Mega Man X 1.5
by Tremor3258
We're about done now, kiddies, for this arc, but there's still time for one last
Disclaimer: I don't own Mega Man, the folks at Capcom do.
The Last Dance of the Hunters: Swan Song
"Three minutes remaining Bebop! Show yourself!" Isoc, or rather, something that looked like Isoc taunted on the screens in the war room. Hunter Headquarters was in the biggest uproar since Sky Lagoon got attacked. Isoc had suddenly taken a data sample from Bebop, as well as getting some footage that didn't look good, especially with Isoc's spinning it. Bebop would love to show up and shout Isoc down, but the Shadow Armor left a coating of nanomachines that scanners read as Maverick, and Isoc had managed to push a nervous Bebop's stress levels high enough to trigger, and there wasn't time to teleport to the World Council headquarters in Geneva, and wash off the nanomachines.
That report had been delivered by high-speed data transfer, courtesy of Alia and her super-advanced electronics equipment, only a few seconds before, and the Hunter command corps was trying to figure out what exactly had happened to Isoc. "Get someone out there to prove if that's Isoc or not! For that matter, someone load a Chameleon Sting or something into Jazz so she can play Bebop!" Zero suggested.
"No good. The action report says they both used the Shadow Armor earlier. Every sensor in the World Council chambers would report either of them as Maverick," X said glumly. The fact that they weren't would be harder to explain, but traces of the Virus meant instant deletion still, despite whatever modifications to Hunter policy. And in all but three cases, Maverick Virus-like nanomachines, which spread in, bypasses cutouts, and basically downloaded the Virus until the Reploid had none of their old self left; carried the Virus. Zero, Jazz, and Bebop, somehow could channel it into something else. Unfortunately, that fact was pretty much High Secret, but it didn't look like they had a choice here.
Iris, who wasn't quite a member of the Hunters, but no one was going to make Zero stop having her hang around; said softly, "We're going to have to give them your sister on a platter, aren't we?"
Zero groaned and nodded. "If the Council demands a subpoena for our records, we'd have to show them exactly what was going on. Even though we were proven right, there's an eighty percent chance we'll be in trouble for not destroying at least Jazz, and possibly not all four considering they spent a long time in an area Sigma had complete domination over. I mean, Sigma's been trying to get his hands on an Ancient or another since practically the first Uprising, since we don't scan well." Iris nodded. Medical exams for any of the Light or Wily built sentient machines was a pain and a half. Many of their more combat-related systems simply refused to register as a fuzzy blur on scanners. A lot of highly advanced Reploids, capable of massive independent thought processes and even capable of limited growth in their system capabilities, were similar. Iris's armor systems were an example of that, but she didn't like to use it.
X decided, "Get a team out there. We're taking Isoc into custody on suspicion of being Maverick. If we're vicious suspicious trigger-happy bastards, we'll make it work for us. Until then, get Bebop and Jazz back here and wash them off. I'll head out to, but there's something I need to get first."
"I'd hurry X. Alia just reported that Jazz and two others had to sit on Bebop to prevent him from teleporting in. And, half the Council is calling, and one of the few Reploid members is reporting a quiet set of memos being circulated to consider taking off our charter," said Signas glumly. It was times like this he wished that Cain was still around to handle these people. There were some Reploids, quietly, of course; and a lot of humans who disliked the Hunters, either because of their protocols for determining who was Maverick, or the idea that weapons in Reploid hands would be a bad one.
X paused for a second, warping in Light's armor, the boosted version of the Fourth set. This confrontation might come to blows, and there was little better than the Ultimate Armor for when you had to retire some Reploids in a hurry. Zero just checked to make sure his beam saber was intact as the two went to get past the anti-teleport fields in the center of Maverick HQ. Zero paused, and stuck his head back in the room, "Coming, Iris? We may need you to smooth things over."
"It's been a while since I've worked communications, Zero," Iris warned, but started running anyway. Signas was careful to hide his grin. She was starting to get better, and it looked like X's subtle suggestion to Zero to fold Iris in to the Hunters was taking hold. Of course, Signas was willing to bet X had muttered something to Zero once he was out of sight, but that was unimportant.
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"Let's see, Bebop, I know you're afraid to come. After all, showing your true self means you've outlived your usefulness to the Hunters as their little weapon of having the Maverick fury to turn against those who displease them! And things that displease the Hunters have a very short life span, usually courtesy of your big brother? Is he SO proud of his little killing machine?" taunted Isoc.
"That's enough!" X barked, striding out. It caused a bit of a stir in the Council. Almost no one had gotten a glance at X's latest upgrade, and the polished black metal was in stark contrasts to the usual white and red ornamentation. Combined with the gold touches, it had the look of the armor a king would wear to a ceremony, and X hoped he wouldn't have to show just what Light's gift was capable of.
"And so the Hunter comes to give judgement. X, do you know you're the one thing that's kept Reploids from marching on your Headquarters for the last few years? Light's last child is beyond repute, but even you've been forced to do things you'd rather not talk about. How does it feel to know the Virus has been under your roof?" Isoc asked, voice thundering.
X shook his head sadly, "Isoc, there's something wrong with you. Just come on back to headquarters." Isoc started to open his mouth, but X's surprise walked forward from the alcove at the back of the room.
Rock stood, helmet off, besides his younger but bigger brother. Various personality subroutines clicked together, and Rock looked at his adoptive father with a mix of pity and worry on his features. "Father, come with X. He fights only for defense."
Isoc shook his head sadly, "I don't think that will happen Rock. You see, the Hunters targets are carefully chosen by the idiots in this room via the careful process of throwing darts at a map of large conglomerations of Reploids. On their own, the Hunters would only respond to real Maverick threats, but as the leader of Cain Labs, I'm forced to report your brother as a threat. But, since no one survives X, it's time to at least leave an impression in the rank of kills." X was stunned. He knew he didn't see the world through quite the innocence of even the Third Uprising. Repliforce had shocked Zero and him, as well as most of the other Hunters, to the core. Am I just a weapon now? thought X.
X didn't get the time to mull things over. Whoever was in Isoc had done his homework, and knew the burden of guilt X carried at all times. So, while X, master Hunter, was temporarily paused, Isoc raised a hand and shot through Rock with a beam of blue energy. Rock paused, circuits crackling around the gap, and then slumped forward, power levels fading fast. Rock hit the ground, and no one in the Council chamber moved for a moment.
Bebop, sat upon by several heavy Reploids and getting the camera feed transmitted to him, struggled anew, "That bastard copied MY weapon system to attack MY brother! Will you guys get off so I can rip his fusion generator out!" Bebop demanded.
Jazz extended her claws and held them in front of Bebop's face. Bebop noted they were trembling slightly. "Listen you," she said, "I'm ready to go gut that imposter just as much as you are, probably more since I'd enjoy it more than you. But, there are several thousand people who could get retired," Jazz's face twisted at the euphemism, "if you walk into the Council as you are now. I love you dearly, but if you keep squirming, I swear on Father's grave I'm going to remove the primary motor driver in your spine." Jazz's eyes were clouded with misery at the situation, but Bebop was almost certain she would go through with it. What terrified Bebop more than the threat of imminent paralysis was that Jazz was terrified enough to consider threatening him with imminent paralysis. Jazz sat down and whispered, "Relax, Lancer is picking some stuff up at Headquarters before heading out to the Council."
X started moving forward at that point, and Isoc held up his hand. "Not so fast! Do you have any idea what kind of radiation your Nova Strike produces? Not to mention hot, hot plasma. You and I could stand several feet away with no ill effects, but no matter how much the gene pool would be improved in the long run, it probably is a bad idea to go firing off your plasma in a confined space." X's response was to switch colors and fire off a ground Hunter. The tiny energy-stingray burned a trail through the fine carpet before smacking the surprised Isoc in a leg, scorching his armor. "Stupid variable weapons grid," cursed Isoc, before shrugging and pointing his weapon at the crowd who still remained. "What? Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm dedicated to getting the truth about the Hunters out for Reploid-kind to be saved. That also means getting rid of fear-filled deathmongers like yourselves." X leaped forward desperately as Isoc's barrel glowed as it prepared to fire.
******************
"What game are you playing!" Sigma roared. Beside him was Double, the loyal Reploid who Sigma had only recently managed to finish piecing back together, in his Jello Man form. Sigma was furious. The reborn presence of the DNA Soul Chip would be an easy way to band fearful Reploids behind the Hunters, and Sigma knew most C-class Hunters could take Isoc down, even with a cannon system borrowed from Bebop in his arm.
"Mine, of course, dear ally," said Number One smoothly in reply. "I thank you for your help, but as your little Virus will not capture that which will scythe the world, I'm afraid the only other response was to destroy his entire support structure. And when the Crimson Hunter falls, so will Iris. And only Zero's loyalty to the Hunters' ideals is what keeps him from being a true devil on the battlefield. You should know that. YOU brought him in to be repaired."
Sigma's eyes narrowed. Number One wasn't even pretending not to know who he was. Some secrets had to be revealed, and since Sigma's power rested so much with his troops and the Virus, it had been tacitly agreed not to say anything. "Your fight will only strengthen the Hunters. Isoc's sudden change is to obvious! Isoc would never destroy Rock!"
"It does not matter. Isoc will wipe out much of the Council, as X's response is limited due to the bystanders, who were too scared and ... otherwise, to move. Obviously, the people put into power after such a tragedy will be more reactionary. Even the Hunters will not stand for the new issues, and then you will have many Reploids to gather into your army." Sigma said nothing, his virus-infected mind still fully capable of massive amounts of plotting.
He can control humans to an extent! Sigma realized, and then Sigma's Reploid blood almost stopped flowing with a further realization, Why would someone who almost certainly is going to finish this conversation with either him or I terminating our alliance want me to gather more strength unless it makes things easier for him.
"This conversation is over! I have matters to attend to if I hope to recover from the debacle you're planning." Sigma cut the connection and turned to his aid, "Sweep the entire fortress for listening devices, and put our troops on alert. I do believe it's time for me to take up my old job for a time." Sigma grabbed his beam scythe, laying against the wall, and trotted out of the room at a fast pace.
***********************
X went hurtling backwards into the tables around the central area, splintering it as the force of the laser blew him backwards. At long last, the Council members finally began to run away from the room. Isoc's laughter was cut off as X stood up, brushing at a small burn mark on his chest. "4 percent damage," X noted, "You know, there's a reason Bebop either uses his lasers charged, or not at all." Growling, Isoc triggered another beam, and X raised his forearms and closed his eyes against the glare as the laser tried its best to tear at his armor.
(Author Note, chibi-edition. The Council standing around gawking. Is it just the thing with people always standing around until the hero gets knocked away, and THEN they run, or is it something more insidious? In any case, I didn't feel like upping the content warning, so I decided that poor X is going to get the blows.)
Iris started to run forward, energy flickering around her from where she stood off to the side. Zero raised a hand to hold her back. At her questioning stare, Zero explained, "In your armor, do you think with the way you ac tin armor, you're not going to take a path that will be hard to hit, so some blasts might get past you and hit civilians? X can handle Isoc easily. He's got at least one full sub-tank, and he's just holding off until everyone clears out." Iris started to comment, thought it over, and then paused and shivered for a moment. She had always wondered how her brother could be so eager for war, and exposure to his processors had started to make her wonder how he could ever STOP fighting. Compared to that portion of Iris's programing, Zero looked like a pacifist.
X had decided that people were clear enough to get little more than a sunburn, and released a charged plasma shot followed by a ground hunter. The ability to use the standard weapon at the same time as a special unit had been an apparent growth of his systems sometime after the Third Uprising, though X hadn't used his Buster a lot through that period, so he wasn't sure when it happened.
Sure enough, with a slight hiss of hydraulics, Isoc took to the air as the plasma blew through the podium with ease before burning its way through the wall. X winced, he had thought the Council was a little better armored than that, and he hoped that no one had been standing back there. Regardless, Isoc dropped down after the shot and hit the stingray again, the energy jolt knocking the Reploid down. X started going through his weapon lists as he cautiously circled, trying to draw Isoc's attention more away from where people were still being assisted by Hunters away from the room. What would work best to try and keep Isoc intact?
A teleport sound hit the room behind him, and X turned to watch a black shape form out. X nodded, and made a note to try and pick up an energy absorbing weapon if at all possible before the next Uprising. Lancer stepped forward and spat his Dark Void out at Isoc. The cloud's properties smothered the energy of a Reploid (or human), quickly weakening them. To speed things up, Lancer unfolded his wings and let loose tiny plasma bolts fly from the cannons mounted at his wing joint. Lancer was an A-ranked Hunter, and it showed as the tight cluster of bolts aimed for shoulder joints, attempting to cut through power to the arm and the laser cannon mounted within. Isoc fired back in response, still capable despite his auto-repair energy being low, and Lancer winced as he realized he would have to be hit as there were still humans in the area, and took the blow to his chest armor. He was nowhere near X in terms of defensive power, designed more for speed and stealth, and before the laser's bolt finish grinding against his synthetic fur pelt, it had cut through to several circuits. "Stupid 1st Law of Robotics and even stupider humans for not evacuating like any four-year-old! I am NOT voting for these guys again!" muttered Lancer to X on a tightbeam channel. Despite the situation, X snorted once.
Definitely angry about being shot at by his commanding officer, Lancer had another Dark Void charged up and spat at Isoc. This one seemed to do it, crumpling the Reploid down. The danger to the humans past, several low-ranking Hunters, carrying binders, started trotting forward from overseeing the evacuation. "Why do they call you Lancer, anyway? It doesn't quite seem to fit," asked X approvingly. Lancer merely lazily grinned, displaying the three-inch long incisors that were normally hidden by his bat-like maw, as well as displaying claws at the tips of his small arms, the joints of his wings, and toes.
"Oh," said X, and went back to keeping an eye on Isoc.
"Very impressive Hunters, and up to your usual collateral damage as well," said a voice from the sound system. Sigma's face appeared in the holoprojector. X and Lancer groaned when they saw the familiar scarred, bald face. As if the day hadn't been bad enough. Sigma, apparently, saw their reaction and grinned slightly, "Relax, Hunters. I'm not announcing another Uprising. X, our next little meeting isn't quite in my day planner yet. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Hunters weren't forced to accomplish my goals for me shortly enough. Humanity has once again showed its foolishness. Under their directives were Reploids forced to fight Reploids in my laughingly termed 'Fourth Uprising', when all I did was coach General to see the truth, not even requiring the Virus." Sigma leaned forward. X, and Zero near the back, studied desperately to see if Sigma was revealing any clues about his new body, but Sigma's head was the only thing carefully kept in frame.
Sigma whispered, "In fact, those valorous Hunters have even been forced to hide research that may make my recruiting process far more difficult," Sigma shook his head sadly, "How could I spend such time protecting so many fools and ingrates?" Sigma brightened, "But still, I do value my time with the Hunters. I learned much there, including that a successful Uprising wasn't a few Reploids getting terminal revenge on a prejudiced supervisor. In honor of that time, X, I'm going to do you a favor, and preserve the last few shreds of integrity the Hunter mainframe has, since the real Isoc's been transferred from his body via DNA Soul Chip and is getting his memory drained. There is one way to stop the transfer."
Sigma leapt out of the hole that X's plasma blast had left in the back wall. He had foregone the cloak, and resembled his Fourth body but for a bright green jewel, probably hiding an energy weapon, on his chest. In his hand he held a copy of his latest mighty hand weapon, and ignited the beam scythe, cleaving it down through Isoc's torso, breaching the fusion containment and causing the Reploid to explode in a nuclear-powered fireball that reduced much of the front of the Council Hall to a smoking glass-lined crater.
X started charging his weapon, expression furious at Isoc's death, but Lancer, a bit wheezy from damage, held out an arm to hold back X. "Hang on X. If Sigma's last encounter was any indication, I've got something picked up you don't that we'll need here." X was confused as Lancer leapt forward, wings spread in a snarl.
"Courage, bravery, you've kept your Unit intact despite the massive morale losses the Hunters have been facing," noted Sigma, "Despite a lack of strategic, or somewhat even of tactical planning, you have proven an able warrior. Oh, why not?" asked Sigma, tossing a packet stored in his arm forward. Lancer froze and glowed blue before the Viral packet opened, spreading darkness around him. The blue tore with black for a moment. X and Sigma stared in shock at the sight as the Virus tore futilely at the aura, which was slowly fading, but still holding strong as the Virus decayed at a much faster rate. Lancer hadn't even moved since he started to glow. X cursed mentally. The Vaccine program was still in its testing phase, and might not have even worked. Lancer must have picked it up just in case since Sigma had been using concentrated Viral packages in his last encounter with the Hunters.
Zero, meanwhile came rushing down the stairs, armor already fading to black to help suck up the Virus. Tearing away from the haunting spectacle, X noticed flickers of light that indicated Iris was preparing to get in a few shots. Most of the Hunters cowered. Sigma was a nightmare, and many of the Hunters had joined since the last Uprising, and knew full well the last minute desperation moves and luck that had allowed X to survive the former Hunter, when he was loaded with enhancements.
Zero, however, feared no Reploid, and quickly stepped in between X and Lancer to deal with the Viral nanos that may be making their way towards X. As X pointed his X-Buster at Sigma, who was doing a good job using the rigid Lancer as an obstacle, Zero hissed as each step brought a slightly stronger red aura around him.
"Time to wake up, Lancer," Zero muttered, and reached over to tap Lancer on the wing joint. As his hand approached the blue aura surrounding Lancer, it turned back to its normal color, the black fading away in chunks. Yelling in pain as the Virus still in the air tried to invade his system, Zero backed up a few steps, aura glowing far more brightly as the Shadow Armor converted nanos that had actually invaded him. After a moment, Zero relaxed as his hand faded back to black.
Sigma was agog. The Vaccine program for the Hunters had not only worked, but it had even proven successful at infiltrating one of the doctor's Reploids. Sigma had felt the faint tingling connections of the control of Infection for a moment. However, Lancer, at that point, screeched, beyond the ability of humans to hear though a few water glasses left on tables shattered, and fell over. Coolant and smoke streamed from his mouth, and his eyes rolled up in his head as he convulsed.
"I don't think that program was ready to go gold, X," Sigma taunted as Lancer lay still. Despite the danger, several junior Hunters ran to their commander's still body. Getting X angry was a dangerous proposition, as it had led to the deaths of several bodies Sigma had particularly enjoyed. However, right now Sigma needed to get out of here and find more about that little program they had put together. He had originally thought it hopeless, as the Virus propagated physically and electronically, and Sigma could simply change the nanoprobes around. So far, only Zero, Jazz, and Bebop's bodies had proven able to fight, no to conquer, the Virus electronically, allowing the physical aspects to be subverted. Now, he thought there might be some use for the project.
Sigma took a deep breath to increase the coolant flow to his reactor a bit, as this next plan would drain him. The jewel on Sigma's chest pulsed threateningly several times and then launched a massive green bolt into the floor, throwing up a plume of ionized dust. Once Sigma's position was obscured, he broke for it. Undignified, yes. But risking losing the data he had seen with this body was worth far more than taking out several minor Hunters.
X and several Hunters looked over Lancer, who moved no more, but still glowed faintly blue. Zero was keeping a distance away as his systems continued to battle with the Virus that had gotten a minor toehold on his system. Iris, armor complete, jetted down to pick up Lancer so they could move him for treatment. Upon touching him, however, she screeched and her crystal, containing her core personality, ejected from the machine.
X thought quickly. Iris was going to be in full attack mode, and Zero was reading more or less like a Maverick now. For that matter, the look in his eyes showed him to be under great strain. Whatever had happened when he had touched Lancer meant the Virus was still close to gaining supremacy, and a sudden aggressive maneuver could probably push him at least temporarily over the edge. X stepped away from Lancer, and took the dangerous step of moving into the line of fire, acutely aware that his energy meter was down about twenty percent. As Iris moved farther away from Lancer, the crystal returned, and the armor glowed for a second before Iris dropped to the ground bonelessly. Zero and X moved to catch her, but not even they could reach her before she hit the ground with a metallic clank.
The Reploids holding onto Lancer hissed and moved backwards, their arms hanging stiffly at their sides. It was obvious they only had limited control over them. "What is that?" asked on of them, in obvious pain. Considering how fried Lancer apparently was, it was likely the circuits had been literally burnt out of their arms.
"The Vaccine," Zero stated grimly. "It obviously still has a few bugs left in it." Zero grimaced, and the aura gradually died around him, "Please don't put anyone especially irritating in saber range right now. I'm not quite sure what I would do."
X was speaking internally into his communicator for a moment. After a little bit, Lancer's still glowing body turned into a column of blue-streaked black energy, headed for the local Hunter detachment. Geneva, as world capital, deserved such. "Zero," said X, "You and Iris should probably get out of here as well. They're going to start wondering about the demonic glow in a little while, and I'm not sure if we've finished the paperwork saying Iris is alive yet." Zero, done glowing, but evidently not calm enough to switch to his normal armor yet, picked up Iris's limp form and left for Headquarters.
X groaned, and went over to the limp form of his brother, and removed his helmet and closed the still form's eyes, head bowed. Another teleport sound filled the hall as Jazz and Bebop dropped down, saw where X was, and took off running. The two skidded to a stop, looking at the scene in horror, before Bebop sprung into action, shoving X out of the way before gathering up the body. X started to protest, but Bebop silenced him with a glare.
"I know Hunter Headquarters doesn't have the medical staff to save him right now, especially with thinking Hunters needing the help, but I think I know a place that might do just as well," Bebop stated, and quickly triggered his teleporter, disappearing in a stream of green light.
Jazz said, "He's gone to the base in the Amazon. They had some fairly advanced equipment there. Permission to go raid tools from our quarters, sir?" X nodded and Jazz vanished in a red stream, her old original color.
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Jazz returned to the entrance of the Amazon area several minutes later, carrying a few tiny diagnostic instruments, a mini-fusion generator she'd cadged from Lifesaver, and Chibi-Gemini Man for doing close-in welding work. Alia and Wolf were on guard, and looked at her worriedly as she went through.
"Father may have been against him, but he was also crazier than a bag of mixed nuts," muttered Jazz to herself. She felt in her very core that he was watching her angrily at this moment, "Heck, even Bass sometimes stood against him in terms of decency, and Bass was the most violent robot he ever created," Jazz smiled wistfully. She wasn't sure what exactly had happened to Rock's greatest rival, but if Bass ever returned, she'd be doing everything in her power to save his life as well. Gemini Man shifted on her shoulder and she grinned. She had revived an old reprogrammed Robot Master, though without the memory, to get a little taste of life at home, though luckily enough people didn't know their history sufficiently to quite realize the significance of the robot during the Gamma Crisis.
Bebop had found a small table from somewhere and laid his dying brother on it inside the primary control room. It was mainly deactivated, and a few Reploids were attempting to download information from the memory core watched as Bebop went to work. "Is this important?" Bebop asked at the control panel for the defenses before heaving off the cover and looking for circuits he could use. He had rigged a small power supply to try and keep Rock stabilized as he finished sorting out the piles.
"Okay, little guy, I'm going to need a spare you," Jazz ordered when she entered the room. The crystal-decorated copy saluted and with a shimmer of light, Gemini twinned. Suddenly, two versions of the antique mining master sat on Jazz's shoulder, before hopping down and probing the damage to Rock with curious expressions. They didn't have vocal synthesizers or transmitters, there was a limit to miniaturization; but they were quite expressive and good at delicate work with their small size.
A few of the technician Reploids broke off plumbing the data base to take a look at watching the two go to work on major repairs while the mini-Master quickly put the machinery into place. Without an advanced medical bay, the repairs weren't nearly as precise, but Gemini was nearly as good as having the sophisticated waldos of Headquarters to maneuver objects into position, and Jazz and Bebop had received instruction from some of the very best. Not to mention, that by modern standards, much of Rock's circuitry was very crude. The technicans dispensed the occasional advice, though mainly stayed out of the way. These sort of repairs didn't need a lot of extra hands.
With a power supply running to Rock from the base's systems (set on low), plus the portable generator Jazz brought, the first part of repair, keeping damage from spreading was easy. Rock's fusion generator had shut off line and the sophisticated computers making up his brain had shut down one by one as most of the capacitors and emergency power had been taken out by Isoc's charged shot. The power feed kept Rock's mind stabilized, and since the mental circuits were the most difficult part to piece together, the rest was easy, as long as they were careful with their explorations.
It took a few hours, but the repairs were almost done. The computers were back on line thanks to the technicians, though cracking the passwords on the data bases would take quite a while. "We seem to be clear on all scans. You can use these to do the diagnostics before reactivating him," offered one of the technicians to the bleary eyed Reploids. Reploids needed sleep time to recover, charge systems, deal with ordinary wear and tear, as well as ensure mental stability with the occasional dream. They had spent about twenty hours on their feet, counting the flights they had flown earlier today on survey missions before everything went weird. Alia and Wolf had come in after they were off duty to give moral support, but were slumped asleep in a corner. Even Gemini had to stop to recharge on his limited batteries.
Still, it seemed word had come down from on high to help out Rock, especially since Hunter resources really weren't being used besides time of some Hunters. Jazz took the contacts gratefully and plugged them into Rock, before going over to tap on a keypad and downloaded one of her diagnostic programs into the computer. Bebop was monitoring Rock's stats. The computer beeped merrily a few times and started running. "I don't know how X managed to stay awake for all three of those days. I can't even go a whole day!" complained Jazz shakily.
"Pillows would be good about now," agreed Bebop, looking at Rock with a bit of hope. It was out of their hands now, but hopefully Rock would recover. Bebop's hands had started to shake anyway, despite some attempts to reroute tired controls. None of the other Reploids have so much trouble when they're exhausted. They just go right into a stasis state, thought Bebop peevishly.
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Number One restrained himself, barely, from clapping his hands with glee. "So, it seems your sister-in-law has hooked you unwittingly into my computer systems. I wonder if it was instinctual?" mused Number One, "Ah, no matter. Now, to drain Light's secrets from your memory banks, as your brother has given the code." Number One rolled his eyes and muttered, "That infernal whistle. Of all things, why that annoying, constant whistle?" Number One quickly sent the information, through hidden data lines. A famous set of notes, now used for a grim purpose.
Rock didn't move, blink, or twitch. Instead, the information, piped directly to his aural circuits, piped back all the data on Light's hidden chips. Number One grinned, "Excellent. Now, how to finish you off? Let's see, most of your systems are deactivated, I have access to your neural core. Time to make it look like a horrible hardware accident." One grinned ferally, "And just one for old time's sake: Curse you Mega Man!" Number One sent the command racing out, quickly seizing up Mega Man's processors, as system failed after system. Either a virus, or a simple power spike. With Number One's control of the computers, the technicians still plugging away didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, since all the components used by Number One, had been used by the diagnostic.
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"How bad is it Signas?" asked X. The two were standing watching a scene in the quarantine bay, long the unruly home of Bebop and Jazz, over a monitor in the war room. Now, however, carefully shielded probes were examining Lancer. Gate and Lifesaver were running the show, and amazed Lancer was even alive. The Vaccine had blocked the Virus all right, by sending all circuits into high levels of activity. The nanomachines were fried whenever they tried to link up. A Met, however, had limited neural capacity, and its tiny free will section was quickly full, leaving the only activities possible those suggested by another. Reploid complexity, however, meant everything was interlaced with the areas the Virus would attack. Desperate pumping of energy, and Lifesaver burning out an arm, had kept Lancer alive so far, but it was a losing battle. The aura was only fading as it had less to go on.
"Well, the Council is in an uproar, and they want to know what exactly Zero was wearing, and why a high-ranking member of Repliforce was let with the Hunters. They're probably willing to let live, as we can say it's a prototype Virus shield. It's even the truth," said Signas bitterly. The stress of having to finally stop rationalizing and realize they had lied, deeply, was cutting at Signas's sense of duty, and it was starting to tear him apart on the inside. "Sigma's still on the run, we have no idea where he ran off to. Most of the Hunters are still out of commission from wounds several days ago. Plus, a Reploid clerk in one of the Council member's offices passed me information that they're preparing to revoke our charter." Signas paused, eyes unfocused. He was evidently hearing something over a communicator, and Signas seemed to slump. "The emergency repair to Rock has failed. The cats hooked him to the diagnostic and collapsed. Shortly thereafter, the techs noticed the diagnostic was giving odd returns. By the time they did anything, it was too late. His memory's GONE. Luckily, we do have copies of most of Light's stuff, and he probably could be restored from backup tape."
"It wouldn't be the same," said X sadly. All the experiences gained since those backups, made in the middle of the Robot Rebellions, would cease to exist. "How are the cats taking it?"
"They just submitted their resignation to the Hunters, citing psychological issues. Even beyond the fact that, technically, we're on a war footing with Sigma loose and need everyone, there's another problem," X looked confused and Signas explained, "Unfortunately, regulations don't permit us to accept any Hunter leaving without being disarmed. I was forced to tell them that their resignation couldn't be accepted at this time. For their sake, I won't repeat their response." X winced as he realized what was happening. Jazz and Bebop's weapon systems were integral parts of them, just like his X-Buster, which he would have loved to have removed a few times. True, without their armor on, they resembled humans closely and their weapons could scratch paint, maybe, by modern military terms, but the core systems would still be there. For that matter, getting too far away from the armor could have a damaging effect on the systems Light had installed to repair the neural damage he and Wily had inflicted by their control mechanisms. The cats were stuck.
X snorted. For that matter, the Hunters were stuck. The Vaccine had failed, killing a good person, and for that matter, destroying the command integrity of the one Unit left reasonably intact. It seemed likely that the Hunters wouldn't be around for more than the next few days, and then who would defend against future Uprisings? People turned throughout the war room as X realized he had vocalized his last thought. "Heh, heh," he said nervously.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much, scion of Light," said a voice over the loudspeakers. X blinked, and then remembered the loudspeakers were on the old communications network.
"Sigma," said X, making it more of a statement than a fact. Signas hit the panic button next to him. Instead of klaxons and sirens going off, alerting the Hunters to full battle readiness, everything continued in their normal state.
The technicians were well trained. They allowed themselves perhaps a second of gaping amazement before opening up panels and running diagnostics. "Oh, very well. Sound your little alarm," said the voice, "I was just trying to have a reasonably peaceful conversation. And X, before I let you work your little Hunters up into a panic, I am NOT that bald idiot." Sirens still failed to wail. "Huh. I guess I lie. Oh well. Anyway, X, you should be interested to note that I've accomplished far more than Sigma ever has. You can cal me Number One. You're security is no match for me, and I have all of Cain Labs and your data." Technicians frantically worked at tracing the lines.
"Hey!" said the voice suddenly, "I was going through the files. Do you know Dr. Cain was forced to put in an override that shuts down all the containment on the fusion reactor in Maverick Hunter Headquarters? Five minute secret countdown too. Tappity tappity tappity!"
"Can we take that at face value?" X asked cynically. Zero and Iris were off doing some training somewhere to try and get Iris's training back, and X really wished he could get Zero's opinion right now.
Suddenly, a screen turned on, and it was someone who X hadn't been expecting to hear during business hours again. Dr. Cain's aged face appeared, looking urgent. "Listen X, if this is playing, someone just put in the little security measure the Council ordered when they rebuilt HQ following Uprising Number One. If you're seeing this, then that means the computers have tracked your location and you, yourself aren't Maverick. I have to assume I'm not with you, as I have the override to the command. As such, my final orders are you to run for it!" Everyone gawked for a moment as Dr. Cain smiled, "That's right. I'm not senile. The fusion generator is approaching overload. Your mission is to get away, split up, and form a resistance force. X, I suggest Dopplertown as a starting point. You might find something interesting there." Cain looked saddened, "If the situation is like this, then the humanity may be planning to turn against Reploids. I hoped it would never come to this. X, you and your team may be what the world's counting on, but I doubt you can do it in the open any more. Now hurry! This old man has used up one of your minutes!" Suddenly, all the loudspeakers, which had been quiet during the break blared with Dr. Cain's voice. "Listen up Hunters! This is the old man! Emergency evacuation of Hunter HQ has been authorized! All staff prepare teleports to the vehicle bays and get all the equipment you can out! Message repeats, as you've got t-minus 160 seconds..."
The Hunters were far too calm to panic, and emergency evacuation plans had been set and reset over the years. Beds were equipped with emergency teleport devices to other outposts. Hopefully, the many Hunters still disabled might be able to escape. Meanwhile, once above ground, things got much easier with high speed transports. Especially as the teleportation shields were disabled. Counting down the seconds as they ran, most Hunters went to the nearest armory and outfitted themselves before teleporting out. Almost everyone had managed to teleport out with a minute to spare, or reach the Landchaser bays and use them.
Zero and Iris paused as they overlooked the training facility. Ten seconds were remaining. "I'm really going to miss this place." Zero shut a switch on the wall as he turned with Iris. The lights went out in Maverick HQ as two final streaks carried away.
**********************
Number One cursed as he saw the Maverick Hunters get away from a satellite view before the satellite was overloaded by a fusion flare. "Delete this. Delete it all. Weapon-carrying Reploids are dangerous, and if no one knows they're gone, we can make the Hunters into martyrs. Begin the contingency plans. A few more Hunters got out than anticipated, but they are weak and scattered, and the loss of the HQ almost certainly took a chunk out of Tokyo. We'll have their charter, but they can't go far enough underground to get away," he muttered.
"Are you sure, sir? Almost all of our listening equipment was in their Headquarters, and we didn't realize Cain trusted the Reploids enough, and X, to go against the Council," said an aide over remote link.
"Agreed. However, they've lost the good majority of their equipment, their medical supplies. Those in that fateful simulator battle will tell you how damage can add up beyond that which auto-repair systems can provide. Of the Hunters, only X is really well known, and mainly from his distinctive armor sets. The Hunters cannot provide effective resistance right now. They're in too much trouble with too little fortifications. Sigma might do us a favor and wipe them out. Still, harry them at Dopplertown. Don't let them rest until they're driven to the ends of the earth," ordered Number One. His aide hastened to comply.
"You thought you at least got the win of having your lives Hunters. You were wrong," stated Number One. "After all, I've been engaged in far too much planning since my original and Light's death. I won't be stopped by a few sophisticated robots waving guns at me." Number One took one last look at the Nightmare project, now under construction, and deactivated the drone body. After all, the doppleganger of Dr. Albert Wily's mind was, like Light's capsule's AI, merely a super-advanced computer program, but a puppet body made dealing with underlings easier. Still, the core of Wily's mind lived on, minus that troubling insanity favor. It was amazing what a lack of glands would do.
Wily dived into the network There was still plotting to be done to fulfill his primary function: the complete and utter domination of the world in Wily's name. In the ruins of a once great metropolis, the Hunters, gathering up for the night, shivered as if something was walking on their graves. It was, indeed, it was picking out the tombstones and flower arrangements.
X looked out the assembled Hunters, a shadow of their peak strength. "We've been hurt, but we're not going to be stopped. Believe it or not, things have been worse, but we've held to our mission throughout everything. Humanity still faces a lot of threats, and it's our job to stop them. Always has been, and it may always be. For now, the best thing we can do is make new plans. A new world order may think it's coming to knock the props out from under society, but I haven't met any megalomaniac whose plans the Hunters haven't derailed." Applause started to ring out.
Zero yelled, "Get some sleep. We've got butt-kicking to do in the morning!" Cheers and bloodthirsty howls rang out. X smiled. Bowed but not broken, the Hunters camped.
To be continued in X 2.5.
Well, following the epilogue + Author's Notes on the next page!