Chapter Eighteen: Creeping Shadows
Author's Notes: Hello again! This chapter begins still in Zero's POV... and just so I don't have to say it every chapter... there will be CURSING in most future chapters. If someone wants me to tone it all down, I shall in the future... anyhoo... enjoy Chapter 18!
It hurt... Dammit, it hurt! I don't know what I was doing... I was unaware of everything but the pain coursing through my body. I felt my rage and anger heighten tenfold... so much that my mental circuits had begun to go haywire! It was too much! Too MUCH!
"AHHH!!!" I screamed as loud as my voice box would allow. "DAMN YOU BASS! DAMN YOU ALL! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
"Snap out of it, Zero!" Someone was shouting in my ears. I wildly threw an arm out to swat whoever it was that had spoken and was satisfied by the loud clang of metal against metal. A groan followed; then a growl of frustration.
"Asshole!" he was muttering. "He's lost his mind! Doc! Doctor Light!"
The voice became softer and softer as I heard the swift clicking of boots against a steel tiled floor... but my pain remained. I felt my weight become lead, and since I had already fallen to my knees, I was shortly lying on my side in a fetal position clutching my head... the sparks still clouded my vision, obscuring all but the red of my rage... why did it hurt so much?
Then my internal systems began to overload... I could feel the wires and servos become white-hot and start melting even as the auto-repair tried valiantly to suppress it... I felt like I was going to die! No... screw the 'feel like'... I KNEW I was dying!
On the verge of blacking out I threw my hand out once more, groping the metal floors for my saber. If I was going down... it was better to be painless and quick... a true warrior's demise... I managed to switch on the blade after messing with the hand controls for a minute or so, hearing the comforting hum of energy... yes, it was comforting to know I would go quickly... and with no regrets...
"ZERO!"
"Go away..." I mumbled absently. "Let me die in peace and quiet, dammit... leave me alone!" I slashed blindly, each swipe somehow comforting me further.
"Zero..." a calmer voice... wise and almost soothing... but somehow it grated my nerves all at once...
"Zero..." they continued. "Can you hear me? You aren't thinking rationally... you need to calm down and let us help you."
"Shut up already," I snarled. "I am in pain and I want to die! Why am I denied my rights?"
I heard a snort, and I felt my anger rise even more as I screamed again. Then, two arms hooked around my shoulders; I couldn't slice them if I had tried without killing myself too. Oh wait... wasn't that what I wanted? I pointed the saber at my midsection, a grin of triumph crossing my face... now my pain would end!
"Oh, no you don't Red," that first voice said in an annoyed tone... I could sense the sneer in it. A kick from behind at my fist knocked the energy sword cleanly from my grasp and across the hall... Damn them!
Releasing a battle cry from my lips I hurled myself backwards, knocking my captor against a wall with significant force amplified by my agony... they would now feel it too! The grip around me loosened slightly, but not yet enough to break free... with a grunt I repeated my motion, but still my opponent refused to let go.
"Stop it, you idiot!" he was saying. "What's come over you!?"
"LET ME GO!" I roared, each time I threw myself to the wall giving me more and more strength... now I could see! I didn't care about dying anymore... but inflicting pain on others covered my mind now! Pain! Suffering!
"Zero! Cease this at once! You're killing Blues!" the second voice pleaded "Please stop! You can't do this! Open your eyes!"
For a moment the voice struck a chord in me, and I paused in my onslaught. Immediately the iron hold on my shoulders went slack, and abruptly after my knees turned to gel once again. I looked around, blinking many times to clear my vision until my gaze settled on a figure in white...
"Doctor... Light?" I croaked. "What...?"
"Bout time you woke up... demon..."
I whirled around, only to see in horror that Blues was slumped against the wall, nearing unconsciousness as I watched!
"No..." I stammered. "What have I... done... what's WRONG with me?"
"Calm down..." the doctor soothed, but I knew he was still wary that I might lose it again. What happened? What had Bass done to me?!
"... let me examine you," I heard him continue, "I think Wily has injected your systems with a controlling agent..."
I shook my head, eyes turning back to Blues. Just moments ago I was ready to kill him! But... hadn't I wanted that all along? I was so confused... and now that I saw the damage I'd done, I was disgusted. A hand fell onto my shoulder, gently urging me to stand.
"He'll be all right... it's you I am more worried about right now," the Doctor's voice came again. As if a cue Blues staggered to his feet, glaring at me but grinning nonetheless.
"Yeah... no real harm done," the grey robot assured.
Somewhat comforted, I allowed myself to be led back to the lab for inspection and system check out.
***
What I had seen horrified me to no end. What in the world had Wily discovered that would turn a spirited soul as Zero's to utter and complete ruin? At one point, he had wanted to take his own life, then at another he was bent on killing another for his own pleasure!
Without asking the blond 'bot took off his helmet and spread out on a nearby lab table to await instructions. He gave me a sad look, empty but yet full of regret and sorrow. I could understand... being that his actions were most likely not his own. I returned his emerald gaze with a small comforting smile, but the gesture seemed to discomfort him further. I felt Blues close by, and out of the corner of my eye I saw him leaning against the wall with arms crossed. Silent, but stormy green eyes held all the emotion he needed. He was terribly bitter... not only about his and Zero's previous fight, but now I knew slight concern bordered the fury within him now.
"Zero, I am going to deactivate you to perform the systems check, all right?"
The only reply being an almost imperceptible nod, I reached towards a panel only I knew of and cut Zero's power. He jerked for a moment, then was still as his eyes involuntarily closed. Though unable to react to anything around him the vestiges of a pained look remained on his features. It hurt me so to see this, but I wasted no more time on it as I began to type commands into my diagnostic computer. Schematics flashed across the screen in blue and white, checking every circuit from digestion processors to reflex and battle-strategy systems. So far nothing had shown up that was amiss, heightening my concerns greatly. Whatever Wily had done... was something beyond my comprehension... and it appeared that I couldn't even detect it!
"Try this."
I jumped in surprise at Blues's voice directly behind me, and turned to give him a puzzled look and raised eyebrow. Smirking a bit, he typed a few keys, an instantly a popup appeared on the monitor that flashed bright red.
"There's your problem," he said, and while I was bursting to ask him what he had done I was more curious about the readings.
"A virus?" I was amazed. There it was! Still, I couldn't pinpoint the matrix layout of the infection, I caught on quickly to the subroutines it affected.
Blues voiced my conclusions without hesitation. "It magnifies a robot's ability to feel anger and rage, and brings it out into the open... and it gives them a sadistic quality that grows each time harm is done and increases their strength as well... it looks like they also deactivate the ethics circuitry too..."
"...Thereby making them forget what is right and wrong!" I finished. How horrible! But it perfectly explained Zero's suicidal actions and increasing 'joy' in harming Blues!
"Can you turn off his emotions, Doctor Light? That may get rid of the main problem..."
I shook my head. "To do so I would completely have to reboot Zero and rewrite his whole personality, memory and brain... and I couldn't possibly do that!"
The gray robot fell silent, musing with a deep frown on his features so much like Rock's. After a few moments he raised his head, steely green eyes meeting my gaze in the most serious manner. "Is it safe to reactivate him?" he said at last. "Am I in danger of being affected?"
I couldn't say... there was no way to, and it appeared that my lack of voice was enough explanation for he nodded grimly and turned back to the robot on the table. Taking the cue I disconnected the diagnostics computer and switched Zero back on. Parts of him began to spasm as power rushed through them, and soon he opened his green eyes again painfully. A blue spark or two crackled around him, and I saw Blues tense from his position as he saw them.
"Zero?" I asked carefully. "Are you all right?"
He paused, sat up, and looked straight at me. "I am... for now at least... what is this thing, Doctor?"
"A virus," Blues answered for me. "That turns you into a sadistic berserker. Clear enough?" It sounded as if he was making a joke, but that lack of a smile or a playful tone of voice made it that much more serious a giveaway. The red robot combed one hand through his long blond hair absently as he met Blues's gaze, and neither spoke for a time.
***
A virus... A little disease known in humans that have no cure except for perhaps time. Great... just what I needed to hear right now. And if what Blues said was true, I was a danger not only to myself, but also to all around me... including Doctor Light and Sierra.
My thoughts traveled to the girl now being healed in a stasis chamber... to our earlier conversations about such things as Bass... Blues... us...
Wait... Bass? The mention sent a cold wash of realization through me. Now that Sierra was in stasis, there was no one who could activate her spy camera at Wily's fortress! That meant we had no chance of deciphering the black abomination's weak spot... unless...
"I have to go," I stated suddenly, jumping off the table smoothly. I grab my helmet, and reach for my forgotten saber nearby.
"Wait a minute," Blues said, annoyed. "Where do you think you're going... in your predicament?"
"I'm not dead yet, Blues, nor am I crippled," I stated matter-of-factly. "And if it is any of your business, which it isn't by the way, I am going to Skull Fortress."
Both Doctor Light and Blues were taken aback by my answer... it seems that that wasn't the response they were expecting.
"DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?" Blues roared. "What kind of a half-baked suicidal idea IS that?! What the hell FOR?"
I looked at him, calmly but not lacking in the iciness I'd intended. "Sierra is sick. She was working very hard on a device that could have gotten us Bass's schematics so we could pinpoint a weakness. Now that she's not in any condition to continue that project I am taking it upon myself to go get the plans personally."
"But..." Light stammered, still in a minor state of shock. "Must you go yourself? Is there not another way to go about this?"
"I'm afraid not," I sighed heavily. "I can't continue Sierra's calculations, nor can anyone else because she's the only one who knows what she's doing."
"Well, there's still the question of going alone..." he pressed. "If you meet Bass again there will be no one to help you! You could be destroyed!"
"Sorry to break this to you, Doc, but I don't really give a damn about that right now." I paused, letting them absorb that. "This virus... I can feel it penetrating my operating systems and ethics programming... it's just not safe for me here. And if I do make it to the fortress safely, maybe I can scrounge up the antidote while I'm there."
"And if there isn't one?"
I looked away, and towards the room where a girl was recovering from an illness that I had brought upon her. "Then..." I couldn't finish. There was no way for me to know what would happen... and I could only hope for the best. I began to walk away from the other two occupants of the room, having not given me a reason or cause to stay behind... Heh. Not that they could change my mind... I knew that if I stayed here something would happen. Maybe Skull Fortress was the answer.
I was halfway out the door to the lab when Blues called out to me.
"I'll go with you, Red."
I snorted. "You?" I spat. "What good are you to me? I'm better off alone... as I have always been."
"Hey, I've given you a beating once or twice... virus killing off your memory chips? Give me two hours... Doctor Light will have my cannon repaired and I'll be ready to whip Bass's ass and hand it to you on a silver platter."
"I doubt that," I sneered, throwing the look over my shoulder to him. "Considering you'll be toasted before taking a step, and I'll be out of there with the plans."
"Zero, it's really a good idea," Light cut in. "After all, Blues knows the layout of the fortress already... he would be a great help to you."
I considered a moment, frowning. He WAS right about that...if I went in there with no idea where I was going I would be easy prey to Bass, and it would be my luck to run into a dead end and be cornered.
"All right," I replied gruffly. "Two hours."
***
Was he really going to wait? The last thing I needed was for that hothead to go off and get himself killed... and leave me alone to fight Bass. Though I DESPISED to admit it, we would make a good team. Besides, against a monster like that Black Bastard, two is a better number than one.
I watched as he stalked off into the hallways... perhaps to go visit Sierra where she was still healing. I was still furious about what he'd done. How could he hate me that much? Perhaps I'd never know... but it wasn't the time to look back on past incidents; it was time to go forward to correct the errors and make way for a future...
I laughed softly to myself... because now I was starting to sound like Rock! Rock... the brother I never truly got to know. What would he say now? The only way I could know him was through his strong spirit that still lived on in us, as long as we remembered him. And here was Zero, tarnishing the peace he died to protect by making grudges... and now look where it had got him.
I'd heard Wily talking about this virus, but he mostly kept it to himself for reasons of confidentiality. He didn't even trust me with the information... now I saw why. Now that I was on the 'good' side, I could tell all; and I was VERY willing to... but I knew nothing.
Now Sierra and Zero, like Rock had, were now suffering from the products of Wily's dangerously volatile but brilliant brain. Monster... I'd do anything to kill him now...
But first things first. I turned to the aging Doctor Light, who was still standing beside me and looking after Zero's retreating form. "Well, back to work, I suppose," I grinned.
He jerked as if coming out of a reverie, then returned my smile. "Yes, indeed. Let's get your new cannon attached... I believe I have a better one here than your original. Pardon me for saying so, but the one you had is VERY out of date..."
"I bet it was," I chuckled. "Wily's known for making the robots; not upgrading them!"
***
"Sierra?" I called out softly. I entered the small room, suddenly finding myself awash in blue light from the regeneration capsule. I walked almost reverently to the thing, placing a hand on the window that revealed her face to me... the face that even now showed the strain of her suffering. My gaze dropped to the timer, which indicated that she would awaken in a few hours more.
"I'm sorry..." I don't know if she could hear me, or if she could hear anything at all in there, but I had to say something... anything... before I left her again.
"Sierra, I've been such a fool. But please understand... I never intended to hurt you... I just... after all that's happened I've felt so helpless when it comes to you... and I can't stand to see you hurt in any way."
I sighed, gazing into the viewport. "I doubt that you can forgive a pitiful robot such as myself... hell, I don't deserve any attention you've given me... but I wanted to say... just once..."
I took a deep breath... "...That I love you, Sierra, forever."
There I stayed, watching over her for a time that seemed like months.
I shut the door silently behind me, looking back at the capsule only once. I checked a nearby chrono... not even an hour had passed yet. Damn... time was running out... a limited supply that every wasted moment was fed to the gaping jaws of the virus as it consumed me from within. I felt the emotions stir within me, but I dared not direct them at anything for fear of losing control again. I thought of Blues; how I'd almost killed him in my oblivious actions. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else... and if the grey robot was that easy to harm in my condition then he was of no use to me in my mission. There was no sense in placing him into a battle situation where he would easily be shoved aside, useless.
That was it, then. I would leave without him.
***
Author's Notes: More to come! REVIEW!!!!! Pleez? ~=)
Author's Notes: Hello again! This chapter begins still in Zero's POV... and just so I don't have to say it every chapter... there will be CURSING in most future chapters. If someone wants me to tone it all down, I shall in the future... anyhoo... enjoy Chapter 18!
It hurt... Dammit, it hurt! I don't know what I was doing... I was unaware of everything but the pain coursing through my body. I felt my rage and anger heighten tenfold... so much that my mental circuits had begun to go haywire! It was too much! Too MUCH!
"AHHH!!!" I screamed as loud as my voice box would allow. "DAMN YOU BASS! DAMN YOU ALL! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
"Snap out of it, Zero!" Someone was shouting in my ears. I wildly threw an arm out to swat whoever it was that had spoken and was satisfied by the loud clang of metal against metal. A groan followed; then a growl of frustration.
"Asshole!" he was muttering. "He's lost his mind! Doc! Doctor Light!"
The voice became softer and softer as I heard the swift clicking of boots against a steel tiled floor... but my pain remained. I felt my weight become lead, and since I had already fallen to my knees, I was shortly lying on my side in a fetal position clutching my head... the sparks still clouded my vision, obscuring all but the red of my rage... why did it hurt so much?
Then my internal systems began to overload... I could feel the wires and servos become white-hot and start melting even as the auto-repair tried valiantly to suppress it... I felt like I was going to die! No... screw the 'feel like'... I KNEW I was dying!
On the verge of blacking out I threw my hand out once more, groping the metal floors for my saber. If I was going down... it was better to be painless and quick... a true warrior's demise... I managed to switch on the blade after messing with the hand controls for a minute or so, hearing the comforting hum of energy... yes, it was comforting to know I would go quickly... and with no regrets...
"ZERO!"
"Go away..." I mumbled absently. "Let me die in peace and quiet, dammit... leave me alone!" I slashed blindly, each swipe somehow comforting me further.
"Zero..." a calmer voice... wise and almost soothing... but somehow it grated my nerves all at once...
"Zero..." they continued. "Can you hear me? You aren't thinking rationally... you need to calm down and let us help you."
"Shut up already," I snarled. "I am in pain and I want to die! Why am I denied my rights?"
I heard a snort, and I felt my anger rise even more as I screamed again. Then, two arms hooked around my shoulders; I couldn't slice them if I had tried without killing myself too. Oh wait... wasn't that what I wanted? I pointed the saber at my midsection, a grin of triumph crossing my face... now my pain would end!
"Oh, no you don't Red," that first voice said in an annoyed tone... I could sense the sneer in it. A kick from behind at my fist knocked the energy sword cleanly from my grasp and across the hall... Damn them!
Releasing a battle cry from my lips I hurled myself backwards, knocking my captor against a wall with significant force amplified by my agony... they would now feel it too! The grip around me loosened slightly, but not yet enough to break free... with a grunt I repeated my motion, but still my opponent refused to let go.
"Stop it, you idiot!" he was saying. "What's come over you!?"
"LET ME GO!" I roared, each time I threw myself to the wall giving me more and more strength... now I could see! I didn't care about dying anymore... but inflicting pain on others covered my mind now! Pain! Suffering!
"Zero! Cease this at once! You're killing Blues!" the second voice pleaded "Please stop! You can't do this! Open your eyes!"
For a moment the voice struck a chord in me, and I paused in my onslaught. Immediately the iron hold on my shoulders went slack, and abruptly after my knees turned to gel once again. I looked around, blinking many times to clear my vision until my gaze settled on a figure in white...
"Doctor... Light?" I croaked. "What...?"
"Bout time you woke up... demon..."
I whirled around, only to see in horror that Blues was slumped against the wall, nearing unconsciousness as I watched!
"No..." I stammered. "What have I... done... what's WRONG with me?"
"Calm down..." the doctor soothed, but I knew he was still wary that I might lose it again. What happened? What had Bass done to me?!
"... let me examine you," I heard him continue, "I think Wily has injected your systems with a controlling agent..."
I shook my head, eyes turning back to Blues. Just moments ago I was ready to kill him! But... hadn't I wanted that all along? I was so confused... and now that I saw the damage I'd done, I was disgusted. A hand fell onto my shoulder, gently urging me to stand.
"He'll be all right... it's you I am more worried about right now," the Doctor's voice came again. As if a cue Blues staggered to his feet, glaring at me but grinning nonetheless.
"Yeah... no real harm done," the grey robot assured.
Somewhat comforted, I allowed myself to be led back to the lab for inspection and system check out.
***
What I had seen horrified me to no end. What in the world had Wily discovered that would turn a spirited soul as Zero's to utter and complete ruin? At one point, he had wanted to take his own life, then at another he was bent on killing another for his own pleasure!
Without asking the blond 'bot took off his helmet and spread out on a nearby lab table to await instructions. He gave me a sad look, empty but yet full of regret and sorrow. I could understand... being that his actions were most likely not his own. I returned his emerald gaze with a small comforting smile, but the gesture seemed to discomfort him further. I felt Blues close by, and out of the corner of my eye I saw him leaning against the wall with arms crossed. Silent, but stormy green eyes held all the emotion he needed. He was terribly bitter... not only about his and Zero's previous fight, but now I knew slight concern bordered the fury within him now.
"Zero, I am going to deactivate you to perform the systems check, all right?"
The only reply being an almost imperceptible nod, I reached towards a panel only I knew of and cut Zero's power. He jerked for a moment, then was still as his eyes involuntarily closed. Though unable to react to anything around him the vestiges of a pained look remained on his features. It hurt me so to see this, but I wasted no more time on it as I began to type commands into my diagnostic computer. Schematics flashed across the screen in blue and white, checking every circuit from digestion processors to reflex and battle-strategy systems. So far nothing had shown up that was amiss, heightening my concerns greatly. Whatever Wily had done... was something beyond my comprehension... and it appeared that I couldn't even detect it!
"Try this."
I jumped in surprise at Blues's voice directly behind me, and turned to give him a puzzled look and raised eyebrow. Smirking a bit, he typed a few keys, an instantly a popup appeared on the monitor that flashed bright red.
"There's your problem," he said, and while I was bursting to ask him what he had done I was more curious about the readings.
"A virus?" I was amazed. There it was! Still, I couldn't pinpoint the matrix layout of the infection, I caught on quickly to the subroutines it affected.
Blues voiced my conclusions without hesitation. "It magnifies a robot's ability to feel anger and rage, and brings it out into the open... and it gives them a sadistic quality that grows each time harm is done and increases their strength as well... it looks like they also deactivate the ethics circuitry too..."
"...Thereby making them forget what is right and wrong!" I finished. How horrible! But it perfectly explained Zero's suicidal actions and increasing 'joy' in harming Blues!
"Can you turn off his emotions, Doctor Light? That may get rid of the main problem..."
I shook my head. "To do so I would completely have to reboot Zero and rewrite his whole personality, memory and brain... and I couldn't possibly do that!"
The gray robot fell silent, musing with a deep frown on his features so much like Rock's. After a few moments he raised his head, steely green eyes meeting my gaze in the most serious manner. "Is it safe to reactivate him?" he said at last. "Am I in danger of being affected?"
I couldn't say... there was no way to, and it appeared that my lack of voice was enough explanation for he nodded grimly and turned back to the robot on the table. Taking the cue I disconnected the diagnostics computer and switched Zero back on. Parts of him began to spasm as power rushed through them, and soon he opened his green eyes again painfully. A blue spark or two crackled around him, and I saw Blues tense from his position as he saw them.
"Zero?" I asked carefully. "Are you all right?"
He paused, sat up, and looked straight at me. "I am... for now at least... what is this thing, Doctor?"
"A virus," Blues answered for me. "That turns you into a sadistic berserker. Clear enough?" It sounded as if he was making a joke, but that lack of a smile or a playful tone of voice made it that much more serious a giveaway. The red robot combed one hand through his long blond hair absently as he met Blues's gaze, and neither spoke for a time.
***
A virus... A little disease known in humans that have no cure except for perhaps time. Great... just what I needed to hear right now. And if what Blues said was true, I was a danger not only to myself, but also to all around me... including Doctor Light and Sierra.
My thoughts traveled to the girl now being healed in a stasis chamber... to our earlier conversations about such things as Bass... Blues... us...
Wait... Bass? The mention sent a cold wash of realization through me. Now that Sierra was in stasis, there was no one who could activate her spy camera at Wily's fortress! That meant we had no chance of deciphering the black abomination's weak spot... unless...
"I have to go," I stated suddenly, jumping off the table smoothly. I grab my helmet, and reach for my forgotten saber nearby.
"Wait a minute," Blues said, annoyed. "Where do you think you're going... in your predicament?"
"I'm not dead yet, Blues, nor am I crippled," I stated matter-of-factly. "And if it is any of your business, which it isn't by the way, I am going to Skull Fortress."
Both Doctor Light and Blues were taken aback by my answer... it seems that that wasn't the response they were expecting.
"DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?" Blues roared. "What kind of a half-baked suicidal idea IS that?! What the hell FOR?"
I looked at him, calmly but not lacking in the iciness I'd intended. "Sierra is sick. She was working very hard on a device that could have gotten us Bass's schematics so we could pinpoint a weakness. Now that she's not in any condition to continue that project I am taking it upon myself to go get the plans personally."
"But..." Light stammered, still in a minor state of shock. "Must you go yourself? Is there not another way to go about this?"
"I'm afraid not," I sighed heavily. "I can't continue Sierra's calculations, nor can anyone else because she's the only one who knows what she's doing."
"Well, there's still the question of going alone..." he pressed. "If you meet Bass again there will be no one to help you! You could be destroyed!"
"Sorry to break this to you, Doc, but I don't really give a damn about that right now." I paused, letting them absorb that. "This virus... I can feel it penetrating my operating systems and ethics programming... it's just not safe for me here. And if I do make it to the fortress safely, maybe I can scrounge up the antidote while I'm there."
"And if there isn't one?"
I looked away, and towards the room where a girl was recovering from an illness that I had brought upon her. "Then..." I couldn't finish. There was no way for me to know what would happen... and I could only hope for the best. I began to walk away from the other two occupants of the room, having not given me a reason or cause to stay behind... Heh. Not that they could change my mind... I knew that if I stayed here something would happen. Maybe Skull Fortress was the answer.
I was halfway out the door to the lab when Blues called out to me.
"I'll go with you, Red."
I snorted. "You?" I spat. "What good are you to me? I'm better off alone... as I have always been."
"Hey, I've given you a beating once or twice... virus killing off your memory chips? Give me two hours... Doctor Light will have my cannon repaired and I'll be ready to whip Bass's ass and hand it to you on a silver platter."
"I doubt that," I sneered, throwing the look over my shoulder to him. "Considering you'll be toasted before taking a step, and I'll be out of there with the plans."
"Zero, it's really a good idea," Light cut in. "After all, Blues knows the layout of the fortress already... he would be a great help to you."
I considered a moment, frowning. He WAS right about that...if I went in there with no idea where I was going I would be easy prey to Bass, and it would be my luck to run into a dead end and be cornered.
"All right," I replied gruffly. "Two hours."
***
Was he really going to wait? The last thing I needed was for that hothead to go off and get himself killed... and leave me alone to fight Bass. Though I DESPISED to admit it, we would make a good team. Besides, against a monster like that Black Bastard, two is a better number than one.
I watched as he stalked off into the hallways... perhaps to go visit Sierra where she was still healing. I was still furious about what he'd done. How could he hate me that much? Perhaps I'd never know... but it wasn't the time to look back on past incidents; it was time to go forward to correct the errors and make way for a future...
I laughed softly to myself... because now I was starting to sound like Rock! Rock... the brother I never truly got to know. What would he say now? The only way I could know him was through his strong spirit that still lived on in us, as long as we remembered him. And here was Zero, tarnishing the peace he died to protect by making grudges... and now look where it had got him.
I'd heard Wily talking about this virus, but he mostly kept it to himself for reasons of confidentiality. He didn't even trust me with the information... now I saw why. Now that I was on the 'good' side, I could tell all; and I was VERY willing to... but I knew nothing.
Now Sierra and Zero, like Rock had, were now suffering from the products of Wily's dangerously volatile but brilliant brain. Monster... I'd do anything to kill him now...
But first things first. I turned to the aging Doctor Light, who was still standing beside me and looking after Zero's retreating form. "Well, back to work, I suppose," I grinned.
He jerked as if coming out of a reverie, then returned my smile. "Yes, indeed. Let's get your new cannon attached... I believe I have a better one here than your original. Pardon me for saying so, but the one you had is VERY out of date..."
"I bet it was," I chuckled. "Wily's known for making the robots; not upgrading them!"
***
"Sierra?" I called out softly. I entered the small room, suddenly finding myself awash in blue light from the regeneration capsule. I walked almost reverently to the thing, placing a hand on the window that revealed her face to me... the face that even now showed the strain of her suffering. My gaze dropped to the timer, which indicated that she would awaken in a few hours more.
"I'm sorry..." I don't know if she could hear me, or if she could hear anything at all in there, but I had to say something... anything... before I left her again.
"Sierra, I've been such a fool. But please understand... I never intended to hurt you... I just... after all that's happened I've felt so helpless when it comes to you... and I can't stand to see you hurt in any way."
I sighed, gazing into the viewport. "I doubt that you can forgive a pitiful robot such as myself... hell, I don't deserve any attention you've given me... but I wanted to say... just once..."
I took a deep breath... "...That I love you, Sierra, forever."
There I stayed, watching over her for a time that seemed like months.
I shut the door silently behind me, looking back at the capsule only once. I checked a nearby chrono... not even an hour had passed yet. Damn... time was running out... a limited supply that every wasted moment was fed to the gaping jaws of the virus as it consumed me from within. I felt the emotions stir within me, but I dared not direct them at anything for fear of losing control again. I thought of Blues; how I'd almost killed him in my oblivious actions. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else... and if the grey robot was that easy to harm in my condition then he was of no use to me in my mission. There was no sense in placing him into a battle situation where he would easily be shoved aside, useless.
That was it, then. I would leave without him.
***
Author's Notes: More to come! REVIEW!!!!! Pleez? ~=)