SZ: We're back with more Megaman X and Zero-One goodness...and we got some rather interesting stuff for the former thanks to X-Dive.
Z0: It is an app game...those...tend to take a while for plot...if any to get moving. To be frank I'm sure half the fans got it for the nostalgia...and potential...swimsuit events…
SZ: And most of the girls do have quite a bit of outfits in there...but hey. Least some of the guys are getting outfits as well so its not entirely focused on the girls. And as for story stuff form X-Dive...well...let's just say we're gonna wait and see how a certain 'hidden figure' that appeared in the RiCo event plays out.
Z0: We shall wait and see what happens. Might be something, might be nothing...maybe it will slap us in the face like a flaming dump truck falling from orbit.
SZ: Yup...lord knows Zero-One did that to us quite a bit. Anyway...let us start things off! We own nothing aside from original content. Z0...start us off?
Z0: You asked~ *roars and begins charging up a large amount of energy* HA!
SZ: OH SHI-
*BOOM!*
Jin let out a small whine, dangling on a pipe in his room, "Being grounded sucks…I can't go outside and make new friends...can't do any plans to get the Tori from that guy...I can't even talk to Bit and Byte for laughs." he let out a long and really drawn out sigh, and then another one, and another…at a point, he even began messing with his voice filter and auto-tuning them.
"Vill you stop that?!" Serges snapped, slamming his door open to glare at Jin, "You are interfering with a vital experiment!"
"But I'm bored~"
"Stop messing with your voice functions!"
"But I'm bored~"
"You are grounded! Boredom comes with it! It is a punishment!"
"But I'm an AI lifeform...time means different things to us…" Jin argued, "It feels like it's been weeks...months...years even!"
"It's barely been three of your seven days."
"I'm so bored~"
"Ugh…der Depp," Serges muttered as he brought his palm to his face in exasperation.
"So...whatcha working on~?"
"If you must know, I am finishing the latest of the Zetsumerisekeys," Serges replied, "No, you are not using it. You are grounded."
"Aw~But I wanna meet 'em~"
"You are not meeting zem until I bring zem back," Serges replied.
"Eh? You're going out to make the new friend?"
"While your excursion did end in failure and your grounding, you did expose something of interest," Serges noted as he turned to a wall and his 'monocle' eye lit up and displayed a replay of Zero-One and Vulcan using Shooting Wolf and Rising Hopper respectively, "Zey can use the Progrisekeys the others use. It brings up the question if that cannot be applied to our own systems. I will be making ze new Maverick to gain more information."
"Can I…"
"Dumm! You forget zat you are grounded!"
"Boo~" Jin whined, "I can't even name it….no fair~"
"Stop messing with your voice box!"
"So where are we taking this Reploid to again?" Aruto asked, sitting between Roll and Rico in the delivery car once more.
"The dam," Rico replied, "They requested a Reploid to perform maintenance in the water to keep their efficiency from faltering due to any issues that could develop in the water side of it."
"Ahh...I see," Aruto noted.
"The Maverick Hunters and AIMS will be nearby in order to continue their collaboration exercises and we are to join in as a neutral party between the two as last time," Roll informed.
"Oh thank god," Aruto sighed in relief, "I don't think I could take another round of Isamu's 'DODGE!' training…"
"They will be working on cooperative underwater search and rescue," Roll continued, "And you have been selected to be the object of search and rescue."
"...Can we go back to another round of 'DODGE!' training?" Aruto pleaded, "I'm human...humans aren't meant to stay underwater for long! Also what if there's like...a lake monster or something?! Or a Kappa! And I mean like the scary ones that's like a tiger and a turtle!?"
"There are safety precautions to avoid drowning," Roll stated.
"I-I'm sure you'll be fine," Rico assured.
"You have also been selected as the Reploid subject to be rescued from underwater, Rico," Roll continued.
"...I second Aruto-Shacho! Let's go back to 'DODGE!' training!"
"Aye! Anything instead o-"
*THWACK!*
"ITE!" both yelped, holding the bumps on their heads.
"The exercise will begin after we make our delivery to the owner of the dam," Roll informed.
"Hai…" Aruto muttered as he rubbed his head
"We have no choice it seems…" Rico muttered with comical tears running down her face.
"I feel this is gonna go bad~" Aruto added with his own comical tears.
"Mmm~" the two whined in worry.
"So far everything seems okay…" X whispered, he and Isamu standing outside the entrance to a large power plant located on top of a particularly large dam, "No sign of MetsuboJinrai…"
"Yet…" Isamu sighed, "But they always show up when we're all close to one another...it's a noticeable pattern."
"Huh...It does," X admitted, "Commander Signas suggested to keep a close eye out for another ambush attack...Layer's doing a full sweep of the area for any hidden enemies."
"Isn't Layer that long purple-haired one with her bangs hiding her eyes?"
"You remember?" X smiled.
"I can be professional enough to remember who I'm working with," he replied simply.
"Ah," X nodded, "...You don't think our superiors noticed the trend and it's another reason why our two companies are doing this joint operation, do you?"
"They're here," Isamu stated, seeing the vehicle approach, "As for your question, it doesn't matter either way to me." he sighed, getting X's attention fully, "Let them come...I'll scrap them for sure. No question about it...they'll never hurt anyone as long as I'm still kicking."
"...Hopefully it won't come to that," X whispered as the vehicle came to a stop, letting the doors open as Aruto and the girls stepped out.
"Greetings," Roll greeted in her usual monotone while Aruto and Rico grunted as they got the box with the Reploid in it on the trolly.
"All this for some new underwater model…" Isamu muttered.
"If all goes well, we might be able to develop a way to clean any pollution from water sources," Roll argued.
"Eh, really?" Aruto asked, "I need to stop using my old high school tricks to sleep through those meetings…"
"Be thankful Alia didn't hear you on that," X muttered.
"You're lucky you don't know the pain and awkwardness that is Middle through High school," Aruto spoke, "Or puberty...that...that is the worst…"
"What's puberty?" Rico asked.
"God's punishment for teenagers…" Isamu spoke up.
"Says...the superhuman…" Aruto muttered.
*THWACK!*
"ITE!" Aruto yelped as Isamu rubbed his head, blinking a few times as he looked between Roll and her broom.
"We have a delivery to perform," Roll monotonously stated as she walked to the doors.
"..." Isamu looked at Aruto with a raised brow.
"Brooms are scary when she holds them," Aruto replied as he began to push the trolly off after Roll.
"I don't believe you."
"It's true…." Rico and X muttered in unison, subconsciously rubbing their heads in unison.
"I still think you're all weird," Isamu muttered, "So where's this new Reploid of yours?"
"In the box Aruto-Shacho is pushing," Rico replied, "They're not activated fully until they're presented to the customer."
"Ah! Rico, Rico! Tatsukete!" Aruto panicked, "It's falling over!"
"Ack!" Rico yelped as she ran over to help Aruto with the trolly.
"Oi vey…" Isamu rolled his eyes as he began to walk off.
"Uh...A little help please?!" Aruto shouted, struggling to keep the box from falling off the trolley with Rico helping to balance it.
Isamu sighed as he walked over and raised his index finger and poked the box, returning it to proper balance. Rico and Aruto sighed in relief.
"Arigatou!" both of them thanked Isamu.
"Honestly...you two are like kids…" Isamu sighed as he helped them keep it balanced as they walked it forward, "And you're in charge of one of the world's greatest tech companies to boot...What are you gonna do when they have you present something really important?"
"Oh come on...What could they possibly have me do...present a new Space station...from space?" Aruto laughed.
"..." Rico looked away from Aruto.
"...Majide?!" Aruto gawked at her.
"W-Well, when Zea launched, videos show that was something the former Shacho and Light-Hakase did," Rico replied, "So there may be a good chance you'll do so if something is sent into space developed by the company."
"What could we possibly send up next? We already have a super satellite that supports me...probably more than it should. How did Jiichan even get the budget for that?" Aruto mumbled to himself, "Zea more or less acts like the planet's largest range extender...what could we make next...a Space Colony?"
"I swear to god if you make Real Mechas…" Isamu sighed.
"There's the Ride Armors a-" X began.
"Not the same!" Aruto and Isamu snapped.
"Ahh!"
"Eh heh heh…" Rico sheepishly chuckled as Roll followed her and the others into the building.
"Humans are so random…" X mumbled to himself.
"Sir, we've corrected the error in the fifth line."
"Ah. Good job. Keep an eye on the seventeenth. Shiro said he was hearing a grinding sound inside of it," a young man with silver hair spoke to the older man who had spoken, earning a nod before the man left while Aruto, Roll, and Rico approached, "May I help you?"
"We are from Hiden Intelligence," Aruto informed, "We brought your ordered Reploid."
"Really? Um...Where are they?" the young man asked, looking around.
"In here," Rico replied as, with a grunt from her and Aruto, they stood the crate up.
The lid of the crate was removed, exposing a plain-looking Reploid wearing a diving suit with armored boots and gloves resembling dolphin fins and a dolphin-themed helmet.
"Ah, he looks perfect!" the young man beamed.
"He was made specifically for underwater work. As such, he is built with all sorts of parts that are waterproof, and has stronger joints and motors so he can move while deep underwater," Aruto smiled, "I'm not sure on the exact science of how that works...I just know they put a lot of effort into making him extra suited for underwater work."
"And he came out perfect," the young man smiled back as he looked at the Replodi up and down, "Hmm...I think I'll name him Iruka."
"Because he's themed after a Dolphin?" Rico guessed.
"More or less," he replied.
"Kazuyu-Shacho! There's a blockage in Pipe 1 on the water side!" another worker called.
"Good timing, too," the young man noted, "Iruka?"
"!" Iruka's eyes shot open as they flashed for a moment, "What is your order, Kazuyu-Shacho?"
"There's a blockage in Pipe 1 on the water side. Can you…"
"Understood," Iruka nodded as he moved out of the box, turned to the water, and began a running start towards it, going faster and faster until he dove straight into it.
"Fast to get to work…" Aruto muttered.
"I made sure he'd be nice and focused on taking care of the environment and detect blockage and sewage," Kazuyu explained, "But outside that, he's made to be a friendly and chill person for any tourists that may come."
"Soka…" Aruto smiled.
"Hmm…" Isamu shrugged.
"Oh sorry. I got distracted," Kazuyu chuckled as he motioned the group to follow him, "Come...the others for your meeting are inside."
"Yosh, let's go." Isamu spoke, before his hand shot out and grabbed Aruto and Rico before they could sneak away.
"Mou~" Aruto and Rico whined as they were dragged off.
"May I ask why you're carrying them like that?" Yua sighed, seeing Isamu carrying Aruto and Rico.
"They forgot they're volun-told to be stuck underwater," Isamu replied.
"Even he knows we have no choice in this!" Aruto complained.
"Don't you have an aquatic form?" Isamu argued, dropping them on the ground without warning.
"Yes...but 1: it's for my armor. And 2; I'm not being used as bait/target practice for something potentially dangerous outside my armor," Aruto argued.
"Oh relax, you act like this is any less dangerous then you running around in a super combat armor." Isamu sighed.
"He...He's not wrong statistically…" Yua muttered, "The numbers show your actions as Zero-One...are far more life threatening."
"It's the principle of the matter!"
"What's this clipboard made out of?" Isamu asked a random worker.
"Uh, metal. why?"
*CLANG!*
At that, Aruto fell over, a bump on his head and the clipboard dented. Isamu handed it back before grabbing Aruto by his leg...and plopping down in his proper assigned seat. He then took a few extra steps to make his unconscious body sit up straight.
"Okay, you can start getting ready." Isamu replied before walking off, "I'm going to get a drink. Anyone want anything?" he asked.
"Uh actually…" Yua began.
"No one, great." at that, he walked out the door.
"...ugh…"
"Why did I get picked?" Rico asked.
"Because between the two options, you can better display emotion," Yua replied as she gestured to Roll, who was stoically standing beside the knocked out Aruto.
"Eh?!"
"My point exactly."
"I still don't understand...and don't want to!" Rico complained.
"It's too late, we voted on who would best be able to act like a panicking civilian in danger." Yua sighed.
"We were picked because we're the most scared of the water?!" Rico exclaimed, throwing her hands up in disbelief.
"Your reaction only proves my point…" Yua sighed.
"...X, can you…" Rico began.
"Sorry, I can't trade places with you," X stated.
"MMM~!"
"I still don't like this…" Aruto groaned as he sat up, rubbing the bump on his head.
"It's been decided." X sighed, "Besides, best to get it over with and relax after, right?"
"I guess that's true…" Aruto sighed in defeat, "Maybe just a nice day off or something...no beaches for a while after this."
"Same," Rico added, 'Though I would've liked to check the beach out at least…'
'I think now the adorable one wants to go to the beach…' Yua mentally noted.
=Is everything alright? We're still waiting out here= Alia spoke up from X' communicator
"Everything's okay, Alia," X responded as he tapped the side of his helmet, "We're still prepping things up...and Aruto's trying to mentally prepare himself."
=...But...He has an aquatic-based form as Zero-One=
"I don't!" Rico argued.
=Yua developed an aquatic attachment for you after it was decided you were going to be our Reploid for the exercise= Alia informed.
"I...wait, really?" Rico blinked at that.
"You guys really make it so no one's on my side...you know that, right…" Aruto sighed in defeat.
"Well, I guess I can do this," Rico noted, "I mean, it can't be all that bad."
"I take it back. It is bad," Rico whined, sitting in a shark-proof cage...dressed up as a penguin.
"Aw, what's wrong?" Aruto asked in a similar cage, "I thought penguins love the water."
"I look fat in this!" Rico argued.
"Well Penguins are shaped like this," Aruto argued, "I mean they are built to survive the water...Unlike humans...who suck in the water!"
"You have shark-themed armor!"
"I don't want my head bitten off for no good reason by Same-Roll!"
"Oi vey…" Isamu rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure Rico's allowed to act immature given she's technically much younger...but isn't Shacho-san a full grown adult?" Yua asked.
"Physically...yes." Isamu sighed, "Mentally...I think his grandfather dropped him on his head."
"No comment…" Roll spoke.
"I knew it…" Isamu blinked.
"Jiichan what?!" Aruto snapped.
"Lower 'em!" Isamu ordered.
"Oi, don't ignore me!" Aruto snapped before the cages were dropped, "GWAH!"
"...They'll...be okay, right?" X asked Alia in concern, who was looking at a touchpad as her hair was done up into a bun.
"They should be. The cages and suits are holding up from the readings I'm getting," Alia answered.
"Good…"
"As long as Shacho doesn't panic and rip the airtube out of his suit…" Isamu pointed out.
"...Right, Aruto is top priority," X deadpanned.
"Alright...let's prep," Isamu spoke, "We're timed on how fast rescue operatives can prepare for an emergency." he clicked a stopwatch before tossing it to Yua and then proceeded to strip off his body armor and jacket, any and all females-both human and Reploid-gawking at how quickly he brazenly removed his tactical clothing in public. He quickly grabbed a wet suit and put it on before grabbing an air tank and mask, "Go." He then just dived in without much else.
"...Well. Might as well catch up then," X muttered, running to the water before diving right in.
"...Men," Yua sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Agreed," Alia rolled her eyes.
=The coms are on= Isamu spoke up making them both flinch.
"Well...this isn't so bad…" Aruto muttered, "It's just a deep...dark...expanse of water...where I can only see as far as this flashlight mounted to my noggin...oh god my last moments are going to be a found footage horror movie…"
"Not helping!" Rico's voice yelped from nearby.
"Gah! Was that Yokai!?" Aruto panicked.
"Yokai!? Where?!"
"I swear I saw something!"
"Eek! I see it too!"
"Ahh!" Aruto freaked as he rapidly looked around, "It's not a Kappa, is it?!"
"I hope not!" Rico freaked.
"I'm starting to reconsider having these two be the picks," Isamu muttered from nearby, "And get rid of the cucumber. No Kappa are here."
"Sorry," X apologized as he released the cucumber he had been holding, letting it float up to the surface.
"Sometimes you Reploids take things too seriously…" Isamu muttered before he resumed swimming towards the cages.
"So...there are no Kappa?"
"Kappa aren't real…Yokai aren't real..."
"...I may need to return those anti-Yokai defense items I got then," X muttered as he resumed swimming.
Iruka lowered the welding torch he had been using. Looking over the pipe, his optics searched for any other cracks or damages in it. He gave a nod upon confirming the pipe was repair. He turned around to return to the surface when he felt something strap to his waist and multiple spikes to impale him around the waist.
"Zere ve go…" Serges smirked as he floated back, watching as the belt's programming took effect as Iruka slumped, his eyes turning red, "Now...for ze next part," he said as he handed Iruka an ZetsumeriseKey and clicked it.
=HIPPOCAMPUS SARMATICUS=
Iruka cried out as his body began to melt down, acid starting to drip off him until he became a puddle of green acid. The acid stood still for a moment as it began to take shape into something resembling a seahorse.
It somewhat retained a humanoid build, but that was a stretch. It's torso was made of two large connected orbs. The orb that acted as its chest was green with two red gems in its sides, dull gold shoulder guards extended out, with three spikes and bright purple and yellow stripes towards the base like the epaulets of a naval uniform. Its upper arms are long, ending in large bell shaped green gauntlets with multiple ports around the cuffs of his buantlets, and white armored hands. The lower and larger green orb acted as his lower abdomen and waist all in one. Two lighter green stripes marked his lower torso in a cross pattern with several larger ports for aquatic mechanics located around this larger section, Light blue/silver and purple accented armor wrapped around the bottom of this lower torso orb, like a sash or pants. His legs were connected to this strip of armor; and much like his arms had a similar construction of long tubes for his upper legs and at the knees it was a similar bell shaped armor, only with red spikes extending over the knees. His feet a dull gold with blue accents, it was flat and went out in 4 spike like patterns, with the one acting as the main section of the foot much longer. Extending from the back of the lower orb and top of the upper orb where a series of interconnected smaller lime green orbs. His tail began in a size half that of his lower torso section, and got smaller with each on in the link as it curved inward and linked to a large counterweight in the shape of a large green disk with a purple center. His neck was made of marginally smaller orbs all the same size until they ended and linked to a series of three purple segments, resembling curved spines, and marked with lime green markings in the forward facing, and linked to the actual head a dark green orb with a purple and light green mark at the top, three spikes extending upward and and one to the left and another to the right, two ports framed the lower sides of its jaw section, and from between its eyes a long trumpet like snout extended out ended in a silver colored and vented nozzle.
"Velcome...Toxic Seahorse," Serges greeted as the Maverick slowly opened his eyes.
"Where….am...I?" he asked, groaning a bit as he looked around, "This is...the dam...where….wait. Wh...Where is she?"
"Hmm?"
"Where is she?!" he shouted as he began to frantically look around, "This...this is not my sanctuary! This is not Daybreak Town!"
"No. I came from there to remake you here," Serges explained, looking him over in interest, "Jin does not explain this part well enough...you really do come back vith your very last moments of memory…"
"...Then take me back there, please," Toxic Seahorse begged as he grabbed Serges by the shoulders, "I must return to my sanctuary! I must see if she is okay!"
"It is still mostly underwater if that is what you wonder…"
"I do not care! I need to get to Daybreak Town!"
"Alright, alright. But zere is an issue. Ze Maverick Hunters und AIMS are here," Serges explained, "I need you to take care of zem for me…zen we can take back ze dam."
"...But...then the humans…" Toxic Seahorse began.
"Are ze root cause of what happened to Daybreak Town," Serges explained, making Toxic Seahorse tense up, 'Also may as well plant ze seeds of doubt for mein master's future plan…' "And it would seem during the chaos and destruction...they tested a new type of ice weapon made specially for Reploids."
"...Then...th…." Toxic Seahorse whispered, his hands gripping up as his eyes narrowed, "Onore…!"
"Hey! What's that over there?!" Toxic Seahorse turned to see a few AIMS soldiers swimming into the area.
"?! Maverick! Men, open f-" one AIMS soldier began.
"ACID SPRAY!" Toxic Seahorse roared, firing a heavy stream of acid from his mouth as it hit the two groups, melting their weapons and armor off them and forcing them to start swimming for the surface or face drowning, "You...it's because of you humans Daybreak...because of you humans that my love is…!"
"Zen rise up! Take ze dam back from the humans and Maverick Hunters!" Serges shouted, "Make zem pay for what zey did! Make sure they never reach your sanctuary again!"
"FUUUUUUU!" Toxic Seahorse roared out, his body turning into a body of slimy acid as it shot towards a nearby grate and slid right into it.
"And like that mein job is done," Serges smiled, "No wonder Jin enjoys this, it was fun." he looked around before swimming for the surface, "Und now I wait for a window of opportunity to get more data on those Kamen Riders."
"How long have we been down here?" Aruto asked as he still looked around in concern, "Hours?"
"...mmm...about...4 minutes," Rico stated, "Could be longer because I can't see my watch because I'm in the penguin suit!"
"Oh...is it bad I can hear my heart beating like a rabbits?" Aruto asked.
"It can't be that fast…" Rico muttered before Aruto moved her hand to his chest, "Oh...Oh! It is beating real fast! How scared are you?"
"The human body is weird…" Aruto argued, "Trust me...it is…" he shuddered as awkward memories of health class in high school flashed for a moment.
"And it spiked. Do you require medical attention?" Rico asked, pulling her hand back through the bars of the two cages.
"I require not to be deep underwater…" Aruto argued, "I swear to god if I see something swim past me, I will have a real panic attack…" he tensed as he saw something swim by out of the corner of his eye, "!?"
"Did you see something?" Rico asked.
"I'm going to scream and panic now...don't judge please…" Aruto replied, "AH!"
"AH!" Rico yelped, now starting to feel nervous herself as she started screaming with him.
"For the love of…" Isamu grumbled, "OI! YAKAMASHI!"
"AHH!" Aruto and Rico yelped at that, "Mad Isamu!"
"Ah! Your headpieces are on an open radio! We've been hearing you both scream in our ears!" Isamu snapped.
"A-!" Aruto and Rico began before tensing up at the tense glare he gave them, "...we'll be quiet now…"
"It's bad enough I have to do all these training missions instead of being on standby. So if you would be so kind as to just do your parts…" Isamu sighed.
"...mmm hmm," the two meekly nodded.
"X prepare the rescue operation." Isamu ordered.
=Roger. Proceeding to your loca-= X began through the comms.
=X, Isamu, a Maverick was seen attacking our men= Alia's voice spoke up.
"Nani?" Isamu asked, "A Maverick...now?" he growled as he reached for the cage and grabbed the hook, keeping it closed...before he began pulling till the chains snapped, "Change of plans...ignore procedure and protocol! X prepare for interception! I'm getting Shacho-san and his assistant to safety!"
=Understood= X responded =Alia, where is the Maverick located?=
=Near the water purifier room=
=Heading there now. Isamu?=
"I'll meet you there after I get Shacho-san to to safety," Isamu answer,d unaware that Aruto had been listening in.
"FUUUU!" Toxic Seahorse roared as he sprayed out a torrent of acid, melting down any bullets that tried to get near him as AIMS soldiers and a few MAverick Hunters were hiding behind some pillars for cover.
"This is insane...how are we supposed to harm it?" one soldier asked in disbelief, "Its like its body is living acid."
"EMP rounds won't have an effect like this either." another soldier spoke.
"How can we hit something with these kinds of abilities?" A Maverick Hunter whispered.
"Akuma! Evil! Traitors!" Toxic Seahorse snapped at them, "It's because of you Daybreak was destroyed!..and I need to liberate this place..so I can return to my sact-!" he began before an energy shot hit him square in the chest, causing his body to ripple a bit as he stepped back.
"X!" the two soldier groups shouted as X ran into the area.
"Alia, I've encountered the Maverick," X spoke into his communicator as he aimed at Toxic Seahorse, "Is there any info on him?"
=Searching...only one result. A name of Reploids that had went missing in…= Alia began before she gave a small gasp =...Daybreak Town=
"Another missing case returned from beyond…" X noted, "You're with MetsuboJinrai!?"
"I don't know who they are, but I know the humans are to blame for the destruction of Daybreak town!" Toxic Seahorse argued as his body reformed, showing no signs of the energy shot hitting him.
"So your just waking up and rampaging of your own volition. I can't let someone like you do as they want!" X argued as he fired again as Toxic Seahorse ducked out of the way, "I don't know what your problem is, but you can't just take it out on people who have nothing to do with it!" He fired again as he hit Toxic Seahorse mid combat roll knocking him over and along the ground.
"Urusei!" Toxic Seahorse snapped as he shot up, "Acid Spray!" he shouted as he fired a stream of acid at X, who quickly rolled out of the way as the acid hit the wall behind him, eating away at it as it began to crumble a bit.
"That's not good...his ability is acid...collateral damage will be bad if he keeps using his ability here." X whispered to himself, "That also makes melee combat a bad idea." he then quickly looked back at the soldiers, "Get the people to safety! I'll hold him off long enough for you to get away!"
"Yes, sir!" Both AIMS and Maverick Hunters saluted as they quickly rushed out of there.
"You won't escape!" Toxic Seahorse snapped before curving his body to dodge an energy shot from X.
"Sorry but you don't get to decide that!" X declared as he aimed, "I won't let you hurt a single innocent person here!"
"Kisama…" Toxic Seahorse growled as he turned to aim at him, "Acid Spray! Rapid Fire!" He began shooting multiple small globs of acid in rapid succession forcing X to begin running to avoid being hit.
"Gh!" X grunted as he rolled behind a pillar for cover, "Zea, I need the data for…!" he began before a giant blob of acid shot through the pillar, forcing him to quickly roll away as the blbo began to reform into Toxic Seahorse, 'Not good...I can't hide long enough to switch to a new weapon.'
X grunted as he rolled across the ground to avoid another barrage of acid blobs. He aimed upon getting to his feet and blasted Toxic Seahorse, the blast knocking him back. A second blast following up, a moment passed before a third larger blast struck and smacked him into one of the pillars he partially melted...causing it and some of the ceiling to cave in and bury him.
"So I'll just make a moment…" X huffed as he could see the rubble trembling, bits of Toxic Seahorse in his more blob-liek form starting to seep through, "..wait. If he's capable of this…" he whispered before tapping the side of his helmet, "Zea, I need the Data for Frost Shield."
=Understood= the computerized voice replied as X's armor changed to indicate what weapon he had.
"Let's hope this works," X whispered just as Toxic Seahorse formed, "Frost Shield!"
"Wh-" Toxic Seahorse began before the ice missile hit him, making him cry out in pain as a bit of his body began to freeze over, "Gh...i-ite…!"
"Soka...since his body can enter a liquid state, freezing works," X noted, "This will work great." he smirked as he fired more ice misiles.
"Nani?!" Toxic Seahorse gasped as he was pelted by the ice missiles sending him flying back as his armor frosted over, "Gah! C...cold!"
"Then I advice you to stand down and explain what your goal here is," X ordered as he kept aim at the Maverick.
"...no…" Toxic Seahorse whispered as he looked at a nearby grate, "I can't lose here...not until I return to my Sanctuary!"
"Sanctuary?" X repeated before he quickly rolled out of the way of Toxic Seahorse's acid, "What are you talking about?"
"Urusei! I won't let you stop me!"
"Neither can I...and unfortunately one of us is wrong!" X complained as he aimed.
"...fuuu…" Toxic Seahorse growled as the two stared each other down, waiting for an opening to attack.
"Alright...we made it to land." Isamu spoke as he dragged Aruto and Rico out of the water, "Dry off and get ready, combat is upon us." he spoke as he began removing his diving gear.
"H-hai!" Aruto quickly nodded as he hurried to get his diving gear off
"I'm not sure what type it is, so let's hurry." Isamu moved to where they set everything up and opened a small storage case which had his belt, ShotRiser, Progrise Keys, and Attache Shotgun, "You made sure to bring your equipment, right?"
"Roll has it...cause you guys pushed all this on me!" Aruto snapped.
"Then get your stuff and be ready," Isamu calmly replied as he strapped the belt on and walked off.
"He knows I'm not a soldier right…?" Aruto sighed.
"No, but I don't think he cares," Rico muttered.
"I figured…" Aruto slumped, "Now come on..let's go find Roll a-"
"Shachou," the two looked over to see Roll stepping over, a briefcase in hand as she presented it to Aruto.
"...talk about timing," Rico whispered.
"Alright…" Aruto sighed standing up straight as he took out the Zero-One Driver, "Time to get to work again," he put the belt on and scanned the key.
=JUMP!=
"Henshin!" Aruto declared slotting the Jumping Hopper ProgRiseKey into the Driver.
"Gh!" X grunted as he rolled out of the way of balls of acid before firing a few more ice missiles at Toxic Seahorse, only for the Maverick to slink into a grate to dodge. X tensed as he quickly rolled away from acid spraying out of a nearby grate, "He's really powerful…"
"I told you I won't…" Toxic Seahorse began before a shotgun blast hit the wall causing it to fall apart and for him to spill out, "Nani?"
"Maverick…" Vulcan Shooting Wolf spoke up as he lowered his weapon, "Omae wa...buttobasu…"
"Eh?" Toxic Seahorse blinked before swerving his body to dodge the incoming blast.
"I won't let a single Maverick endanger another human life...so your mistake was starting trouble while I was around." Vulcan explained, "I don't care why you hate humans...its never gonna happen again…" he pumped as the Attache Shotgun seemed to change before he fired and let lose a bright blue plasma blast which struck Toxic Seahorse and sent him flying through several damaged and undamaged pillars.
"GH...well I…" Toxic Seahorse grunted as he forced himself up, "I won't rest...until I make sure...Daybreak is avenged, and that I may go back to my Sanctuary!"
"D-Daybreak?" Vulcan asked lowering his gun as he tensed for a moment.
"V-vulcan?" X asked in concern, only to flinch as the Riders eyes lit up brightly.
"Grrr…" Vulcan growled, dropping his gun.
"N-nani?" Toxic Seahorse blinked before tensing as Vulcan dashed forward and closed the distance in a single moment and punched him, "GAH!"
"HA!" Vulcan roared, punching Toxic Seahorse several times in a row rapidly, each time knocking him around. He grabbed the Maverick by his torso and slammed his knee into his chest several times making sparks fly, "Don't you dare say that word!" he shouted lifting Toxic Seahorse and tossing him into a wall, "NEVER SAY THAT PLACE'S NAME BEFORE ME!" he roared punching Toxic Seahorse again, digging him deeper into the wall.
"O...oi oi…" X spoke up, a bit of worry in his voice.
"Ha!" Vulcan roared, taking his ShotRiser as he jammed it into Toxic Seahorse's chest and began unleashing bullet after bullet into him point blank.
"Just how much rage does Isamu hold back...this...is how much he hates Mavericks…" X muttered as Vulcan kept shooting, "It's like...he's a monster made from all the pain Mavericks have caused to people…"
"Ha!" Vulcan roared as he shot again only for him to stumble as Toxic Seahorse liquified and went under him, "Come back here!" he roared, shooting at his liquid form.
"..no you don't!" X shouted as he shot his ice missiles at Toxic Seahorse, only for the liquified Maverick to quickly slink into a grate to escape the incoming projectiles.
"Gah!" Vulcan growled, stomping the ground in frustration.
"Vulcan…?" X spoke up.
"Mavericks won't hurt people while I'm around…" Vulcan repeated, "Zenbu no Mavericks...ore ga Buttobasu!" he declared, grabbing his Attache Shotgun and stormed off.
"Ah...and here...I thought we made progress…" X sighed to himself, "I thought...we were making friends with Isamu-san…"
"X!" Zero-One shouted as he ran into the area, "Where….I missed the fight, didn't I?"
"He got away," X answered, "Vucan scared him off...because he spoke of that place…"
"That place?" Zero-One repeated before it dawned on him, "...Daybreak Town…"
"That's not all...the Maverick was a Reploid that had went missing during said incident," X added.
"Another one...what is up with these Mavericks all being related like that?" Zero-One asked.
"...that's a good question," X whispered before tapping the side of his helmet, "...we'll have Alia look into it later. For now..I think we need to find this Maverick before Vulcan does."
"Any idea where he might've gone?"
"I'm unsure. He kept bringing up something about a 'Sanctuary' during our fight," X explained.
"Sanctuary...what could that mean to a Maverick…?" Zero-One muttered as he used his helmet to search the word, "Holy or sacred place...but...Reploids don't believe in religion right?"
"Many don't," X shook his head.
"Protection from Safety or danger?" Zero-One spoke, "A safe place...but if he's so dangerous...why would he run from battle...unless...it's not Sanctuary for him!"
"I had a feeling about that, but...where would his Sa…" X began before it dawned on him, "..Daybreak Town."
"His Sanctuary is in Daybreak town!?" Zero-One shouted, "But the city is underwater...and whats above water is falling apart."
"Alia...what is the link between the Dam and Daybreak town?" X asked.
=Well...all I have is that Daybreak is used as an emergency reservoir for water overflow…= she replied, =After the incident, they reversed the flow of Daybreak towns water run off...it's actually below sea level, making it a perfect flooding spot, that's why it is always filled with water=
"So...if this guy busts the dam and lets the water out...Daybreak town will drain?" Zero-One asked, jumping on the radio, "But the stream leads out into the city...everyone would be washed away!"
"...we won't let that happen," X frowned a bit, "Alia, do a scan of the area and search for any spots melted by acid."
"Acid?!" Zero-One gawked at that.
"The Maverick uses Acid to attack and can melt his body to avoid attacks," X explained to him.
"Nani sore?! Since when is that science?! Thats magic!" Zero-One complained.
=He's right...it really doesn't sound very scientific when you say it outloud does it…= Alia muttered in agreement.
"Even if you both agree...its what his ability is…" X mumbled.
"It still doesn't sound like science…" Zero-One muttered as they began jogging ahead, "Where would he even go in here...if he's afraid of coming out in the open...he would go for the computers to open the dam himself...or...go for something sure to do some damage...like the engine!"
"You mean the electric turbine? What makes you think that?" X asked.
"I saw it online once! In this one place in Russia they had a big Dam just like this...but then suddenly one of their engines went boom and shot out, ripping the place apart!" Zero-One explained emotting with his arms for emphasis.
"That...actually is plausible…" X awed, "You studied before this trip?"
"Uh...yeah...studied...wasn't just a random youtube video I watched in the middle of the night…" he lowered his helmet's comm system volume so he couldn't be heard well.
"...still, good thinking," X nodded, "Let's just hope we get to him first before Vulcan does."
"Ah...ah...almost out," Toxic Seahorse panted as he stood in a hallway, the door to the turbine room next to him as he looked around, "...don't see that maniac, so I can resume my task," he whispered as he reached for the doorknob...but stopped for a moment, "..But...to do this...she wouldn't approve this...and yet…" he growled out as he gripped the doorknob, "It's their fault she's gone...because of them Daybreak...no…" he took his hand off the knob, "I..I don't...I don't know what to do…"
"What are you doing?" Serges frowned as he floated out of the shadows, "Thsi should be a simple task for you."
"I'm trying! But….tch...just...my Sanctuary...where she is…" Toxic Seahorse tried to argue as he looked at his hands.
'...hmm...is he...resisting the virus?' Serges mentally pondered, "...And yet you're going to let those filthy humans get away with what they did to Daybreak town and your love?"
"N...no! But...there...there has to be another way! The h-" Toxic Seahorse began before purple sparks came off him, making him cry out in pain as he fell to his knees.
=The humans are to blame for the destruction of Daybreak...they treated you like garbage!= a voice roared within the Maverick's mind, the Sigma mark appearing on his forehead as his eyes glowed a dark purple=Those humans will never accept you..no one will accept you because of your power! Because they fear it...make them fear you!=
"F...FUUUUU!" Toxic Seahorse roared as he turned, spraying out a strong flow of acid as it completely melted the door.
"Hm….no matter how strong the will, the Maverick Virus is strong," Serges whispered to himself, his monocle glowing menacingly as he followed him inside.
"X I heard something this way!" Zero-One's voice shouted.
"Zero-One?" Serges spoke in surprise, "We must rethink his threat level...clearly he's more tactically minded zen we suspected…"
"Don't move!" X shouted as he and Zero-One ran into the room, and took notice of the currently berserk Maverick and Serges there, "...you again."
"And ze Successor as well," Serges noted with a grin.
"Tatsunootoshigo!" Zero-One shouted, looking at Toxic Seahorse, "And Jiijii!" he muttered, "I guess my bad habits are useful sometimes!" he pulled out his Attache Calibur and unfolded it into sword mode.
"Zero-One, wait! He could've…!" X began as Zero-One charged...and the ground exploded underneath him as the two were sent flying.
"I forgot about the mines!" Zero-One exclaimed as he crashed into some crates, "..I'm okay!"
"FUUUU!"
"WHOO BOY!" Zero-One yelped as he quickly rolled out of the way of Toxic Seahorse's acidic balls, causing them to melt the remains of the crates, "That's just nasty!" he complained, stabbing a crate before swinging it around and tossing it at Toxic Seahorse.
"Fuu!" Toxic Seahorse shouted as he shot it, making it melt into sludge before impacting him, but his eyes widened as Zero-One followed close behind and slammed his knee into the Mavericks face, knocking him back.
"Ha!" Zero-One shouted, rolling with his landing before getting back to his feet. He jumped back and over the Maverick before slashing him across the back, "I don't understand...you want a Sanctuary...why hurt innocent people then!?" he demanded as he jumped away from another acid blast and stabbed his Attache Calibur into a wall to cling to it, "What lies are you telling yourself to justify this!?"
"N...not..lies!" Toxic Seahorse snapped, the sparks coming off him as he glared up at Zero-One, "Must...get...back to..Sanctuary….see her...protect...Sanctuary…!"
"You can't call the sacrifice of countless lives, both Human and Reploid, protecting!" Zero-One shouted, jumping off the wall and pulling his sword out before bouncing forward, he spun around as he did and slashed Toxic Seahorse again, the speed and momentum of his jumping allowed the Kamen Rider to cut deep into his armor.
"GH!" Toxic Seahorse grunted as he staggered back, the cut starting to heal up as he began to hold his head, "But..I..just want...her...no...but humans...gh…"
"...wait. Is he...fighting the virus?" X whispered as he lowered his buster..before quickly rolling out of the way of a few energy balls, "Gh!"
"Do not interfere...I vant to see how zis experiment go," Serges stated as the top of his helmet glowed a bit.
"What?" X scowled at that.
"Humans...Reploids, it doesn't matter who or what you are," Serges stated as a dark smile grew on his face, "If it catches my interest, everyone and everything is an experiment for me."
"Eh?" Zero-One overheard, "Omae...you...you don't really want to hurt anyone do you? You...just want to meet someone again?" He spoke as his grip relaxed, only to be blindsided when Toxic Seahorse swung around and whipped him with his tail, knocking the trusting Kamen Rider off his feet.
"GH….must...see her..protect her..prote...gh…~!" Toxic Seahorse grunted in pain, his eyes glowing brighter as he roared out, his body beginning to swell up as his cheeks puffed, "Acid…!" he paused before his let out a massive surge of acid at Zero-One, "Taihou!"
"AHH!" Zero-One yelped as he barely jumped out of the way, letting the acid crash through the wall..and the wall after that, and the wall after that as it began to eat and melt the metal and stone away.
'Not good...unless Aruto had an ice-form, he can't get near Toxic Seahorse in his berserk state,' X thought as he avoided my energy balls form Serges, "...unless…" he began as he quickly activated hsi communicator, "Alia, are Douglas and Pallette done with a new weapon?"
=Correct. I just got off the call from them= Alia answered =A new type of ice weapon=
"Perfect. I need you to send it to Zero-One," X stated before firing a shot at Serges, only for his barrier to block it.
=Understood. Sending weapon data now=
"Woah boy!" Zero-One yelped as he jumped over another stream of acid, "Not good! I can't get too close to him w-" he began before his right arm began to glow, "Eh?" he blinked beehive his helmet before his arm was covered in a long dark-purple and gunmetal grey-like X Buster, only the nozzle was long and a clear-icy blue.
=SNOW SPRAYER!=
"Eh? Yuki?" Zero-One blinked before yelping as Toxic Seahorse prepared to lunge at him, the Kamen Rider inadvertently aiming his new weapon at him as a large frosty mist shot out of it, making the Maverick back off as bits of his body began to freeze over.
"Ice hurts him!" X shouted as he jumped over Serges and shot down at him, only for the Maverick's platform to move him away from the incoming blast, "Since he's able to take a liquidus form, he becomes susceptible to the cold!"
"Soka…" he nodded as he aimed and blasted Toxic Seahorse again, covering him in frost. He grunted rolling forward and grabbing the Attache Calibur as he swung up and slashed the Maverick across the torso. He swung down making sparks and chunks of ice fly off the impact.
Toxic Seahorse grunted and moved to charge, only to be blasted by the Snow Sprayer again. Once the blast ended, another slash struck him and knocked him over.
"What?" Serges blinked, only to flinch as a large blue energy blast struck his barrier, making it flicker.
"Buttobasu…" Vulcan growled, lowering his shotgun. He looked things over before aiming at Serges and shooting again, "Shacho-san needs support still, my weapon is stronger. I'll handle the barrier!" he shouted to X.
"...understood," X nodded, equipping his Frost Shield weapon as he hurried over to Zero-One to help him.
"You again?" Serges blinked.
"Mavericks like you...who embody malice...you are the ones I hate most of all…" he tensed, "To avoid tragedy...you're the ones I need to scrap most of all!" he took out his spare Progrise Key and slotted it into the Attache Shotgun, "You claim everything is an experiment right? Then let's do one...which is stronger...your barrier...or my RAGE!?"
=POWER!=
He pumped the shotgun as the energy in the barrel began flowing grey. Vulcan growled as he rushed forward before jamming the tip of the shotgun barrel right into Serge's barrier.
"Y-you're insane! From this range...the explosion will take you out as well!"
"I...will be the only one risking their life...so no one will get hurt again…" Vulcan stated, "Sore ga...Kamen Rider...Vulcan!" he declared as he pulled the trigger.
パ
ン
チ
ン
グ
カ
バ
ン
シ
ョ
ッ
ト
=Punching Kaban Shot!=
An energy version of the Knuckle Demolition gauntlet from Punching Kong form was shot from the Attache Shotgun and through Serge's barrier. A powerful explosion followed as both were knocked back. Their bodies sparking as small plumes of smoke came off their armor. Vulcan grunted rolling over first as he punched the ground and got back up slowly.
"Wh-what are you…?" Serges asked in shock, parts of his armor damaged, "You...scan as human...but...your...some kind of monster…"
"Gh...a monster...your kind created…" Vulcan grunted as he forced himself up, "And your sins...have c-" he began before a few energy shots went off near him, "?!"
"Hahahaha! Ahh you just keep impressing me, Vulcan!" Vile laughed as he jumped down from the ceiling.
"Vile!" X and Vulcan snapped, the former moving out of the way of Toxic Seahorse's acid ball before firing an icy missile at the Seahorse Maverick.
"Your right...aside from a minor neural implant, that thing is just human…" Vile chuckled, "Which makes it so scary...he's so amazing."
"Doshte Kokoni?!" Zero-One spoke up as he slashed Toxic Seahorse, "Masaka...you're here to make sure the dam gets destroyed?!"
"More or less, bug boy!" Vile laughed, "Ahh..wish I could join myself, but I gotta get the doc back to base."
"Matte!" Vulcan shouted as he aimed and fired at Vile, who ducked out of the way.
"Till next time, Wanko-chan!" he taunted as he shot at the ground, causing a smokescreen of dust.
"Wanko janai…" Vulcan growled shooting the dust cloud away to reveal they already made their escape, "Tch…"
"Ha!" X shouted as he and Zero-One fired their respective ice weapons at Toxic Seahorse when he got close, knocking him back as his body began to whiten up form the freeze.
"Gh...c...cold…" Toxic Seahorse grunted in pain. "No...stay….strong...f...for...f-bzzt! F...FUU!" he roared as he raised his head up into the air, "Acid...Rain!"
"?!" the two Riders and Maverick Hunter tensed up as they braced the incoming shower of acid, burning bits of their armor while eating away at the frost that was on Toxic Seahorse's body.
"Gh! I know its not really burning me, but somehow it still stings!" Zero-One complained while folding up his Attache Calibur and using it to cover himself.
"Gh! Any ideas?!" Vulcan shouted as he used his own weapon to cover himself.
"I think if two of us can hit him with an ice attack, he should be vulnerable enough for a finisher!" X grunted as sparks came off him for a moment.
"X...you take the shot!" Zero-One declared as he moved his Attache weapon over X.
"Use us as cover to charge up a powerful blast!" Vulcan spoke, doing the same.
"Got it!" X nodded, gripping the Attack Calibur as he began to channel his current weapon into it..
=CHARGE!=
"Gh..FUU!" Toxic Seahorse roared as his dismissed the acid roar, reeling his head back as he prepared to fire off more of his acid, "Acid...tai-!"
=Kaban Strash!=
"HA!" X shouted swinging the sword twice forming an X of white and grey glowing energy before it sharpened like an arrowhead and fired forward, spinning mid-air and striking Toxic Seahorse as he was sent staggering back, hsi body becoming solid form the frost forming on him once more, "Zero-One, Vulcan, now!"
"OH!" both Riders roared as they tapped on their belts.
=RISING IMPACT!/SHOOTING BLAST FEVER!=
Zero-One and Vulcan rushed forward as energy focused around their legs. The two jumped into the air and aimed forward, their legs lining up as the energy from both their finishers merged into one giant mass as their double kick struck Toxic Seahorse, sending him flying back and crashing through a wall.
"GAh! Gh!" Toxic Seahorse cried out as he tumbled down the long hill, crashing through a chain fence as bits and pieces of his armor fell off while sparks came off him.
"Oh no you don't!" Vulcan snapped as he gave chase.
"Matte!" Zero-One shouted as he and X gave chase.
"Gah…!" Toxic Seahorse grunted as he passed through a set of bushes, his body dirtied from the dirt as he struggled to stand up. He then noticed something up ahead...a partly submerged building with a large crystal growing near the edge of it...with a figure inside it, "...It's here…"
"Matte!" Vulcan shouted as they caught up.
"That's…" Zero-One came to a halt as he used his helmet to zoom ahead, "Someone is inside that…"
"Eh?" X blinked at that before looking at the crystal, squinting his eyes a bit to see what looked like a female reploid with wavy, flowing black hair inside it, her eyes closed shut..as if she was in a deep plumber, "...a female Reploid…"
"Gh….gah…" Toxic Seahorse grunted as he began to stagger towards the crystal, ignoring the pain in his body as more and more sparks came off him, "I...I'm finally here…"
"Nani?" Vulcan blinked, "All this...for one Reploid?" he asked, he then tensed when multiple Trilobite Mavericks suddenly appeared from cover, "A trap!?" he grunted as he grabbed a swing from one.
"No...they are protecting him!" X realized.
"Doshte?" Zero-One asked, slashing one down, "We already damaged him...why would they go so far?"
Unbeknownst to them, Horobi watched on from a distance, his hand glowing as he gave orders to the Trilobites. He focused mainly on Toxic Seahorse as the Maverick was now barely standing before the crystalized Reploid.
"My love...I'm sorry..I kept you...so lonely…" Toxic Seahorse panted, giving the female Reploid a forlorn expression as a sadness was seen in his eyes, "That day...when I lost you...I...I wanted to keep you safe, protect the Sanctuary we had together here...even when no one would pay me...gh…" he grunted as his body nearly melted, "Even knowing..how dangerous I could be...you always were there for me...shooting me that kind smile…"
"Eh?" Zero-One blinked behind his helmet at that.
"After I woke up after so long...I was enveloped in rage...wanting to take revenge on humans for what they did to Daybreak and you...but…" Toxic Seahorse paused as he looked down, "Then I thought of you...and how you wouldn't want me to do such a vile act, but my rage...it..something kept eating me up on the inside! But here I am now...seeing you again...even if..." he paused as his hand began to melt a bit, "It's for the last time…"
"...wait. Is he…" X began as Toxic Seahorse grabbed onto the crystal, more of him beginning to melt as the acid began to eat away at the crystal, "...Alia, is…"
=He….he's melting his programming= Alia whispered =Without it, his entire body will breakdown and destroy itself…"
"I am happy.. To hold onto you one last time," Toxic Seahorse whispered as his tail began to fall off, melting into small puddles of acid, "I will see you...in the afterlife, my love."
"Ai…" Zero-One spoke as several Trilobite Mavericks pushed him back, "Maverick...who felt...love…"
"Nandato…" Vulcan spoke, backhanding one away.
"O-oi...matte…!" X tried to call out, but it seems Toxic Seahorse didn't take notice of him as more of his body began to melt, melting both the crystal and the Replodi with ihm, "Alia, we…!"
=It's not good...I'm detecting zero life signatures from that Reploid= Alia replied, a bit of a sad tone in her voice =Even if we had found her and gotten out...there's no way to reactivate her=
X said nothing as he lowered his head, hearing the hissing sound beginning to down die as both Toxic Seahorse, and the crystalized Reploid were nothing more than a puddle of fading Acid as the Zetsumerise Key for the Maverick stood in a small 'island' in the middle of the puddle.
"This...is also the Ark's will…" Horobi sadly spoke, "Ai no data…" he lowered his hand and walked away.
The remaining Trilobite Mavericks suddenly stopped fighting the two Riders before they began to run off in different directions, leaving the two and X to stand there as they looked at the spot where Toxic Seahorse once stood.
"Nanda kore…" Vulcan whispered, "A Maverick committed suicide…"
"Fuwa-san…" Zero-One spoke as he and X turned to him.
"You...called it suicide...not self termination…" X noted.
"I call it as I see it…" Vulcan huffed simply, "I don't care what the reason...that's just sad." he walked off.
"...I think...it hit him harder than I thought," X whispered to Zero-One.
"In Fuwa-san's eyes...Mavericks are the enemy…" Zero-One muttered, "He doesn't stop to think of them as Reploids who might be feeling too much...just like I used to…"
"Aruto?"
"Aitsu...warui janai…" Zero-One shook his head, "He was in pain...suffering...it was too much for him to handle...humans feel that way too! Sometimes...I thought Reploids had it easy...you don't know what it's like to be crushed by your own emotions...but...some of you do…"
"...more than you know," X whispered, looking at his Busterarm as a forlorn look appeared in his eyes, "I often question to myself...why must Reploids fight like this? I know the Maverick Hunters and I fight back the Mavericks, but...the pain of having to face someone you once knew...someone you found as a comrade or friend...the pain…" he paused as his shaking hand began to ball up into a fist, "Of having to put them down…"
"..." Zero-One put a hand on X's shoulder, getting his attention, "X...Mavericks...Reploids...have it tough, too...born into our world. Given emotions you didn't prepare for. Sometimes...I wonder what Hakase and Jiichan were thinking. But, I think I finally get it. They want us to live together. Humans are just barely getting the hang of it, so...why don't Humans and Reploids learn to rely on each other for the things we can't do?" he chuckled, "I still can't fight half as good as you...and you seem like you could use someone to talk to more, right?"
"...heh. Yeah...that is true," X chuckled a bit as his unballed his hand, "Maybe when we're not so busy...you and I can hang out again. Just like old times…"
"I could use a hookie day!" Zero-One chuckled, "Not that Roll will let me...off the hook~"
"...pfft!" X began to snicker at that, "N-no fair…!"
"Hai! Aruto janaito~!" he laughed with him.
"Hmm…" Isamu mused, listening from behind a tree, "Wishful thinking Shacho-san...but Mavericks will always just be another danger to humanity…" he shook his head and began walking away, "Scars don't heal just because you know why your enemies hurt you."
"This is Yaiba…" Yua spoke, watching through a pair of binoculars, "Yes...the Maverick self terminated due to over abundant emotional stimulation. It will prove interesting data going forth," she spoke into an earpiece that was made of metal with a glowing red center and an X symbol present in the center of a circular section, with the word 'ZAIA' written along the side, "It seems as though Zero-One has improved. He and X were able to deal with the threat much faster than before, and far more effectively….Understood, I shall try and introduce more variables with the next deployment.'' She tapped the earpiece and walked away before she was spotted at the scene by one of them.
"Hmm hmm...interesting," the figure that had been talking to her whispered as he moved a chess piece.
"To think..a Reploid was capable of killing itself," the second figure noted as they moved their chess piece, "Better make sure to not install that function in one of my projects…"
"It is indeed off, it violates the basic laws of robotics set forth by its greatest innovators. But...then again, no one can account for how dangerous emotions can become, it took humanity millions upon billions of years...and we still struggle." the first figure sighed, moving a pawn piece.
"Indeed. And our kind as well struggles with this concept well…" the second figure admitted as they moved another piece, "But….today, I think I've finally hit it...the next step in evolution thanks to the late Dr. Doppler's research notes."
"Dr. Doppler you say? How very interesting," the first figure spoke moving a Bishop into place, "I do so hope to see what results this promises. I am a hundred...no...a Thousand percent...invested."
"Oh trust me...by the time this experiment is finished…" the second figure began as they moved a piece a bit closer to a King, "You will have proven to be greater than Thomas Light himself…"
"Oh...I can only wait…" the first figure smirked as he moved the Knight and blocked the path to the king, "For that truth to become well known~"
Alia sighed as she finished the report of today's events. X explained what details were missing. Thankfully it seems Hiden Intelligence was able to smooth things over at the dam and were able to promise a replacement within the week. But the ending to the battle with Toxic Seahorse left a bit of a melancholic mood around the base to all who had heard it. That is to those who didn't throw themselves back into their work to try and ignore it.
*BOOM*
Speaking of said work…
"AH! We almost got it that time!"
"It exploded!"
"Yeah but it kept shape 0.7 seconds longer this time! An improvement!"
"I keep telling you...we can't alter ZetsumeRise Keys into ProgRiseKeys!"
"Not with that attitude we won't!"
"...I don't think I wanna know," Alia sighed to herself as she tried to get back to work….until ehr curiosity got the better of her as she got up out of her seat and headed to the lab. As she opened the doors, she noticed that it looked liek an explosion took place inside, "...Douglas, Palette?"
"Oh Alia…" Palette began.
"Begin test number 17!" Douglas declared.
"No wait!"
*BZZZTTT~!*
"...do I…" Alia began before her hair poofed up into an afro, "...Want to know what's going on in here?"
"Innovation!" Douglas declared, bits of electricity sparking off him and his glasses for a moment, "We had an idea! The Zetsumerise keys are made from the data of extinct...but powerful animals. Some a bit more just analogous...but at the same time we realize if we could alter them into ProgRise Keys, they could help our forces!"
"Mainly...we want to see what happens when used by Zero-One…" Pallette added.
"Hey…" Zero-One greeted from inside a large rectangular glass square, equipped with the Drill Knuckle Cannon as it sparked a bit. He then held up a small sign which read: HELP!
"...why don't you two take a break?" Alia offered the two Reploids.
"But w-"
"Do you want to be the one to explain to Commander Signas what the explosions were and possibly interrupt his paperwork?"
"Break time!" Douglas declared.
"See you later, Alia!" Palette yelped as the two ran off.
"Ha!" Zero-One gasped as he got himself free, plopping right onto the metal floor, "I...am really glad this armor can mess with my sense of time...cause that was looonnngg~"
"...you proposed that idea to them, didn't you?" Alia asked as she helped him up off the floor.
"And I shall live with that regret for the majority of my adult life till such a time as I may mentally repress it with therapy." Zero-One sighed.
"...still, it is an interesting idea, but doing so is difficult," Alia admitted, "For one..from what I scanned, they're built with multiple firewalls and security programs, each one able to send out the virus if you're not too careful."
"I assumed it was something nasty like that…" Zero-One admitted, "But...these are made with data on the Mavericks...their emotions...their memories...who they were." he picked up one of the ZetsumeRise Keys on a nearby table, "Mavericks...are Reploids who can't control the strong emotions they developed...some are bad...but...maybe some aren't. Maybe...if I understood them more…"
"...hmm…" Alia began to ponder at that, "...what if...no no. I doubt it could work…"
"Eh?"
"X is able to use the powers of the Mavericks he's fought thanks to this Variable Weapons System and Zea," Alia answered, "What I'm thinking is...if we somehow used Zea to use X's weapon data to make proper ProgRise Keys, then we could use those without risking the Virus. Powering the weapons...possibly new forms for you, Vulcan and Valkyrie..."
"Soka…" Zero-One spoke, "Then...we can try," he chuckled, "A way to help us understand each other better...If Kamen Riders can also rely on Reploid power...we can help people and Reploids get along!"
"That would make X feel relieved as well in a way," Alia smiled...before she sighed a bit, "He needs it...from what I understand, the Maverick uprising took a real toll on him."
"Speaking as a human guy, maybe X just needs something...normal?" Zero-One replied, his mask suddenly splitting open as the black helmet seemed to deconstruct itself and fall back like a hood to reveal Aruto's face, "I know humans and Reploids aren't built the same up here…" he pointed to his head, "But...we all think and feel the same," he smiled, patting his chest just above his heart, "X is always working, he works hard for everyone, maybe a day of not being Megaman X, the hero...and just X the Reploid is what he needs to clear his thoughts?" Aruto gave a happy toothy smile.
"...well…"
"I think it's an excellent idea."
"Gh!" The two tensed as they looked to see Signas looking over at them.
"Ah! S-sir!" Alia yelped as she quickly saluted.
"At ease," Signas assured as he walked in, "I was passing by when I overheard your conversation...and I think both are excellent ideas. I'll see to it X gets a day off for himself...and Shachou-san?"
"H-hai!" Aruto yelped before Signas put a hand on his shoulder.
"I think you have a really noble goal there," Signas smiled a bit, "A day where Humans and Reploids can lie together in peace...fight alongside one another, understand one another...it is a truly noble goal."
"Arigato…" Aruto spoke as memories of his father came to mind, "I know it can happen…" he smiled, "It will happen! I'll see it happen some day." he looked down at his hand, slowly closing it, "That's what Tousan wanted…" he whispered to himself.
"...I hope to be there when that day finally happens," Signals smiled as he took his hand off his shoulder, "Now then..I'll get to making sure X gets a day off...in fact, Alia?"
"Yes, sir?"
"You've been busy with navigator stuff as well..why not take the day off as well?" Signals suggested.
"..eh?" Alia blinked at that, "But...sir, I still need to…"
"Pallette and Layer can cover for you."
"But what about th-"
"I can call in a favor from an old friend to help handle your navigator duties."
"But, sir…!"
"Maybe Shacho-san is onto something…" he replied, "He's trying hard to understand us, maybe we should try and understand humans as well. They are a fragile life form...sometimes a break is what they need to repair and restore themselves. Unlike humans, Reloids don't have the ability to self-repair over time...but we do need time to cool down."
"...that's...true I suppose…" Alia whispered, "...and lord knows how many times Pallette has tried to drag me and Layer out for one of her days off…"
"Eh...part of human nature is trying to find excuses to be lazy," Aruto shrugged, "Some are better at it then others, and some just aren't born with that sense…If you and X were humans...you'd probably be among the latter kind."
"...I suppose a day off wouldn't hurt a-wait a second," Alia paused at that last part, "...what are you…?"
"Splendid. Starting tomorrow you and X will be having a day off," Signals chuckled as he began to walk off.
"Well, it looks like I better be hitting the old dusty trail." Aruto spoke up as his helmet quickly reformed itself as he walked out the door with a yawn.
"Hold on! I need to know…!" Alia began as Zero-One walked out.
"Human excuse!" Zero-One chuckled as he jogged off.
"...what just happened?" Alia whispered to herself in confusion.
SZ: *yawns* So sorry for the late update to this story….once again, the grip that is real life...and new games..and other stories…
Z0: Eh you probably don't gotta worry, given what game he downloaded...we might have a good well of inspiration to keep us going strong for a while.
SZ: *playing X Dive while barely awake*Yup...come on..gotta grind Elemental Metals so I can get Cinnamon...I need to complete my Command Mission nostalgia!...oh and z0...move onto the preview. Getting sleepy…
GT: *sneaks in and tugs a rope, causing the curtain to drop*
Jikai, Zero-One: The X Protocol…
Aruto: Eh...Umi research!? Yahoo~
X: Meaning I can head to the beach peacefully for once!
Rico: Umi~!
Isamu: Yay…
Others: Eh?!
Yua: We are mandated to use vacation days before they expire…
Isamu: You punch one iron door…
Alia: You two followed me, didn't you?"
?: She dragged me off again…
Palette: Let's take today to relax and have fun~!
Routine 8: Operation..beach relaxation!
Aruto: What fresh chaos has been unleashed…
Isamu: My point is proven...women make no sense...