For those who read my notice at Chapter 6's end, I made a miscalculation. Lifesaver's role will be in Chapter 8. At any rate, enjoy!

Zero's Happy Ending

Chapter 7: Everything Goes Wrong

Lifesaver's New Life project was a big success, but in the months since then, no innocent deaths had occurred, so the New Life was not needed and was soon forgotten by even Lifesaver. Lifesaver did help out X and Zero during their mission at Laguz Island. They had found special items called DNA Souls, which Lifesaver managed to turn into helpful items with the help of Iris. However, not long after that mission, the Repliforce returned from the war-torn land, so Iris had to go back with her brother. Although he didn't show it on his face, Zero was quite sad that she had to leave. Neither of them had confessed their feelings for each other, leaving Zero somewhat worried that Iris didn't feel the same way. Lifesaver felt bad for him, but he had a good feeling that they would meet again. That feeling came true about a couple weeks later, when it was learned that a Maverick attack had totaled the Sky Lagoon. X and Zero were sent to the area, and they met Iris while they were there. He got a surprise when Douglas entered the medical bay.

Lifesaver heard the bay door open. "I've got a guest for you, pal." Douglas told him. Lifesaver turned around and saw Douglas supporting a familiar brunette Reploid. She had some damages on her body.

"Iris!" Lifesaver exclaimed. "What happened to you?" Iris frowned.

"The Sky Lagoon attack was a Repliforce coup." She told him sadly. "My brother started it, and I ended up hurt. When I learned that he was the leader, I couldn't go back to the Repliforce, so I made my way here."

"I see." Lifesaver said. "At any rate, you took some damage, so I'll need to make repairs." Iris nodded and got on the recovery bed, assisted by Douglas. The green Reploid then left the room, seeing as how he was never one to watch repairs being made. The damages were minimal, as repairs were made within five minutes. Iris soon emerged.

"Hey, did Zero get back yet?" Iris asked the green Reploid. Right before he could say anything, however, his communicator bleeped. He activated it, and he and Iris soon heard Zero's voice.

"Hey, we finished up at the Sky Lagoon." The red Hunter told him. "The Maverick causing the problem was a chimera Maverick codenamed Egregion. We destroyed it, but Colonel refused to stop the coup. Looks like we've got more work to do. Anyway, we're on our way back. Zero out." He cut the transmission, and Iris grinned happily.

"Guess I got my answer." She said. That was what she said, but not what she thought. 'I get to work with Zero again! He makes me so happy.' She and Douglas turned to head to the main room, but the medical bay doors slid open again, showing Lifesaver.

"I decided to give myself a break from the medical bay, seeing as how no other injured Reploids or humans were brought here." He stated. Douglas and Iris gave a small smile, then the three of them headed off. When they reached the main room, X had already come through the portal. Zero appeared soon after, and it took all the energy Iris could muster to keep from running towards him and jumping on him. When Zero caught sight of her, he blushed slightly, as he was surprised to see her.

"Iris? What are you doing here?" He asked, not trying to sound like he didn't want her there. Iris gave a sad look and lowered her head.

"I made my way here after I learned that my brother Colonel started the coup." She said sadly. "I didn't know where else to go." Zero frowned. He felt bad for her. The blond Hunter walked to the brunette and placed a hand on her shoulder. She raised her head and her green eyes met Zero's blue ones.

"Well, I'm glad you came here, Iris." He said with a small smile. "You don't have to worry. You'll be safe here." He held up his hand in a thumbs-up. Iris smiled.

"Thanks, Zero." She replied. Zero turned around to walk off, but he soon felt something soft on his left cheek. He looked in that direction, and saw that Iris had kissed him. Both of them blushed like mad, earning a few snickers from X and a short, stout, gold Reploid named Double, who had recently joined. The moment was broken by an alarm going off.

"We've got trouble!" Alia called to everyone. "Eight Maverick signals have been detected! One of them is Dragoon!" The name Dragoon stuck out in X's mind. He and Zero saw Dragoon, a member of the 14th Hunter Unit, at the Sky Lagoon. Apparently, he had gone Maverick. Zero and Iris snapped out of their little trance. Iris ran to the navigator station.

"Let's go, X!" The red Hunter called to his blue comrade. X nodded.

"Target Maverick: Magma Dragoon!" Iris shouted. "Engaging transportation!" The transporter beacon its intense green color, and X and Zero stepped through.

The eight Mavericks, named Web Spider, Cyber Peacock, Storm Owl, Magma Dragoon, Jet Stingray, Split Mushroom, Slash Beast, and Frost Walrus, were all strong in their own right, but like all the past Mavericks, they had one flaw: their elemental weaknesses. Thanks to X and Zero's Weapon Get System, they gained weapons from the Mavericks and used them against the others. Iris was happy to be able to help Zero again, but she was worried about her brother. He feared that her brother would have to fight Zero, but she wanted to stay with Zero. When the eight Mavericks were crushed, they had one place to go: the Repliforce Launch Base. An hour after they made it there, a transmission was received.

"Alia, come in! This is X!" The voice of the blue Hunter spoke. Alia put the transmission on the monitor, showing X's face. "I have some bad news. The Final Weapon of the Repliforce has already been launched into space. I've sent you the coordinates of it, so we can use the transporter to get there."

"What about Colonel?" Signas asked. "Did you see him?"

X gave a deep, depressed sigh. "Unfortunately, yes. He was guarding the weapon, believing it hadn't launched yet. We were forced to fight him, and…… we destroyed him. Zero's not feeling like himself because of that."

Those words pierced Iris like an arrow through her heart. Her worst fears were realized. Her brother had been killed by the one she thought she loved. Along with her sadness, a rage burned in her heart, but it didn't seem like her own. A dark voice spoke to her: "You know what to do…"

'Who… who or what are you?' Iris asked in her mind.

"I am your brother's fighting spirit…" the voice said. "When Colonel died, I was released from his body… You have a link to him, so I came to you… Use my power, and take revenge for your brother…"

'No!' Iris mentally yelled to the voice. 'I won't hurt Zero! He didn't mean to kill him!'

"You softie…" the voice told her. "Looks like I'll have to take over…" Iris's eyes suddenly went dull and half-closed. A dark aura formed over her hand. "I control you now… Now we will take revenge…" Iris's eyes fully opened again, and she walked to the massive computer. She began typing rapidly on the keyboard.

"What are you doing, Iris?" Alia asked her. She didn't respond. When she finished typing, she pressed the activation button for the transporter. She rushed toward the beacon.

"Iris! What's gotten into you?" Signas asked. Iris said nothing as she entered the transporter.

"Now you'll get yours, Zero…" the dark voice spoke as Iris vanished.

Cliffhangers rock! Calm down, fans: this story will get better.

Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.