Chapter Twenty-Five: Breakup
Axl made past another day of boring History, Math and Geography, according to his own opinion. He also had to deal with Lumine's mischief for the day. Each start of a lecture, the white Reploid rudely grasped his body joints and made Axl do weird athletic feats. 'Axl' even pounced on the desk with his feet.
There was nothing the two navigators and X could do except give warnings to 'him' for acting weird. Axl only shrugged and said Lumine didn't really care at all. Either way, Axl paid the price because Lumine was thrown with extra assignments and he rudely used Axl's features as a cover-up to finish them, thus wasting Axl's time.
The following day, two days after White Axl detailed his tale to the trio, Axl found himself reading a familiar Internet article where his creator was featured in. What the article offered was quite disturbing, especially since it involves Sue.
'The Federal Court has decided to award rights of (Sue's dad's name)'s ownership of billions worth of assets of a Big City fishery company back to mister Prez following claims by the tycoon that his investments were misused and denied of proper ownership. Mister Prez and government both are satisfied with the results.'
'This was in the contrary with the labour groups whom are already divided in opinion. Some labour groups agree that justice had been served and that one can expect that the company will prosper back in Prez's hands. Others mention that although justice was served, it was better if the company be sold to other people for fear of monopoly extension, which mister Prez is widely known for.'
'An extreme labour group claimed that Prez was playing the law in his hands and ought to be charged instead. However, all other groups heavily reject this point. Analysts are worried if the situation would tend to become worse or calm down.'
'(Sue's dad's name) on a separate case was found guilty for misusing Prez's investments for conducting loan shark activities and belittling the City's lower classes. The Federal Court had earlier ruled that (Sue's dad's name) be sentenced to ten years in prison and pay up compensation. However, as a surprising move, Prez decided to pay all damages in favour of another decision which will be named later today.'
'Analysts weigh suspicion that Prez already holds a strong influence on the Court and appealed that Prez's willingness and own ideas be overruled immediately. The Court will be weighing out both appeals. The Court will arrive at its decision later at 4.00 p.m. today on national radio.'
Axl stared at the computer screen. He re-read the article over and over again. Unknown to him, his two inhabitants were feeling a little dizzy from Axl's continuing shaking of his head to read the article. Not tolerating the act more, Lumine applied some force on Axl's head, making it come to a halt.
"Dear boy, stop it. You're giving us a headache."
"Er, sorry. I just can't believe it. Dad won another case. Another of those groups are taken over. I can't help but feel worried all inside…" Axl whammed himself back on his chair and stared at the computer screen.
"Worried, dear boy? What seems to be the problem? All should be fine."
"I know, Lumine, but it's that uneasy feeling. If I remember correctly, dad took a huge chain of companies for a similar reason and the owners were having no choice but to work for him. Those owners were the old sir's children. He was very sad when that happened. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to Sue too…"
The two of them became silent; Iris already was silent for she was watching the whole incident. An atmosphere of sadness filled the place. Axl landed himself roughly on the floor with a loud crash. The white Reploid rushed to him.
"Dear boy, don't do that to yourself! You will get hurt, even in this computerized realm! Anyway, yes I am rather concerned for the human and her family. I hope father doesn't do something bad. We can't do anything, or at least that's the case. We weren't invited to the Court, so only he could do something really drastic…"
In the pitch-black surroundings, Lumine only sat next to him and sighed. "Well, isn't it time for your work, dear boy? It is rather late. I hope you don't make the old sir mad at you again. It's rather disturbing."
The white Reploid stood back up, walked away and vanished in thin air. Iris did nothing, choosing to watch Axl's next move. True enough, Axl got back up on the chair and switched off his computer for the day. On the way out to the central resting chamber, he bumped into X.
"Hey, watch yourself Axl." "Er, sorry, I'll be more careful next time." X raised an eyebrow. "You have another 5 days to get rid of those metal spheres you have. Watch it. I'm spotting some crack lines on the ceiling below."
The new day was day 121. How many incidents have come to pass and more revealing, they were. At the same time, Axl faced more troubles than ever in a period of nearly four months. If he were to put it in a yearly ratio, the troubles he faced this four months since coming back from the Moon was only equivalent to that all combined in the past 5 years since the crushing of Red Alert.
Minutes later, Axl found himself back at the store, belonging to a member of the lower class which fared off nicely although the gap of classes was quite big. The old sir didn't seem to mind that at all. In his opinion, he had contact with the best friends in the world and that was all it mattered.
Axl was back again to his routine of cleaning the dusty floors of the site. His next chores were to just take out the trash to the back alley and also clean that same lane with a broom. Axl repeatedly smashed the mop hard on the floor.
"Grr… stupid dirt. Why do they even exist? If there was no such thing as dirt, I would have an easier time working here." Axl smashed the mop in the pail. The dirty water splashed high in the air, splat on the floor and dirtying Axl's pants a little.
"Really, dear boy, please watch yourself. You don't have extra forms like this. Remember that. Why are you so frustrated suddenly, dear boy? This is usually not like you at all." Axl stopped to counter Lumine.
"How can you tell I'm frustrated? I'm not feeling that at all."
"On the contrary. Your emotional data is showing rather extraordinary levels of wavelength rebounding patterns in your systems of thought. In other words, you're quite stressed if anything was going to happen to Sue."
"Axl… we care for you. Just don't pressure yourself too much."
"I know, Iris. I'm fine. Hey, the floor is clean now. Now it's time for the back lane."
Time flew by for several hours and more. Axl would quickly grab something to eat from the store's shelves (of course by his expense) and rest along the countertop during his break. So far, no word was heard of White Axl and of Sue, whom had decided to stop by the store according to the old sir.
It was already 5.00 pm when Axl last remembered what he was doing. He seemed to have forgotten, or in his terms 'slipped past my mind' to avoid embarrassment, something important. It was the old sir who broke the news to him.
"So young Reploid, have you heard what was your father's sad decision onto Sue's family?" Axl came to a stun upon hearing that. "Oh no! The news! I forgot all about it! What was the verdict? Tell me something good!"
"Hm… I can't say it but I can give you a hint. Sue just came by and passed on a note. Apparently it was for you. Seems she won't be coming back for a long time, a really very long time." Axl's eyes widened with shock.
"What?! What's that mean?!" The old sir made a face.
"You'll find out soon. Here's her note while you're figuring that out." Axl snatched the note from the old sir's fragile hand. His inhabitants too were getting interested in the little piece of paper. Axl folded it out wide.
'Brownscar, if that's your real name, I don't know if you heard the verdict on radio but I'm going to tell the result to you anyway. Meet me by Megalopolis Central Park tonight at around 7.30 pm. I would like to have a nice time with you for my last time, maybe. Just come as yourself, clothes and all. Love, Sue.'
Axl stared at the paper. He re-read it again, just like he did to that Internet article. His head moved fast from left to right, slowly going down and back up again. He heard a sigh from somewhere and felt his neck crack a little, becoming stiff and stuck.
"Do I have to repeat myself, dear boy? Stop moving your head so much! We are getting dizzy because of you! If father was to see this, he would also stop you."
"Er, sorry I guess. So it's the central park in Megalopolis at 7.30? I think I'll make it in time. Correct if I'm wrong, but that district is supposed to be a powerhouse of several Big City districts, right? Won't the humans get radiation or something?"
"Good question, dear boy. Yes, electrical waves do affect human health upon long-term exposure but there's no need to worry. The district channels the power by underground, impermeable wires so Sue won't get harmed."
"Axl, if you're going to meet Sue, it's better you start now. I suggest getting changed into something else while you put these clothes to wash. We don't want Sue to be upset over your dusty self, do we?"
For once, Axl took Iris' suggestion seriously and asked the old sir for permission to leave early. Having done that, he teleported to the tower mansion of Prez's grounds and raced up to the 54th floor where Lumine's room was. He had long spotted a cabinet of nifty human clothes of which he wanted to try out.
Some time later, Axl was wearing neat dark blue baggy trousers of nice clad brown leather shoes. He wore a red shirt underneath a short buttoned brown jacket. His neck somewhat sported a nice red and yellow stripe scarf. His inhabitants were impressed with the style of clothing he had chosen just to meet Sue.
Iris greeted it with most pleasure. "Axl, you look great! Sue will be happy for you! Hee hee!" She giggled on lightly while Lumine smiled. "Nice one, dear boy. I suggest you get something to eat first before meeting the human."
After putting his dirty clothes to the laundry and eaten some turkey sandwiches, Axl teleported to Megalopolis and searched for the central Park. The surroundings weren't bad; it has enough trees, space and multiple benches to be called a park.
Axl chose to sit at a bench facing the large water fountain in the center of the park. The brightly-lit lamps shone a small potion of the park, which made it suitable for lovebirds. Axl wasn't in that mood as he waited patiently for Sue to arrive.
"You're early, Brownscar. Nice clothing." Axl turned behind him.
"Sue! How've you been? I haven't seen you much lately, although we do have not been seeing each other much lately; but anyway, we are supposed to go on this last-time meeting thing. What's wrong?" Sue looked sad.
"You forgot to listen to the announced verdict, didn't you?"
Sue merely sat down next to Axl, looking down on the tiled floor. Both of them initially said nothing as either would just shrug their shoulders or make some light noises. Inside Axl, his inhabitants were debating.
"Oh…I get the feeling something bad's going to happen. Why would Sue leave Axl a note instead of just telling the message to him?"
"Common sense, dear girl. Her family was humiliated both at the exhibition and in the Court. Of course it is so important for her to not just walk up in the public and meet dear boy. Besides, she's got enough trouble to deal on her own."
Finally, Sue began speaking and the conversation that followed forced Axl to reveal many things and perhaps get to know Sue even more.
"It's nice of you to wear your casual clothes. I don't know about you but I hate formalities. I always have to wear those fancy prom-like dresses. Let's get this over with and fast. Who are you actually? One thing's for sure, you're Axler but I know that's not your real name. It says so here."
Sue reached out into her purse and took out a piece of folded paper. She then unfolded it slowly and handed it over to the wondering Reploid. Axl was stunned even further when he read the title and so were his inhabitants.
'TYCOON AND SON APPEAR AT SPEECH'. The paper had several sections of text and a lot of pictures of Axl and mister Prez. One picture showed him being muffled by the hair under Prez's arm and another of him standing behind the human. Axl gulped upon frowning at the pictures.
"The article said that your alias is Axler so that must not be your real name. I'm very suspicious of you. Why did you hide so much? How did you come to know Lumine? Why did you have to keep so many things secret?"
"Sue…I have no choice. I have to keep all these issues secret."
"You obviously don't want the media to know that but at least tell me. I'm your friend; I told you my share of personal background and it's time for you to tell me yours. I don't care if you are a Reploid or not, just tell me. I am tired of wondering all about you for the past one month or so."
"…Alright. I'll tell you everything you need to know." Axl handed the paper back to Sue which she took slowly. Iris and Lumine were relieved that Axl was only going to reveal what was necessary to her and save their faces.
"I never wanted to appear in the media and public. I just want a normal life. I've been hunting down many Mavericks in the past ten years and I have had a relatively peaceful life. That was until the end of the Jakob Project that my life got messier than ever." Sue was surprised by the information.
"You're more than just a Reploid child? Hunting Mavericks? Jakob Project?"
"Maybe it'll make more sense if I show you this." Axl stood up from his chair and walked in front of Sue. He pressed a button on his watch and his form changed rapidly to become his original Reploid form. The armour and all its details were shown to her. Sue was notably very shocked.
"My name is Axl. I am a new generation Reploid prototype, as the press and government said. I was originally created from high-quality scrap metal" – referring to Iris' body remnants – "designed as a draft for Reploids due to be not Maverick. That was done by copying and using other Reploids' so-called DNA."
Sue'e eyes glittered. "I've read about that years ago! A syndicate claimed you and there were lots of fighting here and there! You were the prototype everyone talked about that time!"
Axl shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess so. I was later accepted into the Maverick Hunters and began fighting along my friends X and Zero. I'm sure you know of them. Which human doesn't? Not only was I a prototype, I was also designated to be with my dad. But I've been replaced by another Reploid."
The white Reploid felt an awful feeling coming out of him as he heard Sue exclaim out his name. "Lumine? But how did he turn Maverick then, if he was supposed to be good? How did he come back?"
It was from this point on did Axl censored a lot of his speech.
"Em… the main Maverick and a human corrupted his thoughts. The Maverick was supposed to turn him into a puppet" – this irked Lumine a little – "but then Bob controlled him to his side. We did destroy Sigma on the Moon but we had to fight Maverick Lumine before returning."
"So how did Lumine come back? The brief uprising at the Tower? The staged appearance at one Big City district? Bob's attacks?"
"We thought we had defeated him but I… I noticed he was still alive. So I guess I kinda brought him back to Earth. Of course I had trouble controlling him but I did get help" – Iris smiled – "and he became stable then. I met dad for this first time in my life but shortly after due to misunderstandings, Lumine tried to revive the new world ideal. I had help stopping him and bringing him back to his senses."
"He can't be known so fast so he had to be kept secret. I do make lots of contact with him because we are kinda related. I'm sorry I lied to you previously. The staged appearance; he had my permission. We do enjoy fighting back on Bob's attempts to take Big City. We nearly died but we are still here, right?"
"So in other words, you guys are like brothers…"
Axl preferred to remain silent on that comment. He switched back to human form mode and sat down again with Sue. Axl then asked her: "You have a brother, right?"
Sue was slightly surprised. "Yeah…sure. He's older than me but he's an idiot. He may be smart but his mentality is poor. He went on one camping trip with my dad. That was when my dad mysteriously got bruised up everywhere."
Axl and his inhabitants gulped at the thought. Axl had permitted Lumine to cause injuries on Sue's dad but Iris' action was totally unexpected though welcomed. The clueless bloke still had no idea how he got injured. Axl decided it was best this matter be kept secret from anyone.
"Oh…me and my mum… we hate him. His behaviour and practices cost us much. Thanks to him, I won't be seeing you anymore."
Axl became worried. "What was the verdict then?"
Sue began to cry a little. "Mister Prez agreed to pay compensation to all loan victims of my dad, assumed control over the fishery company and pay the bail for his prison terms under one condition: he was to be banished from Big City."
"WHAT?! And you were dragged along too?!"
"It was me and my mum's decision. We were going to stay with him but this time, we were going to make sure that he stays out of any trouble while he's working for someone else. We're moving to the mainland Federation, Axl."
"Aw man! How could dad do this? Maybe the critics were right! Dad holds too much power and influence everywhere to have things his way!"
"Axl! The Court said we were allowed to decide for ourselves if we wanted to follow my dad while he's under Federation supervision. We had enough of further separation and want to avoid a divorce, so we agreed to watch on him."
Both of them stood up from the park bench. Sue said nothing at first. Axl was sad that Sue had to leave the Big City. She however brightened up and smiled.
"Your dad will soon rule over the company like his own in another few days. We've only got several million of cash to start over again. This is sort of like a break-up. I'm sorry, Axl. I have to do what's right for my family."
Axl made an unusual request. "Do you want to go for a hotdog?"
"What?" His request spurred astonishment from her and his inhabitants. "Do you want a hotdog or not? This will be your last occasion with me, I suppose. Let's make it as pleasant as possible." Sue hurriedly agreed.
They held hands together and made it to a nearby hotdog shop. They bought some delicious, crispy hotdogs along with mustard sauce and tomato sauce and sat at the corner of the shop with a view of the quiet streets. It was already quite dark and the duo could see the Moon very clearly.
"Huh…it was a mistake to temper with the Moon's surfaces…So Axl how did you obtain human clothing and the ability to eat? Doesn't that hurt your mechanisms?"
Axl munched on a sausage. "Well, I requested it from dad. I also got my gun from him. The teleporting device was also pre-installed. How did you manage to come out here? Isn't it dangerous?"
"No, not really. I sneaked out. My stupid dad was grounded by my mum. We are going to move in another few days and she thought it was best to control him before moving to mainland. We'll be passing by the Eurasia ruins along the way. I'm quite excited to spot it on the airship. But still…"
Again the moment of silence prevailed. Axl munched on his hotdog slower, watching the girl gaze in the air. "Axl, how did you manage to crush the guns and twist the knives when we were watching the movie the other time? Everyone was so afraid of you. Did you really have to aim your gun at the criminal?"
Axl remembered the actions clearly. It was actually Lumine who did it but Axl was not going to reveal that he had Lumine and Iris in his head while they were watching the show. The white Reploid made a small snicker.
"Er… strength I guess. It was…kinda easy." He heard Lumine laugh more in his head for he knew Axl could never do such a thing.
After some time, Axl and Sue walked along the quiet streets again. The lamp posts, advertisement posters and other sources of light illuminated the place. Axl was figuring a way of how to stall time so he could spend more time with Sue. One sentence she said however destroyed his further attempts.
"Oh no! I have to go, Axl! It's quite late already!" Axl sulked.
"Grr! C'mon Axl. Think! There has to be some way where you'll get to spend some more time with – I've got it!" Axl had conjured up a neat idea to stall her time. "Sue, do you want to just get some pictures?"
"Oh sure. They're lovely." "Well, c'mon! Hurry!" Axl grabbed her hand and dragged her to the nearest instant photo booth several streets away. Axl is a fast runner but Sue couldn't catch up with him. Upon arriving, Sue panted a little.
They had taken their photos with the best gentle smiles they could make. Axl's inhabitants felt awkward about those and had shielded their eyes from further bright flashes. Seconds later, the pair was done.
Axl paid for the photos and even felt weird upon looking at them. "Man, I have to start looking better!" He slipped his own photos into his side pocket. Sue had so far not said anything again; she felt very depressed to leave the Reploid.
"Em… Axl, I just want to let you know that I had among the best times so far with you. Even more enjoyable than the times with my human friends… I'm going to miss you." A sad feeling blanketed the air. Axl lost his cheery mood from the photo session earlier and tried to smile back.
"I'm sure you'll have a great time at the mainland. Gee, maybe we ought to like, keep in touch with each other." Sue shook her head, making Axl more disappointed.
"Nah, it's okay. Just thinking of you is enough. Maybe I'll make new friends with Reploids like you and other humans… but no Reploid could ever match up to you…" Without saying further, she hugged Axl firmly.
Axl returned the hug with another hug. The couple remained outside the booth on the empty streets, still embracing and feeling each other's warmth. Seconds later, they slowly released each other with great hesitation. Sue smiled back.
"I'll always think about you, Axl. You're a very special individual. Send my regards to Lumine and your other sibling, if the term fits. Lumine is such a great dancer. I have to go now. Goodbye!" Sue waved while walking off in a dark street; her figure only seen blurrily behind a wave of fog. Axl waved back till her shadow was gone.
It was just then that thunder suddenly roared. Axl stared up in the dark sky.
"It's going to rain again. It hasn't been raining for some time now…" He felt some raindrops on his hair and started to increase in rate. His head was bent down towards the cement street. The black dots on the street were increasing and started to form dark puddles.
"Axl, you have to get us out of here! You'll get us all wet! Please!"
Axl didn't hear Iris' pleas. He noticed some raindrops entering his side pockets and zipped it up before the photos got wet. Plastic or paper, he didn't care. He was never going to see Sue again.
"ARRRGGGHHH! Why did you have to go?! Why must dad be so cruel?!" He began to cry but the tears were no match in amount for the countless drops of rain. He bent down on his knees and repeatedly hit the cement street, producing some slight cracks. The rain fell heavier and heavier. He was wet all over.
Though the crying was brief, he expressed so much sadness in one go. The crying didn't stop although he felt the warm aura of Iris. Iris embraced Axl from behind him in his head but yielded no results. She perfectly understood what Axl felt.
The white Reploid decided to grasp control of the body so Axl looked as though he stood up, crying at the same time. "I'm sending us to father's, dear boy." Overwhelmed by sadness and grief, Axl didn't reply so Lumine acted on his own.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Updating
That very night of day 121, Axl had never felt gloomier than ever. He may have passed through much trials of fighting, persecution and punishment and he may have even come closer to death just like his inhabitants. This case was different: he was never going to see a human who had a deep place in his heart, ever again.
It was close to 9.45 p.m. and the Big City skies are decorated with dark clouds. Rain poured over the many streets and districts of the center, south and southwest of the island capital. The Prez grounds were no exception.
Lumine had brought all of them to Prez's personal room on the 86th floor of the tower mansion. Axl was wet slightly all over him, still weeping from Sue's farewell. The white Reploid carefully moved the body to a nearby chair close to the fireplace and sat down, hoping to dry up his host's clothes a little.
"I'm fine, Lumine, thanks." Some tears still rolled down his cheek as his fingers reached out to rub his eyes. He felt relieved of much grief from Iris' warmth and blew a small breath of sigh. Finally noticing his clothes, he immediately stood up.
"My clothes are wet! I'm going to have to change into a new set!"
"That's the spirit, Axl! Go on! You'll feel all fresh again!" Instantly, Axl entered the elevator and rushed down to the 54th floor to grab a new set of clothes from the cabinet. He decided to resume his usual human form: a dark blue sweater and long-sleeved jacket, both with blue stripes, a blue-black baggy trouser and brown leather shoes.
"This form makes me feel more comfortable. Where is dad anyway?" He stood up from sitting on Lumine's resting pod and looked around the room.
"That's the look I know of you, dear boy. I also feel comfortable in it. If you're trying to find father, I suggest you look at his huge computer screen back upstairs. It always shows his schedule whenever he's not around."
That Axl did. He didn't use the elevator; he just teleported again. At one end of the room there was placed Prez's giant flat screen device. Indeed what the white Reploid said was right; the schedule was there. Prez was assumed to be in his office.
Axl preferred to be led this time by the employed humans, although teleporting was way better. Upon leaving the main ground hall of the tower mansion, he requested the aid of humans to be shown to Prez's office. Axl gained some old sights.
The giant machines were still operating although it was past working hours. Pipes poured out endless glowing liquid and gears were running. Machines still assembled electronic components and other machine parts together. Instead of humans, they were run by the newer Reploids which looked like construction robots during the Jakob crisis.
"Has the plants always worked all the time? It's no wonder dad is earning so much. Too much, perhaps. And Sue… why?" No one said anything until they got to the front door of mister Prez's office. The humans left the Reploid on his own.
Opening the door, the usual sights of book-stacked shelves and chairs and pool table were revealed to his eyes. At the end of the room, an old man was staring at papers, counting the numbers with a scanner.
"Axl! How have you been? And you guys? I hope you are fine!"
"Hi, dad. I'm fine, thanks for asking. Lumine and Iris also say hi to you." He landed himself on a couch close to the office desk and showed his sad face. He didn't want to show it to Prez but the old man obviously knew the actual scene. Halting his scanner, he got up and sat next to the Reploid.
"Alright, what's going on? Why the long face?"
"Dad, it's you." His inhabitants pressed him to not worry and go ahead with the storytelling. "I know that Sue's dad misused your money for loan activities and other sort of stuff, but you had to banish him away from Big City? Now, his whole family is moving. I'll never see Sue again. Why did you have to do this?"
"Can't you at least make his family stay behind? I miss Sue already. She was the first thing I have ever thought about love, besides you that is. I just can't leave her."
Axl's arm moved to switch on the speaker on his right ear in case his inhabitants wanted to say anything. Prez placed his palm on Axl's knees.
"Axl, you have to understand. I requested his banishment as a lesson to everyone out there. I know I'm unfair but I cannot bear to have a man in prison while his family has no source of income. Having said that, that's why I asked Sue's mum and herself if they were fine with the banishment. Obviously they wanted the family to stick together."
"But you knew that was going to happen, didn't you, dad?"
Prez was speechless. Both said nothing at all. Putting his palm on his face, he sighed. "That is true, Axl. Things can't be avoided no matter how much I try. This is all partly my fault because I was too angry. This is the fourth mistake I've made in my entire life and I'm glad you didn't follow my style."
"Four mistakes? You mean, this fourth mistake was letting your emotions get the hold of you?" Prez nodded. Axl's sadness disappeared as he took interest in this new topic. "What were the other three?"
"The third mistake was trusting Bob too much until I've suffered losses. Despite my profits, I am still losing quite a lot. Damage repairs and the like. I hoped that we could have stayed united but this whole mess in the past four months had to happen. I'm just glad we're all back together."
"Father, this wasn't your fault…" Iris' calm voice filled the air.
"The second mistake was simply supplying the world with faulty Reploids upon the plans my friend Cain left behind. Since X's discovery, I had never noticed the fault in Cain's plans till around twelve years ago. That was when you came in. I am still trying to figure out the catalyst to make Reploids never Maverick. I released the new generation Reploids to the world too early, already Maverick. It's all my fault."
"Father, please stop blaming yourself. I'm sure you didn't want all that to happen." Lumine's pleas filled the office. The four were silent then.
"My first mistake was something to do with your case: love. It was all back in my teen orphan years when I met my first love. Should I have avoided that mistake decades ago, I would have had a family of my own and never stressed myself too much till today. I shouldn't have accused her."
"Dad, what happened back then?" Axl sat closer to Prez.
"I was around the age of fifteen in a school in north central Big City. We were all happy kids. I first met this girl of my age while I was trying to cut some roses out of paper. She showed me how to tenderly cut the paper. We eventually got along and started having feelings for each other. We went on for three years."
"One day, I had just only completed this huge clay sculpture of my favourite teacher. The girl was slightly jealous but praised me nonetheless. She was the only one who spoke to me about the clay sculpture so I had no idea others were jealous of me. Some boys wanted to break it in my hostel. A fat boy did it."
"I was so furious. I saw her looking at the clay pieces so I thought she did it. I accused her so much of foul words that she got so sad, she ran away crying. I was still furious so I had no idea what to do."
"I got a failing grade for the project. I learnt to overcome that feeling and tried to apologize to her. Over the next few weeks, our relationship was ruined. However the tables were turned when another boy told the teacher what he saw. The teacher rounded up the boys and made them confess. I learnt the truth and was given another chance to start my clay again. Ironically, this other boy who made the boys confess was – I hope you're not shocked – Bob." The trio kept the shock to themselves.
"I earned a grade of B for the project. By then, I realized my erroneous ways and tried to make it up to her. I remembered the way she taught me to make paper roses. I did it many times; only then did I make one correctly."
"The girl had a family who lived far across the town. I knew where she lived so I rushed over to her house. Unfortunately, faulty brakes of a bus caused her to die in a crash. I wept the whole night thinking about that. I never got to say sorry to her and that grief haunted me for the rest of my life."
"WHAT?! How could have that happened?!" Prez ignored Axl's sudden burst.
"After high school, I met Dr Cain and we studied the formula of X. We worked together, though I tend to hide myself in the labs making machines. I was still haunted by the grief. Over the years, I somewhat matured without a family. I grew wealthier from X's formula and rapid industries. I rebuilt them after the Eurasia incident. Eurasia reminded me vividly of that grief and for that, I didn't recycle the massive structure."
"Sought to finally have a son of my own, I took advantage of Iris' fragments and created you, Axl, also trying to prove my theories of science correct. Lumine was created and improved later to replace you but I'm glad you all three are here."
"I see, dad… I'm sorry." Axl gave his apologies.
"It's all over anyway. The girl's older sister knew of it and tried to forgive me but the grief stayed. Yet I appreciate it. Many years later, that older sister got married and had her own daughter whom I shared some happiness with her before Eurasia. That daughter turned out to be one of my few friends and also, Sue's mum."
The trio were deeply shocked. "WHAT?!"
"Hard to believe isn't it? Sue's mum also knew of her aunt's death and my unfulfilled wish to apologize to her. That's why she was always there to calm me down whenever I got angry. She also rang me up when I blew my top at the exhibit."
"The fat boy who knocked down the clay sculpture; he was Sue's father's father. Last I heard of him, he died during the Eurasia crash. Like father, like son; he inherited his father's taste for insults and rough belittling. My taste for revenge had never dried up till I made the verdict."
"I understand your love situation completely, Axl. I'm sorry if it harmed you a lot. I understand you met Sue during your time at the store but you didn't know all this. Don't you worry about Sue; she's young but a strong girl. She'll make it by her own in the mainland Federation. Her father will also be watched by a Federation-designated company so he doesn't make any trouble."
Axl then remembered the rose he saw, stored in a bottle of fluid in Lumine's room and the two separate stands placing one broken clay statue and another complete one in Prez's personal room. Those were a long time ago. He realized the purpose of them now and instead of feeling angry, he sympathized the old man.
"Gee, dad… I'm sorry. I feel bad for you. You're right. I had this thing better than you, dad. About Sue, it's okay. I'm fine with her going away… thanks for updating my knowledge about this thing, dad." Silence again prevailed in the atmosphere.
Prez smiled. "Cheer up. It's all gone now: the guilt and revenge. Sue's mum somehow rang up a reliable medium between this world and the other. She passed apologies to the girl on my behalf and she was reportedly cheerful for me. That was the last time I heard of her: several days before the exhibit."
"This world we live in is a strange world. We can talk to the dead but select few can. There's so much trouble here and there but we somehow survive the worst. I for one, am glad that I lived through the worst. I will join the other world soon; it's only a matter of time. That time, you three will have to fend for yourself."
"Father, please don't talk about this any more…" Iris sounded like she was crying.
"Very well then. Let's get back to you. How are things on your side, Axl? I'll like to do some updating myself about my favourite children."
"Well, okay." Axl cheered up and sat on the comfy chair. "I'm doing well in my lessons, I guess. Lumine helped me a lot in my work but I did the work myself. Last time I checked was I have some more work to do."
Lumine spoke up. "Thank you for the compliment, dear boy. Father, we managed to get hold of the Maverick in here. He's originally my corrupted conscious when I had a body back then. He somewhat merged himself with so much data, he is a full-fledged personality like us."
Prez got up with a shock. "What? You've got him?"
"Yes, father. His sole mission was to propagate human trash's rubbish ideas through me by means of getting you to approve me as the Jakob director around three years ago. Thankfully, dear boy's body separated us and I was free from any corruption. Now we managed to imprison him, largely thanks to dear girl. Now he can never plan any more attacks on our systems."
"It was nothing… I can't bear to watch you two getting injured."
"He told us everything about himself. He's particularly biased towards dear girl out of inherited respect. He can see whatever we see but he can't hear us or speak to us now. We've installed a censor program on him."
Prez made deep thoughts. "I see… what will you do with him?"
"It's all up to dear boy now. He's effectively sealed away and we've talked about this issue before but dear boy just keeps stalling. I have my ideas but neither dear boy nor dear girl are happy about them." He sparked criticism from Iris.
"Lumine! All you ever think about is destroying him! He's a personality now and he seems to have repented! Can't you just quit the idea of finishing him off?!"
"Sorry, dear girl but I still prefer to destroy him. I have my reasons."
"Well, one thing's for sure…" Axl spoke this time. "He inherited some of your intelligence, Lumine. We can't just simply destroy him without a good reason. We may even see something coming out of that smarts."
"But… dear boy…I …" Lumine stuttered in his words but stopped.
Prez sighed. "Huh. Bob, such a smart yet cunning guy. Too bad he chose the wrong path. The world could use more smart people. Anyway, about that copy of Axl, maybe there is a way to change him. I don't know, he rather kind in cooperating with you. It's all up to you three now. Decide for the best."
"Sure thing, dad. Hey, how are things on your end?"
"Me? All I talk is just plain business. You know, the plants and the factories and the goods and the, aw you know what I'm talking about. You don't need to hear it. I find you three are bored with all the talks on economics and stuff like that."
"Not me." A cold voice shuddered the air. It was obviously Lumine's. "I'm your heir, father. You can't forget that I need to know what's going on in this place and around the world. I have to manage this place and all your affairs in the future. I need to know. Dear boy and girl, bear with me, will you?"
"Of course." "Sure, I'll just be patient."
Prez led them out of the office and switched on an alarm signaling every machine in the wide place to stop working. A siren was horned out loudly and all newer Reploids began to retreat back to their warehouse pods as well as clear up all materials and ores. Machines were shut down one by one. The place soon darkened, save the lamps, and the human and trio-in-one Reploid began to work their way out to the south wing.
They walked past the high-rise corridors, above many reactors and pipes. The gears stopped moving and the newer Reploids walked back to their posts. Along the way back out, Prez told much of his daily affairs.
"Well, so far everything is quite fine. Despite the speed I'm going. It looks like I'll only be able to recycle all of the Elevator's metal to scrap around next month. Even at the speed I always go, I had finished building the Elevator in two years. Just in time for Lumine to become the director at the time."
"Most of my projects are coming fine. Oh you know the basic laws of economics. Demand and supply keeps the market running. The major reconstruction projects around the southern hemisphere of the world are progressing very fast. Time is limited so we must get everything done as fast as possible to bring peace again."
"Of course, according to the laws in the super nations of the southwest and south, I am required to allow stockholders in my corporation. But you know me; everything is mine and there're my sweat and blood. So I decided to sell those houses and buildings to either the governments or companies. I built them all with my money, you know!"
"Just in case you are interested, I am taking over the fat bloke's fishery company. Yup, all must be repaired and fixed. New methods to bring in, new people and Reploids to move around and the same market to explore."
"That was very informative, father." Axl kept on walking along the high-rise bridge. "So tell me father, what do you do with the profits?"
"I've got plans, Lumine. Besides the usual role of paying the scientists, workers and directors for their work, this time I'm investing in a brand new project. There's where the new land purchase comes in. I'm built a new plant for the research of minute technologies. It will be a living computer side by side with humans and Reploids."
The trio became interested. "What is that?"
"They are sort of like Reploids, only smaller and friendlier. They will have the power to heal combat Reploids of injuries and they'll be great assistants to the humans in many fields. They'll be invincible!"
"Wow, dad. That sounds very promising. What will you call them?"
"I haven't figured out a name for them yet. Our current technologies won't be able to provide so much power and mechanics into a small Reploid. That's why this plant will be strictly for research and development. I also hope that we'll be able to fix the errors in Cain's mechanisms and create all Reploids with intellect and sense of righteousness, never be able to go Maverick at all! But that would be up to you to continue my works."
"I also will be investing further in space exploration. Just between you guys and me, the asteroids are filled with tonnes of ore, waiting to be mined. I'm going to send the first colony to the asteroid belt in a few months and mine the minerals essential for this new assistants and rebuilding a new world of peace."
"Such grandiose dreams, father. I promise I shall do my best to complete them."
"I'm proud of you then, Lumine. Remember, you two must also help him to fulfill his responsibilities." Axl smiled at Prez. "Sure thing, dad. No problem. We already agreed to help each other." They walked on the bridge.
Soon they had arrived outside of the giant plants at the south wing. The security guards went to lock the doors only after the duo had left the building. This time, they proceeded to walk slowly back to the southwest wing.
"So, Axl? How exactly is X and Zero now? Heard from them?"
Axl shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head. "No, not much. We haven't talked for a long time, only briefly. Ever since there are rarely Mavericks around the world and Big City, we haven't been talking much. Only focusing on this education thing and his patrols. Can I blame you for that, dad?"
"If it makes you feel happy." The duo laughed together, walking along side the walkways to the tower mansion. Although they felt it as insulting, Axl's remark was humourous nonetheless so Lumine and Iris laughed along too.
"Well, dear boy, now that is good humour."
"Hey, dad. Sue also said that Lumine was a good dancer. But he didn't really do the dance properly the other time. He was supposed to pass the rose to Sue the old fashion way, not just giving it to him."
"What? Dear boy, I am insulted. She is your girl, not mine. You are the one who ought to have danced then. I would love to see you fall down on your own feet."
"Hey! I didn't get the education ten years ago, you know!"
Axl and Prez arrived at the tower mansion's ground hall. It was there that Prez remembered something vital. "Ah yes. You three, we will be going on vacation in the islands south of the Big City in three days time. Know why? In three days' time, it will be Lumine's four month anniversary of returning from the Moon!"
Iris squealed with joy while Axl cheered. The white Reploid was touched, his eyes glittering with the emotion. "Father, you didn't have to do all this for me. I'm fine alone with dear boy and dear girl. Really!"
"Nonsense! We ought to have family reunions like this more often! Words can't express my gratitude for having you back!" Lumine was so overcome by happiness that he grasped Axl's body to rush forward and hug his creator.
"Thank you father. Thank you ever so much."
They let go of each other just before Prez pressed the elevator's 'UP' button thus opening the door. Axl got a hold of himself and told Prez a surprising news.
"Dad, I think I want to quit my job at the old sir's store." That shocked Lumine and Iris a lot as they never expected this announcement. Prez however was calm, replying: "I'm fine with that. It's up to you. If you're feeling guilty about having to leave him, I can always search the lower classes for an unemployed and send him to work."
"Wow, you act fast and smart, dad. Thanks. Smart… fast… yeah! I kept on forgetting! Dad, why did you grant Lumine so much intellect? Why did you give Iris so much hidden powers? Why did you make me who I am today?"
The inhabitants just remembered they had to ask that question to Prez.
"I'm only doing it out of love. Lumine's magnificent intellect and powers, Iris and her great personality of love and you your power of justice and righteousness… You all are the embodiment of love. It isn't everyday that a human invests love in Reploids, y'know. I feel you three are special because I want you to be special. Just like X and Zero, you three must know your rightful place in society. I'm making it clear."
"Alright, enough about this. I'll arrange that the old sir gets new help so you could focus on your studies. I hope you'll wish the best for Sue and her family and you'll work harder to fulfill your responsibilities. Right now, it may be late but who's up for video games? I bet you can't race me to the finish line!"
"Hey! I'll beat you flat, dad! Just watch me!" The elevator door closed shut and as they rose higher to the sky, the ground hall turned dark and all doors were automatically locked. They were going to have a nice time knocking themselves out over racing games.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Transfer
Axl let out a loud yawn in the lecture hall. Zero has noticed it as he slammed his fist on the lecturer's desk. He called out Axl's name loud and the sleepy Reploid sat back up and straight in an instant. He appeared much drained.
"Axl! Pay attention! This is the last time I will repeat on resource management!"
"Huh? What? Oh that's okay. He knows everything. I can just ask him to teach me again after this class." Axl then went into a nice sleep on his desk. Some Reploids giggled at the sight, some stared, some didn't care. Even Zero himself was close to getting angry but continued on his lessons anyhow.
Of course, from that conversation, Lumine felt as though he was being treated like a convenient bank of knowledge. He wanted to shock Axl back to reality but he would stir up trouble. He felt that it was all Axl's fault for getting into this trouble. Axl shouldn't have played too much video games in the tower mansion last night.
For the next two hours or so in the morning, Axl slept soundly on his desk. He did feel refreshed after the sleep and was able to concentrate in Layer's and X's classes. Apparently he was under the watchful eyes of the two. Prez may be soft on the Class S Hunter but X was keen to do his tasks with full responsibility.
Later in the evening, after Layer's class was over, Axl was called to stay back for the moment. Once again, most Hunters assumed that Axl had failed another assignment. However, Layer's usual questions for Axl would be that concerning White Axl's status and a solution towards him.
"You have to decide what to do with him. White Axl is a Maverick after all. You can't keep him in you forever. One day when his limit is breached, he'll take revenge on all of you. That will be very dangerous by then."
"You think I don't care? Of course I care. It's just that I hadn't found the correct solution yet. I will come up with my decision. That time, I'll inform both you guys and Lumine. Oh by the way, did I tell you who made my copy a reality?"
"No, I don't think so." Layer was rubbing her chin with her finger.
"Oh well. I'll let you guys know later when I've made up my mind of what to do with White Axl. I think we ought to be prepared for drastic events. I keep getting the feeling something bad will happen when the time comes…"
Axl grabbed his books and paper stuff from the lecturer's desk and walked off while Layer was doing some deep thinking. It was already evening of day 122. Axl sighed as he walked all the way back to his cubicle. Dropping his borrowed items on his desk roughly, he crashed himself on his chair.
"Aw great. I'm coming down with some pain in my head…" Axl rest his chin on the folded arms on his desk. Despite feeling angry over what Axl did in his first lesson in the morning, Lumine decided to reach out to Axl.
"Headache, dear boy? Should I check it for you?"
"Nah, that's not necessary. Thanks anyway. I'm just having a lot of thoughts, that's all. One thing's for sure, dad is the all-powerful human around here and we can't blame him for having some things his way since he worked with blood and sweat. You're getting some full acceptance from society about the heirdom; that's good for you."
"Me? I'm getting all the stress. I'll probably never see Sue again thanks to her obnoxious dad. Now I have to deal with further education and stress and also White Axl. Yeah, we have to figure out a way to deal with him but it seems I must find a better solution than having him destroyed. I also do plan to stop working at the store. Gah, I need a rest. I'm taking a nap at the central chamber."
Axl immediately got off his chair and made a slow walk to the central resting chamber. Hunching himself to the front while walking, he let out his usual sigh of sadness and depression. What was he going to do with his Maverick copy?
He cometed himself on a cushion close to the fireplace. Oddly enough, the entire place on that day had a very cold atmosphere. It has been raining heavily for the past 3 hours and showed no signs of stopping.
"Aw, man. What am I going to do? I am reaching dead end, Iris keeps pressuring me and so do everyone around me, Lumine's bent on destroying my copy; why can't things just go easy for me?!" Thinking the matter to himself only made his headache worse so he pressed his fingers against his temples.
In the computer brain, his inhabitants watched him as he groaned to himself. Iris darted a sharp, stern eye at Lumine while he returned the look with a wide eye. Iris was indirectly blaming Lumine for Axl's trouble but the white Reploid was surprised.
An idea just struck Axl. Maybe there is a way to solve this problem concerning White Axl. Maybe it doesn't have to be just destruction. There should be some sort of way out, another way much better.
"We may even see something coming out of that smarts…"
Iris approached Axl. "Axl? Did you say something?" Axl hurriedly closed his eyes and met Iris. Upon looking at him, she felt somewhat nervous. It was one of those times when Axl had an exciting idea which could possibly harm everyone. The times of him getting human clothes were indeed beneficial but this one was different.
"Alright, Axl. What is it this time?" Axl had a small smile on his face.
Quite a distance away, a white personality was watching the other three data souls walk some distance before sitting down on the pitch-black floor in a circle. The Maverick frowned upon the sight and his curiosity grew as he watched.
Axl kept on talking for the following sixty to hundred seconds. What he said must have held a lot of content with striking keywords to his idea because from White Axl's point-of-view, Iris seemed very cheerful but the white Reploid only raised an eyebrow.
"That's what I think we should do." Axl looked on his inhabitants.
"Oh, Axl that was the best thing you've ever said! You've got my full support! Hee hee!" Iris giggled as she got up and jumped on Axl. "Umph! Hey, you didn't have to do that! C'mon, get off me!"
Lumine only put his fingers on his chin and rubbed it a little. His lips and eyes had the same kind of expression for the past two minutes. It should be noted however, that his yellow pupils shrunk slightly; though no one noticed, if anyone did, they would have difficulties in guessing his thoughts.
"So dear boy," – the white Reploid stood up – "this is your final decision? I can trust you to your actions, right?" Axl stared back at Lumine.
"Yeah I guess. You still want to destroy White Axl, right?"
"True, but I still respect your decision as well. I have my reasons. My point-of-view tells me that your decision is unacceptable but I guess, from your view, maybe this decision of yours can change things for the better. I'll see you later."
Axl was slightly ticked off from the white Reploid's reply and he wanted to ask what were his reasons for wanting to destroy his Maverick copy but Iris held him back. "Please, Axl. I believe you've made the right decision. It will take time but I'm sure that the greater good will be served."
His eyes opened quickly. Axl had just obtained the approval of his friends for his solution towards White Axl. Full with excitement, he jumped from the cushion and dashed towards Layer's office to give her the news.
"Axl, are you serious?! You're going to-!"
"Relax, will you? I'm sure that Lumine can handle it! He's an expert on this matter of writing codes, even if he's in my head! I just need you to prepare a container, anything of the sort! I'm waiting at the mechanics room!"
Axl dashed hurriedly out of Layer's own room. Layer tapped her fingers on her desk before getting off her chair. "I feel something bad is going to happen. Iris may approve of Axl's decision but it's just making me nervous…"
The blue-red Reploid had opted to do this faster and it had to be now. Not only will he get the entire issue over with, he could also look forward to better time-spending. The white Reploid though expressed his satisfaction with Axl, still remained skeptical of that decision for certain reasons.
Axl crashed into X's office, shocking the Commander while he was doing some documentation. Axl rudely slammed the door shut behind him and rolled on the floor before grabbing a chair. X looked at him, bewildered.
"Axl! You know better than to do that! What is it this time?"
"I think I know what to do with my Maverick copy! But first, I gotta tell you the history behind this!" He went on talking for the next fifteen minutes or so about White Axl's past. By the end of it, X only raised an eyebrow.
"So, it was Bob again? Lumine wasn't a Maverick originally? And now you are trying to… save him?! Why would you do that?"
"Well," – Axl sat on the chair properly – "my dad always said that the world needs smarter people, or in this case Reploids. Since Lumine has been taught many things somewhere from eleven to three years ago and the human trash had corrupted him with a kind of conscious, along the way he picked up lots of those knowledge."
"I'm guessing that if we brain-cleanse this Maverick of his designated purpose and wipe out the memories, we could save a soul and with some goodness and knowledge, I'm sure he'll produce great results. He could work as a researcher. Maybe there'll be results which help restore some order around here."
X closed his eyes, frowning on the desk. Axl waited for his reply anxiously. He was certain that nothing could go wrong and everything would be solved easily.
"Huh… alright. We'll do what you suggest. We could get something positive out of that, who knows? So Layer's preparing a device to store White Axl?"
"Yeah, then it's a matter of memory cleansing and giving White Axl a body. A new identity, new purpose, everything will be solved instantly." Axl reclined on the chair some more. Silence prevailed the Commander's office for the moment.
Axl got off the chair back on his feet again. "Well, I'd better get going. I have to wait and see what kind of 'container' Layer is getting. In the mean time, I'm doing my studies." Axl rushed off back to his cubicle.
Some hours later, the blue-red Reploid was being taught by the white Reploid concerning mathematical calculations of force and power of electricity. Iris on the other hand had made a secret trip to the electronic prison to meet White Axl. The Maverick stood up and smiled upon her arrival. She deactivated the prison audio censors.
"Iris, what is going on? Is it to do with me?"
Iris had her eyes shut briefly before explaining. "White Axl, we have finally decided on what to do with you. Well, since you were kind enough to cooperate with us in the past, we are now going to spare your life and reward you your very own body."
"But there's a price you must pay. We are going to purge all your negative thoughts, ideals and your memories. We want you to start anew and do something good; prove your worth to everyone. Lumine was kind of convinced it was the better way, though he still wants to destroy you. It will all be over soon."
White Axl trembled slightly. "What?!"
"Yeah, I guess it kind of hurts you to have your memories cleansed and forced in new ones. I'm sorry but please don't get angry. It's all for your own good." Just before the Maverick was going to say something, Iris reactivated the audio censor and walked away. She didn't see the Maverick's face full of fright and speechlessness.
On the other side, Axl blew a sigh of relief. "Well, that's all done! Thanks for your help, Lumine. If it weren't for you, I would have never been able to finish this Core Sciences assignment and start working on the other two more."
"It's nothing, dear boy. You have my word that I would tutor you."
Axl lied on the pitch-black floor while the white Reploid stood. "So dear boy, this is it, isn't it? You're willing to spare the Maverick and let him start anew, despite the unknown circumstances to come?" Axl raised an eyebrow.
"What unknown circumstances? I know you're quite uncomfortable with Mavericks ever since you got back here and defeated Bob, but can't you give him a conditional chance? That reminds me, what are your reasons for destroying White Axl?"
Lumine scratched his head. "Yes, you're right that I can't tolerate Mavericks. Dear boy, you may have a point that Mavericks can be given conditional chances… but I guess this copy of yours is different. I hope you understand me."
"No, actually I don't. Could you elaborate that?"
"Alright, I will. You see, dear boy-" They were interrupted by a fellow Hunter tapping hard on Axl's cubicle walls. The Reploid got shocked as he had not anticipated that. "Hey (Reploid's name), what's up?"
"It's Commander X. He wants you in the mechanics department."
Once again, it was back to the mechanics room for Axl. The familiar sight of the advanced scanning machine that detected Lumine and the given bad weather of heavy rains was all too familiar nearly 3 1/2 months ago. Axl made a gulp before he voluntarily strapped himself to the seat and allowed his head gem to be exposed.
The wires were all connected to his head gem. He was watched over by X, Zero and two navigators. Layer hadn't arrived yet for the 'container' she had prepared was being 'pushed' on its way to the room.
"What do you mean the body's not here yet? X!"
"Well, do you know how hard it was for Layer to look for a spare, dummy Reploid? Now that the newer Reploids have replaced the earlier new generation ones, it's hard to get some specimen from anywhere! Lucky for you, she found one in the HQ's warehouse which she used for running the simulations during the Jakob crisis."
"You mean, she forgot all about it?!" His inhabitants made a laugh only he could hear. "Sure, if you insist on putting it that way. Oh look, she's here. Gear yourself, Axl."
Several Reploid guards were pushing a trolley with intact, standing new generation Reploid on it. The Reploid dummy looked exactly like those the Hunters had fought in many places during the Jakob crisis. It was a construction Reploid.
"Phew… well I forgot that we had this type of Reploids used earlier. I spent so may hours looking here and there! Anyway, let's get this started."
Zero made a step forward. "So, what exactly is the plan again?"
Alia stepped forward. "Axl wants to spare the Maverick in him, Zero. So, before we do a safe transfer, Lumine is going to delete many of his memories and mission. His new memories will make him safe so he could inhabit a new body."
"Alright, here we go. I've already set up the scanning machine to link Axl's brain to the dummy's brain. Axl, close your eyes." Layer pressed a red button.
Axl had closed his eyes as Layer instructed him to. Axl was back in his computer brain with his inhabitants. He watched Lumine tapping codes of instructions on the green orb to disengage the prison. The prison disintegrated into cubes thus letting the Maverick free in the mind. Iris walked out to hold his hand.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't hurt, I promise." A loud noise was heard and everyone turned to see a vertical blue warp just ahead of them. Lumine made a sound no one heard and placed his right hand out, emitting a globe or purple aura.
"Alright, Maverick. Here's what going to happen. I know dear girl had already told you what I am going to do to you, but this time there's a catch. I am going to input some new data about your form. This old one has to go. You'll get a new form along with a new identity and memory. Got that?"
White Axl nodded. Iris still held his hand firmly. Axl was watching the whole thing with anticipation. Lumine's hand was about to pierce through the Maverick…
Suddenly, White Axl swiped away Iris' hands and pushed her down on the pitch-black floor. "Aaah!" The other two data souls were shocked to see this and so were the rest watching via a monitor. "Iris!" Zero shouted out.
"Iris! Why you!" Axl dashed forward to pin his copy down but the Maverick was quick this time. He dashed faster to Axl and gave him a rough knock on the head, causing Axl to fall on the floor as well. "Urgh!" Lumine became angry.
"Dear boy! Dear girl! You Maverick! I knew not to trust you!" Lumine sped forward and engaged a brief battle with White Axl. Many punches and kicks were traded among the two. Lumine had clenched his fist tight and gave White Axl a blow on the face.
White Axl sped up behind Lumine and before he knew it, he was given a rough kick on his back. "Gurrgghh!" The moment Lumine fell on the floor, White Axl sped towards the warp. X saw that and turned to Layer.
"Seal off the connection now!" Layer was about to cut the joint but she was too slow for the Maverick. White Axl had already entered the warp into the dummy Reploid. A second later, the standing dummy was shaking violently at the middle of a wall. X and Zero geared themselves for battle while Pallette tried to stir Axl awake.
"Axl, wake up! This is serious! The Maverick has – Oh no!" The dummy Reploid's form stirred violently of its shape and in a split second, the form of White Axl was fully displayed. His eyes opened wide, revealing evil yellow eyes and a sneering smile.
"Free at last! Gahahaha!" He made a cross with his arms, gathering some energy before he set them free in the form of white-silvery aura. The aura expanded spherically and just like the incident of day 14, everything in its way was destroyed.
Axl had got up just in time and unbuckled himself. He got on the floor only to find debris, concrete melted and his friends were all injured. Axl got really angry and looked up at his copy. "You! How did you do that? Why didn't you-?!"
His body was taken over by the white Reploid. A dark shadow covered his eye but his lips showed violent degrees of anger. He looked around him and saw the rest struggling to stand up. "Are you all alright?!"
"Well, well. Tsk tsk tsk." Everyone turned their attention to White Axl. "Thank you for giving me the chance to live again. However, I'm afraid I can't allow you to delete my memories and original identity. Your little salvation plan simply won't work. In fact, Axl, your salvation plan WILL never work."
Lumine's arm somehow reached for the speaker button on his right ear. Axl yelled out full of anger: "What are you saying? What's going on?!"
"Oh you don't know, do you? Ah yes, that's right, Lumine never told any of you. I will answer your other curiosities still. You see, I merely took advantage of Iris' pity all along." Iris was highly shocked. "What…?"
"That's right. The moment Iris approached me a long time ago for her little cooperation idea, I cooked up a plan to gain her sympathy. Her sympathy was the only way I had to survive. I'm sorry if I had roughed with you, Iris, but I'm not allowing you all to kill me this easily."
"This little ability to release damaging aura? Simple. The moment Lumine extracted all those combat data back then before he was going to imprison me, I made a very quick copy of all of them. Hah. I was never going to let Lumine's precious combat data go. All that diversity and power, wasted? Never."
"Ah yes. About your salvation plan? It'll never work. If you delete my memories and my mission, it's the same as deleting me. That's right; my sole mission was to propagate the new world and my life is attached for that. I had also failed to corrupt you all; if I can't do that, at least I'll wreck havoc in your precious City, all for Master Bob!"
"Lumine, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you? That's why you can never bring yourself to tell the truth to Axl and Iris, right? Go on, tell your friends. I'm waiting for you. Gwahahaha!"
White Axl flew off in the middle of the heavy rain. Several damaged floors were getting wet due to the rain and there was a little chaos. Lumine remained where he was on the floor, looking all sad; the rest slowly going to him.
"Lumine…what's going on?" Axl asked softly.
"Dear boy… dear girl…White Axl isn't just only a personality of his own, he is the incarnate of Sigma, a new Sigma loyal to the human trash. He has grown from a mere corrupt conscious to a full-grown little Sigma. It's true that the corrupted data of Sigma never left me; that wasn't necessary."
"Lumine…what exactly do you mean?"
"Dear boy, when human trash first detected Sigma's corrupted data in me, it is true that he made another corrupt program to control me. However, this data was actually an exact same copy of that Maverick data, only more modified to be loyal to him. In other words, he's unstoppable and forever loyal to human trash."
"Think about it. Commanders X and Zero have fought him countless times. Did Sigma ever give up on his idea of Reploid freedom under his rule? He never did. He went on and on, until you all defeated him for good on the Moon. It was exactly the same thing here. White Axl will go on and on until someone wipes him off the face of the Earth. That's why I still prefer him to be destroyed. He's an incarnate of Sigma, only more vicious and more loyal to human trash."
"Why didn't you tell us? Is it true you were afraid, Lumine? Tell me the truth!"
"The truth? Of course. I was never afraid to tell you; White Axl already told you all himself, indirectly, that he was an incarnate of Sigma. He said "I am a form consisting of majority Virus data". I expect you two to know that since the Maverick himself told you but I guess I was wrong. Forgive me if I did something wrong, dear boy and girl."
Iris was angry. "That…that piece of data misused me! Took advantage of me right on my face and yet I was too blind to see it! Axl, Lumine, you have my permission to delete that personality! Zero, don't disappoint me!"
Zero charged up his saber. "Right! Time for some Maverick fighting! I am going to enjoy this! Let's move!" X nodded at Zero and the white Reploid.
X had started giving orders. "You three navigators, quickly alert the government that there's a rampaging Maverick of Bob's on the loose! There are many innocent lives to save! We can't afford to lose time! Hunters, let's move out!"