Disclaimer: I don't own anything exempt for O.C
A/N: For anyone who are still interested in this story, and support Zero x Iris ship, I highly recommend listening to "No Way Out" Performed by Paul Anka, Julia Migenes (You can find it on YouTube). "No Way Out" is based on an really crappy 80s Movie about Love and Murder, don't watch unless your old enough. The theme song I thought was pretty beautiful and fit well with the context of Mega Man X5: Alternate that explores Iris and Zero's relationship.
North Atlantic
Zero, with the help of Marty and her unit, fought through the sea Mavericks. The Crimson Hunter made work of the jumping fish hostiles with his Z-Saber.
Marty and her task force of dolphin-bots and Reploid scuba-divers have been busy taking out the fleet of ships. The Dolphin-bots speed allowed them to tare through the belly of one of Tidal Whale's ships like a torpedo. Their tasked to cover Zero while he heads straight to the flagship.
Tidal Whale watched as his fleet tried to fend off the attack but even sheer size is enough to stop them. The large Whale themed Beastialoid stood outside the deck of the aircraft carrier, that he 'borrowed', waiting for Zero to show up. Hands clenched as he feels the Sigma Virus running his systems. He has been the master of the sea for as long he was created. His prime directive is to guard the Hydrogen against any rough leaders who want it to use it for war & chaos, one such example is Repliforce when they were at war with the Maverick Hunters.
Zero lands on the deck and walked up to the lone Beastialoid with a neutral expression. Tidal Whale closes his eyes to think, he knows that Zero has been looking for this Iris girl before all this happen with the falling space colony.
"Ahoy, Zero... Long time no see..." Tidal Whale spoke. The Master of the sea could respect Zero and his former Navigator, whatever the girl might be.
The blond Hunter closed his eyes to think before he opens them, "I'm here to secure the ocean nearest the Hunter Base. It has run high..."
Tidal Whale, "The Enigma requires a large amount of hydrogen... so you must want the ocean in order to produce hydrogen..."
Zero nodded, "Precisely. Please cooperate," he said as he was about to brandish out his weapon again.
"I think you and I know how this will end... But first, allow me to offer my condolences to your loss."
Zero maintains his collective poster not to show any emotion in front of others, not even to his opponents, "You mean... Iris." Tidal Whale nodded.
"Its all in the past now, there no going back to it as well as what happens to your beloved Iris... I've already been infected..." The Sea Beastialoid looked at his glove hand, briefly didn't have control of the movement of his fingers, "I will concede."
Zero's eyes widen in surprise as Tidal Whale continued.
"I will concede for as long as I have moved, my men have all but turned... but I'm still me."
The Crimson Hunter was certain that he may have to fight Tidal Whale but his opponent is willing to cooperate, for now. It feels very strange... but... it made him think about Iris.
"Thank you," Zero said, "we don't have much time."
"Agreed the world is more important."
Secret Hideout
"Pfff... Tidal Whale sucks," Natalia scoffed as she watched the display from the screen with boredom in her eyes. Prince took to time study Zero as he watches the screen with his sister.
"Yes, it would appear Tidal Whale is resisting... though not surprising," Prince smirked, "They will fight sooner or later... Magic Wukong will straighten things out."
Natalia raised a brow as she faces her brother. The flame-haired Maverick elaborate, "I just need those fools to weaken Zero enough for me to finish him off. It will be opera play for my sleeping beauty." he chuckles rather madly.
She rolled her eyes.
"Forgive dear sister... Master Sigma has a plan for you and me... and my role is to challenge Zero once he learns about Iris. It will be glorious!"
Something doesn't seem right about her brother, this is not normal even for a Maverick like him, "Well you do that while I relax and wait until Sigma tells me what my new role is."
"Actually..." Prince handed his sister a security ID card.
The blond female Maverick examined the card in question with skepticism.
"There is an abandon Repliforce base in the Arctic, Master Sigma & Dynamo needs you to pick up some toys I've made for him."
Natalia smirked, "Hasn't that place been under quarantine?"
Prince laughed in response, "I sure there is no problems for a mercenary like you!" his sister frowned.
"You know what I mean... the Hunters are all over that place! If I'm going on an errand then I need more of Sigma's playthings to back me up!"
"Of course," He bowed, "As you wish, Sledgehammer Shark & Torpedo Lobster is available for you to commanded."
"Good... Well... I'm heading out, let me know if Tidal Whale starts whaling on Iris's boyfriend."
Prince watched his sister leave his prescience. Afterward, he walked over to the console and pressed a button to activated a hologram screen showing what it appeared to be a human-sized capsule. Still standing up he typed on the keyboard with his one hand and the other behind his back, like a proper gentleman. The console responded to the command and zero in on whats lies behind the glass.
Prince pressed the arrow and numbered keys to get a closeup view of his formally betrothed sleeping face.
"Ah, peaceful ever my dear," Prince said. The look on that girl's face made him remember that Iris performs Zero over him, but why? He's is the perfect gentlemen, brilliant traction, fame and fortune combine. Prince is General's successor so why Iris refused her once in a lifetime chance to marry him? Not that it mattered anyway as it was supposed to be legally binding but Colonel and that S-Class Navigator Alia intervene thus General had decided to revoke Prince's legal betrothed privileges.
Its all because Zero & Iris are in love. He scoffed at the idea of being in love with the last relic of Doctor Wily...
This promoted Prince to laugh out loud, in truth he wanted Iris all to himself and the power that could have been his but he remembered the root as to why he can't get what he wants.
He recalled Government scientists attempted to develop an ultimate fighting Reploid with both a high fighting spirit and peace-loving heart, similar to X, but the differences were ultimately considered irreconcilable and the project was considered a failure. The scientists then decided to split them up into two Reploids, resulting in the creation of Iris and her brother Colonel. Her half was of the peaceful arbitrator, and Colonel's was of the strong-willed fighter.
The irony is that Iris's empathy is no different from X and Colonel and Zero's fighting spirit is the same. That would mean Iris and Zero are compatible.
Prince with a wide crazy grin punch through the console, causing the holoscreen to shutdown. Then he brought up his Z-Saber and slashed it to pieces, laughing maniacally.
Iris and Zero will pay for the humiliation that they had inflicted upon the Prince of Repliforce.
Maverick Hunters HQ
Command Center
"Ha! I was right," exclaimed a certain Bluenette haired woman researcher. She wore glasses and a blue dress while wearing a lab coat over it.
"It's merely a coincidence Ma am," Alia remains skeptical about Doctor Eloy's theory, "Tidal Whale is as honorable as the rest of us, he's not the type to surrender to the Sigma Virus. He also knows what's at stake."
Part of Signals agrees to Alia's assessment however it did give him hope that maybe X and Zero don't have to fight all of the Mavericks that are willing to help.
"Well have to keep in mine about Tidal Whale's condition, he may eventually attack Zero against is own will." The commander was reminded of the conversation he had with Captain Russ. Will he tell her about Eloy's theory? No, he wouldn't want the captain to raise any hope about Spiral Pegasus and Burn Dinorex. He knows how much she cares about them that she is willing to risk her life for them. Signals do not want Russ or anyone into a situation that will get them hurt.
"Right, sir," Alia nodded as she was typing, "X has arrived with the device from his battle with Creset Grizzly! Douglas is standing by to hook up the Crystal Ball to the Enigma."
"Good," Signal said approvingly, "Now we wait for Zero & Marty to acquire the Hydrogen from Tidal Whale."
Doctor Eloy huffed, knowing that the conversation they had earlier is about a potential remedy, or a cure, to the Sigma Virus but she understands it will have to wait since the Maverick Hunters have to stop the colony from hitting the earth.
An Hour Later.
"So Iris's data sample was missing in the government files?" Signals asked.
"Yes," Eloy said, "All of Iris's data was stolen from a hacker and was retrieved by the Mavericks."
"That's... odd," Alia said, not even sure what they wanted with Iris's data, "What could they want with her data anyway?"
Signals, "Colonel's Data has anti-viral proprieties that seem to work well in fighting off the Sigma Virus around cites. For Sigma to go through those lengths he must know of the truth of Colonel and Iris's origins."
Doctor Eloy, "Yes, they were originally part of 'Project Excalibur' basically a new Mega Man X but we all know how that turned out."
Alia couldn't help but roll her eyes, this all seems very nonsensical but agents her better judgment she can't rule it out for Iris sake. She looked at the small pitcher frame of Iris and herself sitting down at their post, smiling at the camera. Iris has the most cheerful face when she smiled.
"As I understand, Sigma only has Iris's core Data."
The female human doctor smirked as she handed Signals the docs, "The devil is in the details. Sigma is afraid as to what Iris might become so of course he and Dragoon would attempt to destroy her."
"Even though it would cost millions of lives?"
Signals, Alia and Eloy turned to see Zero and Marty at the entrance.
The Blond Mermaid Maverick Hunter sighed, "Sorry I'm late," she saluted, "I was able to bring him back safe."
"Good," Signals nodded, "How are you feeling Zero?"
"I find..." Zero said, "I got a few stretches from Tidal Whale but I'm alright." Marty rolled her eyes, "Whale had a pretty good idea of helping us but some monkey Reploid swoop in and turned him into a full-on Maverick."
"We had no chose put him down but that one Maverick that was responsible got away," Zero said.
"I see," Signals.
"Hmmm, a Maverick that can turn other Reploids into Mavericks," Eloy said thinking aloud, "What's his name if you don't mind me asking, Mr. Zero?"
"He called himself Magic Wukong," Zero said. X later showed up to the Command Center after he learns what happens, he was surprised that Tidal Whale had giving Zero the parts they need for the Enigma. Of course, it was before a new Maverick turned him into one of them.
"I've never heard of a Reploid by that name," Signals said, "At least not in our database."
"That is correct, it is a new type of Maverick of my design," said a mysterious voice. Soon all of the screens in the room have showed a male figure with flame hair and green armor similar to Britain's Nobility. Everyone in the room became confused at who is this person is, Signals was the first to speak up.
"It has been a long time Commander."
Signals couldn't believe what he is seeing, "Prince, is that you? How did you-"
"I survived," Prince said simply through the holo screen, "I've been offered a chance by my dear friend Dynamo to help me at my quest for glory and rid the world of my opponents."
"Dynamo?" Zero thought isn't one of the bounty hunters he heard about awhile ago.
Signals closed his eyes, "So you are working for Sigma..."
Prince laughed, "I've always been a Maverick before and after Lady Berkana's rise to glory but enough about me! I wish to deliver a message, to Zero!"
"What?" Zero seems confused.
"I believe you've all been wondering what we did to Iris's core data after we've stolen it, well here it is," Prince dramatically gestured to a large capsel right behind him. It came to a closeup view on who is inside it.
A beautiful closed-eyed young-looking female brunette Reploid with very long hair and fair skin. Without her dress-themed armor and white overalls for her limbs she only wore a black leotard. Iris looks every bit like a human but the one thing that stands out is her red color leg armor, with blue ring outlines from the top and bottom, and defining lavender color boots with black outline.
Alia's eyes widen and stood up from her console in shock, "It can't be!"
X was shocked as well, "Its Iris, theirs no dought about it! So those rumors are true! Prince, what is the meaning of this?!"
Zero clenched his fists, trying to contain his rage.
Prince, "I knew you fools would react that way!" he started to laugh, "While you two idiots were having so much fun playing with General and Sigma at the Final Weapon Dynamo, and my Sister, was able to recover Iris's body! Who would of thought Zero would leave her body there before the Final Weapon exploded!"
His expression softens, "I..." that all Zero could say.
"That is enough, Prince!"
"Humph! Your in no position to give me orders, X. All of you should treat me with the proper respect if it not for me and Master Sigma we would not be brought the miracle of resurrection. Iris now sleeps as she waits for her champion to wake her up!"
"Where are you now?" Zero spoke firmly.
"I've had already sent the coordinates to our base. You are welcome to try to challenge me and save her but I know you have other prioritizes."
And with that, the transmission ended right before Zero was about to utter a word. "Darn it!" X.
"Alia, have you received the coordinates?" Signals inquired.
"Hold on," Alia was busy typing, "Yes and it seems Iris's Maverick Hunter ID signal is there too," she was quick to verified Iris's signal as soon as possible.
Signals eyes widen, "Are you sure, about Iris's signal?"
"Verifying!"
The Holo screen brought up a pitcher of Iris during her early days as a member of Maverick Hunters, including her profiles, date of activation and memory logs.
"Analyzing Codecs!"
All it should was a line of green letters and numbers scrolling up. If Alia were human she would have been sweating right now, such a thing shouldn't be possible but then she remembered Vile and Zero's revival.
"Everything about the ID signal is correct, and... her memory logs are accurate up until the Final Weapon. Yes, this is Iris's ID Signal..." Alia slumped on her chair.
"That means Iris's is alive..." Zero looks down to the floor.
Signals, "We have to remain focus... X, Zero and Marty!" he turns to their Maverick Hunters, "We have to maintain our current primary mission objective. We cannot afford to be distracted while our planet is at stake."
"Yes, sir!" X and Marty said, Zero saluted but did have the strength to say anything at the moment.
Secret Hideout
Prince chucked in the dark sleeping chamber. Sigma was right behind him, concealed in shadow.
"How interesting," Sigma spoke, "To see Zero stiff like that..."
Prince flinched in surprise, he turned around only to greet a dark Sigma silhouette with red glowing eyes, "M-Master Sigma!"
The Leader of Mavericks, "You been making quite a mess," he noted the destroyed counsel device, "Try cleaning up after yourself."
Somehow it triggered Prince, being treated like a child was not something he sighed up for. Sigma chucked in the dark as if he can read Prince's mine, "Also keep in mind that our future is inside that capsule, she must not be awakened before the colony crash into Earth. So be a good lad."
Prince was barking mad but remain calm, "What will happen if she does as awaken," He asked just to get his mind off of his rage.
"If she wakes she is potentially end all Mavericks. So play the game at your peril."
"Of course," Prince bowed, "I wouldn't fail you-" His eyes widen when Sigma simply vanished from the room, "What? Did I..." he shook it off, "No, my mind is as clear as the blue sea... Zero prepare yourself."