Mega Man X 1.5
by Tremor3258
Disclaimer: Bebop, Jazz, Laser Wolf, and Ajax are mine. Everyone else, including the setting, belongs to Capcom, a very nice set of people.
An ounce of prevention.
Zero ignited his beam saber calmly. The Z-saber's standard blade was pure plasma, easily one of the most destructive forces known, rolled up into a one meter long package of death. After Zero had gained the Saber following his reconstruction, he had modified it by taking a peek at X's buster design and adding the ability for the hilt to modify the plasma into other forms, like fire or ice. To do so required careful observation of an opponent to gain the new techniques held within the saber. Now days, Zero rarely even felt the need to activate his buster, so proficient was he with the weapon.
But Zero wasn't giving the saber a once over simply to bask in the aura of destructive might. The Crimson Hunter had a job to do, and was determined to add another notch to his rank of successful missions. With a loud yell, Zero sliced the saber through the air, bringing it down towards the unprotected skull of the human in front of him.
Zero brought the blade, relatively weightless, to a halt a scant few centimeters away from Dr. Cain's bald head. It wouldn't cause damage, but the heat coming off the blade would be enough to break the good doctor into a hard sweat. "All right, on behalf of all the Hunters, support staff, and research groups, WHO THE HELL IS REPLACING YOU?" Zero roared at the elderly scientist. X had his face in his hands in embarrassment on the other side of Dr. Cain as the most famous Hunters were in a place of honor inside a limo with the Hunter's chief administrator.
Cain reached over and thumbed the off-switch on the saber, as the blade disappeared with a small hint of ozone. Zero glared tiny beam daggers at Cain, who ignored the Hunter's temper. Dr. Cain said smugly, "You'll know when everyone else does, or maybe even later, if you keep swinging that saber in my face. You know, some day, you're going to make a mistake, and cleave through someone's skull with that thing and we'll be forced to 'retire' you, just like that," Cain said in a warning tone.
Zero looked at Cain in shock, "You're the one who WROTE that directive. You can't make it sound like something unchangeable and tragic."
Cain said in a soft tone, "Sure I can. I'm getting old. I'm supposed to be getting near senile." Zero sent "near?" in a quick burst of static at X, who choked out a laugh, though he still looked embarrassed. "Ganging up on me again?" Cain noted in amusement, "How will that play in the media, attacking a helpless person in such a manner?" Cain said in a sadder tone, "Besides boys, no matter what my personnel opinions are on the matter, if Hunters were allowed any leeway in response to what could be Maverick activity, we'd be in an even worse position with the public than we are now. Humans are still paranoid of Reploids, and our activities over the last few months have killed a lot of the confidence that there's been in the Hunters."
X looked up at that and asked, "Speaking of helpless persons, did you put that 'no shoot' directive in place for the comatose Hunters in the medical wing?" X hadn't had a chance to ask directly about the Reploids to Cain himself, and with most of the commanders heading to the retirement party, the people in the medical bay would be trigger-happy rookies.
Cain nodded uneasily, he had put that part down, but he hadn't had time to study the situation closely with all the interference he had to run before the press. That wasn't good enough for the elite Hunters, and the doctor quickly clarified, "They won't be harmed, but depending on their reactions before their systems come on-line, we may have to consider them infected if they act too aggressively." The two robots looked at the scientist and shock.
Zero said in a cold tone, "Well, I'm glad you're retiring now before you really fubared us, Cain." Cain looked at Zero in surprise and X quickly clarified.
"You did read the report that we found them unconscious fighting Sigma, right? What would your initial reaction be after say, being shot?" X asked. Cain winced, he had read the summary to the report, saying they had taken massive amounts of cumulative damage, and X continued relentlessly, "Not to mention Bebop and Jazz's startup procedures are a little odd, like most of the rest of their systems. They have real psychological problems with being confined. If they're trapped when they awaken, they may assume Mavericks have taken them."
Cain wasn't looking to happy about now, but Zero finished thoughtfully, "Not to mention that their circuit patterns aren't fully understood. There's a chance we may not have fully deactivated their weaponry this time, not to mention those fairly nasty claws that they came issued with. I doubt they'd make an issue of it, but if they're systems are partially locked down, they'll realize someone was probing their systems, and who knows what was changed. They may fire back in an effort to prove they're not Mavericks. 'Innocent Hunters retired due to badly thought-out orders' won't look good on tomorrow's front pages, right X? I mean, assuming I understand how humans think to any degree."
Cain tapped on the glass separating their portion from the driver as the two Hunters glared at the elderly doctor. The glass rolled down, and Cain said, a bit more smoothly (he'd been getting lots of experience with false smiles recently), "Driver, I'd like to make a phone call please." Zero gave X a thumbs-up, confident the people who had at least showed that something was up in the simulator, even if they hadn't quite finished the boss off at the end, wouldn't be shot out of hand.
Shot out of inexperienced fear, perhaps, but not out of hand, X thought glumly. If Jazz's systems still showed a Maverick reading after she was reactivated, she'd have to be destroyed.
The limos quickly wove their way through the light ground traffic in Tokyo (more and more stuff was moving to being carried by intracity aircraft) before reaching the countryside outside Tokyo. The trip had been fairly quiet up to this point, with no one talking in the car, and Zero estimated he would have to put up with the silence for another half hour or so before the caravan reached the beach Cain Labs had managed to gain sole access to for a few hours. Well, Cain Labs and a few reporters.
The countryside rolled past quickly, still consisting of farms for the most part even in this century. The advantage hydroponics gave in growing Japan's primary staple had turned farmland from the rice paddies of old into orchards or other grain crops for the most part. It made the area a bit more varied to look at, and Zero noted several menial robots out spraying a cherry orchard in the split second that the orchard flashed by the car. I really wish I could have warped, thought Zero mournfully. X was busy digging through the many compartments, while Cain had found the appetizer tray.
For once, Zero hadn't been spending his morning either in training or making other Hunters' jobs miserable with enhanced simulations. That had been Iris he had seen, though even a portrait wouldn't have been too difficult to put together. Even more disturbing was the apparent control over his body. Zero had managed to retrieve a partial reconstruction of the file, but the graphic was so huge, and Zero couldn't tell if someone had placed a virus command to be transmitted to him, some sort of hidden message, or just the fear of destroying something else of Iris. The portrait had been done in a studio-like setting, and Zero had done some playing around with graphics software to determine if the portrait had been done off an old picture by checking the light intensities against one another. For example, if Iris's face was over-highlighted compared to the background, then it would be obvious someone had painted Iris into a scene from another location. Those tests had been inconclusive. However, Zero had learned that Iris had been never been painted beforehand. Someone is going to a lot of work to drive me crazy, Zero mused, and it's getting worse.
Zero had received an odd message on his machine this morning. He'd have thought it was spam from the subject line "click on me", but someone had managed to figure out how to trip Headquarter's private flags for a message being marked urgent. The line had only said "rise to conflicts today, and be rewarded." The reply address had been a public Internet terminal near Headquarters, but Zero had only gotten that information before the e-mail calmly overwrote itself with an add for a digital camera. Zero didn't want to mention anything to X yet, because all the evidence kept disappearing on him, and Zero knew his friend was still worried about the Crimson Hunter's mental health following Iris's death. Imagining ways to bring her back would fit neatly in that sort of profile.
Zero was jolted from his musings by X, who had found a video game system in one of the compartments and was looking for a second player. Zero grimaced when he saw the game title, and Dr. Cain took a moment to snicker. One of many games in a series, the game X had found put you in the place of X's younger brother in one of the Robot Rebellions. The series had faded occasionally, and eventually returned to a place of prominence among sales. "Well, it could be worse," Zero mused, "it could have been one of the games based on you X." The Blue Bomber shuddered at the thought. All the hardships he and friends had gone to trivialized into a set of small explosions on the screen, no blood, and none of the screams. X didn't play those games, but admittedly, working the way through Rock's old exploits gave some sort of connection. Bebop and Jazz were fountains of information on Dr. Light, but they hadn't apparently gotten along very well with the other Light-built robots, and kept to themselves. Assuming we avoid the issue with Jazz lying to us, and poorly at that, thought Zero. Still, her build is different enough to avoid obvious connections, but if you've seen her circuit diagrams, or how she fights, it's pretty obvious. I just wish they'd tell us why those two kitties want to keep me confused about her relationship to me.
Zero was brought back to reality as his Proto man character was dropped onto a set of spikes. Zero cursed briefly at the machine before bringing his attention back. "You know, if those capsules ever give you something that takes care of the old spike trap, I'll trade you my z-saber for it," Zero said.
X shook his head, "And have you go it alone? I think we need that budget for cataloguing all the geologically unstable areas with large, open shafts where you reach terminal velocity in if you're not careful. You can air-dash if you might fall on spikes. Not so easy if you're in midair."
Zero nodded his agreement, and turned to look at Cain briefly. He wasn't showing a lot of response to the mild debate going on around him anymore. Zero shrugged, leave him to his memories. He won't have us to kibitz with, if he's not on active duty. Ninety percent of our day is classified material and the rest is top secret.
The group quickly arrived at the area picked out for the barbecue. It was rather remote, which would keep humans and non-teleporter equipped Reploids away. For the rest, Cain Labs was relying on an anti-teleportation scrambler field that should block anything from landing within three kilometers. There were a few Hunters on guard for the rest of the area, and was as secure as one could manage in today's rapid transit world.
Several Hunters had already lit some hibachis they had found around town in stores and were putting to good use in the art of grilling. A three times the normal-sized volleyball court had been established, calculated to make up for the difference in Reploid strength. X blinked in astonishment upon seeing Lancer with a Hawaiian shirt, leading a calypso band. That said, the activity started to die down when the various high-ranking Hunters noticed that Dr. Cain had arrived. Flashbulbs started to go off around the elderly researcher along with the top two Hunters. Zero preened, but X seemed amused by the attention. The reporters were waiting to pounce on the Reploid researcher until after his statement; that was the deal that got them to this farewell party.
A small electronics team was setting up speakers, and one ran over with a remote microphone. Dr Cain quickly attached it to his collar and said, "Don't everyone look at ME for words of wisdom. Besides, it was a long ride, and I'm not saying anything until I get some protein. Go back to providing blackmail fodder! Oh, don't look so surprised. Lancer, you're never living that shirt down?" Lancer lazily barred his fangs at the elderly scientist, before banging on his drum again. The Reploids went back to what they had been doing, realizing if they had lived this long with not knowing, they could wait a few more hours. Especially since Cain was footing the tab for the party.
Meaningless small talk was exchanged for a few hours. X could see almost every Reploid design known, along with a large contingent of humans. Scientist Reploids, usually built to look elderly to encourage respect from their human peers, from Cain labs, the more general humanoid Reploid designs, the heavy construction and attack Reploids, all were mingling with humans. X looked over the gathering, feeling a bit of paternal pride at those descendants of his circuitry patterns, This is the future father envisioned. Too bad that it only exists for now between warriors who have to face their own kind as threats that have to be eliminated.
Finally, the group calmed down as Cain shoved Lancer's band off-stage, with a larger microphone as a prop. Cain tapped it a few times to gain everyone else's attention before speaking, "I'd like to thank all of you coming out from here. I know we're in a rebuilding cycle right now, and you all have a lot of work to do with training." Dr. Cain wiped a tear from his eye before continuing.
"One week ago, a viral version of Sigma made itself known inside our simulator system, nearly infecting fifty cadet Hunters. It was only through a desperate, last minute action that we saved any Hunters, and four of them may never wake up. After the event, I submitted my resignation to the United Nations as Supreme Commander of the Maverick Hunters. At the same time, I requested being moved to an advisory capacity at Cain Labs. Recent events have proven that the old ways of thinking about Mavericks are dangerous, and that we'll need better intelligence to prevent tragedies like the events that led to Repliforce being disbanded." Cain motioned quickly, and one of the scientist type Reploids, evidenced by his slightly 'armored' appearance and a lab coat, ran up with a glass of water. Cain nodded his thanks before continuing.
"That resignation took effect five minutes ago, and my successor is moving into position at the same time. Waterboy here is your new commander. I hope you treat him with far more respect than you do me, because he deserves it." The Reploid climbed up on stage and bowed. Carrying the elderly image further, he had white hair, bizarre eyebrows, and a goatee. "This is Isoc. He's worked with our development teams over at Cain Labs for a few years, and has done pioneering work on Virus research. He'll have administrative control over the Maverick Hunters, which means he'll make sure the bills are payed. On the combat side of things, individual Units are under a new directive to use more discretion with Maverick hunting, and military control will actually be under a Hunter." A muttered wave of dissension went through the crowd. People had been expecting this, slightly, but the last time primary military control of the Hunters had gone through a Reploid, notable historical events happened. After all, that Reploid had been named Sigma.
Dr. Cain held up a hand for quiet. When that didn't work, Isoc fired a few buster shots into the air. Eventually the noise stopped. Dr. Cain continued, "Now, I think you'll find this Reploid has proven himself beyond suspicion. X, get your butt up here." Cheers broke out for the Blue Bomber. Zero pounded X on the shoulder (nearly downing the surprised mechanical). X looked around. It wasn't like he could just turn down the 'honor' of leading the Hunters to more war and death. X walked up on stage as Cain held the microphone over to Isoc. Isoc excused himself as he needed to find the notes he had dropped when he grabbed Cain's water.
Cain whispered to X, "Sorry X, I would have given it to Zero, but since we know exactly where your past is, the UN felt better about putting you in a position of authority. Your job is mainly to determine strategies and Hunter placement. Think of it as a way to minimize collateral damage." X looked at Cain skeptically. Cain shrugged, "It's thin, but it's all I've got. You're the greatest Hunter, and, honestly, PR value means putting anyone else in the Number One position wouldn't look good right now."
X shrugged in despondency, "Well, I was running half the Hunters anyway by going through the personnel evaluations. And if there's any sort of semi-major trouble, the first response from all the Hunters is to call me anyway."
Cain patted X on the back enthusiastically, "That's me boy!"
"Have you been drinking again, doctor?" X asked.
"Well, maybe a little?" Cain murmured, before jumping down from the stage to see if Unit 0 had any more of those beers handy. Isoc had managed to work his way back to the stage anyway by this point. Isoc spent a few moments on the sort of remarks one makes when one takes over a large organization dedicated to killing sentients ("follow in footsteps of predecessor... Ensure proper flow of supplies ... Keep up recruiting drives... Honor to be here.. Mavericks don't stand a snowball's chance in a supernova" etc., etc.. ad nauseam).
X was still standing on stage, looking uncomfortably out at the group of maybe 30 bored Unit Commanders, leaders of groups in Cain Labs, and other people loosely associated, but highly ranked, with the Hunters. Zero was idly tossing the hilt of his z-saber in the air. Eventually, he'd probably start igniting it. Isoc, getting the hint, finally brought his remarks around to something important, "Right now, I'd like to introduce you to a new weapon system that I think will greatly assist the Hunters."
Everyone started paying rapt attention right then. Cain did a spit take. Evidently this was not on the agenda for the afternoon. Isoc grinned. "I apologize for the dramatics, however, this was the best way to get a demonstration with all the top people at once. Anyway, can we get the teleportation field to drop for three seconds in ten, please? Thank you." A short time later, a blue stream of particles dropped down.
X's jaw dropped open and hung there. Standing next to Isoc on stage was a four foot high figure dressed in blue armor. The figure looked a LOT like a ten year old boy, and X could well imagine, that if X had actually grown up, this is how X would have looked a few years back.
"Meet Rock, ladies, gentlemen, and Reploids. The only thing Rock can't do is think, but he still has the most advanced learning subroutines of the twenty-first century. Many call him the Blue Bomber, but history knows him better as Mega Man." The savior of the world and victor of the Robot Rebellions calmly took a small bow in front of the Hunters who stood in a stunned silence. Rock looked around, not seeming to perceive the flashbulbs that were announcing that the hero had been reborn.
Author's Notes:
Where did he come from? ^_^
Well, that's for next time, which could go up any time from within three hours to now to there months. Let's see, unresolved plot points/plot lines(just to keep track), as I haven't touched on some of these for a while.
Hunters are not very well liked by public. If it wasn't for the fact that Sigma's apparently still out there somewhere, they'd probably be throwing all the Hunters into slag heaps about now.
Zero's receiving fortune cookie messages and pictures of his apparently dead girl friend. From whom? Well, I'll tell you one thing: there's a ninety-five percent chance Zero's not doing it to himself.
Is Jazz infected, or did lying under Sigma's corpse give a false positive. Or maybe a real positive?
What about the other three (Laser Wolf, Alia, and Bebop)?
What happened in between alerting the Hunters and Ajax waking up? Sigma had apparently triumphed, but they also weren't apparently infected.
Considering I've gotten Lifesaver, Signas, Alia, and now Isoc running around, who else is going to pop up from X5-6? For that matter, if Isoc built a Rock, who from the original series is going to show up?
Is anyone who isn't in the games going to wake up anytime soon? Are they going to tear the medical bay to pieces?
Also, a minor point that hasn't been touched on with all the external threats: Repliforce and the Hunters still aren't too fond of each other, and no Repliforce yet holds a high-ranking position in the Hunter's organization.
Who else thinks there is too many things going on and too many characters? Technically, with Dr. Cain, Isoc, and Rock, I introduced three this chapter, that puts us up to around fourteen who are still alive.
Speaking of characters: Did Surge just go back to his job (from waaaay back when Jazz and Bebop woke up), or did he receive counseling?
Did Tremor just put this last statement in to make you wonder if Surge is going to play an important part in the next chapter?
Of course I did. :)
Anyway, next time Isoc clarifies more about the old Blue Bomber. Some people are probably going to wake up soon, (after all, they said they were turning off the simulator while X and Zero were going to the picnic). Assuming they haven't gone stark raving mad, then the REAL questions begin.