Chapter 1: Never Forget

"Just for how long are you planning on fucking around, Omega!?"

The words echoed through the desolate air of a battle-torn field. Xero would only have a split second's notice until realizing that Omega had seemingly succumbed to XV's virus. As their swords made a clang that vibrated throughout the cold night, Xero gritted his teeth; locking his fiery eyes with his partner.

"So, after killing hundreds of those assholes and now that freedom is at hand, you're going to let yourself to be taken over by that fucker!?" Xero shouted on, continually blocking Omega's moves.

"You can't even give a proper fight!" He continued to yell.

Eventually reaching his limit, Xero tightly gripped his sword.

"So...fucking pull it together!"

A large smack could be heard after this. Omega fell back; regaining his senses only momentarily. With the bitter taste of blood and grit in his mouth, Omega banged his head onto the ground for a few seconds. Xero could only watch as the only member left in his group struggled to keep his sanity intact.

Panting, Omega finally replied; "Thanks for that...now finish me off..."

Feeling dread for what seemed like the first time in his life, this statement only made Xero angrier, yet a bit anxious at the same time.

"The hell are you talking about? Walk it off, pussy." He spat at Omega.

More pants. Finding what little energy he had left in the reserves of his body, Omega continued. "This thing has already taken over most of my body and mind...I am struggling just not to kill you right now..."

Before Xero could reply, he could've sworn he almost heard Omega...chuckling?

"So, do it already... After all, you were the one who was going to cut my head off my neck, right?" Omega joked. But either one of them knew now wasn't the time for that.

Feeling his throat grow dry, Xero clenched his teeth even tighter.

"But-"

"No buts! If you don't kill me now, we'll both be dead..." Omega muttered with dead-seriousness evident in his tone.

"...This wasn't supposed to end this way." Xero tried rejecting the truth with. He felt like he would cry, only, that wasn't possible.

Because cold-blooded killers don't cry.

"Heh.. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for everything..." Omega weakly apologized with.

Unsatisfied with this answer, Xero's frown only sagged lower. "Tch! Fuck you."

Omega grinned at his partner's strength. He was still the stubborn young man he remembered ever since they've met each other.

Feeling an unsuspecting sudden pang of pain course through his body, Omega fell forwards.

"Ugh..! ...I won't be able to hold it any longer...! Do it!" He ordered.

Xero narrowed his eyes.

So this is how it ends, huh?

"See you in hell..."

Omega nodded, ironically satisfied with this fate that awaited him.

"Heh...We'll all be waiting for you..."

With a quick swipe, Xero watched as Omega's head slowly fell off from his neck to the ground; decaying almost instantly. As he stared at this, he never thought that this was how it would end:

With him as the lone survivor of his squad; killing off what was the closest thing he could call a friend with his own sword.

"After that night, I disregarded my code name Xero. After giving my teammates a proper burial, I destroyed any proof we ever existed and escaped." Xero muttered; recollecting the day that had scarred him until now.

"Master? Is everything all right?"

Xero turned to the second voice that had broke him away from his trance. A young girl, somewhere between 16 to 18.

Enid; that was her name.

He tried to muster up what he could at least call a "smile".

"Hm? ...Oh yeah, I just zoned off for a second..." Xero replied, following this response with a cough.

"So that's how it all ended?" She asked with curiousity.

"How it all ended? Heh...Young girl, that's how it all began." Xero answered; almost excited by his own words.

Suddenly, an explosion rattled the walls around them. Xero stood up and began heading for the exit of the room the two situated themselves in.

"Yet, it seems our talk time is over, Enid." Xero said in a surprisingly calm tone of voice.

"They finally found us..." She added on in disappointment.

"Drop your weapons and surrender! This is your first and final warning!" A soldier from the distance can be heard yelling into a megaphone.

"Someone has been pulling the strings from behind the entire time, even the Overseer ended up being just a puppet. It all has been playing right into his hand. Askad's death, Kary's malfunction...Even Omega's infection, yet, I did not play by his cards, and he has been hunting me for decades now..." Xero informed Enid; causing a sense of surprise and anxiousness inside of her. Who exactly would have been brilliant enough to see that far from everyone, even her master?

"Open fire!"

"I've been fighting them for my entire life, but I can no longer do it, my body is decaying even now as we speak. XV's virus will finally bring me down." Xero stated, facing the reality of the situation.

"You lasted longer than anyone else, master, you must not mourn." Enid said, hoping her words would at least soothe Xero at the face of death.

"I don't have time to mourn or be mourned on, this will be my last fight before my demise, I will die here, in the heat of a glorious battle." Xero replied pridefully with that same spark of excitement clear in his eyes.

"We both will, master."

"No...Not you, Kaylenna. You will live on and destroy this blasphemy he created and called the new order, I have entrusted you with both Omega's arts of death and my own for that sole purpose." Xero ordered with neutrality still in his voice.

"I understand, master." Enid quickly obeyed, without any rejection revealed in her words.

Xero coughed; smirking.

"I've waited a long time for this moment..."

"Will you be seeing your friends again soon, master?" Enid questioned with curiousity evident once more.

"Friends...Heh, yeah...They must be bored shitless of waiting for me already, but they no longer will have to, as I'll be meeting them tonight..." Xero said in a hoarse voice with his smirk now becoming a grin. Yes...his friends.

It has been quite a while...hasn't it?

"But in the meantime, let's give those assholes..one hell of a night!" Xero shouted; no longer able to contain his bloodlust.

Nodding, the two of them summoned their armors. As Xero dashed off to the distance to what will certainly be his end, Enid went the other direction; following her master's orders as he wished.

Eventually finding a spot where she could at least recollect herself and find another means of escape from the soldiers, Enid stopped running for what seemed like miles. Pulling out the last photo her master had given her before charging into battle, Enid stared at the four figures seemingly enjoying themselves; not realizing that years in the future they would tear each other to shreds. On the farthest left was her master, Xero, seemingly conversing with the leader of the team, Omega, who was on his right. Next to him was a smiling Kary; the young girl who had betrayed the team for her own sake, and Askad...her father.

This was what used to be the Bolverk Squad. And after tonight, none of them would be left.

Hearing footsteps come closer, Enid silently ran off. Of course, she could easily handle anyone or anything in her way thanks to her suit and training, but she had no intention to spill any blood tonight.

That...would be for later.

As she snuck off, Enid closed her eyes, clenching the old photo in her hands.

"Master..."

My name is Enid. Whatever was left of my past was now dead. Including Master; the one person who had actually cared about me in a world that cruelly denied anyone peace and serenity. Thanks to him, I am the last link to the Bolverk Squad. And the last thread of hope humanity has to finally snap back to its senses.

My life revolved around violence. Back then, when people weren't constantly dropping faster than flies, I've heard stories about how humans used to panic when seeing the corpse of another living being. I don't. Because to me, anyone who stands in front of Master's wishes and dreams shall be crushed like a bug under my shoe.

But...as of now...my story is irrelevant. And that is not why any of you are reading this.

Since day one, humanity was nothing but a ball of suffering rolling down the hill of time. The only thing that kept them sane was their own hopes, their own feelings of passion and love. And since that is gone, all that's left are a bunch of evolved, sentient apes, killing each other senselessly with guns.

Which is why I am not a part of their race. Just like my master and his old friends had rejected to be.

In what we call history, there are only a handful of people who have gained my respect for what they have done. The Bolverk Squad is one small example. But the stories of others before them have been seemingly forgotten and charred to nothing but ashes.

There are only very few remains of these heroes we can remember. Hank J. Wimbleton, Sanford, Deimos; the gift of temporary freedom these three had given us is something we all know about. A gift they had to pry out of the dead hands of a once-tyrannical Auditor.

But everyone else was seemingly forgotten. Everyone else who had at least contributed or tried to fight for a better world around them had suddenly become ignored, dusty pages in a textbook. Each and every single one of them had bravely fought for not only their own lives, but for humanity itself. Although I still do not understand why they would fight for such a foolish, blood-driven species, they are, regardless, heroes, along with the villains that had once terrorized their lands.

And we had forgotten them.

This is why this story exists. This is the story of those who had fought for a better future, even before my Master's time. These are the warriors who had made a difference for not only you or me, but for all of us. And although their efforts did not last forever, they at least made some things...bearable...for the rest of us in the meantime.

These are the stories of those who had fought in a world that had also cruelly denied them peace and serenity as well. So now your job is to only read and remember; remember those who had taken every bullet, stab, and bruise to their bodies for your lives, regardless of how pitiful they may be.

Your job is to only read and Never Forget.

Starting Credits:

Authors: Spirit9871 and Robojohn32 (on DeviantArt)

Cover: "Don't Forget" (Screenshot of Xionic Madness 4, Part 3), by DodgeStreaker

Bolverk Squad, Xionic Madness, Enid, Soldier, Storyline (minus final dialogue by Enid): by Xionico; Creator of Xionic Madness

Hank J. Wimbleton, Sanford, Deimos: by Matt "Jolly" Krinkels; creator of Madness Combat and all things Madness

Other O.C.'s of Future Chapters: (Will have their credits given to their rightful owners)

Special Thanks: To DodgeStreaker for allowing us to use this cover, Xionico for Xionic Madness, Krinkels for Madness, and YamadaTaro (On DeviantArt) for the script for Xionic Madness Episode 4, Part 3