A bit more movement from Zero in this one... just don't expect much from him.

Also, Self-insert...

More like... how I wich I would be at but know it's not possible. or the version of me that's both self-indulgent and representative of a few things.

get used to her.

The rest of the morning was uneventful; save for that time were Omega, in full scouting mode, had broken a padlock and entered the (closed) animatronic Gita presentation hall's and turned on the displays.

Good thing: he had taken to its teaching quite rapidly, and the computers were now running smoothly, free from their glitches.

Bad thing: Omega had found the animatronic's servicing area, had broken yet another padlock and had attempted to fix Zero with less than ideal result…obliviously, the Legendary reploid was more complex than some mere soulless machine moved by pneumatic and cerveaus.

Oh…and Zero's fuel tank was damaged, meaning he would leak out whatever Omega had managed to dribble in his mouth... and not on the rest of his body.s

Also, when Zero would intake something that was not meant to go into his system, he would spit it out... violently.

Omega meant well; he really did.

After cleaning the resulting mess (mostly hydraulic oils, petroleum, and whatever Omega had tried using to fix Zero.) Yavata had taken the broken Hero with him for a Harinama session.

Zero seemed to react positively to Harinama Sankirtan, and while it was sure the ex 'video game' characters had a damaged voice box, Zero was still doing his best to chan the Holy names of Krishna- whether consciously or not.

Yavat just had to make sure no one would ask him any question, for he knew the 'it's just a broken radio' excuse would fail eventually.

After the class on the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.11.29.), Yavat had found a place where he and Zero could stay and listen to the sweet kirtana of Krishna's Holy Names while still being out of sight (and normal ear range.)

He wished he could join the chanters but after…that time. Yavata's voice refused to return, no matter what they had tried. 'Oh well, shravanam is the first and most important step in Bhakti-marga…as is Kirtanam…'

"You know, Guru-dev told us that you only need to listen. I can chant to holy names for the both of us, I assure you." Came the somewhat haughty tone of Nava-Yauvana das.

"The both of you? So, I'm what? Two-day old rice?" Came the voice of Nalini Devi Dasi, another Ghostly Godsister. "Please don't forget about me when going home. You know I count on you for dragging me out of this place of misery after all."

Both ghosts had decided to remain with Yavat after they had chased away the rest, freeing the persona user from their subtle effects. He who used to be a fool with many personas to use was now a 'wise man' with only two spirits at his 'bidding.' Powerful spirits, for sure, and loving, caring and devoted to him in such a way that made Yavat realized that he was well and truly loved by more than just his 'brother' and 'Mother in law.'

'No, of course not." Nava pacified his girlfriend. 'When you chant, of dear Nalini, then you chant for a thousand…more than enough to beseech the Lord for Yavata and yourself…and for me also.'

Yavat gave a small smile. 'Yes…I still don't know why you'd elected to remain in my head when you had the chance for a human form of life, though.' Yavata spoke to his only two remaining persona ghostly friends. 'Phalguni would have raised you well, and Radha had enough space for the two of you.'

'Yes, you are right, my dear.' Nalini spoke as she manifested to Yavata's eyes only, her doll-like feature soften by the golden Tilaka mark on her forehead and her nearly human features. She was still mainly monochrome, but Nyx had lost her fear-inducing aura. "But you see. We love you, and Gurudev instructed me to watch over you." She leaned he elbows on the table, her chin resting on her hands. "So you're stuck with us until you go back home, Back to Godhead."

"Which will happen," It was now Nava-yauvana turn to manifest at the table's other chair. His dark hair styled in a black pompadour with a green streak, wearing a black trench coat over a white shirt and a pair of black slack decorated with a belt held in place by a coffin buckle. A Gothic cross decorated one ear, and black polish stained his nails. His face was gaunt, his translucent skin letting his skull shine through. On his forehead glowed an effulgent Tilaka, and a three stand Tulasi necklace adorned his neck.

Yavata had soon gotten used to Nava's style of clothing…not that he had any control over it. Still, it was better than having this vague, green humanoid blob of ectoplasm floating around his head.

"I have vowed in front of the Lord and his consort thus, and I Navar…Nava-Yauvana shall not break this oath." The Heir of Nyx boldly declared. "Mark my words."

Yavat smile at the two spirits; who would have thought a pair of ghosts would be so pleasant? 'That's nice…I know we will be able to reach the feet of Srimati-Radharani it this lifetime…' his smile fell.

'What do you think of this new situation?' He asked his two ghostly advisors.

"About the two dolls, you mean." Nalini clarified.

'Yes…them. They're Reploid or…well, I guess Robot Master should be a better…no wait…let's just call them androids.' Yavat stumbled on his words. While he used to be a huge fan of the game and had learned everything he could about Mega Man X, Zero and the world they lived in, the blue-haired youth knew some of the terms could be changed to something less…confusing and more descriptive.

Nalini Looked at Yavat, definitely not impressed by his 'eloquent' explanation. "They are... Like Mukhara, but unlike your mother-in-law, Omega and Zero's body have been completely replaced by an electronic doll." Then she daintily rubbed her chin. "But to be honest, they have even more in common with Karuna-Sindhu when he was Aigis."

'oh? Really? Huh, then it's clear they're...hmm...secondary body is of better quality than my sister was. '

"Indeed. But you shouldn't call them Reploids… or androids."

'Sorry.'

"It's alright, dear child, everyone gets them wrong, you know. Real androids have no souls, they are but mere machines programmed to appear humans." Nalini explained.

"And while they may move and speak like a human…let us be very honest here, even the puppets in the land with the mouse could not interact with the public without their puppeteers speaking for them," Nava-Yauvana added his two cents. "And I dare say, those two…this…Zero and Omega have no need for any strings."

"No, But they need God in their life," Nalini said. "Like everyone for that matter."

"Especially Zero," Nava-Yauvana added. "My dear Yavat, the first time I've met you, you were not as emotionally damaged as he."

Yavata made a face as he remembered the end of his hellish torture.' Really? I thought I turned completely vegetative at one point.'

"You were," Nalini confirmed. "And it was only due to us keeping your subtle body together that you managed to pull out. For Zero... His subtle body may be less damaged, but his emotional body... oh, he is truly in a dark place at the moment." She said quietly as Nava comforting wrapped an arm around his beloved, a look of concern marring his ever young features.

'I…I know what you mean. Zero will need all the help he can get.' It had taken five years of counselling, therapy and plenty of pure love from his brother and 'mothers' to get where he was at. Still…for him, Zero and 'Mentally damaged' simply didn't fit in the same phrase. Let alone in the same book…

'But then…after all he went through, saner man would have snapped much...much earlier.'

"Indeed…But I do see his recovery happening faster than anticipated," Nalini revealed, having a sense of the future better than most.

'Oh…that's good to know. Wait, I need to check up on something; I can't hear Zero chant anymore'. Yavata turned his steel-grey glance towards the bag…and following a hunch (Krishna dictation.), discreetly opened the bag to check up on Zero.

'Oh no…His gem's flashing.' Something Yavata had learned about Zero was that his crest jewel would flash when his battery was low…just like Omega. He grabbed a handful of Zero's hair, some golden strands dull and brittle, and gently brushed them against the charging port on the egg generator. At the contact with the electrified outlet, the tiny strand took the shape of the connector, and power began to course through Zero, maintaining him alive.

They didn't want to risk the chance to have him run out, for the most common time a computer's hardware would fail was on startup.

He could have used the umbilical port…but it just felt way too weird to reach in Zero, his favourite Mega man X protagonist…belly and plugged what amounted to an umbilical cord to one of Mother Uttara's egg.

Sure, Yavata's life may be weird, what with living with a pair of ghosts in his head, a real-life Dryad that happened to be his legal 'husband' and having the ancient, legendary prince of Japan as his Godsister and 'mother in law.' But this?

No, this was too much.

'Nalini…are you sure he'll get better?' Yavata wearily asked the...

Actually, the Yaksha still had no idea what Nalini was, only that she was Nyx...no, not his ex-boyfriend, but legitimately Nyx.

'Yes, I am; I cannot see the Yamaduta's dogs sniffing around.'

'Good!' Yavata sighed as he gently stroke Zero's forehead.

" But there is something you will need to do to assure dear Zero's survival." She said. "as long as Zero is in a red rigid suit-case bought at half price at this one shop on this one street by the banyan tree, then he will pull it out stronger than ever…otherwise." Nalini helplessly shrugged. "Game over until next life."

Yavata took note of it all; he would ask this one taxi driver he knew.

"Oh, and it had to be decorated with a rosary…I'll tell you which one," Nalini added with the wagging of her finger.

'Shopping then.' The blue-haired Summoner deduced. Most of their stuff had gotten hopelessly damaged by this freak lighting strike, so they had an excuse for going out to spend, it wasn't like they wouldn't get more clothes in Navadwip town. They also had to find a way how to hide Omega's glowing red eyes…

With a sigh, Yavata got up, taking the bag with him. He went over Omega and Karuna-Sindhu; both seemed to be engrossed in a very animated conversation.

"-And then Mother Yashoda tied her baby son, Krishna the supreme personality of godhead, to a grinding mortar with the rope of her pure love. Lovingly punishing him for the crime of breaking the churning pot, stealing butter, feeding it to the Vraja-monkeys and finally running away from her." Karuna narrated the lord's best known pastime to Omega, who was listening to the green-haired Vaishnava with rapped attention, his mouth slightly ajar, showing a pair of sharp canines.

"…so…God can be defeated by love?" The red-eyed doll asked his teacher with clear awe in his voice.

"Oh yeah. Krishna's willing and ready to do anything when it comes to prema. And he will do anything in his unlimited power to get it…even if it means He will have to be a servant of his own servants." Karuna smiled; clearly, this was realized knowledge for him.

"And how about Radha? Who is she? Does she love Krishna? Why is she on the altar beside Him…and those two girls that look like Radha, who are they?" Omega began to ask up a storm, his eyes bright and innocent…

'He's young…and yet the only thing he knows is war and death. He's supposed to be evil, by the way.' Yavat spoke to his two guardians. He heard Nalini snort.

'Evil? No…misguided and used? Definitely.'

'Yet another puppet used by a hermit for his own amusement…two of them in fact.' Nava-Yauvana sneered, causing the ambient air around him to grow even colder than it had any right to be.

Not that it was such a terrible thing in India.

Yavat cleared his throat, probably one of the only noise he could produce…short of sounding like a dying cancer patient or the Zombie he was rigged to be.

"Oh hey! Yavat!" Karuna got up from his chair and embraced his brother warmly. "What's up, bro? Is everything fine with Zero? And how are Nalini and Nava-Yauvana?" The green-haired Vaishnava referred to the two 'personas' inhabiting his head.

Yavat walked out of Karuna's embrace and began to sign. : They are doing great, as per Usual…Zero, not so much.: Her regretfully informed. : Don't Let Omega know yet…But something is wrong with Zero's battery. He can't maintain a charge.:

: Really?: Karuna-Sindhu Replied, his eyes conveying how worried he felt. : But…Oh Krishna, I thought he had something like a reactor or something."

: Karun, had to recharge this morning, and in his in-game Bio's, it is said that he 'recharge' via sunlight. This means he has a way to store Soorya's energy, or a battery: Yavata signed as he tried to keep his face pleasant, even if deep anger burned in his heart.

:…but I guess their hermit wanted to make their bodies as inconvenient as possible. : Karuna's face darkened, his pupil glowing a bit more reddish then what the Yaksha liked.

: Oh…Yeah, sound like a pretty twisted hermit then.: Yavata, having played through the entire series, knew what X and Zero had to slog through…. And then there was the Zero serial. 'Is it a wonder Zero's broken both in and out?'

And he had to live through this on repeat…over and over again.

: Anyway, I need to buy some things for our trip back home. Yavat 'spoke' to his brother. : Nalini told me I needed a suitcase to carry Zero in since the bag strap is digging in my shoulder and we will not fly until were in Navadwip…I thought it would be easier and a bit kinder to all of us to have something with wheels.:

Karuna nodded. "Yeah…that was the plan. In the darkness, I could not make you or the bag out…but in broad daylight, it's painfully oblivious were lugging a body around.

: Again.:

: So…what's your plan? :

: Glasses and a very covering dress for Omega, a red suitcase with a rosary and plenty of pillow for Zero.: Yavat turned his gaze at the aforementioned Reploid. He was reading the Krishna book, probably the Damodara Lila.

: You're preparing him for Kartika?: Yavata asked.

: Wasn't my plan, but…well, he's like super curious about Krishna and anything related to him.: Karuna smiled fondly.

: That's good, fill his heart with Krishna's pastime, we don't know when Maha-Maya will grab him again.: Omega never had an outside world experience, and from what Yavata had understood, the 'mad' reploid was too busy hiding Zero and figuring out New-Delhi for trying whatever sense gratification was offered to him.

Not only that, but the 'century' old reploid was as innocent as a child…and would probably steal some cloth to dress a half-naked prostitute…not that such a thing had managed to enter India…yet.

And yet… the Lord's illusory potency was impossible to fight less her Master, Bhagavan Sri-Krishna, told her to back off.

: Anyway, Omega's favourable and thus will need cultivation and Zero needs…well he needs something better than a black duffle bag as a start.: Yavata signed.

"Yeah, sounds good enough." Karuna-Sindhu nodded: But…I think you may have yet another problem with Omega.

: Which is?: Yavata wearily asked.

"He and Zero are obliviously not human, they are 'robots'…and you know how Hindus love to take pictures, right?" Karuna-Sindhu explained to his brother.

: Oh…yeah…I understand but…But I'd rather teach Omega how to deal with them. And get this over with quickly, then have him face this type of mob alone. : Yavat signed back with some resignation.

"Alright then, just make sure you both come back at noon; we still need to prepare for this train ride," Karuna-Sindhu spoke aloud, indirectly addressing the eavesdropping Reploid. "I won't be able to join in your sacred shopping sojourn, but I will keep an eye on our infinitely precious guest."

At that moment, Yavat realized something. 'I have a weird life.'

"Zero?" He heard the plant addressed him. He sounded concerned. Once again, Zero had slipped in his emergency power-saving mode. And once again, he was plugged into the egg generator.

His less damaged umbilical cord was used this time.

'How long will this last…I can barely function for an hour…can't I die yet?' He was tired of waiting…tired of suffering. He just wanted his Hell to end.

"Zero, I know you can hear me…" Karuna-Sindhu spoke, putting one of his hands on what was left of Zero's shoulder. "Don't give up just yet; don't let Sigma and Weil win this. You hear?"

'How does he know…about them?' It was a dream…of course, he would know.

"You…must think this is a dream, don't you." The compassion that oozed from those words was beyond anything X could have churned out at his kindest. "It's aright Zero, I felt the same too."

Zero…raised his head. The endeavour taking too much energy for the legendary wreck likes.

If this was a dream…he wouldn't feel the drain…or, he would feel it, but…it would be dream-like. 'I make no sense…'

Zero could see the young man through half a vision, his green scare and green hair indicating his inhuman nature. And yet, he was pleasing to look at, his whole face glowed, his eyes were bright and clear. And his smile pure and compassionate.

When was the last time he saw someone look like this? Centuries? Millennia?

X looked at Zero, his green eyes clear, his smile bright… 'Eh, Thank Zero, I couldn't have done it without you. You're a great teacher!'

Zero closed his eyes…he was no stranger to excruciating pain but this?

"Here." Karuna put…was it a slate? A data-pad? "That's a phone." He spoke. "A smartphone."

A smartphone…on it was a text.

"Can you read it?"

Yes…Zero could. He had no idea what it meant. But he could make out the numbers and letters. It seemed to be in Romanised Sanskrit.

"Good." Then Karuna-Sindhu covered the small screen with the palms of his hands before re-showing it. "Can you read this now? Just nod, blink, breath…whatever."

With some effort, Zero nodded, trying to show how…tired he was of those games.

"Very good. So this just proved that this is not a dream then." Karuna smile beatifically. "And no, it's not an illusion either. It's real. I'm real, God's real, Yavata is real and Omega is also real."

Zero looked at the young man with his one good eye, his vision fritzing intermittently. He wished he could somehow speak to him…

He turned his darkened glance to the smartphone. 'Hmm…This…is less of a phone and more of a computer…I wonder if…' He willed one of his Nanite hairs to reach for the device. 'Huh…so, I'm compatible with it…' Illusion or not, he wanted to communicate with this young man…he had, a few questions to ask.

After connecting himself to the microcomputer…Zero broke his silence.

"You are Karuna-Sindhu. An ocean of Mercy." He spoke through the speaker, not bothering to hide how weary he was of everything.

Karuna gave a beaming smile. His eyes closing from his sun-like smile. "hey! There you go. Now I know why Omega was so happy this morning. My name is Karuna-Sindhu Das Adhikari" He emphasized. "Basically, I'm just a servant."

"Omega…why…" Zero tried to put into words all the questions he had about the mad mech. "He cared for me…I'm his…enemy. Mad…dangerous…will destroy everything." He tried to emphasized.

"Yeah…I don't know. But I would wager you were the only one he knew so…I guess he didn't want to leave to only familiar face he knew." Karuna explained. "But one thing's for sure Zero, no matter what happened between the two of you, Omega's attached to you. And his powers been sealed away, he can't use it as long as he wears this fancy ribbon. So you don't need to worry about him going on a rampage. "

"I see…it's kind of him but..." Zero dryly replied. "I don't have long…you are powerful…you will be able to stop him…" He had been about to suicide bomb the demon lurking in his original frame…but the blue-haired elf-meister and Karuna's presence made the hero realized that…it was unneeded.

Zero was unneeded.

"Your battery's shot right?" Karuna broke the black, red and gold legend out of his musing.

Zero closed his eye. "Unfortunately…this is one thing…Yamuna devi dasi didn't fix." No Zero didn't feel bitter about that fact. It just meant that this whole illusion would end rather quickly, and the cycles would start anew. "What year is it here?"

"2041, today the fifth of October, a Monday to be exact."

"Hmm…so…it's…"

"Not 21XX anymore Zero. And no war happened, no elf war, no maverick war…and the only androids are the type you're using to speak." Karuna-Sindhu explained.

This prompted Zero to look at the phone.

"It's called an android…you and Omega and X and every other reploid you know are doll bodies."

"Doll…bodies?" Zero repeated. Trying to understand what the green-haired plant was talking about.

"It means that you're not a robot, you are a ghost that got stuck to an artificial body via tantric magic." The plant-like human smiled. "Hey, Cap-chats won't be a problem for you!"

" If I'm not a robot…what am I then?" Zero asked. As far as he knew, he was but a bunch of very intricate code crammed in a chip…just some data, nothing more.

"You are a spirit soul. Just like everything with some consciousness." Karuna-Sindhu patiently explained to the damaged reploid. "If it has a birth, a growth period, can reproduce and die…and if he has emotion, desires and consciousness, then the soul is present. And that's what makes the otherwise dead body move."

"A…spirit soul…Not this body…" Zero wearily murmured as his entire energies, As flagging as they were, were all going to his processor. "This body I'm in…never had a birth…didn't grow and definitely can't reproduce himself…at least, not naturally." He could be cloned…imperfectly. "I was always told…I was…mere codes…numbers….hertz…0 and 1...just some programs…nothing more…"

"Alright…but are you feeling, thinking and willing?" The green-haired Vaishnava asked.

"Yes." He could think, he could desire, he had a will…and he definitely could feel.

"Then you are a Jiva," Nanashi concluded. "A spirit soul, eternal by nature, always conscious and active and filled with bliss."

"I…don't feel like any of this…except the eternal part." Zero tried to joke…but he was sure it fell flat.

Karuna-Sindhu's eyes grew wide open. "What's this? Is it….no? It can't be…" then he smirked. "Zero…You do have a sense of humour."

"No…no, it can't be." X's optic grew wide as he gazed at zero with all seriousness. And then, he cracked a smile. "Zero! You do have a sense of humour!"

Zero painfully closed his eyes…willing the pain to leave, to fade. 'X…no…you're gone….everything I knew…everyone is gone…gone for good…'

Gone for good…

All a lie…

X

X

X

X

X

his broken voice streamed through the phone's speaker as his body shook. "It's all gone…why did I die for…why did X suffer so much…was it all for nothing?"

"Zero? Hey, baba. What's wrong? Did something failed? You in pain? Zero? Zero!" Nanashi held his shoulder tighter, keeping the broken reploid steady as…as reality asserted it.

It was funny really, how Zero had stubbornly held on to the belief that Yamuna, the powerful being, the…caring Omega and a world free of destruction was all a lie…and that all it took was for a plant to care to break his illusion…and a memory of his partner and only friend.

Everything was gone…all that he knew...never existed…for all he knew…even X was a lie.

He…

He…

He…

Karuna-Sindhu's arm held him as tremors overtook his entire body, painful, violent…

All a lie... All a lie... All a lie... X... Iris... All a Lie...

Ciel... Andrew...

All a Lie...

The human-shaped plant held him as the electric storm ravaged the fallow field, Karuna's body thrumming with powers even Weil…sigma and Lumine could not generate. He held Zero tight, tucking his head in the space between his neck and shoulder as he reploid…broke down.

All those wars…

All this pain…

All those deaths…

All those sacrifices…

It was all for naught.

He heard Karuna-Sindhu speak soothing words, encouragement, harsh words aimed at spurring him out of his shameful weakness…and prayers…finally the greenette began to chant.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Karuna-Sindhu chanted in his audio, soothing his soul…calming his mind.

Zero…wanted to die. To be released from this agony... to be back to nothing...

…no…

Zero wanted to live…He didn't want to return…to go back to his personal hell… Or even to disappear.

He didn't want to be anything...

He focused on Karuna-Sindhu's chanting, drowning away Zero's wretched mind and emotions.

This…he felt some hope…the chanting. It Made him happy…it gave him hope…it gave him bliss and…a purpose… it was something

Something…

something other than wars…something other than destruction…something other than X's useless ideals…impossible ideals…

X…

'am I…betraying him?' Zero's delirious mind wondered, his head cradled in the Crook of Karuna's neck. 'No…all those wars…Human's, reploid…it was all a lie.' He realized with yet another stab of pain. Beside…X was…

"Karuna…Karuna…Is X…Is…He real? Was it a lie…Also?" He asked through the phone's speaker…even there; his 'voice' was crackling.

Karuna-Sindhu paused his chanting as he thought. Zero could feel….something beyond what he could understand…

Kind of like Robo-Krishna.

"X is real…. "If anything was said afterwards, Zero was unaware…His broken sobs drowning whatever Karuna-Sindhu was saying.

No…he didn't care anymore…He just wanted the pain to get out. The pain He had to go through…for no reason.

X…he failed him.

Again.

Omega hated this…He really hated this.

No, not the act of shopping. It had been fun to look at all the useless junk humans made to entertain themselves as death loom closer with every breath. And it was not all the pictures those same humans had taken from him. It was not the pink, frilly outfit Yavat had bought him, a way to punish him for the broken padlock and the mess he had made. It was not even the fact that he just knew the one who sold the pink torture device had totally cheated the so-called human out of a few hundred rupees.

No…it was what was happening to Zero.

After having shopped, Yavat and Omega had returned to the temple on top of Krishna-hill. They had arrived to see more than a few people gathering around the place where Karuna had hidden with Zero. A general sense of concern…and even mourning hung in the air.

This…Omega had feared…he had feared for Zero's life.

And then…he heard it. It sounded like a mix between an old, dying dial-up modem and a broken radio, too low for human hearing, but painfully oblivious for him. It was repetitive, painful to hear and…and it was clear it was coming from his 'inferior' copy.

Zero was…He was…Omega could not even accept what His weakened copy was doing…there was no way, just now way he was crying!

Not wasting any time. Omega had shoved his way through the crowd and burst inside the room. There, he saw Zero, the great, legendary hero, the powerful warrior, the one who kept killing him over and over again, the Hero of the Elf-war…being gently cradled in Karuna-Sindhu's arms.

He looked…in pain, in deep anguish.

He gathered Vaishnava chanted the Hare-Krishna Mantra, and the head Pujari brought a garland…a short one.

Yavata got a guard, the man gently but firmly chased away the rubbernecker…as kindly as they were.

"Yav…have Nava guard the door…this thing doesn't latch properly." He spoke to his friend, still rocking Zero. "Omega…" Karuna greeted the mad reploid. Then his eyes slid to Zero, who had suddenly turned silent and limp. "Aw crud…" he cursed. "Listen Omega…Zero…Zero just realized the truth of your situation and…I don't know if he's talking badly or not…" The plant ex-vented. "I…need to speak to you about some things…and…Zero Just crashed."

"He was sobbing." Omega sneered. Or he hoped it was a sneered. Sobbing, only the weak and helpless sobbed. And Zero was not weak…well, he was weaker then He at the moment, and he was helpless due to his lack of arms but…Zero Never sobbed.

He never saw him sobbed…

And then he realized…the only time he saw him on the battle field. He was either with X or all alone, always surrounded by destruction…but he never knew the real Zero.

But one this was for sure…the real Zero was not weak. The real Zero didn't sob on people's shoulders…the real Zero…the Real Zero…

The real Zero…was broken. And Omega didn't know how to fix him.

In the New Delhi international airport….

"Officer, I swear this is a stuffed raven made at the effigy of queen Uttara…nothing more," Ishani assured the immigration officer, she was just about to pass the border when the guard made this awkward pause, staring at the sleeping hell bird in her arm.

Yes…it was Uttara Devi dasi…the world's most dangerous illegal alien.

"Yes…But I thought it moved."

"No, it didn't move…it's a very well-made stuff raven…nothing more" Technically, Ishani was not lying. Uttara, before leaving Neo-Varsana, had stuffed her impressive gullet with plenty of milk sweets. In other words, she was stuffed…and in a very deep food coma.

"I see…Sorry to make you wait, Ambassador Iesua Nazarenus, welcome to India."

"Thank you." The returned son of God inclined her head and walked through the border without any more problems.

As she finally reached the baggage claim, Ishani met with a very auspicious sight; more travelling Vaishnavi's…familiar Vaishnavi.

One was a very tall red-eyed blonde dressed mostly in a black and red dress. Usually, her entire attire would be regal moon moth silk and actual gold, but since she was travelling, the regal woman preferred to wear something more casual.

The second woman was short, her whole body plump save for her somewhat thinner waist. She had a round face, round eyes that were more green than blue and dark-brown hair that were buzz clipped to a mere centimetre on her head. She wore a black turtle neck, an azure shawl covered her shoulder and head. Sacred sindur anointed the bottom of her faded Tilaka. Her very broad hips were covered with a long blue skirt, azure at the top, darker at the bottom. This woman was carrying a backpack, a bead bag, a smaller suitcase and the baggage that obliviously belonged to the uncommonly tall ancient Chinese queen.

Ishani knew them…especially the 'young' brunette. Who had received both baptism and communion, confirmation in Ishani's old name, Brahmanical initiation to Serve Krishna, her all-powerful Father.

Ishani walked closer to the small group chatting as they waited for their luggage to drop on the carousel. "HARE KRISHNA!" she bellowed over the din of the airport, causing the two women to turn towards her.

The effect was immediate; the brunette raised her hands."HEY! HARIBOL ISHNANIIIIII!"

Of course, since they were in a public place, no one prostrated to the other, but copious amounts of Hugs and warm embraces were shared between the four of them."Oh, my Lord. Ishani, it's been waaaay too long!" The brunet spoke with a very heavy French Canadian accent. "So how the U.K project? Uttara's still rocking it?"

"Yes, Mother Mandodari, Neo-Varsana has become the world's most powerful Micro-nation. And the most peaceful also." And Uttara being a class eight nuclear weapon, had nothing to do with its prosperity.

Srimati-Radharani, The source of all the Lakshmi's' and Durga, was pleased with how well Sri Krishna was served in the repurposed nuclear reactor. And with her being please, wealth was flowing.

Of course, all of those who served Sri Radha-Ganeshyam had no interest in material wealth; their only desires were to see their lordships please with them. And developed pure love of God, free from hankering, selfish desires and even awe and reverence.

"Yes…I've heard." The 'young' woman groused. "Personally, I'm just happy the U.N listened to her request without much fuss…but now other religions want a piece of it too." She then huffed.

"A transcendental bookstore in each airport…the right for book distributor to outreach in every and all events, their entry free… the world now fears the Hare Krishnas more than U.S, Korea, Russia, Iran and China all put together, but book distribution has never been so strong." The exceedingly tall blond spoke with a serene smile, one that hid nothing but bliss, freed from sorrow and wrath.

"Indeed." Ishani bowed her head. This had to be a miracle from Nityananda Prabhu, for only the transcendental drunkard could have arranged for such an event. The white-haired saint then turned her eyes toward the looming figure of Yashoda, also known as Junko. "And how about you, my friend. How are you?"

"Oh, Ishani Thakurani, My life had never been better." The Lunarian empress spoke with a sigh. "Oh, how unfortunate was I that I did not become a devotee earlier."

"Hear hear!" Spoke Mandodari. "So, what brought you to the holy land of Bharata-varsa, my dear Ishani?"

"Oh…well, Uttara has a problem with one of her generators…or someone connected with Karuna-Sindhu's generator."

"Connected to… what do you mean by that, no one can be connected to those eggs, it would kill them," Mandodari spoke with eyes wide, her expressive face screaming sheer disbelief.

"What can I say? And…from what she and our Father told me, this person is in great distress." Ishani lowered her eyes. "A great distress, a feeling of obsolescence… and another soul is confused, was abused and now fears. " Ishani let out a good-natured huff. "Uttara all but dragged me to the plane. So here we are." The great sage indicated the sleeping raven in her arms.

"Oh dear," Yashoda hid her smile behind her hands. "And she managed to go through custom in her bird form, didn't she?" She looked at the slumbering raven, still afflicted by her food coma. "Oh dear, I pray that she may found this soul who called to her heart."

"Yes… Two souls, actually. And I do believe Father Desire me to enter the Holy Dham…I've waited for enough." Ishani spoke as she kept her eyes on the luggage carousel, waiting for her own distinct travelling case.

Mandodari let out a gasp as she embraces the saint once more. "Oh! I'm so happy for you. I still remember the first time I went to Mayapur…it was in 2014 for the maha-abhisheka…oh, I made so many mistakes, and I didn't take full advantage of the Dham back then." The 'young' girl reminisced. "You better not do what I did, Ishani; soak yourself in the endless ocean of Sri Harinama Prabhu, and forget about the shopping trip. Just go to the Prabhupada Bhajan-kutir and sing Harinama as long as you can, get it?" She declared.

"Yes, Mother Mandodari. We will." She inclined her head, unable to fold her palms, for Uttara was still in deep torpor.

And then, finally, the luggage were unloaded from the plane, tumbling on the revolving conveyor belt.

As she waited for hers, Ishani turned to her friends and…well, not quite a mentor, but a spiritual descendent of her colleague who was chronologically older then her current form. "So, how about you, Mandodari. Are you planning to go to Vrindavana this year?" She asked.

"Oh yeah! Imma be going to the Parikrama this year…and I have a place by Govardhana hill, just by my walking distance from Lalita-Kund." Mandodari explained as she bounces on the balls of her feet.

"Meaning around five kilometres." Yashoda dryly calculated. "And knowing you, taking the toto is not an option."

"If I'm tired. Or if I'm lugging something heavy or have to go there quickly, I will take the toto. I mean, sure, I could also fly, but…I don't want tourists taking more pictures then necessary." She explained.

"Indeed, we may have plenty of Mystic power, but power attracts fame," Ishani commented as Yashoda found her luggage. A back fabric suitcase decorated with a golden Fox on both the front and the back.

"Yup and fame feed the false Ego, and the false ego forces us to act on our unfulfilled lusty desires for sense gratification which leads to envy, anger, wrath and finally madness." Mandodari lectured. "And that thing will tie us down in this terrible world, blocking our ascent to Goloka-Vrindavana, and the all blissful service to Sri-Sri Radha-Manohara..." she explained this well-known fact to her three companions. "Anyway, after Kartika maas, I'm moving to Mayapur."

"Oh, really?" Ishani asked, spotting what could only be Mandodari's suitcase, a white, rigid shelled luggage customized with a blue tribal phoenix. The 'elder' of the group turned to the saint, her large eyes growing even bigger.

"Oh yeah! I got this super nice place close to Mother Ganga and the Mayapur campus. It's this nice house painted yellow and built above ground on pilotis." She explained, her eyes shining with eagerness. And I heard from Varoru that I have a Yamabiko living on location to ensure I have complete peace and quiet; this is gonna be awesome!"

"Tell me about later; I've just spotted your suitcase," Ishani informed her friend quickly.

"Oh hey! Your right!" Mandodari cheered as she prepared to intercept her customer-made luggage.

"Ok…I got mine. No broken wheels too! On est en business!" she cheered as she struggled to remove her suitcase from the conveyor belt. "Now…where is the second one."

"A second one?" Ishani asked. Usually, Mandodari would only use a single suitcase, barely filled with going to any place, especially those she knew she could do her laundry. For her to have one very full case, let alone two was quite irregular for the young-looking girl.

"Yes! Didn't I tell you? I'm moving to India for good this year, so of course, the people back in Montreal loaded me with plenty of presents." Mandodari grew silent, a grateful smile painting her pink lips.

"Really?" Ishani asked. "But I thought you could only get naturalized after ten years of living there!" Or…

"Mandodari…did you…did you get married?" The saintly Ishani asked, finding the entire notion utterly ridiculous for the ever-youthful nun.

Mandodari stared at Ishani, her blank expression doing very little to hide her disgust. "No…why would I get married? I would be a terrible mother, and I wouldn't be such a nice wife either… besides, I'm so close to my fifties, so... why run after something I don't want?" She let her phase hang as she reached for her final luggage. "No… Krishna arranging through Mukhara a nice final half of life before I try to go back home, back to Godhead."

"You've been blessed with eternal youth." Ishani finished. "And you have taken the hourai elixir. It may take longer then expected."

"against my will…but we all know it means nothing. When Radha-Krishna and Guru-dev will be pleased with me, not even the nectar of immortality will stop me from leaving the damn flesh bag." Mandodari spat.

"Indeed, still, it's nice to know you will remain healthy of both mind and body until the time is right…" Yashoda piped in.

"Yeah…I mean, I was already was immortal, like all of us…just not this body." Mandodari made a face. "But…I guess being freed from all those joint pain, the bad digestion and having all teeth back's nice." She folded her palms and lifted her eyes to the sky. "Thank you, Madri and Krishna. I may grumble about it openly, but being young and in my prime again is nice~!"

The two other women followed suit…Madri, the immortal Fujiwara no Mokou, had sacrificed herself to save this human woman…a sacrifice that had open the door back home, back to Godhead. To the blissful, eternal life of service under the blessed guidance of Sri-Lalita and Sri-rupa…and Sri-Rupa Manjari's foremost students.

Or Swarup-Damodar Goswami and Rupa Goswami, since Madri worshiped the lotus feet of Sri-Krishna-Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

"You know…when I first started chanting, I never expected…I never expected my life to become so interesting. I never expected to have so many mothers, father…" she let out a burst of tearful laughter. "I've got to meet my favourite video game characters...who are not really characters but very nice persons, travel, know saints, serve them all, serve God. And make friends with the most powerful woman on the planet…and have them follow the path of Bhakti also…and my Guru-Maharaja." Her voice choked. "Guru-deva…That's…He gave me so much…still giving me so much…" Hot tears began to fall from Mandodari's seafoam eyes.

"I can never repay him."

A moment of solemn silence passed between the four Vaishnavi as they remembered the glories and departure of a saint.

"Right." Ishani nodded as she broke the silence; she... they had a rather long taxi ride in front of them and then she spotted her own suitcase. Red, rigid and with a rosary tied to the handle.

Some of her so-called would call it blasphemous and a great disrespect to Lord Jesus. But Ishani had the right the use those rosaries however she liked; she used to be there in the first place...