Chapter 25 – Perseverance
In the following days, the growing group fell into a steady pattern. While X, Zero, Samus and the Guardians continued going through the list of old Hunter outposts and hidden strongholds, with Colbor and Milan in tow.
Cerveau's workshop had become an erstwhile command center in the ongoing operation to assist X locate Alia and his missing siblings.
With her organizational skills, Cial carefully kept track of every visited location, every shred of evidence and unexpected discovery – mission logs from Hunter units, snippets of Alia's notes, signs of old battles in facilities that had ended up in a better state of preservation due to their remote location. Thanks to this, the group's understanding of the events following the Dark Elf's sealing was slowly becoming clearer. By this point, they knew that Alia had kept moving from outpost to outpost, trying to avoid unwanted attention while searching for something.
"It would have taken me months or years to cover this much ground back then." X said as he headed to the next outpost on Samus' ship.
"I can see why the kid went all the way to find me." Samus remarked, glancing over her shoulder from the pilot's seat, clad once again in her suit of armor but with the helmet resting on her lap. "You're the kind to try to do everything yourself."
"I suppose I am." X conceded, leaning against the frame of the cockpit hatch.
"There's a difference between being self-reliant and being just stubborn." Samus said with a hint of disapproval in her tone that reminded him of Zero for some reason. "In fact, don't you think it's time you took a break to clear your head?"
"I couldn't do that." X countered. "Not while you're still going at it."
"The key difference here is that I do take breaks." Samus retorted, rolling her eyes. "Even a two hour power nap can do wonders when you're out on an extended mission. You, on the other hand..."
Both X and Zero had quickly realized that the Huntress was not only seasoned and exceedingly competent, but also cast a commanding presence that even someone as stubborn as X found difficult to ignore. When she spoke, others listened.
"I suppose you have a point. But…"
"This ship is like a home away from home." she said in an even tone. "I have everything I need here to get some quick rest, freshen up and pick up the pace."
"But…" X tried to protest.
"You don't need to worry about me." she insisted. "It'll take more than some decrepit ruins to do me in."
"Besides…" she added, narrowing her eyes at him. "Your body may not need to rest, but your head sure does."
Knowing she had struck a nerve, she pressed the advantage, slightly softening her tone but still hitting the nail on the head.
"I get it. You're anxious about this whole thing. But you're getting reckless. Sloppy."
"I know." X admitted, touching a spot on his chest armor where an old grenade had left several ugly scratches on the shiny new plating. "I'm getting distracted... and making more mistakes the longer this goes on. I guess you're better at reading people than I gave you credit for."
"In my line of work, that can be a lifesaving skill." Samus said with a hint of pride. "Now then, are you going to listen?"
"I suppose I could use a little break." X conceded, his lips curling up into a slight pout. "Besides, there are a couple of things at the settlement that need my attention."
"You really are Rock's brother…" she remarked with an amused smirk, watching his expression.
"Huh?"
"I know genetics aren't really a thing when dealing with robots, but I remember him making the exact same face when your old man would tell him to take a break."
"You know…" X noted. "When I met you for the first time and you told me about your line of work, I wasn't expecting you to have this softer side. I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover."
"You should be flattered." she retorted with a confident grin. "I save this side of myself for my friends."
"Not many people would have dropped everything to come all the way here like you did either."
"Your siblings deserve better than to end up forgotten in some buried ruin." she said, narrowing her eyes. "I owe them that much."
"Besides…" she added, reclining her seat slightly. "The Federation doesn't own me. After all the crap they've pulled, they can clean up their own mess for once."
"You did mention some disagreements with them…"
"That's one way of putting it." she said with a scowl. "I almost lose count of how many times they've tried to mess with something beyond their understanding or their ability to control, then called me in to deal with it… and then thrown a hissy fit when I destroyed it before it endangered the whole galaxy."
"But is this the kind of life your foster family would have wanted for you when they took you in?" X asked, looking a bit downcast.
"Probably not." she conceded. "Your old man probably wouldn't have wanted this for you either. But they're all gone now and some things you just have to do."
"I remember his words on that recording." X reminisced. "He gave me the ability to choose and hoped the world would allow that choice to be a peaceful one. Maybe now I won't have to fight anymore."
He shook his head to push away those thoughts and stepped closer to the pilot's seat.
"Well… I'm not sure how much time I can afford to spend away from my world. But if you ever need a hand out there…"
"I'll keep that in mind." she said, her expression softening slightly. "Now then… shall I turn this thing around?"
"I can't use the old teleporter network just yet, but I did bring a recall unit with me." X said, patting a bulge in his backpack. "Stay safe out there and call if you need me."
"Will do."
And with that, X activated the device, disappearing in a flash and reappearing an instant later at the local Resistance garrison. For safety reasons, especially in case of emergency, X and the others had all primed their recall units to take them to a dedicated room at that location.
With a weary sigh, he stepped out of the receiving room, waved at the guard posted outside and made his way through the corridors. He paused for a moment and glanced in the direction of Axl's quarters.
"He's been quiet for too long. I should go check on him."
Meanwhile, at the local Trans Server terminal…
In the crimson light of the setting sun, a distinctive figure stepped through the metal doors.
Zero too had eventually returned home, but for a different reason.
Ragnarok had been a harrowing experience for Ciel. The thought of losing Zero had made her become considerably more protective of him, despite the logical side of her mind telling her she was being silly as he was far more durable and experienced than her. Wanting to put her at ease, he had decided to head back for a while.
As Zero emerged from the small reinforced metal building, once again clad in his red armor, matching helmet and black undersuit and freshly returned from his latest excursion, he quickly found himself in the petite scientist's grasp. His boots were caked with an unnaturally thick mud that was beginning to dry, his ponytail was dusty and a portion of his breastplate was splotched with some sort of thick, stinky sap. She still didn't care, throwing her arms around him.
"I realize I'm being selfish." she timidly said, though her arms wouldn't budge. "Taking time from the search and all."
"I told you before." he said, equal parts amused and perplexed at her reaction as he patted her head. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."
"I know." she admitted with a pained expression. "But after that time... being away from you for too long makes me nervous."
He understood that for someone like her, being in love for the first time was a complicated and unsettling experience. From what he had seen in his long life, he knew that such things were rarely simple and could be downright terrifying at times.
For his part, life had thrown him another curve ball. He had never expected to feel such emotions again after losing Iris and although Ciel had managed to break through his initial reluctance a portion of him was still ill-at-ease. His past failure to protect Iris was a factor, but a part of him also still wondered if the petite prodigy clinging to him was not making a mistake.
"I get where you're coming from." he finally said after a while. "We've both been through a lot."
Once again, he saw the glimmer of curiosity in her eyes and sensed her urge to say something, which she quickly suppressed. The subject of Iris in particular had been a difficult one for him to discuss with Ciel and while she had heard some details here and there, X and Axl had not said much out of consideration for their old friend. Still, she knew enough to understand that Zero carried his own burdens. As much as she wanted to ask questions, she couldn't bring herself to touch that particular wound after his previous breakdown. Instead, she settled for walking side by side with him, her hand never letting go of his arm.
"You've been out and about for nearly a week." she lightly scolded, finally letting go only to grab his arm and lightly tug at it. "We need to get you checked up."
"You know X. If I hadn't, then he'd be out there for two or three."
"Both of you can be impossible sometimes." she scolded, though there was no trace of anger in her voice, only concern.
"I'm not made of glass, you know." he said with a confident smile that made her feel a little lightheaded.
Instead of letting her lead him directly to the workshop, he made the walk last a bit longer, taking a more scenic route. By that time, she already knew of his habit of going on walks to clear his head. She gladly took the detour, glad to spend some more time with him. By his guarded expression and his body language, she also had the feeling he wanted to get something off his chest.
"When did I get so good at reading his moods anyway?" she wondered with a hint of pride.
He finally stopped in front of the empty spot that had turned into an unofficial gathering place for outdoors meals. The snow was beginning to melt and though it Ciel noticed that someone had taken the time to set a line of cobblestones in a large square delineating the patch of earth. More permanent metal tables were also in the process of being installed.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking during these trips." Zero said, glancing at the melting snow. "About the future. It's funny since X used to be the one always worrying about that kind of stuff."
"I guess the tables have turned." he scoffed inwardly.
"The future?" Ciel asked, looking up to speak to him face to face.
"Things are still changing." Zero elaborated. "The people here don't have to keep running and hiding like before."
For emphasis, he slowly swept his arm in front of him.
"We're not just rebuilding, but growing. There are no more enemies to fight, at least for now."
"We've come a long way…" she said with a smile. "And much of it was thanks to you."
"You give me too much credit." he said, still a little bashful about her undiluted praise. "Anyway..."
"I don't want to jinx it but it looks like things are going to stay quiet." Zero mused. "It's taking some time to get used to that, but it's not exactly a bad way to live."
"You do look calmer these days." Ciel noted. "When your memories started coming back there was this… tension about you half the time."
"You know I've got a lot of baggage." he said with a nod. "But thanks to you, I think I've found some peace for myself."
His words elicited a contented sigh from her. Looking back, he couldn't help realizing how she had set him on the path to regaining his full range of emotions after his reawakening. In the process, without realizing it, he had also become the center of her world. While she wanted everyone around her to be happy, there was something about his praise and gratitude in particular that had always left her a little light-headed, even before realizing what she was feeling.
"I don't want to stay too stuck to the past, but I'm not getting complacent either." he added, bringing her head back down from the clouds. "I'm going to keep getting stronger in case someone else tries to mess with what we have here. But what about you?"
"I can definitely think of a few things to do once my work here is done." Ciel said with a smile. "I haven't forgotten what you said."
"Assuming you don't change your mind later." Zero pointed out. "You're still-"
"I'm still young, I know." Ciel cut him off, staring at him face to face. "But let me make myself perfectly clear."
He knew she could be assertive at times, despite her meek exterior and gentle demeanor. Still, the change in gears always stirred something in him that he couldn't quite explain.
"As you've probably noticed by now, I can be as stubborn as X… or you." she said with the faintest hint of a smirk that reminded him once again that Cial was indeed her twin. Without warning, she abruptly caught him in a bear hug, with surprising strength for her size and build, her gaze still fixated on him.
"After what you said back there..." she continued, growing slightly flustered. "After the things you made me feel… there's no way in hell I'm changing my mind. I may have to wait a year or two or ten, but until I hear a definite no, I'm not budging."
"Uh…" he muttered, at a loss for words.
"So take responsibility!" she added in an overly dramatic fashion, leaving him utterly floored.
"That sounded so wrong…" he muttered. "You may be a genius, but you shouldn't be saying those things out loud."
"I know, but I've wanted to say it for a while." she admitted, before letting out a giddy laugh, trying to hide the crimson tinge creeping upon her face.
After a moment to catch her breath, she finally released him and beckoned him to walk with her, which he gladly obliged.
"To be fair…" he pointed out with a rather sheepish expression. "I didn't even realize I was doing it. Or that you were doing the same to me."
"I still can't help wondering if this was Axl's plan all along." she said half-jokingly.
"Only he would be able to answer that." Zero said with a shrug. "But I'll say this much. He may be a little troll, but there's more to him than meets the eye."
At the mention of Axl, he couldn't help feeling concerned about his old friend's breakdown. As far as Zero knew, he was still cooped up in his room and unwilling to speak to most people.
"C'mon Axl… You're going to bounce back from this too… right?"
"We can give it another try later." Ciel said, sensing the shift in his mood. "He'll have to come out eventually."
"He may have the face of a boy, but he's stronger than most people." Zero said with conviction. "That said… I've never seen him like this before."
"We'll figure something out." Ciel said with a smile. "We'll just have to put our heads together. But what exactly happened to him?"
"Sorry, but… it's not something I'm ready to discuss." Zero said, shaking his head. "If he wants to tell you, that's up to him."
Once again she noticed how his more sensitive side emerged when the two were alone. He made no effort to conceal the delicate affection she stirred in him or the mixture of concern and frustration he felt regarding his old friends at times. Where others saw a peerless warrior and a hero – which he admittedly was – she also saw a kind soul who tried to protect those around him. While the memory loss and subsequent recovery had been difficult, they had also laid the entirety of his character bare.
"He's lucky to have a friend like you." she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"But what about you?" he wondered. "When did you get so strong, so bold? No, when did you start showing it so openly?"
Day by day she seemed to be growing more confident, and sometimes even a little taller, as if she had willed herself to grow up a little faster. While at this point Zero knew that several of the children in the Class of Fifty had been genetically enhanced, out of politeness he had never asked if the same had been the case for the twins.
"I may not say it to his face, but it goes both ways." Zero pointed out. "Sure, he can be a bit of a pain when he starts with his antics, but it just wasn't the same without him around."
With a wistful smile, Ciel once again stared intently at him.
"I must confess I'm a little jealous."
"What?" Zero asked, blinking.
"Getting to know someone for centuries." she elaborated. "A human like me will never know what that's like… unless we give up our humanity and become something else like that monster Weil."
"You're far too young to be thinking about that kind of thing." Zero retorted with a scowl. "Enjoy what's in front of you."
"That's the plan." she said, staring intently at him, once again showing her bolder side. By the look on her face, her meaning was more than clear.
"I'm still not sure how exactly I ended up in this situation." Zero mused, finding the presence of spirit for a little levity. "But I can think of worse fates."
"Dummy." Ciel retorted in mock outrage. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of puppy following you around."
"I'm not sure a puppy could compete with that." he pointed out with the hint of a smile. "I was just a bit surprised how easily your mother and sister accepted the situation. I half expected them to bust out the torches and pitchforks for corrupting an impressionable girl or something like that."
That remark caught her off guard and for the first time in a while she burst into laughter.
"As if!" she scoffed once she was finally able to stop laughing. "What, are you scared of us?"
With a smirk, he lowered his voice and leaned closer.
"Confidentially… what you do to me can be a bit scary sometimes."
"You're going to have to be a little more specific, mister." she retorted, playing coy.
"Oh, I don't know…" he said, playing along. "The way you brick my brain sometimes. Not to mention you taught Alouette how to do it too. Even your mother starts blanking out when she does it."
Ciel backed away slightly, stopped directly in front of him and stared at him with a mischievous smirk.
"You mean like this?" she asked, before making the most adorable smile she could muster.
In response, he backed away in an overly dramatic manner, covering his eyes with the back of his hand as if he had just been blinded. Amused by his reaction, she laughed softly.
"I'm gonna have to start wearing sunglasses at this rate." he joked even as the sound of her laughter momentarily made him forget which way he was going.
Never in his life had Zero imagined he would find himself acting so bashfully. Once, he had kept most people at arm's length, saving his sense of humor for the few people who managed to get past his barriers. He had spent most of his life fighting, to the point where the lasting peace had left him feeling a bit lost. Looking back at his time with the Resistance and the way things had turned out, he couldn't help smiling.
"Maybe peace is making me soft. But this wouldn't be a bad way to spend the rest of my life."
"Hey!" Ciel playfully called out. "Where are you going?"
"See what I mean about bricking my brain?" he scoffed, stopping in place. "I don't even know anymore."
"Come with me then." she said, grabbing his arm again. "See where this path leads."
"I think I might."
The next day...
"I had the feeling there was more to the tale." Samus remarked through her suit's radio transmitter while going through yet another abandoned outpost, underneath the streets of an old metropolis. "Alia really sounds like the kind of person your old man would have loved to meet."
"You could say that, yes." X said though the radio, sitting at the workshop.
"She definitely wasn't just a pretty face." Zero reminisced as he pored over the updated notes at the workshop alongside X and the twins. "She was at the core of the Mother Elf project and wouldn't have just randomly hidden out there. She had a plan."
Zero had harbored some doubts about the Huntress and her sudden appearance, even knowing that the strange visitors seemingly had the ability to travel between worlds, but her strong personality and obvious skill were slowly winning him over.
As for the Guardians, they'd had their share of questions as well, but given the fact that they'd already decided to set their guilt and discomfort aside for X's sake, they had been surprisingly accepting of the newcomer. Being able to do something for X was a source of pride for the four, but they clearly did not want to turn away competent help or antagonize a potential new ally.
"It's a pity she wasn't able to finish whatever she was planning." Zero added with a grimace, glancing at X. "It would at least have spared you all those years stuck in place."
"Things got pretty hectic back then." X recalled. "With you out of commission and the madness spreading, we had to pull out all the stops. I know she was working on some sort of contingency plan, but by the look of things maybe she just didn't have enough time."
"And to think that the Mother Elf was derived from something like the Nightmare Virus…" Cial pondered, still trying to process the revelation.
"The reality altering elements, at least." X said. "Honestly, while I've always been interested in science myself, some of the stuff Alia, Estelle and the others cooked up in that lab looked more like magic than anything else."
"The distinction between one and the other is rather arbitrary, if you peer deep enough." the replica of Usul chimed in as the Radiant Shard lit up on the workbench. "Some of your own systems are so advanced they might be considered magic in some more primitive worlds. Or look at the Ozar Midrashim with its Akashic Record abilities and tesseract compression. Potentially infinite data in a finite container."
A little surprised, X glanced in the Shard's direction.
"What?" the presence in the Shard asked, sounding a little smug. "I told you before that my original was a master of countless arts. Not just combat and arcana but also academia. Much of that knowledge will be difficult to put to use without the appropriate resources, but it's all here."
"And then there's the Shard." X noted.
"To be fair, we already had soul crystals for centuries. They worked on very similar principles, but were designed with the intent of storing the combined repertoire of a single discipline and the deeds of its inheritors."
"Not gonna space out on us again, are you?" Zero asked, waving a hand in front of X's face.
"No time for that now." X said, amused by the fact that his old friend had still not lost the ability to read his moods.
"Is he chattering again?" Cial asked, quirking an eyebrow. She had not quite yet figured out how to interact with the entity and that was frustrating her to a surprising degree.
"He definitely has a lot of stories." X said. "When we have more time, maybe we should try to figure out how to put together some kind of interface so you can all speak to him too."
"That would likely be an intriguing exchange." Cial mused.
"Not to mention a certain someone seems to be avoiding me." she thought with some annoyance, recalling her previous encounter with the armored figure.
"Anyway…" Ciel chimed in. "The search area continues to narrow. What do you figure Alia was looking for anyway?"
"Difficult to say." X said, scratching his chin. "When things started spiraling out of control we barely had time to speak. I was constantly on the field putting out fires and she'd spend weeks at a time locked away in the lab."
"I really should have said something to her back then… even if she knew." he silently chided himself.
"What if I missed my chance and…" he wondered, feeling another bout of anxiety and frustration creeping on him.
Then, drawing upon his renewed hope, he reasserted himself.
"No, I'm not doing this to myself again!"
"But wait…" Ciel realized. "If Alia knew this ancestor of ours…"
The petite scientist's intervention was exactly what X needed to shift his focus to happier thoughts.
"She'll probably have some stories to tell about those days, yes." X said with an amused smile, before glancing in Zero's direction.
"What?" Zero asked. "Is there something on my face?"
"Family heirloom jokes aside…" Cial said, completely deadpan, earning herself a grumble from Zero. "I don't think any of us knew that X's paramour was actually an accomplished scientist."
While she continued to try to act serious and composed, the others had definitely noticed that she had a snarkier side and the ability to deliver certain remarks with a completely serious face.
"She really didn't like talking about the days before her time with the Hunters." X recalled with a sigh. "Lots of office politics and pettiness. An old friend of hers was ostracized for his unorthodox methods. He ended up going too far in an attempt to prove himself… and lost his mind."
"Oh?" Cial asked.
"I think… there were other reasons." X said with a frown. "I think Gate cared for her in his own way. He felt this need to prove that he was right, in part to earn her recognition. As for Alia, she felt terribly guilty for her inability to prevent certain things from happening… and so did I."
"What do you mean?" Ciel asked.
"He played with things he shouldn't have and lost his mind." Zero said rather bluntly. "And X had to put a stop to his antics."
"He made his share of mistakes." X added. "But he didn't deserve what happened to him and his fate cut her deep."
Zero sighed and shook his head.
"You were always a big softy. But there was no coming back from what he did to himself."
Ciel had the feeling that there was something more to the story, but it was her less tactful sister who voiced the same thoughts.
"So was he your rival or something?" Cial asked, cutting to the point but without any hint of levity.
"That was the farthest thing from my mind back then." X said with a shrug. "Besides, I never did get around to putting some things into words. I should have."
"I think she always knew." Zero said. "You couldn't lie to save your life and you weren't that good at keeping secrets either."
"Probably." a familiar voice chimed in as the door to the shed opened.
The others turned and saw Axl coming in, wearing a clean Resistance uniform without the accompanying beret. He looked tired, with a rather blank expression, but his steps were firm and measured.
"What did I miss?" he asked.
"We were getting worried." X said with visible relief.
"I wasn't gonna do anything stupid." Axl retorted, his tone still flat. "But I appreciate the concern buddy."
The change in his demeanor was striking and the twins silently exchanged glances. X, Zero and Lune were still being tight lipped about what exactly had happened, but they could still tell that he had been through a difficult ordeal.
"Are you going to lend a hand as well then?" Cial asked in a neutral tone.
"Wasn't gonna sit around moping forever." Axl said, his tone still flat as he felt her gaze upon him. "What?"
"Are you quite all right?" she asked, rather taken aback by the change in his mood.
"I dunno." Axl simply answered. "But don't worry. I'm not here to piss you off. The circus is closed."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"It means the clown has retired." Axl retorted in an unusually cold tone.
"Axl…" Ciel tried to say, also perplexed and concerned by the shift in his demeanor.
"Don't worry about it." Axl said flatly, reluctant to go into further detail. "We're here for my old pals, not my personal crap. Now then, how about getting me up to speed so I can pull my weight around here?"
A few hours later, back at Ciel's house, with Axl filled in and Samus having dropped in for a quick meal...
"So, you didn't have a dimension drive back in the day." X noted, leaning against one of the walls with a pensive expression. "How did you come and go?"
"Well, as it turns out, the Master Hand's tampering left a few holes in reality." Samus explained, taking a break from devouring a massive bowl of salad with croutons and olive oil with surprising delight as she sat at the kitchen table. "For a time, at least. We were never able to stabilize them completely with the tech we had, but some breaches lingered for a few years."
While her ship seemed to have enough preserved rations to last her for decades, the taste of home cooked food was clearly a treat. While a reliable supply of meat in the wake of Neo Arcadia's destruction was still a ways off, Lune's cooking seemed to be a more than acceptable substitute.
"So I guess you lost touch after the breaches closed?" X deduced.
"Yeah." Samus said with a sigh. "If I'd known what was going on here, I would have tried to get back sooner. This whole time relativity between universes is a load of bullshit."
She paused for a moment and her face twisted into a scowl.
"I did stumble across information on another method during my travels… but I didn't like what I found."
"What exactly did you find?"
"Rumors of some ancient structures." she explained. "Cross Gates, they were called. But according to the texts, there were several problems with those."
"Like what?"
"They were borderline indestructible. That doesn't sound so bad but they could activate randomly and unless you knew what you were doing there was no telling where you could end up. There was also a chance those random activations could drop something nasty on your doorstep. Alien horrors and who knows what else."
"I see why that would be an issue." X said with a nod.
"Some civilizations considered them literal gates of hell." Samus continued. "They either hid them or actually managed to destroy them, so I was never able to actually find one."
"So what makes you so sure they actually exist?" Ciel asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'd dismiss them as a hoax, if not for the fact that they're mentioned in texts from several civilizations in opposite ends of my galaxy." Samus explained. "Civilizations without any connection to each other, that existed in completely different eras."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you definitely don't fit the bounty hunter stereotype." Zero remarked.
"Well, since I already spent most of my time crawling around ruins for a living, I figured I might as well pick up some more skills." Samus said with a hint of pride. "Back when things were a bit quieter, I took some of my savings and signed up for some archaeology and xenoarchaeology courses."
"You really are full of surprises." X remarked.
"I've also had more suits and ships destroyed than I'd care to count." Samus recalled with a sigh. "I can't always rely on gadgets to get the job done."
"Oh?" Ciel asked, already anticipating a thrilling tale.
"I've learned a thing or two about preparation since my younger days." the Huntress elaborated. "My current ship is packed to the gills with custom upgrades. Once I figured out how the Chozo technology works I also built a set of spare suits and hid some in secure caches. As for Adam, I made some adjustments to allow him to transfer into one of the suits or a different system if anything happens to the ship."
"Your AI friend doesn't talk much, but I get the feeling you two go a long way back." X noted.
"You could say that, yes." Samus said with a fond smile. "Back in the day I wasn't really big on teaming up or having someone looking over my shoulder… especially not an AI… but he grows on you after a while."
Two days later, at the crack of dawn…
After returning from his latest expedition, Phantom headed to the workshop. With Cial temporarily out, he placed a disc with his mission report on the table for her to process later. As he prepared to leave again and get back to work, however, Fefnir and Faucon stepped inside.
"So…" Faucon said. "You haven't given me my next assignment yet."
"If we need something punched, we'll let you know." Fefnir scoffed, also freshly returned from his latest foray.
"No need to be a dick about it." Faucon retorted, still a little embarrassed at the spectacular failure with the experimental gauntlets.
Suddenly, the portable communications console they had set up on the largest of the workbenches came to life.
"We're on our way back." Leviathan's voice said. "Tell X we found something at Ocean Lab 32. He's going to want to see this."
"You OK over there?" Fefnir asked in another unusual display of concern. "You don't sound…"
"Some idiot left the automated defenses running." Leviathan grumbled in annoyance. "Nothing I couldn't handle but I was caught off guard. Guess I'm a bit rusty."
"You know I will have to report this." Phantom said, trying to mask his concern underneath the usual layer of stoicism.
"Yeah yeah…" Leviathan grumbled, though she could read her sibling's intent. Phantom could be surprisingly thoughtful, through for whatever reason he still felt the need to keep up the act.
Eager to prove themselves after an extended absence, the Guardians were being considerably less reasonable than X and Zero, pushing themselves beyond what anyone had the right to expect.
After much debating, X and the twins had allowed them to prolong their forays, on the condition that they reported back regularly and immediately informed the others should they run into any complications. X knew he could technically try to leverage their respect for him in order to get his way, but he felt distinctly uncomfortable about such a prospect, especially when they were putting so much effort into the whole endeavor for his sake.
As soon as Leviathan ended the call, Colbor stood up from the craft's co-pilot seat.
"I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be flying this thing right now." he said, crossing his arms.
Though the training regimen had had a rough start, he was slowly becoming more confident and assertive. This directness still caught Leviathan by surprise though.
"Don't count me out just yet." she answered, trying to stay composed despite the painful-looking gouge on the left side of her midsection from a surprise burst of turret fire.
"Isn't this why you wanted me to tag along?" Colbor pointed out. "In case something went wrong?"
"Well well…" she noted with a smirk. "And to think you could barely even look at me when we started your training."
"Don't change the subject." he retorted before heading to the back of the cabin and retrieving a repair kit from its wall-mounted holder.
"I can take care of myself." she said, casting a half-hearted glare. "I won't be of any use to Master X if I get myself scrapped."
"You're even more stubborn than he is sometimes." Colbor countered, before tossing her the repair kit. "That's saying something."
The fact that he was trying to be firm while still avoiding touching her did not escape her notice and she decided to have a little fun at his expense.
"What, are you going to restrain me if I don't comply?" she joked.
"I-If I have to." he retorted, caught off guard by the attempt at levity and somewhat embarrassed by the insinuation, but standing his ground. "Now stop being unreasonable."
"You've got guts." she said with a genuine smile. "I was right about you."
"What do you mean?" Colbor asked, caught off guard by the compliment.
"You just needed a little push in the right direction. Mind over specs, remember?"
With that, she rose from the pilot's seat with the repair kit in hand and headed out to the back compartment.
"Have it your way then." she said, before glancing back over her shoulder to have the last word. "No peeking now."
Before he could stammer an indignant retort, she closed the hatch separating the compartments. Colbor sighed and shook his head, then took over the pilot's seat.
"I didn't expect her to give in so easily." he silently mused. "Honestly, she can still be a bit scary sometimes."
Elsewhere...
After another walk across the settlement to clear his mind, X stopped in front of the school grounds and sat down on a nearby bench.
"Funny." he thought with a smirk. "I finally learn how to control this power a little better, but there's nothing for me to do with it here."
Despite the challenges of setting up a functional settlement and overseeing its rapid growth, the Resistance had exceeded expectations. Cial's arrival and the efforts of the Resistance's core leadership had been a factor, but X had also heard rumors that more former members of the Class of Fifty had been trickling in to lend a hand. It would still take some time to fully bring back the standards of living the residents of Neo Arcadia were accustomed to, but for the time being bellies were full, people were safe and despite the occasional squabbling between former Neo Arcadian loyalists and the general population, things were almost a little too quiet.
"I suppose I should glad of it… while it lasts."
Having found the peace he'd always sought, X was slowly coming to terms with his new role. While he had been a civic leader before in the short span between the founding of Neo Arcadia and the sealing of the Dark Elf, he had not completely lost his timid nature. He would have gladly faded from the spotlight if not for the fact that Ciel and the others were still hard at work.
Lost in his thoughts, X's mind drifted back to the humble beginnings of Neo Arcadia. Founded a few years after the Jacob's Ladder incident, in a pocket of tranquility between crises, it had been meant to be a bulwark for those displaced by the immense devastation of the preceding decades, a place for new beginnings.
Through his efforts, X had found himself thrust into the role of administrator, much to his chagrin. This had meant spending far less time in the company of his friends. Zero had actually seen the beginnings of this era, keeping a careful vigilance before the loss of his original body and the ensuing slumber.
The Hunters had been reluctant to relocate from their old HQ, given their historical attachment to the place. Unfortunately, X's added obligations had also meant spending more time away from his old friends. However, a portion of the research and administrative divisions had been shifted to Neo Arcadia in order to assist with activities. During this time, X had once again entertained the notion of finally speaking to Alia about a long overdue matter, but the aftermath of the Mother Elf project had abruptly changed the circumstances again.
With a smirk, he recalled one of his discussions with Zero back in those days.
Another time and place, on a balcony overlooking the rapidly growing cityscape...
"I'm not gonna tell you how to live your life." his old friend told him. "But I'll say this much. You're not me. You don't need to be me. Enjoy what you have while it lasts."
"I suppose you have a point…" X conceded, resting his hands on the railing. In the distance he could see the buzz of construction activity and the skeletal frames of what would eventually become massive towers.
"Of course I do, Reploid Jesus." Zero scoffed. "Let someone else do the worrying for a while."
"Reploid Jesus?" X asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"You do have this thing with saving everyone." Axl chimed in as he opened the sliding metal door and stepped onto the balcony, with Palette conspicuously clinging to his arm.
"And a bit of a martyr complex, to be blunt." Zero added.
"She's probably gonna wait as long as it takes." Palette added, wagging her finger at X. "But I wouldn't keep her waiting for too long if I were you."
As if on cue, alarms started blaring across the building. Biting down a curse, X dashed out of the balcony and back inside.
"You jinxed it." Axl sighed, glancing at Palette.
"Guess we'll just have to get this crap sorted so he'll finally get on with it." Zero said with a shrug.
X was abruptly whisked out of his reminiscence by the beeping of his internal communicator.
"Yes?" he answered.
"You're going to want to see this." Cial said, going straight to the point.
"Should we recall the others first?"
"Fefnir and Phantom have already checked in." Cial informed. "Harpuia has gone to check on Leviathan and ensure she makes it back safely."
Cial's choice of words as not lost on him and he couldn't help tensing up.
"Did something happen to her?"
"Just a case of bruised pride. She will be fine with some repairs. She is the one who found it, actually, so you still have some time."
"I see. Thank you."
X stood up from the bench, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety, along with a pang of regret.
"This time… I'll do things right." he muttered to himself, placing a hand on his chest.
Strolling through the streets at a hurried pace despite Cial's reassurance, X let his thoughts drift to a different subject – Dr. Cain's recently uncovered journals. After finally setting some time aside to visit the old Resistance base, X had perused the old pages containing more details about the capsule where Dr. Cain had found him, as well as some records contained within said capsule's data storage.
"I guess Raziel was right. If I want to find out what happened to Rock and Roll, I'll have to head into Old Megalopolis. But what could have happened there to block his sight?"
So engrossed was X on his thoughts that he did not notice Zero heading in his direction.
"Hey. Wake up." Zero called out, waving a hand in front of his face.
"Sorry." X muttered. "It doesn't take much to send my mind into overdrive these days."
Zero led him to the workshop, where the twins, the Guardians and Axl were already waiting. Colbor, Milan and Faucon, whether out of respect for X's privacy or because the small building was starting to get a bit crowded, were waiting in the back.
"Before you say anything…" Leviathan preempted. "I'm fine. Now then, you'll want to see this."
With that, she approached the table and inserted a small data disc into a portable holographic projector, which soon crackled to life, projecting a familiar face. X couldn't help noticing how tired Alia looked in the recording, not to mention the dents in her field armor.
"Communications are still out across the world…" Alia mused, momentarily putting down the portable keyboard she was typing on. "But at least we shouldn't have to worry about the mindless packs down here."
She then turned directly to the camera.
"X, I still don't know how I'm going to get this to you, but I'll worry about that later. If I know you, you'll probably be looking all over for me. Listen."
"That's so like her." X remarked.
"She definitely knows you." Zero said.
The recording continued.
"With the Mother Elf out of control and those hordes of Reploids rampaging around, HQ wasn't safe. As I mentioned before, Signas ordered us to scatter and make for the fortified emergency outposts. I have something different in mind though."
She paused for a moment, seemingly to collect her thoughts, and then continued.
"By now, you've seen what that… Dark Elf's corruption is doing to Reploid personality cores. Since the research that led to her creation was originally based on the Nightmare Virus, I thought I might be able to find something useful in Gate's files."
She sighed and glanced off-screen.
"So far, I've been able to restore one test subject. I have two more in stable containment, couldn't safely replicate those results yet."
It was then that X and the others noticed the plated metal box resting on her lap, almost like a small coffer. The protective way she was holding it left no doubt as to its purpose.
"Assuming I can pull this off, I still need to do more tests and find a way of deploying a countermeasure on a larger scale."
"We're racing against the clock here, Alia…" a male voice chimed in from off-camera in an urgent tone. Once again X felt like he'd heard that voice before but couldn't quite place it.
"Oh let me have this." she grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"I know the last few months have been hell for you." the male voice said, sounding a bit uncomfortable. "But remember, we're not out of the woods yet."
"Another reason to do this now, before something else goes off the rails."
"Sorry…" the male voice said. "I'll... wait outside."
Alia sighed and glanced in the voice's direction. A hint of sadness flashed across her face and then she sighed and turned back to the camera.
"I don't know what's going on out there and it's probably going to take some time until I'm able to find out." she continued. "I wish I could just go find Zero and wake him up, but we know that's not an option right now. Just… stay safe out there. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you at a time like this."
With that, the recording ended, leaving X once again dealing with a surge of emotions.
"Even with the world falling apart around her, she was still driven." he noted, swelling with pride.
"Do you think… she actually found a solution?" Ciel asked. "After all, if she was involved in the creation of the Mother Elf in the first place…"
"It is too early to speculate." Cial cautioned. "But this is a promising lead."
"And it gives me an idea." Zero said. "I still don't know how exactly Weil was able to use the virus and my old body to control the Mother Elf, but maybe I can at least try to find her."
"Whatever for?" Cial asked, not following his logic.
"If Alia is still out there somewhere, that means her core should still be intact." Zero explained. "The Mother Elf was based on some of the principles behind the Nightmare Virus, which means she can not only alter reality, but also sense and affect Reploid cores."
For her part, Samus and the Guardians silently listened, digesting every scrap of information.
"A formidable woman, to be certain." Phantom mused.
"She's got guts. No wonder X is hellbent on finding her." Fefnir thought.
"Raziel wasn't able to find her or my siblings…" X pondered. "But since Reploid specs are derived from mine, and mine from theirs… the Mother Elf could be the key to finding all of them."
He still wasn't quite sure how he was going to explain the strange encounters with the confounding celestial librarian to the others, but the fact that he had a possible new lead was his overriding concern at the moment.
"Hey!" Ciel cried out, still examining the recording. "There's more!"
The next part of the recording contained only sound. They heard footsteps echoing in the silent chamber and then the voice of Alia's male companion spoke.
"You're probably wondering how things got to this point, X…" he said, sounding noticeably tired. "The truth is, Alia has been combing some of the high security outposts where a certain fool's dangerous research was kept."
X stiffened.
"I know that voice… I'm sure of it..."
"You're right…" Zero added. "But from where?"
"Alia has the right idea, but I'm not sure if we have enough time." the voice continued. "Listen…"
The voice sighed and then its tone became more urgent and somewhat mournful.
"I tried to keep her away from that place. Even offered to go there alone. She wouldn't budge."
"That place?" X wondered, again struck by the nagging sense of familiarity.
"Some of the more sensitive data was in a separate sub-level. For all his bluster, I'm sure Sigma couldn't have found it on his own."
"Wait, what? Is he talking about…?"
"You must go back… to the cradle of nightmares."
And with that, the recording truly ended.
"The cradle of nightmares…" X muttered to himself. "There's only one place he could be talking about… But who was he?"
Later that day…
In the outskirts of the settlement, while Samus was taking stock of the supplies in her ship and copying the updated mission log to Adam's databanks, a familiar figure in white armor stepped closer with his companion in tow.
"I was wondering where you'd run off to." Samus remarked in lieu of greeting, though she did pick up that something was off from his body language. "What's the matter?"
"Samus… I'm terribly sorry." he hesitantly said. "I wanted to stick around and see what more I can do, but..."
"Already leaving to put out more fires?" she deduced.
"Afraid so." the young woman confirmed. "And we'll have to take our ship since we may end up needing the firepower. Something foul is afoot on another world."
"Work never ends, I get it." Samus said, unfazed. "I just hope you remember our little agreement."
"The dimensional drive we installed in your ship should let you head back on your own if you need to." the armored boy added. "Adam already has all the data he needs to operate it. Again I'm terribly sorry."
"Won't I have to worry about ending up another hundred years off target or something?" Samus pointed out. "You know, the whole relativity bullshit?"
"No." the woman clarified. "This model has a compensation system that should sync the entry and exit points."
"Just where did you get something like that?" Samus asked, a little surprised.
"There are other universe jumpers out there who faced the same predicament with relativity." the woman said. "We also have access to a very thorough database."
"Maybe we should introduce you to the Librarian one of these days." the boy added. "You're still looking for any surviving Chozo, right?"
"If you know someone who has relevant information, you could have mentioned it sooner." the Huntress retorted, a little annoyed.
"I know." the boy apologetically admitted. "I can't pause time or be in more than one place at once. I keep spreading myself too thin and a lot of things end up falling by the wayside."
"You're even worse than X." Samus remarked, rolling her eyes underneath the helmet. "At least he can listen to reason… eventually."
"I know." the boy said. "I'm working on it."
"Girl, a minute." Samus said rather curtly before beckoning the young woman to follow and leading her inside the ship.
"What?" she asked as soon as the boarding hatch closed itself behind them.
"It's really none of my business." Samus said. "But you're decent enough people and I guess I owe you for what you did for me."
The young woman stayed silent.
"If you keep enabling his bad habits like this, you're gonna regret it sooner or later." Samus continued. "That kid has a serious martyr complex and you're not doing him or yourself any favors by letting it continue."
"I know." she said, looking downcast. "I've been making some progress, but I need more time."
"If it's leverage you need, why not just tell him already?" Samus pointedly asked.
"Is it that obvious?" she retorted without skipping a beat.
"Honestly, I think he's the only one who hasn't seen it yet." Samus scoffed.
"I won't tell him yet, because the way he is now, it would only make his anxiety worse." the young woman said, shaking her head. "He'd feel the need to prove his worth or some nonsense like that. But I have other plans."
"Like what?"
"Getting him to make these rest stops here and ditch the suit for a while has already been a victory." the young woman said, looking slightly more upbeat. I just need to keep him safe while he grows stronger… and keep trying to talk sense into him. One day, once he's become what I know he can, I'll tell him."
"Well, if you need to get him some forced rest, give me a call." Samus said half-jokingly. "I know a few tricks that should knock him out for a week or two."
"I'll keep that in mind." the young woman said. "And thanks for the concern. See you when we get back."
Outside the ship, someone else arrived.
"There you are." Cial said, looking rather annoyed.
"We meet again." the boy remarked, masking his tone through the voice modulator.
"I do seem to recall being promised some answers." Cial added, narrowing her eyes at his inscrutable black visor.
"I always keep my promises, to the best of my ability." he said evenly. "But I will need to ask you to be patient."
"Why all the theatrics anyway?"
"If you mean this armored shell, it keeps me from being overwhelmed by everything around me."
He then sighed and turned his gaze skyward.
"We can't delay any longer. We can't leave this situation unattended."
"I guess there's no talking you out of it." Samus said, emerging from the ship. "Do what you have to do. This case is in good hands now that I'm here."
"What are you doing here anyway?" she added, a little surprised to see Cial so far outside by herself.
"I was hoping to discuss some details in the evidence we've uncovered." Cial explained, before glancing at the others. "I did not expect to find these two here as well, but all the better."
"I gave you my word, did I not?" the boy said, a hint of annoyance seeping through the voice modulator.
"I'll hold him to that, don't worry. " the young woman said with a warm smile.
"We'll be back as soon as we can." the boy said. "Someone else is coming to lend a hand. He'll drop by to introduce himself soon."
"We'll talk when we get back." the young woman said, waving at Cial. "Give X and the others our regards."
With that, the strange pair disappeared in a flash of light.
"I will hold both of you to that…" Cial muttered to herself with a scowl.
That evening, at Ciel's house…
"At this point, I don't think we can just keep going into random outposts until we find more clues." X finally concluded. "We should focus on the ones that had emergency pods."
"You mean like that capsule you mentioned?" Samus asked.
"Something like that." Zero elaborated. "After the Eurasia crash, the Hunters set up a bunch of reinforced outposts where they could shelter civilians. Some of them also had special pods for emergency repairs that could seal up from the inside if the outposts came under attack."
"Alia knew about them and if she needed a safe place to continue her research then she would have gone there sooner or later." X added.
"In the meantime, there's still the Megalopolis angle." Axl said. "Actually, since Samus here actually knew the old city..."
"I got to see the old place a few times back in the day." Samus confirmed with a nod. "After that asshole Bass trashed the lab for the second time, Thomas overhauled the whole place and set up a reinforced underground shelter. I helped with some of the plans, actually."
"Why didn't you mention that sooner?" Zero asked.
"Because I don't know how deep the old city is buried." Samus explained. "A lot can change in two or three hundred years and I don't want to get ahead of myself. Besides, I helped with the plans but didn't keep any copies."
"In the meantime, I think we're gonna need some heavy duty digging equipment if we want to get into the old city." Axl reasoned. "Reinforced or not, trying to dig up your old man's labs with explosives would be a very bad idea."
"So you've been thinking the same thing then." X realized.
"So have I." Samus said. "If we can open even a small breach into the underground levels, I should at least be able to scout ahead. I can't take anyone else with me though, and we may have to clear an exit path."
"I'm sure Cerveau can help us come up with something." Ciel reasoned. "I'll get in touch with Anya too."
"But first there's another place I think we should check." X said.
"You mean this… cradle of nightmares?" Cial asked. "Do you know what that man was talking about?"
X nodded.
"I haven't been there in a long time, but it may help us figure out what Alia was doing… or find some clue that we can use to locate the Mother Elf."
"This other place you want to check…" Samus said, leaning over the table where the map was laid out. "Where is it?"
"Much of the world has changed, but I couldn't forget that place even if I tried." X said, frowning at the unpleasant memories. "Actually, it's not that far from here..."
"The cradle of nightmares..." Zero muttered. "Of course…"
"I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but it's our best bet right now." X said.
"Everyone should get some rest then." Zero said. "We'll head out in the morning."
The next day, a few kilometers from the settlement, in a place not far from the old Eurasia crash site...
"So this is the place?" Ciel asked, a little surprised.
"Yeah…" Zero said with a nod. "No doubt about it."
"This region has changed a lot since those days, but yeah… there's no mistaking it." X said, surveying the verdant expanse.
All around them, a vibrant forest had spread its roots over the decades, with tall trees native to the region blanketing out most of the sun. The soft earth was almost completely covered with grass, shrubs and moss and the beams of light that managed to make it through the canopies showed birds and other small animals going about their business amidst the treeline. Having been left alone by the rest of the world for so long, the fauna had lost its natural fear of people and completely ignored the group.
"We knew that the portion of Eurasia that housed the environmental control systems had crashed in this area." Cial mused. "Still, to think that something like this was buried practically underneath our noses…"
The Guardians had elected to establish a perimeter, ensuring that they would not be interrupted. However, while thankful for their efforts, X still felt rather uncomfortable to be retreading that particular ground. Eventually, they came across a large clearing where the sky was still exposed and only moss and low hanging vines grew. The reason soon became apparent.
Some of the twisted, blackened metal was still clearly visible even through the centuries of overgrowth, but the area was barely recognizable. Whether due to geological upheavals or someone's intentional intervention, there was also a massive rock outcropping jutting out of the ground, blocking X's intended path.
"Why did you insist on coming here personally anyway?" Zero asked, glancing at Cial.
"There are things I simply need to see." the former Head Administrator said with a rather somber expression.
"Why's that?" X asked.
"So that I may understand what drives bright minds to such heights of foolishness." Cial said before letting out a sigh. "And discern the means by which to break these pointless cycles."
Feeling X's quizzical look, she elaborated.
"You are not the only one growing tired of these successive phases of growth and dramatic destruction. I for one refuse to accept them or the notion of them being inevitable."
There was a rare intensity in her gaze that Ciel quickly picked up on.
"I guess what happened back then hit both of us hard, even if you were better at holding it in."
"I refuse to even entertain the notion that we are all just passive pawns on some ridiculous game of destiny." Cial said, clenching her fists. "I will not simply sit around until the next disaster strikes, but rather take preventive action."
She stepped forward, glaring at the rock formation as if trying to destroy it through sheer force of will.
"If I can gain some of the understanding that eludes me, then perhaps this unease will finally abate."
An unbidden memory came to her mind and with it a pang of sorrow.
"Foolish boy… What were you thinking?"
Taking point, X stepped closer to the rock outcropping, which was jutting out of the ground almost like a spear thrust into the earth by a colossal hand. By all appearances, this had not been a recent occurrence, as said rock formation, seemingly a mixture of granite and chunks of other minerals, was already dotted by moss and worn by the elements. From some of the buried library's records, X had discovered that the region had suffered from a bout of geological instability in the years following the space colony's crash and the Nightmare incident. He couldn't help wondering whether he had set out on a fool's errand, but still felt the need to follow this lead. Either way, a more pressing matter demanded his attention.
Samus backed away and as the sensors built into her armor came to life, she started scanning the rock formation from top to bottom, until she eventually found something and grinned underneath the helmet.
"That's… definitely thick." X muttered to himself as he examined the momentous obstacle, pacing back and forth while feeling the harsh rocky surface with his outstretched hand. His mind began to race as he searched his memory for the most suitable option out of his old arsenal, even though it might take some time to recreate those weapons from memory.
"I could try to recreate the Tornado Fang, but will it be enough to punch through this? Or maybe the Spin Wheel? No, not focused enough… Magnet Mine? No… I need something bigger."
Not far behind X, Axl simply stared at the rock formation, also trying to find a weak spot.
Meanwhile, Zero paced around, keeping an eye out for potential threats, until he realized something.
"Has anyone seen Samus?" he asked, suddenly noticing her conspicuous absence.
As if on cue, her voice boomed across the silent woodlands.
"GETTER SHINE!"
"The f-" Zero muttered, looking in the direction the shout had come from, only to see Samus in the distance, sprinting towards them at such a ridiculous speed as to kick up a plume of earth and bits of vegetation in her wake.
With what could only be described as a seizure inducing glow, rapidly flashing between purplish and pinkish shades and crackling with energy, Samus boomed past Ciel and Zero, leaving visible after-images, before reaching the top of a ramp formed by a particularly large chunk of bent metal. She then abruptly stopped, stomped one of her armored feet down and shot forward in a shoulder tackle stance like a cannonball, plowing through a weaker portion of the rock formation and exposing what looked like an ancient elevator shaft in a caved in concrete structure. Still going, she disappeared into the opening.
"Now that's one hell of a Shine Spark…" Axl muttered, his sullen mood momentarily forgotten.
X simply stood there and blinked, staring wide-eyed.
He had seen her strong personality and glimpses of her softer side and sense of humor, but an outright goof like that brought a smile to his face. While she and Zero seemed to still be getting used to each other's presence, it was clear to X that the two were not so different where it counted.
A moment later, Samus emerged from the cavernous crevice, wiping some rock dust and dirt off her armored shoulder as she emerged from the freshly blasted opening.
"Hey!" Axl called out. "Does that thing come with a Getter Beam too?"
She simply scoffed in response and opened her visor to let in some fresh air. There was a rather mischievous glimmer in her eyes, as if enjoying the reactions of the others. As for Ciel and Cial, they exchanged silent glances.
"She's so cool…" Ciel thought, a little giddy at the display.
"That was a little excessive…" Cial thought, somewhat more sober. "But effective."
"So…" Zero said, just as surprised by the sudden goof but with a more subdued reaction.
Samus just shrugged.
"Might as well have some fun while I'm at it." she said, sounding just a little smug.
Zero had noticed a few things since their first meeting. Initially, Samus had definitely seemed tense and somewhat frustrated, but the change of airs had been gradually improving her mood. The prospect of being reunited with Rock and Roll, both of which she was obviously fond of, also seemed to be giving her a renewed energy.
"If that helps you do your thing, more power to you." Zero retorted with a shrug of his own, trying to keep a straight face.
He paused for just a moment and then turned back to face her with a smirk.
"Getter, huh?"
"I guess their tastes rubbed off on me." Samus said before letting out a laugh.
"Wait…" X realized. "Their tastes? You mean…?"
"Exactly what you're thinking." Samus fondly reminisced. "Your brothers got me hooked on the stuff. Roll was the quiet one of the bunch, but even she loved it."
Underneath the closed helmet, she chuckled.
"Robot kids getting all fired up over giant robot shows. It was adorably silly."
"Is that so?" Zero answered, an amused grin creeping over his face. "Well… In that case, we've got a few things to show you when we get back."
Despite everything he had been through, Axl was still able to smile at the sight of the imposing huntress engaging in the kind of tomfoolery that would have earned him a scolding from his more experienced colleagues back in the day.
"I guess I'll have to keep an eye on you, lady."
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"Come to think of it, suit aside, she almost looks and sounds like a female Zero…"
Catching himself, he then blinked a couple of times, looking like he was about to gag.
"Gah, what the hell am I thinking?!"
"Axl." X said, mercifully derailing that train of thought.
"Yeah?"
"I'm going on ahead. Can you keep an eye on things out here?"
"Not alone you're not." Samus intervened.
"Ditto." Zero added. "Remember what happened last time you went in there? That deathtrap would put those old game shows to shame."
"The place is probably a wreck after all these years." X pointed out before the hint of a grin crept upon his face. "Still, if I do run into any surprises... I'd rather not have to hide myself while repairing myself."
"Smartass." Zero retorted. "You know my vocabulator was glitching out."
"Huh?" Ciel interjected.
"Old story." Zero grumbled. "Let's just go."
"Wait…" Cial intervened.
"I know you're curious about this place." X said. "We'll clear it out first and let you know if it's safe.
Cial sighed and nodded.
"Do watch yourself in there."
From atop the rock formation, out of sight, the hooded figure in white watched.
"Why am I even here?" he muttered.
"You know why." another figure clad in metallic red armor answered with a male voice, standing nearby.
"A lot changed while we were out of commission." the figure in red added, tightening the yellow scarf around his face again. "For better and for worse. We need your help to get our bearings."
"I'm not supposed to be here." the hooded figure said, taking a ragged, anxious breath before prying his gaze away from the twins. "I... don't belong here."
His gloved hands shook nervously for a moment before he steadied himself.
"Oh pull yourself together." a harsher male voice grumbled as its owner, wrapped in a heavy, ragged brown cloak, fixated his dark purple eyes on Samus. "We've got bigger things to worry about."
"Meaning?" the hooded figure asked.
"I never expected to see her again." the figure in red said. "It's good to know she's still kicking, but it's better that she doesn't know we're here."
"Then keep your voices down." the cloaked figure hissed in annoyance.
"Why are you so worried about her?" the hooded figure asked.
"Look, I've got my reasons not to want to see her." the figure in red said. "More to the point, she's got plenty of tricks up her sleeve. If we want to do this right, we'll have to keep a low profile."
"If you two are done with your little heart to heart, maybe we can actually get shit done?" the cloaked figure grumbled.
"If you've got a plan, then I'm all ears." the hooded figure said, sounding a little annoyed. "So far all I've heard you do is complain and curse."
"Kid…" the cloaked figure grumbled. "Don't push it. This whole plan started long before you were born. You were never a factor in it."
"There he goes again…" the figure in red muttered to himself, seemingly already used to such ranting.
"I'm not done until the old bastard's defeat is complete and absolute." the cloaked figure growled, clenching a fist covered in black armor. "Until everything he's ever accomplished is torn down."
"And how exactly is stalking them going to help?" the hooded figure retorted.
"Now you listen here-" the cloaked figure grumbled before abruptly crouching and leaning against the rock. The other two were quick to do the same as they spotted the figure clad in green and white armor flying overhead.
"Hmm…" Harpuia thought. "I could have sworn there was something down there."
He eyed the rock outcropping intently for a few moments and then turned around and continued on his patrol.
"Must have been the wind."
Samus and the two Hunters proceeded into the opening and steadily climbed down the ample shaft. As soon as they reached the pitch-black bottom, Samus took point, carefully scanning their surroundings with her suit's sensors. X and Zero paused for a moment, waiting for their eyes to adjust, then followed her, ready for anything.