Chapter 10

Vent shook his head. "Maria, you never cease to amaze me. You saved all those people by yourself."

Maria beamed. "Thanks! But I wasn't totally alone. Atlas helped me." They were sitting by the side of the river, listening to the sounds of the night. The sky was clear, and the stars were out. The rhythm of the river washing over the stones could be heard against the backdrop of chirping crickets and hooting owls. Maria sighed, content. it's nice to have a clear head once and a while, nothing to think about…Vent slid his hand over hers.

"It's a beautiful night."

"Yes. It is." Maria murmured, blushing slightly.

"How'd you know how to help Atlas back in the plant?" Vent asked.

"She has a heart. I just needed to know how to reach it." Maria replied. "When I did, she did the rest. Atlas is a good person at heart…she just let her emotions block out her logic when she found all her friends dead. She was so shaken that it was easy for the dark chip to twist her sense of justice and view of humanity far enough for it to take over her body."

Vent's grip on her hand tightened when she mentioned the dark chip. "Vent? You're crushing the bones in my hand…"

"Sorry." He looked up, into her eyes, while his grip on her hand loosened. "My bad. I get upset when I think about that chip."

"I don't blame you for that." Maria agreed quietly. Vent leaned over, sliding her arm around her waist.

"You're beautiful, Maria."

Maria's face turned bright red. "T-Thank you, Vent." The brown-haired boy smiled, and, in a delicate fashion, pushed his lips against hers.

/Further up the Ridge, Aeolus's P.O.V.

Aeolus sat on the ridge overlooking hunter's camp, feeling the wind against his face.

"Hey there tough guy." Aeolus blinked. Atlas walked over and sat down next to him.

"Atlas." The former solider smiled.

"Good to see you in one piece." She squeezed his hand. "You had me worried for a little."

"You? Worried?" Aeolus chuckled. "I didn't think you worried about anything."

"Maybe I'm re-evaluating myself." Atlas said softly. She kissed him. Aeolus blushed.

/Prometheus's P.O.V.

Prometheus smashed the door down and walked into the terminal room. Impatiens welled up inside him. He wanted to see Pandora alive again. He didn't want to be killing time with these stupid missions. He wanted his sister back.

"All or nothing, I suppose." He muttered. "Two dark chips have been destroyed. If this keeps up, Thetis and Siarnaq won't be on our side for long." He had given them restraint orders and went to this cursed place personally. Albert's old base of operations, hidden in Legion city. On Cyrus's orders, he was retrieving data on Project Grey - the grey haired reploid boy who was inside a capsule in Cyrus's hands. Cyrus didn't want to mess up Grey's programming so he sent Prometheus to gather all data related to him. He was the only one who'd be able to face Maria as a possible equal.

What was Grey anyway? In Albert's plan, what was he supposed to be? Why had Albert created him, when he was saving the throne for himself…? As Prometheus gathered the data, he read something that made his heart stop cold for a few moments.

Name: Grey

Age: 14

Purpose: Megaman King

There was a loud snap, and the water inside the tank drained. The glass slid down, and Prometheus stared in shock as Grey stepped to the floor, his eyes flickering from red to green to red to green. "Where am I?"

/Author's note: Dun Dun Duhhhhh! How will everyone react when they find out what Albert intended Grey to be? And what will Grey do when he first wakes up? I hope you enjoyed this chapter!