgive me a couple of times. 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 took a deep breath, and started to explain everything from the beginning, and this time he made sure Axl was listening as well…