Author's Note: I do not own Mega Man Zero…obviously.
Flesh and Metal
Chapter 1: Blast from the Past
Another Pantheon fell to the crimson warrior. The Z-Saber cut through another one's armor like it was never there. Three more charged him from behind, but with his extreme reflexes, Zero pulled out the Buster Shot and placed a shot in each of their eyes. The three assailants dropped to the ground, deactivated.
"Zero, can you hear me?" Ciel asked via headset.
"Yeah, I'm here," Zero responded, "Any more information on this Maverick?"
"Actually, the recon team's pictures were just finished being analyzed." Ciel said, "They managed to capture a picture of him. We checked the picture against the Maverick Databank, and we got a match."
"Great, what's his name?" Zero asked still continuing through the forest.
"According to the records, Sting Chameleon." Ciel said.
"Wait, what?" Zero asked, "Did you just say Sting Chameleon?"
"Do you know that name?" Ciel asked.
"I do." Zero said, "X killed him a long time ago. How could he be here?" Before Ciel to make a comment, Zero fell down a hidden shaft, cutting out all communications.
Résistance Headquarters…
"Zero? Zero?" Ciel asked. "Can somebody get here and help?"
"Don't worry, I can help." A new recruit named Lim said, "Communication systems can be tricky. Especially one like ours. By reducing the amount of area the radio can cover, we can boost the strength."
"Wow, that's very impressive." Ciel said, "Let me try it now. Zero, can you hear me?"
"Yes I can." Zero said over the intercom, "How did you get the radio working again?"
"You should thank Lim for that." Ciel said, "I tell you, he has been invaluable around here lately."
Underground Base…
"Yeah, that's great." Zero said sarcastically. He would never say it to anyone's face, but Lim was really starting to get on his nerves. He would flirt with Ciel on an almost regular bases, and seeing her with that red-headed, spiky haired, brainiac know-it-all made his blood boil. Well, it would if he actually had blood.
"Zero? Are you still there?" Ciel asked.
"I'm still here." Zero said, "I don't suppose you actually know where Sting Chameleon is?"
"We have a diagram of the underground base you're in." Ciel said, "If our guess work is right, Sting Chameleon's lair should be through a door coming up on your left."
"Why would he be there?" Zero asked.
"It is the biggest room there and there is only one way out." Ciel said, "It seems like a good choice for a base."
"Okay, I'll radio you when I take down Sting Chameleon." Zero said turning off his radio. After entering through the twin doors, Zero found himself in a large room filled with mechanical trees.
"So, the rumors are true," a high, child-like voice said from the trees, "The great and mighty Zero is still alive. Tell me Zero, how does it feel to be serving humans?"
"You told X that hostages might have been involved and that's why you joined Sigma. So let me ask you, Sting Chameleon," Zero said his hand on the Buster Shot, "Why would you join Sigma to prevent harm from falling on humans, only to bad mouth me for serving them?"
"Oh, touché Zero." Sting Chameleon, in his Maverick Hunter X form, said jumping down from the trees.
"I see you've changed since X took you out." Zero said.
"How observant Zero." Sting Chameleon said, "But it will take more than being observant to defeat me. My power in this body is vastly superior to the power of my last body. So why don't you leave. You might just live longer."
"Is that supposed to intimidate me?" Zero asked, "Because it's not."
"Well then I guess negotiations are failing." Sting Chameleon said, "We'll just have to fight then."
"I guess so." Zero said pulling out the Buster Shot and opening fire. Sting Chameleon jumped and attached himself to the wall.
"That was fast Zero." Sting Chameleon said, "Too bad you can't hit what you can't see." Sting Chameleon seemed to disappear into the wall he was attached to.
"What in the?" Zero asked shocked.
"My camouflage power," Sting Chameleon said, "It's gotten a lot better since my battle with X. Now I can turn virtually invisible no matter where I am."
"So you have a good defensive power." Zero said, "But that's not going to help you win this fight."
"You really think I can only hide? Big mistake." Sting Chameleon said, "Chameleon Sting!" A green laser fired from the wall. Zero narrowly dodged and fired a few shots at where the laser originated from.
"Fight me like a man Sting Chameleon!" Zero yelled.
"Stay calm Zero," Sting Chameleon taunted, "We wouldn't want you to die to quickly now would we? Chameleon Sting!" Since the laser came from behind him, Zero couldn't dodge fast enough and the laser struck his shoulder.
"Argh!" Zero screamed out, dropping the Buster Shot.
"Guess you're not as strong as you thought." Sting Chameleon said, "Chameleon Sting!" Zero was prepared for the attack this time. He rolled out of the way, but put more distance between him and the Buster Shot.
"Come and fight you coward!" Zero shouted.
"Now now Zero," Sting Chameleon said, "What is so cowardly about using an advantage against your opponent? Not to mention, as long as that gun is out of your hands, you're helpless! Iron Tongue!" Zero felt an invisible source of metal bash him in the side of the head.
"I'm not as helpless as you think I am." Zero said activating the Z-Saber, "I am going to kill you here."
"My my, what big talk from a guy who is fighting a losing battle." Sting Chameleon said, "Chameleon Sting!" Instead of a green laser, a red laser was fired. Zero used his dash technique to dodge the attack and reclaim the Buster Shot.
"Looks like you have a few new tricks as well." Zero said.
"Why yes, I do." Sting Chameleon said. Zero began to charge the Buster Shot and closed his eyes. "Chameleon" Before Sting Chameleon could launch another attack; Zero fired the fully charged Buster Shot striking his opponent. Sting Chameleon fell off of the wall and faded back into visibility.
"How did you know where I was?" Sting Chameleon asked.
"You're camouflage only hides your visibility, not your sound." Zero said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Sting Chameleon began to fade, but changed back before he could even turn fully invisible, "My camouflage, its broken! I can't disappear!"
"That should make the fight a bit more even." Zero said.
"I don't need stealth to beat you!" Sting Chameleon said angrily.
"We'll see." Zero said charging straight for Sting Chameleon.
"Bad move." Sting Chameleon said, "Chameleon Sting!" He fired a red beam from his mouth only to have Zero leap over the attack and land behind him. Sting Chameleon attempted to turn around to deliver another attack, only to have the Z-Saber run him through.
"Game over Sting Chameleon." Zero said pulling the Z-Saber out. Sting Chameleon then dropped to the ground.
"You haven't won yet Zero." Sting Chameleon said, "You may have killed me. But the others have been rebuilt as well. Not to mention a few robots of the past. The master will get his way."
"What do you mean?" Zero asked, "Who is this master?" Before Sting Chameleon even attempted to respond to the question, his eyes faded out and detonated, "Ciel. I'm done here. Teleport me back."