[AUTHOR'S NOTE]
Hi all! I'm posting this chapter here and now, because I'm busy again till the end of next week. Can't afford free time to come to the computer to write more chapters yet. In the mean time, enjoy! Extra note at the bottom, but only after the chapter is finished.
Chapter 10: Splits Up
"We must try to procure the necessary parts … and Reploids for this plan to succeed."
"With the system so tight, how can we do that!? We'd be caught!"
"The program that Bobby left behind is essential. This may take a while, but … if done right, upending Prez is easier than you can wink with an eye! Youza!"
"Get the plants ready to leech out the parts in the name of spare inventory. Then we send it to HIM for assembly and reprogramming … let's hope this works."
The conspiracy continues.
Palette finally had a chance to analyse Axl's healing status data – entirely from the time he was sent for intensive after that tiring trip from the Moon three months ago to exactly weeks ago when it registering him suddenly waking up. She had completed her assignments to other Hunters, and with barely time to rest, her curiosity on Axl's stats led her to this analysis.
It was natural for her to want to look into Axl – she was the one who saw to it that Axl's comatose body be secured in its healing pod and even reported to the authorities about X, Zero and Axl's battle with the rogue Jakob director on the Moon.
"No energy signature changes … just basic bursts into activity. No … nothing at all."
She had security camera footage at her disposal. She managed to trace Axl's every move since he first woke up – noting how he collapsed once, then went off to the entrance, triggered a violent Mechaniloid reaction and then was scooped off to an unknown destination.
"And every time he's been in HQ he's been playing games and lazing around … I have nothing on him. At all." The navigator grumbled. "The only ones I haven't checked is … him being outside at the nearby park. Audio would've been helpful too – huh?"
Her quick zoom-in on this particular footage interested her.
"Is … is he consuming a human beverage?" She stared in disbelief.
All humans and non-Maverick Reploids were released from the underground bunkers back to the surface to readjust to their normal lifes. However, many people found that their past environment were either drastically changed, or reformed beyond recognition. It will take some time, sure, but everyone knew better than to disobey Federation instructions – given they knew who was behind these orders and the consequences of disobedience.
"Ah … back home at last … wow, when did we have these sets of windows here?" A blonde human girl remarked when her family returned to their 3-storey estate in the suburbs of Big City. "What did they do here?"
"Alright … let's get to it. Suelaz, your college restarts soon, make sure you have everything ready … and I know things are very different around here, ever since they took your dad and your brother … but let's just be grateful we were spared." The girl's mother said. "I will work and get our family income up and running as soon as possible."
"Well, yes … seriously, how much more powerful can my 'great-grandfather' be?" She replied. "And please, mum, just all me Sue. It's fine."
"Try and have a good time with your friends, okay?" Sue's mum said.
"Mum … I almost have no friends left. You know they were all … taken away recently." Sue sighed. "Because 'great-granddad' said they and their families insulted him. I would really want to know why he still looks on us favourably, though …"
"That, my dear … is a story for another time." Her mum smiled.
I wonder if it's somehow possible to meet him … Sue thought to herself.
The clock chimed 10 am. Palette wanted to get Axl for questioning, but he was long gone somewhere. His beacon was switched off again. She was frustrated.
Axl had teleported to Prez's home on Lumine's instructions earlier. The human predictably walked up and hugged the Reploid as tightly as he could. He sobbed again, thanking Axl for his presence and how he 'unknowingly helped me through so much to come'. Axl was curious and unnerved, but nothing prepared him for Prez to kiss him on the left cheek.
"Ah!" He exclaimed, but did not retreat in disgust. "Is this one of those family things too?"
"In a way. Please excuse this old man's sad behaviour." Prez smiled and then coughed.
Axl felt a pounding sadness inside his head suddenly. He was sure it was them.
"We head to the Reploid laboratory. You must be dying to know what's going on."
"Absolutely … dad. Because Iris and Lumine said they were responsible for some black-outs I had recently, this past week actually. And …" Axl couldn't say anymore.
"It's not gone to waste. They used your body and form to help me with some things in the lab … and I wanted Lumine to meet the board, that's why. You'd see." Prez chirped.
"Uh …" Axl tried connecting some dots together but Iris decided to stop him.
Axl, please? Just let everyone explain it to you? We want you to be surprised.
Is it for good or for bad? Axl thought when he and Prez got into a vehicle headed to the labs.
Of course good, silly! Don't be so mean! She chirped at him.
Alright, I'll give you two that, he thought and decided to see for himself. What he saw eventually, when he was led into the deep areas of the research section of Prez Corp, had indeed left him wide-eyed.
In a chamber full of tanks and pipes and all sorts of advanced equipment, he saw two transparent-liquid-filled tanks containing immobile Reploid bodies of Iris and Lumine – although Iris' design certainly looks … different. A little younger than what he remembered her to be inside his head, even the Image Iris. Several human scientists glanced at him, waiting for some kind of response. Axl managed to look at a small device on an operating table not so far from the incubation tanks. Instantly, he put two and two together.
Darn it, Axl. I also wanted to explain everything. Lumine groaned.
"So …" Axl began. "You and Iris have been quietly taking over my body, after you've managed to put me to an induced sleep, and you've been working on brand new bodies for yourselves? This … this is about Lumine taking over from you, right dad? That's why it must be done in secret. So I don't kind of blab out to anyone … and the fact I don't like my body being taken over …"
Ugh, you said everything, Axl … Iris groaned. "In a word, yes." Prez said.
"Can I assume something is wrong with dad, beside the fact he is a mortal? Is that why you want to be with him as much as possible, Lumine?" Axl asked.
"I … yes, besides the fact I'm old. I … have several incurable diseases in my body. Even the doctors aren't sure how long I've got." Prez said straight away. Axl's mind went blank, in a total shock from this revelation.
"L – look." The old human calmly walked over to the operating table. "Lumine was in charge of spearheading your desire to assume human form. He did a lot of work with your hands. Iris struggled to keep you asleep the past ten days or so, believe her, that's what she said. And the past three nights, they were really working hard to make the bodies done on time, and this device too. If you want, we can operate on you and install this right away. Isn't that great?"
"Dad … why didn't you say so earlier?" Axl was in disbelief. "You guys, why didn't you say something earlier? Why? Why weren't you two honest with me? Why so much secrecy?"
Something cracked inside him. It wasn't Iris or Lumine. It was his heart. A wave of sadness overwhelmed him. It was his turn to cry. He fell to the floor.
"We … we just got to know each other! And you got me to call you dad!"
"Axl, please! As much as we wanted to share these with you, even we were sad too! Dad's diseases are beyond treatment! Of course we would want him to be treated and rid of it! The doctors said it was too late, only time will tell! Do not think you're the only one who's sad and angry with yourself for being unable to do anything!" Iris shouted through his mouth.
Inside his mind, Iris fell to her knees and wept as loud as possible. Lumine only hung his head in silence and a depressed mood. The human scientists turned the other way round.
"I'm really sorry, Axl …" Prez said. "They wanted to tell you and hoped you wouldn't feel like this. That's why –"
"But that's exactly the wrong way to deal with this!" Axl shouted. "You and Iris and Lumine said we were made to be family, right!? Then why not bloody deal with it together!? Don't keep me out of everything you're doing! If it's bad news, we cry together! If it's good news, we celebrate together! You got me to call you my dad and siblings, and I expect you three to let me do that all the way! Till the end of time! I want involvement, damn it! Not isolation!"
He still sobbed after he spilled all that out. "At the very least, give me that too … now that you've roped me into this family thing of yours … and it's very fulfilling … don't do anything that will take away from this fulfilment I'm feeling … please … I know you care for me but … don't do it like this …"
Everyone else was silent.
We … we're really sorry, Axl … Lumine started. Not telling you was my idea, and I got everyone involved too. Even Iris. I – I will be more forthcoming with you. I promise. For sure. Forever.
"You sure about that, Lumine?" Axl tried to stop sobbing.
You have my word as well, forever, as your guardian and older sister. Iris sobbed.
"You've really grown, Axl." Prez said. "A fine, mature, trigger-happy Reploid …"
"Oh come on, dad!" Axl beamed. "You ruined it with that 'trigger-happy' line!"
Everyone else couldn't help but laugh. The tension was gone.
"Alright … you said that Iris and Lumine can transfer to-and-fro between their bodies and mine, right?" Axl asked Prez.
"Of course. And as a bonus, they too can sport some human forms, even eat and drink like you. That is, after you agree to be operated on so we can make you have the ability to have some human forms …" Prez gestured towards the operating table.
"Lay it on me! Do it now! I don't care how long it takes, I just don't want to explode!"
And of course, it was back to the darkness of his perception and mind.
Fast forward it. "Urgh … ah, I'm here again." He woke up groggily on the invisible floor of his mind of a void and the usual swirling data. "Did … it woke? Ow! It's painful all over!"
"Guys … you there?" Axl shouted. No response. "Maybe they were transferred out."
He walked south, or at least he thinks it's south, of his mind just for fun, and then he spotted two orbs, a red and purple one, which constantly floated slightly up and down in space. Between the two orbs was an orange threatening-looking button.
"Huh … what are these for?" Axl wanted to touch them, but he felt sensation – sensation coming from his right arm. Not his right arm as in this void of his mind, but … his real arm.
"Ah … I guess. It's time for me to try and wake up. Again." He chuckled to himself.
He focused, and sure enough, he was wide awake. He was on the operating table, surrounded by all the human scientists and Prez, and very much Lumine and Iris in their new bodies. Iris was the one who holding his right arm and seemingly massaging it.
"Whoa … guys … you two look awesome." He said it.
"Thank you so much for your understanding, Axl!" Iris reached forward and hugged him tight. Amid some light applause, Axl reciprocated the hug and even rubbed Iris' back.
"I assure you, your trust in us is not betrayed. We are family after all." Lumine nodded.
"Alright … for starters, I guess we could use some food." Axl beamed.
The sky wasn't so gloomy, but it was still full of clouds. Snowy clouds. Axl learnt to adjust in his brand new cool human form, shoes and pants and all, feeling the top of his head with hair. His X-shaped scar was visible, but felt more real, what with bumps and like a human tattoo. He was even given a wallet and a debit card to integrate with the human world.
"Huh … so you faced dad's board of humans in your form …" Axl said. Everyone was at a rectangular table eating boiled fish, leeks and rice for lunch in Prez's home dining room.
"Sorry again, Axl … I had to take control in my form. Persuade the others that this is the old me they knew. It was a big debate. They threw me all sorts of questions. They wish I didn't know how to answer any of them." Lumine drank some tea. "In the end, I won. They allowed me to be dad's heir. That means working beside him till … you know."
"I promise you, Axl. I will always come back. Even if I'm helping him, doesn't mean I can't spare time for you. Okay?" Iris looked at him with puppy eyes. "In your mind, if you want to call me, press the red orb. Purple's for Lumine. But … if you ever need some alone time in your head … press the orange button once. We can't transfer over until you press it again."
"That – that's very helpful. I think I'm fine, don't worry." Axl smiled at her lightly. "My goodness your human forms look amazing."
"It can always change. I just prefer this one among the many others." Lumine dusted the grey suit he had. "It's very professional …"
"Why do you look younger, Iris?" Axl had to rub his eye.
"You're saying I can't?" Iris teased him. "You're mean, Axl!"
Prez savoured the awkward situation between Axl and Iris. He inhaled and exhaled gently, mindful of how terrible his lungs are right now.
"I asked dad to do this … my Reploid form without the beret and … some things else was my original form. I went for a mild change and upgrade just before the Repliforce scandal. My form in your mind was the form I … perished with at first. So it stays."
"Ah … make sense. So … is this really it? Tomorrow onwards … things change? You guys can't be around so much, for dad's sake." Axl sighed. "I was already given my Hunter duties … and the moment they announce dad retiring and you taking over … it'd be an uproar."
"I can handle it." Lumine beamed at him. "I'm using whatever Maverick characteristic of the past to show I'm a good Reploid, but a tough one for you to try and take down. In any way whatsoever. Let them come. No human and Reploid can … oppose me now. With that human trash dead" – he was talking about Bobby – "my sole allegiance is dad, and his dream."
"Thank you really … from the bottom of my heart." Prez murmured.
The wind blew throughout the Prez Corp grounds. The Reploids shared a moment of silence as they shared the same air. A clatter of table cutlery. Prez breathing harder suddenly. The human butler noticed him fidgeting. And a sudden collapse to the floor.
Axl couldn't remember what happened next though. Shouts for a medical team. Getting the board of directors for Prez Corp ready to rush things out within the next few hours. Getting the insiders of politics to announce a massive update to the order of things. The white Reploid declaring angrily he is ready to take on the world. Iris crying once again.
Axl decided he didn't want to go back to HQ for a while. He would write a simple email to Signas.
[MORE AUTHOR'S NOTE]
I personally always had an issue with Iris' form. There's the X4 version, and the Xtreme 2 version. I found the Xtreme 2 form to have more potential, due to her supposed youth. You know, to do something and not do what she did in X4 before she perished. So in honour of this, I wrote it such that her current Reploid soul looks like the form in X4, but her new body has the Xtreme 2 form. Eventually I will write it that her Reploid soul will assume the Xtreme 2 (spoiler, but not much), but that's for another chapter.
Oh yeah, after this I'm posting a first Interlude. Every 10 chapters there's an Interlude of breaking fourth wall stuff and those that are not so serious. Writing them for fun. Look forward to the upcoming first Interlude!