Zero isn't mine, and I can't really claim he ever was...he's Capcom's...
Ch.10
Faces of the Past
Zero and the others were training at the end of the hall, as had become their custom at this time of day. Zenton and Zero were currently sparring with their weapons when Light chimed in over their comms.
"Gentlemen, how about a little foray into enemy territory?"
"Hold on, Doc, we'll be right there," Zero answered, smiling at the others.
The four of them walked into their headquarters, and all stopped where they knew Light was fondest of dropping a monitor.
"What exactly do you have planned for us, Doc?" Zero asked into the seemingly empty chamber, just before the monitor dropped in front of him and the others.
"I've discovered a 'shipment' of sorts." Light responded.
"And?"
"This shipment is one of Sigma's infamous 'Migrations', as they're called."
"A movement of humans." Toronto asserted.
"Precisely. It's a pattern of his to keep some of the people from becoming too well set in their surroundings. He does this anytime he gets bored, or if he thinks the group of people are getting a little too well set."
"And what exactly are you wanting us to go do about this shipment?" X asked, somewhat bewildered.
"Why, put a stop to it my dear boy. And, as an added bonus, Sigma happens to be traveling with this caravan for once." Light's face split into a grin on screen.
"How much of an idiot is Sigma?" Zenton asked incredulously.
"It doesn't matter, Zen," Zero interrupted. His eyes flashed red for a moment before resettling into their usual blue."Where is this shipment, and where's it going, Doc?"
"Central US area. En route from east to west, speed close to 50 miles per hour or so, depending on exact terrain."
"Depending on terrain?" Toronto rumbled.
"They're being transported by train, Toronto. Once that train starts uphill, they can lose up to 20 MPH, depending on how steep a climb it is. Downhill, speed can reach up to 80 MPH, possibly higher, depending, once again, upon steepness of the hill, and also, how long the hill is."
"All you had to say was that they were being transported by train. Is there some particular reason why these people are being transported?"
"Couldn't tell you if I wanted to, Toronto."
"Okay, then, Doc, we're gonna go have us some fun," Zero stated as a grin split his and X's faces.
As all of them teleported out, Zenton hesitated a moment, waiting until all the others were gone before speaking.
"Doc?"
"Yes, Zenton?"
"There's a reason you wouldn't tell us why those people were being transported, isn't there?"
"Yes, Zenton, there was. And I'm not telling you either."
"You don't have to. I have my own hunch."
"A hunch, eh? Maybe a sixth sense, to go along with your sorcerer's abilities?"
"Perhaps, which reminds me, I need to work on those. But anyway, all I'm gonna say is for you to watch Zero. If that group of people is who I think it is, you may need to teleport him out."
"What makes you say that Zenton?" Light queried.
"I think I know who those people are, and for what reason they're being transported. If I'm right, there might be someone there who could jolt Seero back to the forefront of his mind very quickly. And if she's there, he'll go insane if he can't get to her."
"Don't worry too much, Zenton. I've installed a safety program into the armor in case Seero gets into too tight a predicament, or in case he's incapable of thought at any point in time. Or more precisely, the program built itself into the armor."
"I beg your pardon? Built itself?"
"The program I'm speaking of is Zero himself."
"Okay then, Doc. I'll take your word on it. But if I were you, I wouldn't count on that too much. Seero may not seem like it, but he's very much linked with his emotions. Maybe even strongly enough to override the original Zero."
And with that, Zenton's white beam shot up through the ceiling.
Three beams shot down through the sky, allowing Zero, Toronto, and X just enough time to prepare to land before their feet made contact with the train's roof. Zenton came down a moment later.
"Where did you go?" Zero asked as Zenton landed.
"I think I played tag with a few clouds on the way. So shall we go?" As soon as Zenton finished, the four of them took off at a dead run for the closest roof hatch. Zero dropped through first, dispatching the few guards that were in that car while the others dropped in.
"So much for the first car. Shall we proceed further back?" Zero asked as the others had already moved towards the door. Toronto ripped the door from it's hinges, then proceeded to do the same to every door they encountered. X and Zero blasted guards as they attempted to charge the new openings. As they moved toward the two final cars on the train, Sigma solidified behind them.
"So Zero, once again you meddle in my affairs." Sigma sneered.
"Hey, don't blame me, you're the one who decided to go in the mineshaft after me." Zero snapped back while retrieving his saber that he had put away to help X with cannon fire. "You guys go on, I'll take care of Sigma."
"You sure you can handle him, Z?" X asked, hesitating at the door.
"I'm sure of it, X. Now go!"
X dashed out the door. As he went through the door, he failed to notice someone standing in the corner of the next car. After he went by, a small woman stepped out of the shadows, preparing to rush into the next car. She froze at the sight of Zero and Sigma dueling.
Zero dodged yet another slash from Sigma's blade before he knocked it out of Sigma's hands. Zero evaded several of Sigma's punches, flipping over him in the end, kicking Sigma down in the process. As he landed, he spotted the woman standing in the corridor between the two cars. And the part of Zero that was Seero froze as he caught sight of her.
*No you fool, this is not the time for your emotions to lock you in place!* Zero yelled in Seero's mind, moments before Sigma's fist crashed into the side of his helmet. Seero continued to stare at the woman after he came to rest at the foot of the wall. Sigma notice where Zero's gaze went, then stood back and smiled.
"Well, Zero, it would appear you have a soft spot for this human. I don't like soft spots, so I think I'll solve your problem for you." Sigma laughed insanely as he charged his arm cannon, not noticing that Zero was already rushing for the woman. Sigma fired just as Seero stopped in front of the woman, blocking the blast with his blade. Sigma fired several more rounds at the now defensive Zero before retrieving his saber from the floor.
"You want her dead, Sigma?" Zero stated from his spot in front of the girl. "You'll have to go through me to solve that problem."
Sigma chuckled. "Easily done." Sigma moved with a speed unlike what Zero had seen him use before. Or perhaps he just seemed to be. Zero's mind was trying to go two directions at one time. Sigma struck Zero's blade out of his hands with several strokes. He then took the opportunity to back hand Zero into the nearest wall again. He started to calmly walk toward the woman as she backed away from the head of the Mavericks.
{X, we've got a problem!} Light shouted into X's comms unit. {Zero's not behaving right, and he's not standing up to Sigma too well.}
"I'm on my way!" X shouted as he turned around and dashed back towards the car he'd left Zero in.
Zero saw where Sigma was going. He struggled to his feet. "You harm her in any way Sigma, and not only will I send you to the ninth plane of Hell, I'll come down and bring you back so I can do it again." Sigma barely registered the threat, if indeed he had heard it at all. "YOU HEAR ME SIGMA!?!" Zero yelled his eyes going pure red. Sigma turned just in time to be sent crashing into the wall by a shoulder rush from Zero. He shook his head and pulled himself out of the wall just in time to avoid Zero's next flurry of attacks. Sigma, however, was not prepared for the power increase caused by this sudden rage. He finally managed to glance aside the few hits that didn't make solid contact, attempting to get back on the offensive against Zero, who now was powered by nothing more than sheer emotion. As Sigma pushed his attack, Zero's eyes started to flicker between the red and blue.
Zero tried to dodge all of Sigma's strikes, but his attention diverted by trying to keep Sigma away from the woman, he had no chance. Sigma slashed his leg and then his arm, disabling him, and dropping him to that knee. Zero could do nothing but stare as Sigma pulled his arm back for the killing stroke. He closed his eyes, and opened them to the sight of Sigma's saber blocked by another saber, one that appeared to be almost transparent. Sigma jumped back, face stricken with fear. Seero looked up to see the ghost of Zero standing there, saber still held where it had appeared.
"It can't be...you're right there." Sigma stammered "I had you in my grasp, at my mercy."
"Just goes to show you, Sigma. Even a ghost has enough strength left to beat you." Zero stated. His eyes were their usual deep blue with shades of red sliding through them. "You can't truly beat me, Sigma. You never could, you never will. But tell you what...just to give you a fighting chance, I'll leave you to X."
Sigma and the real Zero watched as the ghost faded away, and X dropped in through the ceiling between them. Sigma barely teleported out in time to avoid the blast. X turned to look at Zero, only to find the woman was already in front of him.
"Seero? It can't be you, can it?" She was asking. Seero meantime, could only stare. X watched as Zero suddenly tilted sideways, the damage he'd taken finally setting in enough to knock him unconcious.
X and the others teleported in, Toronto carrying Zero's unconcious form, and Zenton carrying the girl.
"I don't recall being asked if hitchhikers were allowed," Light stated as Zenton set her down.
"It's alright, Doc. She's a friend. Besides, she's too worried about Seero to even bother to think about where she is," Zenton replied, his words made evident by the woman's actions. She was standing beside Toronto, staring only at Zero.
"Set him on the table, Toronto," Light ordered as the table once again rose up from the floor. A few minutes later Zero's eyes opened as Light attempted to work on him. What he saw, however, was not Light's tools, or the ceiling. Instead he saw only a set of intense emerald eyes staring at him.
"Crystal?" he mumbled, albeit somewhat incoherently.
"Seero? Is that really you?" She asked, still unsure of what she was seeing.
"Yeah, it's me. But what the hell are you doing here?" He asked, obviously trying to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Sorry to be a pain the ass," Light stated, "but I'm afraid, young lady, that I'm going to have to ask you to move yourself. As long as you're standing there, I can't work on him, and as long as I can't work on him, he can't move." As she looked up she finally noticed the monitor that Light's face resided on. "Besides, I'd hate to see something happen to that glorious mass of red hair you've got hanging past your rear end." Crystal blushed and stepped back. "Thatta girl, you stay out of my way for about half an hour, maybe a whole one, and I'll have him back on his feet again."
A/N: I started this story a long time ago, and about the time this chapter was finished, was about the time my romantic streak had been in full swing for almost a year...trust me, with no girlfriend, a romantic streak sucks...I don't know how many animes I've watched now cuz of that side of me....wait a minute, yes I do. Love Hina, and Onegai Teacher...bah, nevermind, I'll stfu now. R&R... and does anybody besides Sword Master Jeff even read my story??? Although your continued patronage is appreciated Jeff. ^_^
Ch.10
Faces of the Past
Zero and the others were training at the end of the hall, as had become their custom at this time of day. Zenton and Zero were currently sparring with their weapons when Light chimed in over their comms.
"Gentlemen, how about a little foray into enemy territory?"
"Hold on, Doc, we'll be right there," Zero answered, smiling at the others.
The four of them walked into their headquarters, and all stopped where they knew Light was fondest of dropping a monitor.
"What exactly do you have planned for us, Doc?" Zero asked into the seemingly empty chamber, just before the monitor dropped in front of him and the others.
"I've discovered a 'shipment' of sorts." Light responded.
"And?"
"This shipment is one of Sigma's infamous 'Migrations', as they're called."
"A movement of humans." Toronto asserted.
"Precisely. It's a pattern of his to keep some of the people from becoming too well set in their surroundings. He does this anytime he gets bored, or if he thinks the group of people are getting a little too well set."
"And what exactly are you wanting us to go do about this shipment?" X asked, somewhat bewildered.
"Why, put a stop to it my dear boy. And, as an added bonus, Sigma happens to be traveling with this caravan for once." Light's face split into a grin on screen.
"How much of an idiot is Sigma?" Zenton asked incredulously.
"It doesn't matter, Zen," Zero interrupted. His eyes flashed red for a moment before resettling into their usual blue."Where is this shipment, and where's it going, Doc?"
"Central US area. En route from east to west, speed close to 50 miles per hour or so, depending on exact terrain."
"Depending on terrain?" Toronto rumbled.
"They're being transported by train, Toronto. Once that train starts uphill, they can lose up to 20 MPH, depending on how steep a climb it is. Downhill, speed can reach up to 80 MPH, possibly higher, depending, once again, upon steepness of the hill, and also, how long the hill is."
"All you had to say was that they were being transported by train. Is there some particular reason why these people are being transported?"
"Couldn't tell you if I wanted to, Toronto."
"Okay, then, Doc, we're gonna go have us some fun," Zero stated as a grin split his and X's faces.
As all of them teleported out, Zenton hesitated a moment, waiting until all the others were gone before speaking.
"Doc?"
"Yes, Zenton?"
"There's a reason you wouldn't tell us why those people were being transported, isn't there?"
"Yes, Zenton, there was. And I'm not telling you either."
"You don't have to. I have my own hunch."
"A hunch, eh? Maybe a sixth sense, to go along with your sorcerer's abilities?"
"Perhaps, which reminds me, I need to work on those. But anyway, all I'm gonna say is for you to watch Zero. If that group of people is who I think it is, you may need to teleport him out."
"What makes you say that Zenton?" Light queried.
"I think I know who those people are, and for what reason they're being transported. If I'm right, there might be someone there who could jolt Seero back to the forefront of his mind very quickly. And if she's there, he'll go insane if he can't get to her."
"Don't worry too much, Zenton. I've installed a safety program into the armor in case Seero gets into too tight a predicament, or in case he's incapable of thought at any point in time. Or more precisely, the program built itself into the armor."
"I beg your pardon? Built itself?"
"The program I'm speaking of is Zero himself."
"Okay then, Doc. I'll take your word on it. But if I were you, I wouldn't count on that too much. Seero may not seem like it, but he's very much linked with his emotions. Maybe even strongly enough to override the original Zero."
And with that, Zenton's white beam shot up through the ceiling.
Three beams shot down through the sky, allowing Zero, Toronto, and X just enough time to prepare to land before their feet made contact with the train's roof. Zenton came down a moment later.
"Where did you go?" Zero asked as Zenton landed.
"I think I played tag with a few clouds on the way. So shall we go?" As soon as Zenton finished, the four of them took off at a dead run for the closest roof hatch. Zero dropped through first, dispatching the few guards that were in that car while the others dropped in.
"So much for the first car. Shall we proceed further back?" Zero asked as the others had already moved towards the door. Toronto ripped the door from it's hinges, then proceeded to do the same to every door they encountered. X and Zero blasted guards as they attempted to charge the new openings. As they moved toward the two final cars on the train, Sigma solidified behind them.
"So Zero, once again you meddle in my affairs." Sigma sneered.
"Hey, don't blame me, you're the one who decided to go in the mineshaft after me." Zero snapped back while retrieving his saber that he had put away to help X with cannon fire. "You guys go on, I'll take care of Sigma."
"You sure you can handle him, Z?" X asked, hesitating at the door.
"I'm sure of it, X. Now go!"
X dashed out the door. As he went through the door, he failed to notice someone standing in the corner of the next car. After he went by, a small woman stepped out of the shadows, preparing to rush into the next car. She froze at the sight of Zero and Sigma dueling.
Zero dodged yet another slash from Sigma's blade before he knocked it out of Sigma's hands. Zero evaded several of Sigma's punches, flipping over him in the end, kicking Sigma down in the process. As he landed, he spotted the woman standing in the corridor between the two cars. And the part of Zero that was Seero froze as he caught sight of her.
*No you fool, this is not the time for your emotions to lock you in place!* Zero yelled in Seero's mind, moments before Sigma's fist crashed into the side of his helmet. Seero continued to stare at the woman after he came to rest at the foot of the wall. Sigma notice where Zero's gaze went, then stood back and smiled.
"Well, Zero, it would appear you have a soft spot for this human. I don't like soft spots, so I think I'll solve your problem for you." Sigma laughed insanely as he charged his arm cannon, not noticing that Zero was already rushing for the woman. Sigma fired just as Seero stopped in front of the woman, blocking the blast with his blade. Sigma fired several more rounds at the now defensive Zero before retrieving his saber from the floor.
"You want her dead, Sigma?" Zero stated from his spot in front of the girl. "You'll have to go through me to solve that problem."
Sigma chuckled. "Easily done." Sigma moved with a speed unlike what Zero had seen him use before. Or perhaps he just seemed to be. Zero's mind was trying to go two directions at one time. Sigma struck Zero's blade out of his hands with several strokes. He then took the opportunity to back hand Zero into the nearest wall again. He started to calmly walk toward the woman as she backed away from the head of the Mavericks.
{X, we've got a problem!} Light shouted into X's comms unit. {Zero's not behaving right, and he's not standing up to Sigma too well.}
"I'm on my way!" X shouted as he turned around and dashed back towards the car he'd left Zero in.
Zero saw where Sigma was going. He struggled to his feet. "You harm her in any way Sigma, and not only will I send you to the ninth plane of Hell, I'll come down and bring you back so I can do it again." Sigma barely registered the threat, if indeed he had heard it at all. "YOU HEAR ME SIGMA!?!" Zero yelled his eyes going pure red. Sigma turned just in time to be sent crashing into the wall by a shoulder rush from Zero. He shook his head and pulled himself out of the wall just in time to avoid Zero's next flurry of attacks. Sigma, however, was not prepared for the power increase caused by this sudden rage. He finally managed to glance aside the few hits that didn't make solid contact, attempting to get back on the offensive against Zero, who now was powered by nothing more than sheer emotion. As Sigma pushed his attack, Zero's eyes started to flicker between the red and blue.
Zero tried to dodge all of Sigma's strikes, but his attention diverted by trying to keep Sigma away from the woman, he had no chance. Sigma slashed his leg and then his arm, disabling him, and dropping him to that knee. Zero could do nothing but stare as Sigma pulled his arm back for the killing stroke. He closed his eyes, and opened them to the sight of Sigma's saber blocked by another saber, one that appeared to be almost transparent. Sigma jumped back, face stricken with fear. Seero looked up to see the ghost of Zero standing there, saber still held where it had appeared.
"It can't be...you're right there." Sigma stammered "I had you in my grasp, at my mercy."
"Just goes to show you, Sigma. Even a ghost has enough strength left to beat you." Zero stated. His eyes were their usual deep blue with shades of red sliding through them. "You can't truly beat me, Sigma. You never could, you never will. But tell you what...just to give you a fighting chance, I'll leave you to X."
Sigma and the real Zero watched as the ghost faded away, and X dropped in through the ceiling between them. Sigma barely teleported out in time to avoid the blast. X turned to look at Zero, only to find the woman was already in front of him.
"Seero? It can't be you, can it?" She was asking. Seero meantime, could only stare. X watched as Zero suddenly tilted sideways, the damage he'd taken finally setting in enough to knock him unconcious.
X and the others teleported in, Toronto carrying Zero's unconcious form, and Zenton carrying the girl.
"I don't recall being asked if hitchhikers were allowed," Light stated as Zenton set her down.
"It's alright, Doc. She's a friend. Besides, she's too worried about Seero to even bother to think about where she is," Zenton replied, his words made evident by the woman's actions. She was standing beside Toronto, staring only at Zero.
"Set him on the table, Toronto," Light ordered as the table once again rose up from the floor. A few minutes later Zero's eyes opened as Light attempted to work on him. What he saw, however, was not Light's tools, or the ceiling. Instead he saw only a set of intense emerald eyes staring at him.
"Crystal?" he mumbled, albeit somewhat incoherently.
"Seero? Is that really you?" She asked, still unsure of what she was seeing.
"Yeah, it's me. But what the hell are you doing here?" He asked, obviously trying to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Sorry to be a pain the ass," Light stated, "but I'm afraid, young lady, that I'm going to have to ask you to move yourself. As long as you're standing there, I can't work on him, and as long as I can't work on him, he can't move." As she looked up she finally noticed the monitor that Light's face resided on. "Besides, I'd hate to see something happen to that glorious mass of red hair you've got hanging past your rear end." Crystal blushed and stepped back. "Thatta girl, you stay out of my way for about half an hour, maybe a whole one, and I'll have him back on his feet again."
A/N: I started this story a long time ago, and about the time this chapter was finished, was about the time my romantic streak had been in full swing for almost a year...trust me, with no girlfriend, a romantic streak sucks...I don't know how many animes I've watched now cuz of that side of me....wait a minute, yes I do. Love Hina, and Onegai Teacher...bah, nevermind, I'll stfu now. R&R... and does anybody besides Sword Master Jeff even read my story??? Although your continued patronage is appreciated Jeff. ^_^