PART 1

On their way to the gate, Fafnir had dropped off Senator Luhra, along with Princess Pina, and Bozes, outside Italica, with the purpose of contacting the resistance and establishing some sort of alliance for the sake of curing X of his infection and ending the conflict it had started.

"The tavern isn't hard to find." said Panache. "It's a little ways from the center of the city, but it's location is surprisingly ideal."

"Very well." said Luhra. "Good luck with your own mission."

"Thank you." said Panache, and the transport would take off.

Pina and Bozes stood there, calm yet unsure. On Luhra's insistence they were wearing civilian clothes, nothing flashy or fancy, straight from Neo Arcadia.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Pina asked, she was looking over the sensible skirt, stockings and plated heels which she and Bozes were wearing, along with button up blouses and a simple vest.

"Your friends stood out too much when they first found the resistance." said Luhra as they headed through the gates. "Thats how they were found out."

"But they know our faces." said Bozes.

"That may be so." said Luhra. "But the purpose of these clothes is not to stand too much. The citizens of Italica are probably so use to the resistance living here they would think we were just three more people working at their inn."

"So we're hiding in plain sight?" asked Pina.

"At least until the resistance recognize your faces, and mine." said Luhra.

"Right." said Pina as they made their way down the streets, following the directions given to them by Panache.

"To think, they've been here all this time." said Bozes. "And we were none the wiser."

"Yeah." said Pina, looking down.

"Is something wrong Princess?" Luhra asked.

"I...I think Panache was right." said Pina. "If I knew where the resistance was hiding I would have informed X. And given what we now know about his current state of mind."

"Nonsense." said Luhra. "Not even the Maverick Virus could make Master X harm humans. Look how long he's been infected and not once has he given in to it."

"Maybe he has." said Bozes. "Just in a different way."

"You're talking about the Maverick purge is that it?" Luhra asked. "I can see the logic in that yes. But there is no telling what X would have done with the information if he had known of the resistances whereabouts." They'd stop, standing in front of the unassuming building with the sign "Accueil" on the front.

"This is the place." said Bozes. "Hopefully they won't try to shoot us or something, I mean we are enemies after all."

"Right now." said Luhra. "We all have something in common." and with that she walked through the doors, Pina and Bozes following.

"Alright, the repairs are done for the most part." said Ciel as she looked over Vile's body. He had been rebuilt and for the most part refurbished, the bulky and broken armor had been replaced with a lighter frame, the shoulders were squared off and slightly angled. The body armor extended slightly turning into a coat that extended down to his ankles and was open in the front trimmed in gold. His helmet was streamlined as well, maintaining the distinct T-Visor. Currently he had no armaments for obvious reasons and was still offline. "but I'm still apprehensive about reactivating him. There's no guarantee we can talk him down or get through to him, or even convince him to side with us."

Cerveau stood by Ciel, as he examined Vile. "Well he's still inactive, we could always move him to a secure cell prior to activation."
"Yes that may be the best call." Ciel said, thinking. "Oh why did I agree to go through with this? If just one thing goes wrong, lives will be in danger. Human lives. If Vile goes berserk, but we manage to keep him contain inside the base that's one thing, but if he gets out there." she trailed off, shuddering at the thoughts.

"That will not happen." said Cerveau. "Zero, Rory, Faucon, Leilei, all of us will make sure that doesn't happen."

Ciel smiled. "Thank you Cerveau. Get a cell prepared, I want Vile secured as soon as possible and-" She blinked when her com went off, she'd tap it. "This is Ciel."

"Ciel, its Colbar upstairs, you better get up here and now."

Ciel blinked, she didn't like the tone she heard. "Colbar what's wrong?"

"Senator Luhra of Neo Arcadia just walked through the front door, with Princess Pina of the Empire.."

Ciel's eyes widen with fear. "WHAT?!"

Cerveau looked over, surprised. "Ciel?"

"Cerveau, put guards outside the lab, and 2 inside to guard Vile's body, put the base on alert and get in touch with Zero and everyone else that went out on patrol." She turned and quickly headed out the door.

She had been expecting a lukewarm greeting, or at the very least they would have gotten to sit down before someone recognize them, but the waiters tending the floor were members of the resistance, that she should have seen coming as one of them recognized her, and suddenly she, the princess and Bozes found themselves all at gunpoint, the customers were confused and somewhat shocked by what just happened.

"You got some nerve walking in here." Colbar said as he and Hibou approached the three. "Hibou, search them."

"Right." Buster gun trained on the three women, he started to do a pat down.

"We're unarmed." said Luhra. "No one knows we're here."
"And how exactly did you find us?" Colbar asked.

"How we found you is none of your concern. As the head of Foreign relations for Neo Arcadia, I am here as a diplomat to speak with all of you."

"The only thing Neo Arcadia Diplomats talk about is terms of surrender." said Colbar.

"Please we're not here as your enemy." said Pina.

"Could have fooled us." said Faucon who had been tending the bar. "I saw you and your Knights at the gate the day X showed up and nearly killed Rory and Zero."

"That was different!" said Pina. "At the time I didn't understand the full story! No one did! But now we do."

"And what story is that?" Colbar asked.

"The one where Master X is infected by the maverick Virus." said Luhra.

The room was quiet, no one dared make a move.

"Thats enough! Everyone stand down!" Ciel's voice came from the kitchen as she stepped out, followed by Cerveau, who looked surprise to see who was at the door.

"Ciel, there with Neo Arcadia, no way we can stand down." said Colbar.

"I said stand down." said Ciel. "If she knows about X's condition then that means the Shittenou told her." she looked at Luhra. "Thats why you are here isn't it?" Luhra nodded.

Ciel looked around. "I said stand down! everyone back to work! Hibou head back to the kitchen and prepare some food."

"Yes ma'am." said Hibou, saluting and heading for the back. Ciel made her way through the crowd, apologizing here and there to the people before she came to Luhra, Pina and Bozes.

"You..." said Pina. "You're the girl from the gate, the one who tried to stop X and Zero from fighting."

Ciel looked at Pina. "I'm glad you remember me your majesty."

"Your Ciel?" said Bozes. "But you're so young."
"Shocking isn't it?" Ciel said. "That one so young can be branded a maverick and a traitor?" she'd look at Luhra. "But that's what happened."

Luhra stayed quiet as Ciel turned and headed for a booth. "over here, we can talk privately here."

The four women sat down as Colbar, reluctantly brought a pitcher of water and glasses and set them down, Ciel would thank Colbar, pouring a glass of water for herself and sipping it. "I can guess how you found out about Accueil." Ciel looked at Pina. "Panache seems to have finally regain your trust to tell her."

Pina looked down. "Yes, and I wish to apologize for my actions at the gate."

Ciel shook her head. "There is no need to apologize. With the empire and Neo Arcadia allied, you were only doing your part and nothing more. I cannot blame you for that, it's just how war is" Ciel would set a data pad down, sliding it over to Luhra. "If we are to finally end this conflict, this will be the first step."

Luhra picked up the pad, turning it on and looking over the notes kept within. "Convergent...Ignition..." she stared in disbelief. "This is..."

"Convergent Ignition by Energen Linkage." said Ciel. "Otherwise known as the C.I.E.L system, the new energy system that will end the crisis."

"You finished it." said Luhra. "You actually finished it."

"Even though I left Neo Arcadia." said Ciel. "I never stopped my energy research, I thought it would be at least another year before I could complete it, but thanks to the Gate, and magic in particular, I was able to finish it." She held out her hand. "A prototype of my system powers Accueil, both upstairs and our base downstairs. And once the system itself is complete in full, it could completely modernize this world, let alone provide a clean renewable source of power for Neo Arcadia and everyone beyond the dome, however the finished system is still a couple of months away."

Pina and Bozes stared in disbelief, this girl, barely into her teens, took magic and turned it into something else?

"You..." Pina was at a loss for words. "are you telling me that you were able to take our world's magic, and use it to power your world's machines?"

Ciel nodded. "Yes, and I owe it all to Sage Calto and Leilei, who taught me how magic worked and how it is formed and generated. I took that and applied it to the Cyber Elf's ability to naturally sustain itself, and that in of itself is what helped me finish my prototype the cyber elves ability to sustain itself once it manifest. The fact that a Cyber Elf can do it with magic proved instrumental in the system's development , and through that I was able to devise the basic mechanism of the C.I.E.L system. It generates magic in the a way that a magician would channel it, and contains it like a Cyber Elf, and this process is done indefinitely creating a clean, renewable source of energy."

"I see." said Luhra. "And this would work even in our world?"

"Yes." said Ciel. "If you consider that both times we came through the gate, we had people from this world who could use magic, and both times they were able to use it without a problem in our world."

"Ah I see now." said Luhra as she looked through the notes. "This would indeed solve the energy crisis, and yet there is still another crisis to deal with."
"X's infection." said Ciel.

"Fafnir is currently executing a plan to get information on that." said Luhra. "I pray it succeeds."

"Fafnir is a lot more clever than people give him credit." said Ciel. "I'm sure his plan will succeed." She'd sit back in the booth seat, thinking. "Once we know the nature of the virus, I should be able to create a cure, possibly even fashion a special Cyber Elf to purge X's systems."

"The problem is administering the cure." said Luhra. "If we confront him directly, he will simply deny being infected."

"I don't know." said Pina. "He confided in me to a certain extent, though he passed it off as a minor illness."

"Probably because you bore witness to that outburst at the gate." said Ciel. "I doubt he'd be able to lie his way through that, especially to a new ally he wants to keep around."

"So he bent the truth slightly." said Luhra. "Told Pina he was sick, but didn't come out and say he was essentially Maverick."

"That's the part that scares me." said Ciel. "X going Maverick, you look at him and you can't fathom that he actually is Maverick. It's like being a functional alcoholic."

"Then he's getting treated for it right?" Bozes asked.

"If he is, it's not by anyone within the Central Government." said Luhra. "He would want to keep his condition a secret. If anyone knows about it, it would probably be his secretary, Anita, and no one else."

"My guess is Kresh." said Ciel.

"I think so too." said Luhra.

"Who is Kresh?" Pina asked.

"He's a scientist, but he is not affiliated with the central and lives beyond the Eden Dome in the wastelands." said Ciel. "He works off the books and most of what he does is illegal, he would be perfect to go to if you need a maverick vaccine and want to keep things quiet."

"If Fafnir and the Shittenou play their cards right." said Luhra. "They'll probably figure out a connection between X and Kresh, if any."

"But until we know how exactly he's infected, and what it is that caused it." said Ciel. "We can't do anything, not me, not Rime, no one. You can't make a cure if you don't know the exact nature of the disease."

"But even with a cure." said Luhra. "As I said before, getting him to take it."

"We'll force the cure on him." said Ciel. "and that is why Senator I need to ask something of you." Luhra raised her eyebrow.

"Backdoor access." said Ciel. "for the purpose of sending in a team to confront X and administer the cure by force before he ends up hurting anyone else."

"Backdoor access?" Luhra was surprise by that. "You're talking about going through the Arcadian Shrine."

"I know." said Ciel. "The Shrine directly connects to Area X through a secondary tower separate from the main tower, normally it's meant to be used to evacuate X and other personnel during an emergency."

"What is this shrine?" Pina asked. "I don't recall seeing one.

"You pass through it briefly when approaching the Central Tower complex." said Luhra. "It's a defensive structure also known as the 'Holy Region' designed to repel intruders, it's called the Arcadian Shrine because of its design resembling an old temple."

"There's an area of the Shrine facility that directly connects to the central Tower through a second tower." said Ciel. "We can use that to get in without anyone noticing. No one would suspect anyone coming into Neo Arcadia through there."

"I don't get it though." said Pina. "Why not just give us the cure once you've developed it and we just give it to X?"

"You don't seem to fully grasp X's stubbornness." said Ciel. "Which is something the Virus seems to have magnified given his inability to compromise regarding the conflict between Neo Arcadia and the resistance, especially with your world a factor in peace being favorable, in short he's become more and more violent and he will do anything to protect the humans of Neo Arcadia, including killing thousands of innocent reploids and labeling them Maverick. And how do you think he'd react if his new ally became a threat to Neo Arcadia in his eyes?"

"You're not serious are you?" Pina asked. You really don't think he'd actually attack humans?"

"At this point, I'm not sure anymore." said Ciel. "But not a day goes by that I fear for the safety of Italica if X discovered that our base is here, because at the end of the day, his obsession with the resistance overwrites nearly any and all sanity he is currently clinging onto."

"But why go through all the trouble just to administer the cure?" Bozes asked.

"Because he told me he was infected." said Ciel. "as far as X knows, the resistance is the only ones outside himself, his secretary, and at best guess, Professor Kresh, know he is infected with the Maverick Virus. I don't want him to discover that the secret is basically out at this point."

"You do understand Dr. Ciel, that getting those clearance codes will take time." said Luhra. "Senator Glint has those codes and he will not give them up, and as you said, the less people who know about X's infection, the better."

Ciel nodded. "I understand, we'll cross that bridge when we get there." she turned, watching as one of the waiters approached with food. "But for now, how about we all enjoy something to eat? Accueil has some of the best food this side of the gate."

PART 2

"Kresh..." the Shittenou were in their quarters now, all investigations finished as they were reporting their findings, and so far none of it seemed good.

"Okay so that unlicensed street doc is supplying X with a vaccine to keep the Virus in check." said Fafnir. "Though seems like according to that Email, the vaccine doesn't really work if Kresh has to make newer and stronger batches."

"But why keep the symptoms under control?" asked Leviathan. "Why not just make a cure entirely?"
"Perhaps he can't." said Fafnir. "Kresh doesn't exactly have state of the art facilities, and besides the secret being leaked, NO one outside of Anita and Kresh know X is infected, best he could do is mitigate X's symptoms."

"Right now he is our only lead." said Harpuria.

"Then lets pay him a visit." said Fafnir. "He'll know the extent of X's infection and whether or not he can be cured."

"I have to agree with Fafnir." said Leviathan. "Everything goes back to Kresh."

"Almost everything." said Harpuria as he looked to Phantom. "What did you find out?"

"The Hachishinken have been investigating that maverick from the trial." said Phantom. "He was part of a larger group lead by a Maverick named Kranix, and they all have one thing in common. Sigma."

"Did he tell you who Sigma is at least?" Leviathan asked.

"A war criminal from the first Maverick war." said Phantom. "A former Maverick Hunter and apparently X and Zero's superior officer before he turned Maverick. The brand the mavericks outside the dome have been wearing as of late is the emblem of the Sigma Army."

"Damn." said Fafnir. "You'd think X would take something like that more seriously."

"All the more reason to get him cured." said Leviathan. "It's obvious that the virus is skewing his priority."

"But to what end?" Harpuria asked. "What goes is focusing on the resistance? Especially now with the Gate and its resources."

"I doubt whoever infected him could have predicted the Gate's appearance." said Phantom.

"If the past actions of the mavericks out in the wasteland is any indication." said Harpuria. "Kranix is planning something."

"Do you think he was responsible for that Mechaniloid in Dysis?" Leviathan asked.

"It seems likely." said Harpuria. "Probably part of a plan to cause serious damage to Neo Arcadia from the inside, possibly even to bust open the dome."

"If that's the case, he probably already knows that plan failed." said Fafnir.

"One problem at a time Fafnir." said Harpuria. "For now let us pay Kresh a visit. The sooner we can get Master X cured, the faster we can shift our focus to Kranix and his mavericks."

The three nodded in agreement with Harpuria.

"Fafnir..." Harpuria said turning to him.

"I know, I know." Fafnir said holding his hands up. "I'm still on the injured list, and someone needs to bring Panache and her comrades back. It's alright I had that planned out anyways, besides I've only put the Rose Order through two days of boot camp and I still owe them another five."

"Those poor girls." said Leviathan jokingly. "Suffering under the tyrannical rule of your training regimen."

"Hey there is nothing tyrannical about it!" said Fafnir. "And besides they enjoy it!"

"Sure they do." said Leviathan. "You just keep telling yourself that."

"Leviathan your staying behind as well, Phantom and I will take care of this."

"Wait...WHAT?!" Leviathan stared at Harpuria, and Fafnir smiled.

"Your also on the injured list remember?" Phantom said.

"Oh COME ON!" said Leviathan. "I only got my arm cut off by Rory, unlike Fafnir who got caught in an explosion!"

"You still sustained a fair bit of damage fighting Rory." said Harpuria. "And the way the empire says it, most people who fight Rory Mercury don't live long enough to tell the tail. Just ask Herculious and Anubis."

"You could come back with me." said Fafnir. "we can wallow together in Diplomatic Limbo and you could help with the Boot camp."

"Hmph." was all Leviathan could say.

"Hey don't be so stubborn." said Fafnir. "Besides I think the order looks up to you. A lot the girls seem to have been admiring you back at the banquet for being a female soldier in a high ranking position within the military."

Leviathan blinked, that got her attention. "You really think so?" she smiled and let out a little haughty laugh, bringing her hand up to her mouth. "Well it's no surprise, I am a strong willed woman after all and a role model for all young girls."

"Stop encouraging her." said Harpuria. "But he has a point. Plus having both of you on the other side will give us plenty of eyes and ears on both ends."

"Very well, I'll apply for transfer to the Jade Palace." said Leviathan. "I'll bring Blizzack Staggroff with me as well."

"Speaking of which." said Fafnir. "Is Anubis revived yet? He would be helpful with the boot camp."

"You're in luck then." said Phantom. "They just brought him back online."

"Good, I'll go collect him them while the two of you have fun interrogating Kresh. Just don't be too rough with him."

"Us? rough?" Harpuria asked in a mockingly innocent tone. "Who do you think we are? You?" He gave a rather rare smile as he and Phantom headed out the door.

"I'll get packing then." said Leviathan. "Just how long is Panache keeping X out in the city anyways?"
"Well if Anita had a say in the matter, which she always does." said Fafnir. "We probably won't be going back to the empire until tomorrow."

"Sounds about right." said Leviathan.

Junk Town was but one of many towns outside of Neo Arcadia's jurisdiction where the scum of the universe liked to gather and hang out. Another Town lay just outside Neo Arcadia's reach, but close enough that the Shittenou can 'legally harass' the locals as they like to put it. The people call it "New Doppler Town." and claim it to be a "paradise" for reploids, often while trying to hold back laughter. For the most part, New Doppler Town was in slightly better shape than Junk Town, perhaps due to being closer to Neo Arcadia, but no less a dump.

Harpuria and Phantom were walking the narrow streets of New Doppler Town with 4 Pantheon Hunters in tow, passing by people who gave them cold looks.

"Hey! Come to 'legally harass' us again?" said one of the onlookers.

"Go back to Neo Arcadia! We don't need you here!" said yet another.

"Hey Neo Arcadia! I got yer maverick right here!" declared another who proceeded to moon Harpuria and Phantom.

"Well, our popularity hasn't diminished." Phantom said sarcastically. "You can just feel the love they have for us."

"Remember we're here for Kresh." said Harpuria. "But keep your eyes open, now that we know about Kranix and his gang, keep an eye out for the Sigma Brand."

Phantom nodded as they turned a corner. "So do you want Good cop or Bad cop?"

"I'd rather we both be the bad cop." Harpuria said as they approached a building occupying the far end of an ally, an old sign read "clinic" above the door as the two calmly walked up, and at the same time kicked the door in, sending it to the floor.

"No one gets in." Harpuria said to the Hunters. The Pantheons saluted and stood guard as he and Phantom walked in, having surprised a reploid gang inside, probably there to get repairs.

"OH SHIT NEO ARCADIA!" one of them said, two of them started to pull out weapons as a third made for the back.

"Phantom." Harpuria said, nodding to the runner.

"Right." Phantom gave a nod, dashing after the runner as Harpuria drew his beam sabers. "Where's Kresh?"

"Fuck you pig." said the one resident, he took aim firing his buster gun only for Harpuria to effortlessly deflect the shot, dashed at the attacker and proceeded to slice his arm off before he could get another shot off.

"Wrong answer." said Harpuria as he cut the reploid in half.

"You bastard!" the other one said as she aimed her buster gun at Harpuria, Harpuria was faster though, decapitating the reploid before slicing her body in half, he then turned around, ducking a wide haymaker from a particularly large reploid with fists that could probably take his head off if he wasn't careful. He swung his sabers up as he stood, slicing both of the large arms off before ramming the blades into the big reploid's chest. The reploid twitched and fell to the floor. Two more reploids came at Harpuria from behind, who simply flipped his sabers around, stabbing the two through the head without even looking. 'and people wonder why we are always declaring so many reploids maverick.' he thought to himself.

Harpuria looked around, no more hostiles. He deactivated his Beam Sabers, picking up a sidearm, as he went down a hall hearing a commotion. Coming up to a door, he listened briefly before drawing his Beam Saber and slicing the door open and walking in.

"Jesus!" standing there working on a reploid was an elderly looking reploid with wild looking hair, a mustache and a long beaky nose and double chin. He had a thin frame with light armor colored silver with a white lab coat over the armor. He had an apparatus attached to his back with various instruments on armatures that he controlled. The reploid being worked on went for his sidearm seeing Harpuria, only for Harpuria to blast the poor guys head off with the sidearm he pilfered, and before the old reploid could react, Harpuria grabbed him, pinned him to the operating table and put the Buster Gun to his face. "Hello Kresh."

"S-Sage Harpuria...what a pleasant surprise." Kresh said nervously. "Did you really have to kill my patients though? You could have at least maybe maimed them a little, would have been more business for me."

"I'm not here for idle chatter." Harpuria said as he pressed the barrel closer. "I'm here about Master X."

"What about him?" Kresh asked.

"I know he's infected with the maverick virus, and you've been supplying him with a vaccine." said Harpuria.

"I have no idea what you're talking abou-" his eyes widen when Harpuria clicked off the safety. "Okay okay okay! yes he's infected, has been for some time now."

"We know." said Harpuria. "How long?"

"Si-Since before the energy crisis started." said Kresh. "he came to me, saying that he had the maverick virus inside him."

"For how long?" Harpuria asked.

"He didn't say." said Kresh. "But I suspect it's been him for a long time. I told him I could cure him and purge the virus easy, I tend to get my hands on some good quality cyber elves for such things. But he said no, he didn't want it purged, just contained."

Harpuria blinked. "What did you say?"

"I said he just wanted it contained, he wanted a vaccine to keep the symptoms under control. He didn't care what the virus would do to him, he didn't want it purged. I didn't ask questions, not with the amount of Zenny he's paying me."

"The symptoms have been getting worse though." said Harpuria.

"Yes I know." said Kresh nervously, staring cross eyed at the gun barrel. "I keep imploring him to let me cure him, but he just insists on me making stronger vaccines. One time when he showed up, there were times during the conversation where he seemed to be talking to someone at random, hallucinations brought on by the virus, and that's recent. If something isn't done soon, no amount of vaccine I can make will be strong enough to contain the virus. He'll go completely maverick."

"The cure. Do you have it?" Harpuria asked.

"Yes." said Kresh. "I created it just in case X changed his mind. But at this point I'm not sure if it'll work."

"Give it to me." said Harpuria. "I know someone who can make it work."

"Right." Harpuria let Kresh up, and he went over to one of the cabinent and sifted around. "As for price."

"You get to keep living." said Harpuria aiming the buster gun at Kresh. "How's that for payment?"

"Sounds wonderful!" Kresh said quickly. "A very reasonable trade and-"

"Less talk, more finding." said Harpuria, watching as Phantom walked in, literally carrying the one that had ran by his shirt. He was no more than a boy and a human at that, wearing a t shirt with a penguin, shorts and plated sneakers as he flailed about in Phantom's arm. He had blue hair and eyes and was slightly pale

"Let go of me!" he said. "No good Arcadian trash! I'll beat all of you up."

Harpuria raised an eyebrow at the kid, then looked at Phantom, noting a crack in his mask and what looked to be a black eye.

"Don't ask." said Phantom, trying to muffle a grumble. Harpuria just smirked.

"Peng knock it off." Kresh said to the kid. He was now rifling through the drawers.

"So what did you find out." Phantom asked, still holding the flailing Peng at arm's length and generally ignoring him.

"X refused to have the virus cured." said Harpuria. "Only have the symptoms controlled."

"What?" Phantom looked a little surprised. "If Kresh can cure X, why didn't he take it?"

"You'll have to ask him that." Kresh said. "But I doubt he'll admit it. He was adamant about not letting the public know about his infection. Why else come to back ally street doc like me?" he looked to the two Shittenou. "What surprises me though is that he didn't tell the two of you."

"He didn't tell anyone." Harpuria said, he was getting more and more agitated the more he learned about this. "Does he not trust us?"

"If you ask me Sage Harpuria." Kresh said, approaching Harpuria with a container. "I have my suspicions about X's infection."

"Suspicions?" Harpuria looked at Kresh. "explain."

"Simply put." said Kresh. "I'm not entirely sure he is infected. If it was the Maverick Virus, he'd have had it purged back in Neo Arcadia. But instead he goes out of his way to hide his condition from EVERYONE, even those he trusts, and comes to me to have the virus suppressed rather that removed. What does that tell you?"

Harpuria stayed quiet for a moment, before replying. "It means that whatever is infected him and making him go maverick, he doesn't want it getting out of his body, which could happen if we tried to purge the virus from his systems."

"Right." said Kresh. "So you need to ask yourself, is saving X worth the dangers of unleashing whatever it is he's using his own body to contain?"

Harpuria said nothing as he turned to the door. "Phantom we're leaving."

Phantom nodded, dropping Peng on his feet, who proceeded to throw a kick right into the Ninja's shin.

"Oww!" Phantom winced, hopping slightly as Peng stuck his tongue out at him.

"Thats what you get!" he said.

PART 3

How long has he been in darkness? When was the last time he saw the light? The moon? No he barely survived that encounter with the three of them, managed to escape back to Earth. All he can remember though is that darkness, laying there for so long, conscious and yet unable to do anything, unable to see anything. He could hear, slightly. He remembered hearing voices, one of them was familiar. They were talking about someone, another name familiar to him. X? Yes that was it, Megaman X and Zero, the two he hated most. He despised the special treatment X received, and Zero just rubbed him the wrong way.

"Train him?" he stood there staring at his commander, a tall imposing reploid with green armor and a balding head, he didn't have those scars on his eyes that he was known for yet.

"Yes Vile, you're our best Hunter, I can think of no one else capable of training X than you."

"He's a coward and a pacifist!" said Vile. "He hesitates even during combat drills. Someone like him should be put behind a desk, not out on the field. He hesitates in the field he could get someone killed!"

"Then make sure that hesitation of his is gone." said the commander. "X has the potential to be one of the greatest Hunters out there. His desire to protect humans is stronger than anyone else."
"But...Commander!"

"No buts!" said the commander. "Get going Vile."

Was that when it started? His hatred for X? Forced to babysit him and train him, and by the end of it X managed to humiliate him.

"I'll show him." he said during the last time he was stewing in Solitary. "I'll show all of them, I'm better than X, I'm better that everyone!"

"Then prove it." He was surprised when the cell opened, and there was the commander standing there. Even more surprised by the fact he was openly rebelling against the humans, thus starting the Maverick Wars. But if it meant putting X in his place and proving himself the better hunter? So be it, he'll turn Maverick and join Sigma.

That was the first time he found himself in the darkness, killed by someone he was suppose to be superior to, that only made his hatred worse. But he was brought out of the darkness the first time by Doppler, who upgraded his body, gave him a new Ride Armor, and a chance to kill X again, but even that failed, and again he was thrown back into the darkness, and wouldn't be pulled back for years, when the commander woke him up once more to help him to control of the Jacobs elevator. That was the last time he encountered the one he hated, the last time he fought X. He survived that final encounter, but barely, and managed to escape back to earth, what happened after that he doesn't remember. Perhaps his wounds caught up to him, and passed away in some dark corner, all he knew was that once again he was in the darkness, and wasn't coming back this time.

And then he heard the voices, one of them was him, Zero, arguing with someone else, something about X...going maverick? A girl spoke up, saying that he, besides Zero, was the only one who could stand against X. Someone was praising him? Had to be a dream. Then came more voices, something about repairing him? Bringing him back online...to help fight X? Another female voice, she sounded worried and mistrustful, who could blame her? After that there were no more voices, and soon, the light was coming back.

"where?" His voice flanged slightly as he systems were coming back on his own, as light came into view, and his vision cleared, he saw he was in some kind of lab, a repair bay maybe? He was laying on a table, his body different from the Green color scheme he had during the Jacobs incident. He was back to his traditional purple, now over a black bodysuit. The armor had a long coat like look, that flared open at the bottom to allow his legs to move. He started to sit up, and that got the attention of what appeared to be a guard in his room. He wore a black bodysuit under a green vest, green cargo pants and brown plated boots, he wore a beret on his head and was quickly approaching the table he was laying down on.

"Someone contact Ciel!" the guard was saying, probably through a com link. "Vile just woke up and-"

Instinct kicked in. He grabbed the guard, snapping his neck and pulling out his sidearm, the door to the hall slid open and two more guards that were outside came in, brandishing what looked like rifles. They didn't last long as Vile put a bullet each in their heads before getting up, taking in his surroundings for a moment. How much time passed? These reploids didn't look like the ones he was use to. He quickly ran out of the door. He didn't care what was going on, how he was revived, all he wants to do now is find X, find, Zero, and kill them both. Alarm was sounding and he looked down the hall seeing more guards coming at him. He kicked in his acceleration, dashing at the group, shoulder tackling one as he turned, putting a bullet in another, grabbing the third and snapping his neck like he did the guard in the repair bay. He'd then turn, shooting the one he tackled.

"Need an exit." he said, looking around. He raced down the hall, turned a corner, there a stairway. He came to a stop, and slowly made his way up. There were voices on the other side, a commotion, what sounded like dishes and utensils. His sensors were picking up something, a smell...food?

'A kitchen?' he thought. What would Maverick hunters need a human kitchen for? We're they even maverick hunters? Regardless, he had to get out of here, And so he kicked open the door and came through, stumbling into the kitchen and surprising everyone.

"Holy shit!" came the reply of a short chubby Reploid, possibly the head chef. "Quick someone warn Ciel! Get the dining hall evacuated."

Vile weighed his options, the back door was no good, they had people covering it already. He wasn't going to start blasting, he'd hit the equipment, set off an explosion, one he doesn't want to get caught in. So he threw his gun at one the waiters, and dashed for the swinging doors, barreling by everyone as they tried to stop him. He skidded to a stop though when he went through, his brain trying to process what he was seeing. From an advanced Maverick Hunter Base, to what looked like some kind of Medieval tavern? Strange creatures sat at the tables, pigs, wolves. What was he in some kind of Fantasy game or something? He looked ahead, the front door, freedom, there were several women standing there though, two of em were wearing some kind of outdated the armor, the third was an older woman, and the fourth one a young girl in pink. They all turned hearing the shouting, and the blonde girl's eyes went wide with horror.

Instinct kicked in again, and he dashed for the door, The fat guy came out, shouting "stop him before he escapes!" Patrons, ones that were apparently armed, would stand, trying to help the waiters. He'd punch a wolf man in the jaw, pulling out his dagger from his sheath, he'd turn stabbing a human in the gut and slashing another down his arm, others were screaming as he drew blood, and he barreled through, grabbing the blonde in pink and wrenching her in front of him as he backed toward the corner, Everyone in the room had weapons drawn, from swords and axes, to buster guns and rifles, people were attending to the wounded, and Vile put his dagger to the girl's throat.

"NO ONE MOVE!" he said. "ANYONE COMES NEAR ME! AND THIS GIRL DIES!"