AUTHOR'S NOTES: In response to SapphireCrimsonSora, this is not exactly my last MMX fanfic. AO3/Archive of Our Own is another fanfiction site like FFN. A lot of people have been uploading their fanfiction there instead of here. Plus it's got more features and a more modern interface/it's more user friendly. So if I ever write more MMX fics, it will be more there than here. Although I might be just uploading it on AO3 first, with FFN getting it later on. But who knows? I'll finish this one first. By the way, thanks for mentioning Massimo two reviews ago; it inspired a tiny bit of this chapter.
The Voice in Your Heart
Page 86: Rebuilt Lives, Rebuilt Hearts
"Holy shit," was Epsilon's first words upon stopping the deep sync into Cinnamon's memories.
"What... did you see?" Axl asked.
"Long story short... the Professor didn't have long to live. Marino had come and gave Cinnamon a device to contact her through standard signals, so she can take Cinnamon with her to some sort of reploid scientist guild she founded. But when the Professor croaked, Cinnamon went into an intense panic attack and overclocked her systems before she could contact Marino."
Axl opened his mouth and closed it again before speaking for real. "Guh. That device is basically our ticket back to civilization. But if Marino comes here and found that Cinnamon's CPU is dead, she'll kill us."
"Not quite. Her memory chip is salvageable. Those scientists can install a new CPU for her, or even build a whole new body." Epsilon replied.
"Let's hope she'll listen to us. Did you know where the device is?"
"Cinnamon's bedside table. Let's hope it still works."
Followed by Epsilon, Axl walked around the big laboratory and found Cinnamon's bedroom. The door was unlocked, and he entered the dusty bedroom. Sure enough, they found the device on the bedside table. Fortunately, it still worked. Unfortunately, dial noises came out of it, stunning both Axl and Epsilon into silence.
"Hello? Cinnamon?" Marino's voice rang out seconds after.
"Oh, shit—" Axl let slip a swear.
"What the fuck? Who is... Axl? Aren't you supposed to be dead? How the hell did you get here? Where's Cinnamon?"
"I... Marino, I have a lot of things to explain."
"Hell yes you do. Spill it."
"I got into a fight with a maverick professor. He sicced his creation on me. It was an advanced iteration of New-Gens that doesn't turn back to its original form once killed—"
"Wait. Hold up... who's the guy's name?"
"Eh...? Let me try to remember. Uh... Turquoise Frost, or something."
"Oh, goddamn. I..."
"You know him?"
"Yeah. We parted ways some time ago. Anyways, on with your story."
"Before that, I want to confirm something; was he part of your guild?"
"Wha—how'd you know about our guild?"
"Cinnamon's thankfully-still-intact memory chip. Her CPU is fried, but with the memory chip, your guys can always make her a new body, right?"
"Ah, I see. Yeah, that's right. Anyways, Turquoise Frost broke off from the guild. He wanted to move forward the fast way, but the rest of us rejected his money laundering idea, so he went and fucked off. So don't go around harassing us. We got a government permit and everything too."
"Alright, alright. But I need your help. Everyone thinks I'm dead, but I have Turquoise's memory chip; I want to take it to the Hunters to be analysed. This is so that everyone can see the entire fight from his perspective and see that the real Axl is not the one that's been killed. I need to prove the world that I'm not dead. You come here, get Cinnamon, and then let me come with you. Deal?"
"Yeah, sure. Wait for me for like, an hour. I'll teleport there and come find you. I'm guessing you're in Gaudile Laboratories?"
"Correct. Can I use this device to call you again if something happens?"
"Yeah, sure can. Likewise, I can call you too. Don't let go of the thing. That's how I can track your location too."
"Okay, bye, Marino. See you."
"See ya, Axl."
And with that, they hung up. While they waited, Axl and Epsilon explored the laboratory and spent their time walking around its knowledge archives until Marino showed up. After carefully taking Cinnamon's memory chip out and giving Professor Gaudile a proper send-off, Axl and Marino used the teleporting device in Gaudile Laboratories to teleport to the guild's headquarters.
Within days, they were able to contact the Hunters and Axl gave them Turquoise Frost's memory chip for them to analyse. They were able to see the entire fight from the professor's perspective; how he sicced his creation on Axl, then how the real Axl chased him down the laboratory before killing him. And sure enough, everything checked out... after which the excited Maverick Hunters higher-ups handed Axl yet another lifetime contract.
It was the reason why Axl was quieter than everyone else in the Giga City group reunion party. Fortunately, he wasn't alone.
"You're a hero again, Axl," X remarked as he idly swirled his glass, "I think you're doing good just the way you are."
Zero nodded before glancing at the happy group of Marino, Cinnamon, Massimo, and Professor Gaudile.
After Cinnamon was rebuilt, she had demanded Axl and Marino to rebuild Professor Gaudile as well, to which Marino complied. While she can't convince the guild to let him in still, Professor Gaudile decided to try his shot at the Maverick Hunters, who fortunately accepted him. While father and daughter will need to part ways, they can still stay in touch.
Zero then turned back to Axl, "I don't think you need to sign that contract."
"I know. I still get shivers just thinking about it," Axl replied before taking a bite out of his food. As much as he'd like to deny it, Epsilon was right; the work was eating away at him. "But I don't know where to go. You two... you're one of the few people that's always been by my side."
X let out a small laugh. "Aw, shucks. We care about you a lot too, Axl. And that's exactly why we'd send the higher-ups a big fat rejection letter if we were you. Besides, didn't you resign before? We were able to keep in touch even after you're out."
"I did, yeah..." Axl replied, "But this time, I'm not so sure."
"Sorry to interrupt you guys," Marino spoke as she approached X, Zero, and Axl's table, "But I think I have something that can help."
"What?" Axl blurted out.
"It's my reploid scientist guild again," Marino replied, "They told me to recruit you if you're willing to."
Zero beamed, "Hey, that's good news!"
"Exactly. I think you should go with them, Axl." X chimed in.
Axl raised his eyebrows, "But why me? And if they want me in, why didn't they tell me myself when I was in the Guild HQ?"
Marino shrugged, "They see you as a champion of truth or something. Remember when you fought to expose the real truth of the Lagrano experiments? They noticed that. And they didn't tell you upfront because they thought you want to come back to the Hunters, since you seemed to be quite eager about it. Some of us did notice that you weren't that eager to return, more to clear your name, so... yeah. If you're worried about pay, there's no need to. We've advanced a lot since we first started and have a good, stable stream of income now."
"Well, that's great," Axl responded, relief filling his voice, "But what do they want me in for? I'm no scientist."
"Simple. Like me and Massimo, security," Marino replied, "Our HQ is getting bigger. Plus you're a New-Gen. You'll also be handy for some engineering help."
Zero whistled, "Not bad. It's a much less stressful job. At least you won't be getting cut in half again anytime soon."
X stepped on Zero's foot hard, "Zero!"
Axl and Marino just laughed as Zero shrieked.
