"There are three different paths we can take," Zero instructed Axl and X as they looked over a map of Sigma's fortress. "All of them lead to Sigma, but only one goes directly-"

"I want the path that goes straight to Sigma." X said, perfectly interrupting Zero who in turn gave X a rather cold stare.

"Fine." Zero agreed. "It's not like I can stop you any way. That just leads two alternate paths; one goes to a Reploid scientist named Gate, and the other goes to the head of Reploid Police Force, Colonel."

"I'm not going near the head Pfft." Axl said, raising his hands in the air for innocence. "Besides, I've met Gate and, um, well, he might want to see me any way."

"Alright then." Zero agreed. "That only leaves me and Colonel. I do not know how long it will take us all to reach Sigma, but when we get close we'll regroup and take in on together."

Zero then turned to look at X.

"What?" X asked as he felt like he was being accused of something.

"If you let your pants do the talking before Axl or I get there, so help me God, X, I will make you wish you could die."

"I'll wait." X told Zero. "I promise."

Zero did not refrain from his cold look.

"Let's get going then." Zero told them.

. . .

Sigma admired the handiwork of how well the mind control device held a hold on Sephira's mind. Of all places for a mind control device to be strapped to, you wouldn't imagine that the mouth would be a very logical place- and yet, it was proving to be most effective.

"Show me a time of pleasure." Sigma demanded with a still tone. Sephira's body twitched; a sign that the mind control device was making her remember a past event and forcing it into the device for Sigma to see. Sigma placed his hand on the mask and closed his eyes with a surprised moan.

"X..." she said breathlessly as her body lost control, no longer able to hold back the natural reaction of intercourse. The strain to give this much pleasure could nearly override how it was really hurting her- somehow it was a vague reminder of past regrets...

Sigma forced himself to take his hand off of the mask for a moment to catch his breath. Her memories of sexual activities were addicting, but they always came back to the same regret that nearly ruined the euphoria for them. She found a way around this regret- but it ruined everything for Sigma.

"Deeper." Sigma said to her with little emotion. "Not all your memories are of him..."

Sephira's corpse twitched as the machine around her mouth changed memories. Sigma placed his hand on the mask again and nearly flinched at what he saw.

"A- Auntie...? Why... why isn't Mommy and Poppa waking up? What... what did you do to them Auntie..?!"

"Lilly..." her aunt started to say, dried blood faintly traced the lines in her fingertips, "Lilly Seph... I... you... Some times, certain people just need a little... help passing on..."

"Auntie...!?"

Sigma forced himself to pull away again- this time he shook his head.

"Do you have any normal memories?" Sigma asked the corpse in respite. In a response that was neither voluntary nor directed by Sigma; Sephira's corpse let out a tiny little snort as if saying 'no one is normal you moron' and the gesture made Sigma growl.

Almost- the mind control was almost effective.

. . .

"No... no! I won't let you!"

She wouldn't let him take her memories away. Five days after leaving home she was playing the homeless man's guitar to make enough money to buy clothes and to get the man some food. Three weeks she spent with Axl as they tried to hide from the Reploid Police Force. It only took a day for them to meet Zero and get enrolled with the Maverick Hunters. It was almost a month before she thought she had heard Nana in the Maverick Hunter HQ and went to go see, but was attacked by a Maverick as others started to storm HQ. She fought the Maverick that captured her as well as she could -she had to warn Zero and Axl so they could come help- but the Maverick held the upper hand in that battle and she lost. The Maverick Hunter HQ fell as Mavericks skewered several Reploids and took a few lucky ones hostage.

"I will delete your memories even if it hurts you!" Gate screamed inside her head as he tried to get rid of her memories. She wouldn't let him, she wasn't going to let him. Who are you if you don't have your memories?

"No... no, please..."

He was in her mind, almost literally, as he tried to get her memories out. But she was guarding them with all the power it took within her, and they kept wiggling out of Gate's grasp like they were wisps of smoke.

"I will...!" Gate started to say as Alia let one memory get in his grasp. At first, Gate started to laugh when he thought she was starting to let go- but when he actually saw the memory, Gate was thrown off guard.

It was hard to believe that Alia had been so tiny five years ago. She was hardly higher than his waist- and it seemed to make her more susceptible to being lost. She had also been rather light on her feet- a skill that rarely any human child was capable of at that mental stage.

"What is a meh-more-ree?" Alia asked after coming up to him from no where. She scared the living daylights out of him and nearly made him mess up his experiment. Gate looked down at little Alia and quickly wondered how he was going to answer her.

"Memories are like bits of data we obtain after we do something; like learning, or talking, or doing. This conversation right now, in fact, will someday be a memory for both of us when the future has become the present and today has become yesterday. Humans have a rather interesting knack of remembering things that aren't very important, but forget the things that are. We Reploids, however, are able to remember everything, so we have a lot of memories that become stored in our data banks."

Little Alia blinked at him as she mulled the idea over. Gate watched her with interest as he thought of ways about how her circuited brain worked.

"Can someone take your meh-more-ree away?" Alia asked, looking up at Gate with her infamous blue eyes with wonder and hidden horror.

"Humans can make themselves forget a memory, but we Reploids have to have some else do it."

"Will someone ever take my memory away?"

"Not without your permission, I hope."

The young Reploid looked up at Gate in a way that he know understood could have been a moment of precognition as she said to him in a small tone,

"I told you, I will not let them go."