Me: Welcome back. I've started this chapter before checking on the progress of the chapter before, so if I forget to thank anyone, my bad, and thanks.
Null: Sypher, what are you doing?
Me: Huh? Whaddaya mean?
Null: 'What do I mean' you ignorant cur.
Me: Damn... Are you pissed about something?
Null: OF COURSE I'M PISSED, YOU STUPID HUMAN! To what purpose do you keep trying to kill my people!?
Me: Ummmm, you're the 'bad guys'. And, lay the hell off me. Brav's not dead!
Null: By the thinnest of margins.
Lacadian: Although I don't condone violence, Sypher should've let Zero finish him off.
Null: No one asked you, prisoner. Keep your misguided opinions to yourself.
Lacadian: Not a prisoner in this place, so you have no say.
Me: Ladies, please. Stow it till later. Disclaimer, please?
Lacadian: SypherZero in no way claims ownership of MegaManX or any other intellectual property belonging to Capcom. Myself and other Original Characters, as well as this story, are all that he owns. How was that?
Me: Excellent!/Null: ...kiss ass...
Chapter 9- Mirage
"I WANT ANSWERS, NOT EXCUSES! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?! WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!"
Null had been in a state of fury since Kay had returned with Brav's broken body. Although he would survive his injuries he wouldn't be able to rejoin active duty for a while, and for Null this was unacceptable. Further deepening her anger was the complete lack of information regarding his assailant. And now she stood in the ruins of her study, glaring at Kay as though she would launch forward and tear him apart bolt by bolt until his pieces told her what she wanted to hear. Unfortunately for her, they would know nothing more than what he'd already reported.
"Ma'am, we have Scouts gathering intel now. We'll know more by days end." Kay stated.
"'Days end'? Does it look, to you General, like days end is sufficient? I don't care about your Scouts and their mission. Whoever this is, is making a mockery of the Armada. A mockery of ME! I want answers NOW! Even if that means going there myself to get them!"
"Then, perhaps, a speculation on my part?" Kay ventured, hoping Null wouldn't provide him with a lance through his heart. And much to his surprise, she seemed to calm down and nodded for him to continue.
"The Imperium discovered the old Maverick Hunter base in the ruins, this much we know from Vale's report. Considering the state it was in when she and her team arrived, it couldn't have been found too long ago. Else it would've been in a greater state of repair. Because that base could contain a vast wealth of secrets, they assigned one of their top-ranking Shadow Operatives to protect the facility. This would account for the 'Unknown Force' that opposed both Brav and Vale.
It's obvious that the Operative is a highly trained swordsman, as Brav is the greatest blade in the Armada and HE wasn't an even match for them. Whoever this is is more than capable of handling a wide variety of situations, including but not limited to: Solo engagements, small unit groups, hand-to-hand combat, gunnery defense and prolonged assault.
Most likely an Assassination or Infiltrator unit with extreme strength modifications, as a large portion of Brav's damages were to his internal superstructure. Aside from some armor damage and the shoulder injury, all of his repairs are needed internally."
As Kay was finishing his supposition, Null had taken the time to compose herself and was mulling over the information. It made sense when she thought about it. A solo operator equipped with stealth tech and an advanced combat program would be more than capable of taking on, and defeating, Vale as well as leaving Brav in his current state. It would also explain why there was no tracking data for said operative. Another point that supported this theory was the missing member of Vale's squad. Two had been rendered 'Inoperable', but shortly after their life signs flatlined due to 'Extreme Cerebral Collapse', in laymen's terms went brain dead, which shut down their vital systems. This notion brought a series of dark thoughts to Null.
"This 'Operative' has a prisoner, General. That would explain why they were able to handle Brav so easily. They knew what to expect when facing him. This could also mean that they also know about our bases defenses. This will NOT due, General. The prisoner must be recovered, or destroyed. If he's betrayed our secrets, I'd prefer the latter."
Kay nodded, "I'll assemble my men immediately."
Null shook her head, "No units, General. We've wasted enough resources on this operative already. You, alone, are to undertake this. Recall the Scouts and take up their assignment. Gather information on this situation and make the prudent decision on how to extract. Should you require assistance, Andromeda is patrolling the area several miles west of those ruins. Contact her. She may even be able to perform the extraction/assassination without alerting anyone."
Kay, again, nodded and with a salute he departed. Null trusted that the general would preform his duties, but she needed to know now what was guarding those ruins. 'What has the power to dispatch my Elites with such ease?' she thought darkly. Leaving her study and heading to the elevator, Null rode to the 15th floor which housed the medical facilities.
The entire floor, from walls to ceiling, were an antiseptic white that was almost blinding when coupled with the fluorescent lighting. Null remembered why she never came up here, 'One must seek treatment just stepping off the elevator...'. As she approached a desk in the middle of the floor, an all white Reploid wearing a grey lab coat rose from his chair with a salute. Null waved him back into his seat quickly and spoke quietly to him.
"Where's Brav, Medic?"
The medic looked surprised that Null was asking about someone whom she openly disliked. He recovered quickly and gave her directions: end of the hall, to the left, second door on the left.
"He's not lucid, ma'am." the medic said as Null walked away.
"Good. I don't need him to be. Just awake enough to see me."
Null made her way to Brav's repair suite, pausing at window outside to look at the battered solider. Unarmored and connected to numerous wires that monitored his vital functions, brain waves and self-repair status, Brav looked small and pitiful as he lay unmoving. Null shook her head at the sight, wondering if her plan would work now that she saw his condition. 'As X has taught me, there can be no success without attempt.', she thought and flipped a panel in her arm open to reveal a small screen. Tapping the screen several times and swiping twice, she closed the panel, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A shimmer, resembling heat distortion on a summer day, surrounded her for several seconds before issuing a bright flash and Null transformed into the image of Vale.
It had been some time since Null had used her Chameleon Cloak, but as she looked at her faint reflection in window she smiled with Vale's sweet and seductive face. Null didn't care if her method was cruel, or painful, to Brav, drastic measures were necessary when the security of the Armada was at stake. And, when she thought about it, the only one she could TRULY trust to complete this task was herself.
Opening the door, Null stepped in and moved to the head of the bed. Brav's eyes were closed as he was in a mild shut-down, the Reploid equivalent of medically induced sleep. Reaching out, she gently touched his face, a sickening feeling coming over her at the tenderness she was displaying toward someone she couldn't stand. She shoved it away and assumed her role in full.
"Brav..." She spoke in Vale's voice, which was a surprise to Null. She'd forgotten the skill was capable of that. "Brav, my brave warrior, it me."
Brav groaned softly under Null's touch and the soft voice speaking to him and his eyes began to flutter open. They only made it half way, but he turned his head towards the voice and the smallest of smiles crept onto his sedated face. He tried to move his hand to touch the hand Null had rested on his face, but he was still too out of it or too weak to do so. Null took his hand in both of her and smiled down at him.
"My brave fool... What have they done to you?" Null spoke with forced concern, playing her part of ethereal lover. Brav shook his head as best he could before answering in a croak.
"Not 'They', babe... 'HIM'... The Demon. Not Human. Not Reploid. A monster... Speed...Power...Combat...Fury... I... I never expected... I couldn't avenge you..."
Brav's head turned away from NullVale. Even in his weakened state she could sense his disappointment, and shame, in his failure. She shushed him and turned his face back to her, eyes soft and pleading.
"I know, love, I know. It's ok. Tell me about him. I remember the fury, but I cannot be at peace until I know who he was."
"His blade... Emerald lighting... Like his eyes... His fists were...were like boulders when they struck... So much power in such a small frame... He was everywhere...but nowhere my blade was... And... The armor... That armor...will haunt me... Bloody red... Tinted by countless victims, no doubt... I'll never forget him... The Crimson Demon..."
Null almost fell backward as Brav finished. 'Could it be...?' she thought but knew in her heart it could be no one else. Her 'adrenaline' rushed with this revelation. It was HIM. The one she sought for SO long. Brav's injuries and Vale's death now made perfect sense to her. 'Of course they would fail against HIM...' Leaning down, Null kissed Brav softly and smiled at him. He looked into her eyes with a sense of knowing this would be the last he saw of her and a tear rolled down his cheek before he spoke.
"I'm... I'm sorry I failed you... I wish I could join you."
"No, love. You must continue on. I was too weak to defeat this demon, but you survived. Recover and return to the hunt. Now is not your time. I'll be watching over you, and waiting for the day when we can be together again. Goodbye, Brav."
Null slowly slipped away from Brav who almost immediately fell back into his sleep, but she saw him shed several more tears before he did. Exiting the room, Null deactivated the Chameleon Cloak and reassumed her natural form, a deep elation flooding through her. HE was alive! And so close she could almost feel him before her. A new course of action was forming in her mind and Null rushed back to the elevator to get to her study. She had plans to make and communications to send. 'After so many years, you've finally returned... And soon, Zero, you'll be mine'
A/N: After a long wait for the pervious chapter, I wanted to give you guys something short and quick to make up for it. As her creator, I think Null's pretty fucked up in the head, but that's why I personally enjoy her character. Any other opinions? Please R&R. All feedback welcome. Until the next chapter!