Zero, Alia and Signas walked into the room slowly, the shadows seeming to cover the walls, leaving only a small bed lit.
On this bed rested the world's greatest hero.
He had seen endless battles, stared evil in the face, and stood in defiance.
He had battled foes and friends, made enemies and allies.
Now, he lie battered and broken...and ready for death.
The three walked to the side of his bed, Zero standing on his right side, Alia and Signas on his left.
"X...X can you hear me?" Zero asked softly, his heart greatly wounded at seeing his battle companion in a state such as he was.
X groaned and turned his head slowly towards Zero, and using what seemed to be like all of his strength, nodded gently.
Alia let out a quick sob and then brought her hand over her mouth, trying to detain her emotions as her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh...X...I'm so sorry...the data...it was all..."
Finally she was overcome and turned to run out of the room, slamming the door behind her as Signas winced and looked down at his most successful Maverick Hunter...now reduced to a gasping chunk of metal.
Signas shook his head and sighed.
"How it ever came to this...I do not wish to know...for whatever could do this to you X, I fear more than you could possibly imagine...what horrible power awaits us now that you are here...broken in this bed?"
X took in a ragged breath as he gasped out the name of the horror.
"Mith...ran...di...el..."
With that, he passed out again, into a state of comatose.
*
(24 hours earlier)
X looked onto his data reading device, with live feed from Alia.
"X, this most recent Maverick is unusually powerful...it seems like he's almost on par with Sigma...and yet I've never picked up his energy signal before..."
X nodded.
"Yeah well, he's made his appearance known now...is Zero on his way?"
Alia shook her head.
"That's a negative X, Zero's busy on another mission, looks like you'll have to take this one on yourself."
X smiled as he prepared his X buster.
"All the more fun for me eh?"
Alia shook her head with a tormented sigh.
"If by fun you mean near death experience...ok. Just come back in one piece...please?"
Alia pleaded with her eyes.
X's smile softened as he looked back to her.
"Of course...don't I always?"
Alia giggled and shook her head.
"You are too relaxed about these things...you should learn to stress more."
X was puzzled at the last phrase.
"I never heard that one before...alright Alia...I'll try. Now let me take care of the mission, I'll be back by 1900 hours."
Alia nodded as the device shut off and X took off running towards his next target area.
A remote jungle where he had battled a number of mavericks before...but even X had a feeling that this one was different...and something in his gut told him that it wasn't going to be a simple mission.
Little did he know that it would be the last mission he would ever take.
*
Mithrandiel stood over his most recent kill, his sabre glowing gently as he sheathed it and turned to the eight others, ready to take on this beast that they encountered.
"What the hell are you?!" One of them shouted, their own beam sabre unsheathed.
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"Every day, I am something different to every single person on this planet. Today...for you...I am your angel of death...tomorrow...for your families, I will be the bringer of grief and misery."
The eight scowled fiercely as they each held their sabres tightly in their hands, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Mithrandiel held out his buster cannon, and it began to hum.
The eight all looked at each other with alarm and began to run but it was no use, the massive beam of energy engulfed the eight of them and disintegrated them instantaneously with its immense heat.
Mithrandiel pulled back his buster arm and sighed.
The maverick was most likely, by far, the most fearsome looking reploid any man or robot could ever have seen.
It stood 8'7" tall, platinum colored armor with a helmet-like covering for the head that covered his face in shadow. In that shadow all that could be seen were two balls of red, glowing and contemplating at every moment...plotting death and destruction for all that surrounded him.
"X should be arriving soon...then maybe I could have some fun..."
Mithrandiel began to laugh, the birds flying off, far far towards the horizon as the horrendous bellows echoed through the forest and into the depths of the jungle.
*
Zero spun, slashing through another enemy maverick as their leader made its way to the head of the pack.
"Hahah! So you must be Zero...the legendary maverick hunter!"
Zero smirked, not really impressed with the supposed leader of these mavericks.
"Yes I am, now if you would kindly point me in the way of your leader, I would appreciate that...and perhaps make your death a quick and painless one."
The maverick snorted.
"Ha! You think you are so clever...but I will show you that Shintoki Granthorn is not to be trifled with!"
The maverick leapt into the air, unsheathing his sabre as he came down to meet Zero's with a tremendous explosion of colliding energies.
Zero went into a backroll, pushing off of both feet into a tremndous leap as he held out his buster arm, firing three large blasts at Shintoki.
Shintoki had rolled back a little more sloppily as he saw the three blasts coming he jumped to the left, avoiding to of them, the blast of the third sending him flying backwards into a nearby rock wall.
Zero landed a few feet from the Maverick and spun, stopping his sabre about an inch from the mavericks neck.
"Tell me...who is it that is having all of you cause havoc like you are?"
Shintoki laughed.
"Would you believe me if I said Sigma?"
Zero grimaced.
"Hell no...I know that Sigma is dead...dead for good."
Shintoki nodded with a grin.
"Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be that stupid.
"Alright then...who are you working for?!" Zero demanded, Shintoki continuing to laugh.
"Damn you..." Zero said quietly with malice as he brought the sabre across shintoki's neck and he finally dropped to the ground...blood seeping from the wound that he had just acquired.
"Oh well...at least X won't have any trouble with these ones on his own...they're all rather weak."
Suddenly Zero's information device lit up.
"Zero....it's Alia. You'll want to get to these coordinates ASAP! X needs your help!"
The coordinates flooded Zero's information device, giving him the precise location of X and a new maverick...a uniquely strong maverick.
Zero felt something in his gut churn as he winced.
"This isn't right...I have a bad feeling about this..."
Zero said quietly as he began to venture towards the Coordinates.
*
X came upon the forest where the new maverick was supposedly hiding.
Walking through the trees slowly it was dead silent...little did X know that the sound that surrounded his ears and filled his soul was the sound of death...it was closing in all around him, and yet he didn't even know.
Suddenly from a few yards ahead of him a few trees shook and the large Maverick stepped out to stare down X.
"You...you must be the new guy in town eh?" X asked with a smile, trying to maintain his composure in the presence of this uniquely haunting figure. For one of the very few times in his life, X was genuinely scared of this new creature.
"You must be X...the legendary hunter..."
X nodded slowly.
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"Good...perhaps now I will get a real fight!"
Mithrandiel's sabre crackled and suddenly appeared in his left hand, his eyes still meeting X's as he smirked.
X unsheathed Zero's old sabre, which had gotten an incredible upgrade by Alia and the other workers back at the maverick HQ.
Mithrandiel's smirk faded from his visage as he growled.
"Now...the project will be complete...and I will be proven the most superior of the Hendothrin!"
X was caught off guard and blinked a few times before shaking his head and holding his sabre ready.
"Dr. Light and Dr. Wily..they were nothing...they shadowed my master with their works, while he created a far more superior model...a far more superior creation...me."
X gasped and took a shocked step back.
"Dr. Crendor never got any attention...and now he'll get all the attention he could ever have wanted!"
Mithrandiel exploded in an aura of flame as he held out his sabre.
"By creating the entity that would bring ruin to you, Zero, and the rest of this world!"
*
(Year: 20XX)
The government had notified the three scientists of their intentions to meet with them a month ahead of time, and the three scientists agreed to meet with the top government officials to discuss a confidential plan on the scale of national and global security.
There was Thomas Light...renowned scientist most famously known for his expertise in the field of robots and their emotional abilities.
Albert Wily was a good friend and colleague of Thomas Light's, and he also shared an incredible amount of expertise in the field of robots, and they engaged in many projects together.
Finally there was Michael Crendor. He was a lone shark, many would say...and loved to be alone. Nonetheless, his work with robots was second only to light and Wily...so the government decided to call him in as well.
The room was rather small, with a table that seated 14, two on each end and five on each side.
Albert and Thomas sat on one end, Michael on the other end as eight men in suits walked in, the door closed behind them as they sat down.
They looked back and forth between the three scientists.
Finally, the apparent leader of the group cleared his throat and began speaking.
"Gentlemen, we have called you here on a very urgent matter..."
Light, Wily and Crendor all nodded.
"You have all been called in for your extensive research and success with the field of robots and artificial intelligence, and your expertise is precisely why you are here."
Light closed his eyes...not really sure if he should have come at all.
"We have brought you here to assign each of you a specific task...a heavy task...yet important to the safety of our nation, and our world."
The lights dimmed as a projector began showing 3-d images of three separate robot prototypes.
"These...are the Hendothrin, as we've named them. They are the world's defense...the nation's defense...and their construction is being placed in your hands."
Light, Wily and Crendor looked at each other for a moment, and then back to the agents.
"So, you want us to create weapons of war for you?" Albert asked with a tinge of disgust.
The head agent shook his head.
"No...not for us...this is for the good of the world...I assure you."
Thomas Light nodded.
"Right, like the Atomic Bomb, and the Hydrogen Bomb..."
Michael was the only one really considering as the agents continued talking with Albert and Thomas.
"Dr. Light, Dr. Wily, listen...this may seem like a barbaric request...but one day soon we may be encountered with a race far beyond our own...and on that day would you rather be sending out human lives? Or robot armies?"
This comment got to both Albert and Thomas as they stopped and closed their eyes, nodding.
"That's right gentlemen...in the end it comes down to the human cost...and so I have given you each a Hendothrin prototype to complete...if it is successful, we will being massive production of the robot to help protect national and global borders...and you will be paid handsomely as well..."
Thomas shook his head.
"I would rather not take the money thank you...my nights will be troubled enough without blood money in my bank account..."
The lead agent nodded.
"Very well, if you do not wish to be paid, we can not force you...you will begin this project in one week, and I suggest to all of you that you clear your schedules for a while..."
The scientists all stood and left the building, each returning to their labs..their hearts and minds weighed down by the burden laid upon them.
*
Thomas Light sat at his desk, looking over the specifications and model designs for Prototype X of the Hendothrin project.
~Long range fighter...agile...incredibly adaptable...light frame for maximum power output...interesting~ Thomas thought as he went over the specs with great care and detail.
*
Wily placed the prototype Z on his counter as he took a seat and examined the properties of it.
~Interesting...short range fighter. Incredible endurance and speed...learning curve...restricted...hmmm~
Wily stood and turned as he headed towards his lab and began to input the core data to start the prototype process.
*
Crendor sat on his bed...the plans already sitting in his computer database as he thought to himself, trying to clear his mind and justify the works.
Lying back with a tormented sigh he closed his eyes and began to daze off into the abyss of slumber...his eyes rolling to the back of his head as his brain started working overtime.
Images and plans shot through his brain...tall and short robots...sabres and beam cannons and blasters and colors and internal mechanism details.
Suddenly, a deep hissing suddenly filled his head with a terrifying sound...one that uttered the name of his new horrifying creation...
Miiithraannnddieeelll
Suddenly Crendor was jolted awake as he stood and began pacing, ideas racing through his head.
His would be the ultimate being, he could tell...but the steps to getting there were steep and jagged...far more perilous than anyone could possibly imagine.Back in the hospital...in 24XX...
X stirred with a moan as he opened his eyes slightly, the light above him causing him to squint from the radiance.
Suddenly, a figure was standing over the bed...his long blonde hair hanging over his shoulder as he looked down at X.
"X...can you hear me? It's Zero..."
X nodded.
"X...we need to get information on this new maverick...did you get anything in your information database during the fight?"
X nodded again...holding out his right arm, a panel flipping up with a small disc inside.
"Mith...ran...di..el...battle...data..."
Zero took the disc with a smile.
"Thanks X...don't worry, everything will be ok..."
Zero turned and walked out slowly, leaving X to wallow in his pit of anguish, pain and suffering.
*
20XX:
Michael thought it over the whole night through...and discovered a plan to create the third hendothrin.
He set it into motion immediately.
*
Thomas Light stood in his lab, going over possible future projects when suddenly he heard the phone ring.
"I'll get it..." Roll said as she walked to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" Roll asked sweetly.
"Hello...is a Dr. Light there...?this is Michael Crendor..
Roll nodded and gave the phone to Dr. Light.
"It's a michael Crendor Dr. Light..."
Thomas blinked in amazement at first and then took the receiver slowly.
"Michael?"
Dr. Crendor chuckled.
"Yes...I was wondering if you and Albert would like to meet me for lunch on friday with some ideas for these new robots..."
Light blinked a couple of times...he never saw this proposition coming.
"I see...Friday eh? That's in two days time...I think I could work it out...I'll tell Albert about it, I'm sure he'll come."
Crendor nodded.
"Good...it would be great if we could all meet and talk about this. I hope to see you then..."
Thomas nodded.
"It will be great. See you then Michael."
Michael hung up and smiled...standing from the phone as he turned and walked into his lab slowly, looking over his most recent invention, picking up the tiny microchip and inspecting it with the greatest of awe at his own genius.
*
Wily turned on his videoscreen.
"Yes? What is it Thomas?" Wily asked as he continued bustling around his laboratory, trying to get things in order for the long term project he had in
store.
Light cleared his throat.
"Well, it seems as though Michael wants to meet with us on Friday...for lunch...to talk about the robots."
Wily took the sentence little by little, digesting what he could until Light finally finished what he was saying and Wily stood from his crouched position and turned to the videoscreen.
"You're...kidding right? That hermit wants to meet with us, and talk to us about this project?"
Thomas nodded.
"That's right, I was surprised too Albert...but I think that it would be a good idea."
Wily smiled.
"Good? That's the problem with you Thomas, you're far too trusting for your own good...I don't know if I want to go."
Dr. Light sighed and looked Wily in the eye.
"Come on now Albert, if you don't come along Michael will know something is wrong...we need to be able to cooperate on such a heavy task as this."
Wily sighed and shook his head...uncertainty filling his visage.
"I suppose..."
Thomas smiled.
"Good...then I'll see you then."
Wily switched off the videoscreen, his work pace having slowed considerably.
~I don't like this...I don't like this one bit...~ Wily thought as he shuffled around his lab.
*
24XX:
Alia looked over the data screen, the world map having several signals bleeping from several different coordinates.
"My god, this Maverick is insane! He's caused more damage in the last 24 hours than Sigma did in three months! The shipping dock in the Alpha district has been completely destroyed...the Gamma block has been torn through like tissue paper...and down in the Omega district Mithrandiel has basically torn apart the main hunter station."
Zero scowled...first this monster sends his battle partner into a bed, now he's rampaging through his world, destroying lives guiltlessly.
This must be stopped.
Zero snarled and turned, heading towards the main doors as a scream was heard from behind him.
"ZERO! PLEASE...DON'T GO!" Alia screamed as she leapt from her post and threw herself into his arms.
She was sobbing heavily, her shoulders shaking as she stammered to get the words out.
"Please...you can't...leave me..." she said with a shaking voice as her eyes, moist and tender, looked into his.
"I don't...want to see you...get hurt."
Zero smiled and helped her to her feet.
"Dear Alia, do not worry...I will return, as I always have."
Alia let out a loud sob.
"That's just what X said!" she yelled, her tears now flowing freely as she fell to her knees.
Zero didn't know what to say, he swallowed and knelt down next to her.
"Alia, please listen to me...I promise I will come back to you...I won't let this monster destroy our world, the world we have fought so hard to protect...surely you understand?"
Alia nodded as she swallowed back her own sobs.
"I know Zero...I just...don't want to accept it..."
Standing again, Zero lifted her to her feet.
"Alia, you must be strong. You are the main information network at the Hunter HQ, and Signas may be leaving soon to deal with other Maverick problems while I'm dealing with Mithrandiel...so you need to be under control. Ok?"
Alia nodded.
"Ok..."
Zero rubber her arms gently and hugged her.
"Good..."
Alia wrapped her arms around him and held him close for a long time, not wanting to let go...she didn't want to say goodbye.
Time seemed to slow as Zero held her, the very essence of age and space seemed to disappear as they were in each other's arms, and for a moment they almost forgot about the chaos around them...until the alarm rang again, screeching and howling.
Suddenly, Alia found herself standing alone, watching Zero run off towards the last battle he would ever fight.
As the realization hit her, she shuddered visibly, and let out another loud sob of anguish that echoed through the corridors of the Hunter HQ...saddening all that heard it.
*
X lie in his bed, and groaned as he moved slightly, remembering the horror that was his fight with Mithrandiel
On this bed rested the world's greatest hero.
He had seen endless battles, stared evil in the face, and stood in defiance.
He had battled foes and friends, made enemies and allies.
Now, he lie battered and broken...and ready for death.
The three walked to the side of his bed, Zero standing on his right side, Alia and Signas on his left.
"X...X can you hear me?" Zero asked softly, his heart greatly wounded at seeing his battle companion in a state such as he was.
X groaned and turned his head slowly towards Zero, and using what seemed to be like all of his strength, nodded gently.
Alia let out a quick sob and then brought her hand over her mouth, trying to detain her emotions as her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh...X...I'm so sorry...the data...it was all..."
Finally she was overcome and turned to run out of the room, slamming the door behind her as Signas winced and looked down at his most successful Maverick Hunter...now reduced to a gasping chunk of metal.
Signas shook his head and sighed.
"How it ever came to this...I do not wish to know...for whatever could do this to you X, I fear more than you could possibly imagine...what horrible power awaits us now that you are here...broken in this bed?"
X took in a ragged breath as he gasped out the name of the horror.
"Mith...ran...di...el..."
With that, he passed out again, into a state of comatose.
*
(24 hours earlier)
X looked onto his data reading device, with live feed from Alia.
"X, this most recent Maverick is unusually powerful...it seems like he's almost on par with Sigma...and yet I've never picked up his energy signal before..."
X nodded.
"Yeah well, he's made his appearance known now...is Zero on his way?"
Alia shook her head.
"That's a negative X, Zero's busy on another mission, looks like you'll have to take this one on yourself."
X smiled as he prepared his X buster.
"All the more fun for me eh?"
Alia shook her head with a tormented sigh.
"If by fun you mean near death experience...ok. Just come back in one piece...please?"
Alia pleaded with her eyes.
X's smile softened as he looked back to her.
"Of course...don't I always?"
Alia giggled and shook her head.
"You are too relaxed about these things...you should learn to stress more."
X was puzzled at the last phrase.
"I never heard that one before...alright Alia...I'll try. Now let me take care of the mission, I'll be back by 1900 hours."
Alia nodded as the device shut off and X took off running towards his next target area.
A remote jungle where he had battled a number of mavericks before...but even X had a feeling that this one was different...and something in his gut told him that it wasn't going to be a simple mission.
Little did he know that it would be the last mission he would ever take.
*
Mithrandiel stood over his most recent kill, his sabre glowing gently as he sheathed it and turned to the eight others, ready to take on this beast that they encountered.
"What the hell are you?!" One of them shouted, their own beam sabre unsheathed.
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"Every day, I am something different to every single person on this planet. Today...for you...I am your angel of death...tomorrow...for your families, I will be the bringer of grief and misery."
The eight scowled fiercely as they each held their sabres tightly in their hands, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Mithrandiel held out his buster cannon, and it began to hum.
The eight all looked at each other with alarm and began to run but it was no use, the massive beam of energy engulfed the eight of them and disintegrated them instantaneously with its immense heat.
Mithrandiel pulled back his buster arm and sighed.
The maverick was most likely, by far, the most fearsome looking reploid any man or robot could ever have seen.
It stood 8'7" tall, platinum colored armor with a helmet-like covering for the head that covered his face in shadow. In that shadow all that could be seen were two balls of red, glowing and contemplating at every moment...plotting death and destruction for all that surrounded him.
"X should be arriving soon...then maybe I could have some fun..."
Mithrandiel began to laugh, the birds flying off, far far towards the horizon as the horrendous bellows echoed through the forest and into the depths of the jungle.
*
Zero spun, slashing through another enemy maverick as their leader made its way to the head of the pack.
"Hahah! So you must be Zero...the legendary maverick hunter!"
Zero smirked, not really impressed with the supposed leader of these mavericks.
"Yes I am, now if you would kindly point me in the way of your leader, I would appreciate that...and perhaps make your death a quick and painless one."
The maverick snorted.
"Ha! You think you are so clever...but I will show you that Shintoki Granthorn is not to be trifled with!"
The maverick leapt into the air, unsheathing his sabre as he came down to meet Zero's with a tremendous explosion of colliding energies.
Zero went into a backroll, pushing off of both feet into a tremndous leap as he held out his buster arm, firing three large blasts at Shintoki.
Shintoki had rolled back a little more sloppily as he saw the three blasts coming he jumped to the left, avoiding to of them, the blast of the third sending him flying backwards into a nearby rock wall.
Zero landed a few feet from the Maverick and spun, stopping his sabre about an inch from the mavericks neck.
"Tell me...who is it that is having all of you cause havoc like you are?"
Shintoki laughed.
"Would you believe me if I said Sigma?"
Zero grimaced.
"Hell no...I know that Sigma is dead...dead for good."
Shintoki nodded with a grin.
"Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be that stupid.
"Alright then...who are you working for?!" Zero demanded, Shintoki continuing to laugh.
"Damn you..." Zero said quietly with malice as he brought the sabre across shintoki's neck and he finally dropped to the ground...blood seeping from the wound that he had just acquired.
"Oh well...at least X won't have any trouble with these ones on his own...they're all rather weak."
Suddenly Zero's information device lit up.
"Zero....it's Alia. You'll want to get to these coordinates ASAP! X needs your help!"
The coordinates flooded Zero's information device, giving him the precise location of X and a new maverick...a uniquely strong maverick.
Zero felt something in his gut churn as he winced.
"This isn't right...I have a bad feeling about this..."
Zero said quietly as he began to venture towards the Coordinates.
*
X came upon the forest where the new maverick was supposedly hiding.
Walking through the trees slowly it was dead silent...little did X know that the sound that surrounded his ears and filled his soul was the sound of death...it was closing in all around him, and yet he didn't even know.
Suddenly from a few yards ahead of him a few trees shook and the large Maverick stepped out to stare down X.
"You...you must be the new guy in town eh?" X asked with a smile, trying to maintain his composure in the presence of this uniquely haunting figure. For one of the very few times in his life, X was genuinely scared of this new creature.
"You must be X...the legendary hunter..."
X nodded slowly.
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"Good...perhaps now I will get a real fight!"
Mithrandiel's sabre crackled and suddenly appeared in his left hand, his eyes still meeting X's as he smirked.
X unsheathed Zero's old sabre, which had gotten an incredible upgrade by Alia and the other workers back at the maverick HQ.
Mithrandiel's smirk faded from his visage as he growled.
"Now...the project will be complete...and I will be proven the most superior of the Hendothrin!"
X was caught off guard and blinked a few times before shaking his head and holding his sabre ready.
"Dr. Light and Dr. Wily..they were nothing...they shadowed my master with their works, while he created a far more superior model...a far more superior creation...me."
X gasped and took a shocked step back.
"Dr. Crendor never got any attention...and now he'll get all the attention he could ever have wanted!"
Mithrandiel exploded in an aura of flame as he held out his sabre.
"By creating the entity that would bring ruin to you, Zero, and the rest of this world!"
*
(Year: 20XX)
The government had notified the three scientists of their intentions to meet with them a month ahead of time, and the three scientists agreed to meet with the top government officials to discuss a confidential plan on the scale of national and global security.
There was Thomas Light...renowned scientist most famously known for his expertise in the field of robots and their emotional abilities.
Albert Wily was a good friend and colleague of Thomas Light's, and he also shared an incredible amount of expertise in the field of robots, and they engaged in many projects together.
Finally there was Michael Crendor. He was a lone shark, many would say...and loved to be alone. Nonetheless, his work with robots was second only to light and Wily...so the government decided to call him in as well.
The room was rather small, with a table that seated 14, two on each end and five on each side.
Albert and Thomas sat on one end, Michael on the other end as eight men in suits walked in, the door closed behind them as they sat down.
They looked back and forth between the three scientists.
Finally, the apparent leader of the group cleared his throat and began speaking.
"Gentlemen, we have called you here on a very urgent matter..."
Light, Wily and Crendor all nodded.
"You have all been called in for your extensive research and success with the field of robots and artificial intelligence, and your expertise is precisely why you are here."
Light closed his eyes...not really sure if he should have come at all.
"We have brought you here to assign each of you a specific task...a heavy task...yet important to the safety of our nation, and our world."
The lights dimmed as a projector began showing 3-d images of three separate robot prototypes.
"These...are the Hendothrin, as we've named them. They are the world's defense...the nation's defense...and their construction is being placed in your hands."
Light, Wily and Crendor looked at each other for a moment, and then back to the agents.
"So, you want us to create weapons of war for you?" Albert asked with a tinge of disgust.
The head agent shook his head.
"No...not for us...this is for the good of the world...I assure you."
Thomas Light nodded.
"Right, like the Atomic Bomb, and the Hydrogen Bomb..."
Michael was the only one really considering as the agents continued talking with Albert and Thomas.
"Dr. Light, Dr. Wily, listen...this may seem like a barbaric request...but one day soon we may be encountered with a race far beyond our own...and on that day would you rather be sending out human lives? Or robot armies?"
This comment got to both Albert and Thomas as they stopped and closed their eyes, nodding.
"That's right gentlemen...in the end it comes down to the human cost...and so I have given you each a Hendothrin prototype to complete...if it is successful, we will being massive production of the robot to help protect national and global borders...and you will be paid handsomely as well..."
Thomas shook his head.
"I would rather not take the money thank you...my nights will be troubled enough without blood money in my bank account..."
The lead agent nodded.
"Very well, if you do not wish to be paid, we can not force you...you will begin this project in one week, and I suggest to all of you that you clear your schedules for a while..."
The scientists all stood and left the building, each returning to their labs..their hearts and minds weighed down by the burden laid upon them.
*
Thomas Light sat at his desk, looking over the specifications and model designs for Prototype X of the Hendothrin project.
~Long range fighter...agile...incredibly adaptable...light frame for maximum power output...interesting~ Thomas thought as he went over the specs with great care and detail.
*
Wily placed the prototype Z on his counter as he took a seat and examined the properties of it.
~Interesting...short range fighter. Incredible endurance and speed...learning curve...restricted...hmmm~
Wily stood and turned as he headed towards his lab and began to input the core data to start the prototype process.
*
Crendor sat on his bed...the plans already sitting in his computer database as he thought to himself, trying to clear his mind and justify the works.
Lying back with a tormented sigh he closed his eyes and began to daze off into the abyss of slumber...his eyes rolling to the back of his head as his brain started working overtime.
Images and plans shot through his brain...tall and short robots...sabres and beam cannons and blasters and colors and internal mechanism details.
Suddenly, a deep hissing suddenly filled his head with a terrifying sound...one that uttered the name of his new horrifying creation...
Miiithraannnddieeelll
Suddenly Crendor was jolted awake as he stood and began pacing, ideas racing through his head.
His would be the ultimate being, he could tell...but the steps to getting there were steep and jagged...far more perilous than anyone could possibly imagine.Back in the hospital...in 24XX...
X stirred with a moan as he opened his eyes slightly, the light above him causing him to squint from the radiance.
Suddenly, a figure was standing over the bed...his long blonde hair hanging over his shoulder as he looked down at X.
"X...can you hear me? It's Zero..."
X nodded.
"X...we need to get information on this new maverick...did you get anything in your information database during the fight?"
X nodded again...holding out his right arm, a panel flipping up with a small disc inside.
"Mith...ran...di..el...battle...data..."
Zero took the disc with a smile.
"Thanks X...don't worry, everything will be ok..."
Zero turned and walked out slowly, leaving X to wallow in his pit of anguish, pain and suffering.
*
20XX:
Michael thought it over the whole night through...and discovered a plan to create the third hendothrin.
He set it into motion immediately.
*
Thomas Light stood in his lab, going over possible future projects when suddenly he heard the phone ring.
"I'll get it..." Roll said as she walked to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" Roll asked sweetly.
"Hello...is a Dr. Light there...?this is Michael Crendor..
Roll nodded and gave the phone to Dr. Light.
"It's a michael Crendor Dr. Light..."
Thomas blinked in amazement at first and then took the receiver slowly.
"Michael?"
Dr. Crendor chuckled.
"Yes...I was wondering if you and Albert would like to meet me for lunch on friday with some ideas for these new robots..."
Light blinked a couple of times...he never saw this proposition coming.
"I see...Friday eh? That's in two days time...I think I could work it out...I'll tell Albert about it, I'm sure he'll come."
Crendor nodded.
"Good...it would be great if we could all meet and talk about this. I hope to see you then..."
Thomas nodded.
"It will be great. See you then Michael."
Michael hung up and smiled...standing from the phone as he turned and walked into his lab slowly, looking over his most recent invention, picking up the tiny microchip and inspecting it with the greatest of awe at his own genius.
*
Wily turned on his videoscreen.
"Yes? What is it Thomas?" Wily asked as he continued bustling around his laboratory, trying to get things in order for the long term project he had in
store.
Light cleared his throat.
"Well, it seems as though Michael wants to meet with us on Friday...for lunch...to talk about the robots."
Wily took the sentence little by little, digesting what he could until Light finally finished what he was saying and Wily stood from his crouched position and turned to the videoscreen.
"You're...kidding right? That hermit wants to meet with us, and talk to us about this project?"
Thomas nodded.
"That's right, I was surprised too Albert...but I think that it would be a good idea."
Wily smiled.
"Good? That's the problem with you Thomas, you're far too trusting for your own good...I don't know if I want to go."
Dr. Light sighed and looked Wily in the eye.
"Come on now Albert, if you don't come along Michael will know something is wrong...we need to be able to cooperate on such a heavy task as this."
Wily sighed and shook his head...uncertainty filling his visage.
"I suppose..."
Thomas smiled.
"Good...then I'll see you then."
Wily switched off the videoscreen, his work pace having slowed considerably.
~I don't like this...I don't like this one bit...~ Wily thought as he shuffled around his lab.
*
24XX:
Alia looked over the data screen, the world map having several signals bleeping from several different coordinates.
"My god, this Maverick is insane! He's caused more damage in the last 24 hours than Sigma did in three months! The shipping dock in the Alpha district has been completely destroyed...the Gamma block has been torn through like tissue paper...and down in the Omega district Mithrandiel has basically torn apart the main hunter station."
Zero scowled...first this monster sends his battle partner into a bed, now he's rampaging through his world, destroying lives guiltlessly.
This must be stopped.
Zero snarled and turned, heading towards the main doors as a scream was heard from behind him.
"ZERO! PLEASE...DON'T GO!" Alia screamed as she leapt from her post and threw herself into his arms.
She was sobbing heavily, her shoulders shaking as she stammered to get the words out.
"Please...you can't...leave me..." she said with a shaking voice as her eyes, moist and tender, looked into his.
"I don't...want to see you...get hurt."
Zero smiled and helped her to her feet.
"Dear Alia, do not worry...I will return, as I always have."
Alia let out a loud sob.
"That's just what X said!" she yelled, her tears now flowing freely as she fell to her knees.
Zero didn't know what to say, he swallowed and knelt down next to her.
"Alia, please listen to me...I promise I will come back to you...I won't let this monster destroy our world, the world we have fought so hard to protect...surely you understand?"
Alia nodded as she swallowed back her own sobs.
"I know Zero...I just...don't want to accept it..."
Standing again, Zero lifted her to her feet.
"Alia, you must be strong. You are the main information network at the Hunter HQ, and Signas may be leaving soon to deal with other Maverick problems while I'm dealing with Mithrandiel...so you need to be under control. Ok?"
Alia nodded.
"Ok..."
Zero rubber her arms gently and hugged her.
"Good..."
Alia wrapped her arms around him and held him close for a long time, not wanting to let go...she didn't want to say goodbye.
Time seemed to slow as Zero held her, the very essence of age and space seemed to disappear as they were in each other's arms, and for a moment they almost forgot about the chaos around them...until the alarm rang again, screeching and howling.
Suddenly, Alia found herself standing alone, watching Zero run off towards the last battle he would ever fight.
As the realization hit her, she shuddered visibly, and let out another loud sob of anguish that echoed through the corridors of the Hunter HQ...saddening all that heard it.
*
X lie in his bed, and groaned as he moved slightly, remembering the horror that was his fight with Mithrandiel