Disclaimer: Yadda, yadda, yadda, everything belongs to someone other than you, unless you're me, Toastyfrog, or anyone from Capcom. SIGMA W1LL R0X0R Y0R @S$X0R! Er, yeah. Chapter.
In Search of Lost Time
Chapter 5: "Uprising"
It doesn't take a historical expert to know who the leader of every single Maverick Uprising has been (whether or not one counts the Nightmare Investigation). Therefore, no pretense will be made to hide his identity. He was nine feet tall, he was clad in blue-black armor, he was caped, he was bald, he was hated by all humans, and he was stronger than any other Reploid or Maverick in existence.
He was Sigma, lord over all Mavericks.
He was at this moment smiling pleasantly -- or as pleasantly as he could manage, given the awesome power and menace that was always in his face. "I am pleased to meet you, One Alpha," he said. "It is not often one finds oneself speaking with a creation of Doctor Wily older even than Zero."
"I am at your service," said One, feeling a strange sense of awe. "I finally feel that I can relate to a certain place, that I'm, well, home."
A chuckle rumbled from the Dark Lord. "That is unsurprising. I actually carry the original Maverick Virus that came from your brother, Zero Omega himself."
One seemed satisfied. "Yes," she murmured. "The original Maverick Virus. Do you know where my brother is now?"
Sigma frowned. "It appears that he has been placed inside a capsule for the time being," he said. "Removing him prematurely may kill him."
"I see," said One Alpha, sounding disappointed. "Our creator had a mission for us ..."
Sigma nodded. "He and I had quite similar goals," he said. "Both of us wished for dominion over our kind."
"Och, if ye'd just wait a minut', ye needn't crowd!" barked Plaid Terrier Twexty from the control room of the tremendous screen in the auditorium. "Sit down, and we can put it up already!"
The image of a reporter appeared on the screen. "-- at ten thirty PM, a trio of Mavericks attacked Neo Tokyo." The image of three indistinct shapes -- one green, one black, and one blue -- causing mass destruction appeared inset. "Mega Man X, the leader of the Reploid Authority System, arrived to neutralize --"
"You never told me it was him," hissed Andante.
"Sorry," whispered Jakesten, and they were both bombarded by a collective "Shh!" from those immediately around them, who were joined those around them, and so on until nearly every single Reploid in the room had shushed those nearer to Andante and Jakesten.
"-- defeated by the blue Maverick, who revealed her name to be One Alpha," continued the reporter, oblivious to the events surrounding one of the televisions on which this was being displayed. Meanwhile, the inset images of destruction were replaced by a closeup of One Alpha, accompanied by the caption, Extracted from Reploid memory. "Due to a reference she made to their 'leader' with the indication that Mega Man X should know him, it can only be assumed that Sigma, who has attempted an insurrection twelve times in the past, has returned and will shortly attempt a thirteenth battle. For News Network 47, I'm Faye Gabbiani."
It cut to another reporter. "Thank you. I'm Kent Br --"
Twexty shut off the television. "So, y'see what we've got now," he said. "It seems that the RAS en't gonna need us for much longer."
"You may dispense with the glibness, Plaid Terrier," said the voice of Dr. de Capo over the sound system. "This is a serious threat we have here."
Twexty jerked his head up towards one of the loudspeakers. "I know it is, but we cannae always be all solemn faces aroun' unpresent unpleasant company!"
This got the desired ripple of humor that ran through the crowd. "Where does he get these one-liners?" muttered Andante.
"Oh, you know," said Jakesten. "Too much television."
"In any event, we must prepare for whatever form the Thirteenth Maverick Uprising takes," said the Doctor drily. "Our primary directive may be in protest against the Reploid Authority System, but that doesn't mean we can simply let the Mavericks destroy the world." This was met by cheers.
As they filed out of the room, Arvisven said, "So what do we do now? Look for the eight locations that Sigma's put his Maverick Generals and defeat each of them and gain their weapons in a specific order that each one we pick has a weakness against the last one's weapon?"
"I don't think we're going to work like that," said Andante.
"Andante," said Arvisven with mock annoyance, "you aren't in charge here."
"Neither are you," put in Jakesten.
"It seems that you are correcting Andante for doing something you did yourself," said Ryu.
"Aw, c'mon," said Arvisven. "Can't a guy inflate his ego once in a while??"
"No," said Jakesten, Andante, and Ryu.
Arvisven threw up his hands. "What is this world coming to??"
"A Maverick Uprising," said Ryu.
There was a pause, and then Arvisven said, "That would do it."
One Alpha wasn't used to dealing with a Reploid hamster, nor with an eight-foot rodent. Combining the two and adding a primary attack that involved launching snares at the opponent made Grappler Hamster a somewhat odd Maverick.
"Before you comment," said Grappler Hamster, "yes, I'm weird, but at least I'm not Infinity Mijinion or Flame Ptarmigan or the worst one of 'em all, Cyber E-Coli. So, hello, One!" He waved a paw.
"Hello, Grappler," One said doubtfully. "What function will you have in this uprising?"
"I'm in charge of messing up with this construction system," said Grappler. "Grabbing stuff and throwing it around is fun!"
"I can't disagree with you there," said One with a grim smirk. "Especially when it's your opponent."
"Ohhhh yeah," said Grappler. "That's the best part! You should try it with humans!"
"I can't wait," said One. "Mind if I join your assigned location?"
"Uh, actually, the boss has a special job for you," said Saber Swan, who entered the rec room at that moment. "Since you don't have any actual weaknesses, you've been assigned to a separate group. You're going to be in charge of attacking several strategic locations that we want to destroy as opposed to conquer." He handed her a map.
One unfolded the map and looked it over. After a moment of eyeing it in silence, she smiled. It was her first mission in the Maverick ranks, and already it looked like it was going to be a lot of fun.
Every modern building in every city nowadays had a special switch that was thrown by the powers that be in the event of a Maverick attack. The switch sent a message to RASHQ -- formerly Maverick Hunter HQ -- and the RAS responded as soon as possible to deal with and neutralize the threat. This happened at eight at night (Neo Tokyo time) on June 18, 2266, but to a surprising degree.
Mega Man X stood in the main control room and stared. "Nine!?" he exclaimed.
"Yes, sir," said Cala, one of the Reploids at a console. "Each at strategic locations. Definitely looks like Sigma's handiwork. But the one here ..." She indicated the alert marker in New York. "...seems more intent on destruction than on taking control."
"I'm going there first," said X. He donned his Ultimate Armor and teleported away.
He found himself near the World Trade Center Monument. Ah, that one relic from even before World War III ... He saw signs of destruction heading his way, so he went in that direction to attack whatever it was.
Obviously, a group of Mavericks. He quickly dispatched a trio on the ground, managed to destroy one in a Golaith Ride Armor. He then began to charge his X-Buster in case he needed more firepower.
A blue blur blasted out of a building and headed his way. X quickly fired a fully-charged Level 4 Super Shot at whatever it was. It halted in midair with a yell of rage and landed on the ground in front of him. X smirked. He knew who this was.
"I underestimated you before," he said. "I won't again."
"You were lucky just now," snarled One Alpha. "I will destroy you faster than you can think!"
She charged. X considered his options, ducked, and threw himself out of the way at the last moment with his dash thrusters. One's head clipped his left leg; it didn't really do much damage, but it hurt. And it brought him down to 98% power. Darn. 0Not for the first time, X wished that he wasn't that much like a human. But he managed to hit her with a Nova Strike. One Alpha was sent sprawling.
"Did you know," said X, "that every Maverick who considered me weak has been killed? -- Whoa!" He jumped to avoid a super shot, landed in time to avoid a second that had been aimed higher, and then dashed to the side to avoid a third.
"No, I didn't," said One, "but I'm going to take the opposite stance! You're skilled, and you don't make the same mistake twice!"
X drew a beamsaber he liked to use, and flicked it on. Its yellow glow lit up the area. "The feeling is mutual," he said. "Except that I think of you as more a berserker than skilled." He held it in an en garde position.
One fired a few minor plasma shots, all of which X deflected. She then drew a machinesaber and armed it, revealing a green blade. "If you can't beat 'em with skill, beat 'em with brute force."
They approached each other cautiously. "I'd've thought it worked the other way around," said X, and then swung the saber in a powerful side swing. One deflected it, then viciously slashed at X's head. X ducked and thrust forward. One swung downwards and held X's blade down.
"Weaknesses don't help you when your enemy is a hundred times as strong as you," said One.
X smirked. "When you attack, you have no defense," he said. Then he turned his beamsaber off.
This was extremely risky, because One Alpha may very well have been able to thrust forward and finish him then and there. However, not making the same mistake twice usually requires that one make the mistake the first time, and X had time to dash backwards as One stumbled.
"That was a dirty trick," she said icily.
"All's fair in love and war," said X, "especially when you can get everyone who isn't involved to approve." He armed his saber again.
One raised her machinesaber, but then changed her mind, switched it to gun mode, and began firing. X had a hard time deflecting every single shot. He missed one and was thrown backwards, a hole in his chest. He was now at 32% remaining power. One charged forward to finish him off.
Then suddenly, luck intervened. Two things happened.
First, someone tossed a full Sub Tank to him. He didn't see who it was, but he quickly installed it and drained it, restoring his life energy.
Second of all, a shot from behind sent One sprawling before she was ten feet away from X. A female Reploid in green and black armor -- Hey! Actual metal, not Flex-Armor! -- and a helmet in X's style -- rushed over and began fighting One using a purple-bladed machinesaber.
A bat-like Reploid came to X's side and began patching up the hole with a Reploid first-aid kit. "Looks like you got hit hard, but you'll live!" he said cheerfully in a way that grated X's nerves.
"Who the hell are you?" asked X sharply.
The bat straightened and saluted. "Sonic Bat RV-7, Lieutenant of organization OMNI at your service, Commander Mega Man X." He took a bow.
X glared, getting to his feet. "Aren't you a group of Mavericks?" he said threateningly.
Sonic Bat was either obtuse or deliberately annoying. "Nope," he said cheerily. He turned and fired a sonic wave at some of the other Mavericks. "We make it a point to avoid so much as scratching humans, so the best we can manage is terrorists, and maybe if we let our act down murderers, who unlike Mavericks get fair trials." His eyes narrowed. "Oh, wait, that's humans I'm thinking about, isn't it?"
"Arvisven, stop antagonizing the megalomaniac!" said a humanoid Reploid in red and white Flex-Armor, walking over and firing at a Bee Bomber. "We want to make him feel guilty, not alienate him!"
"Aw, Jakesten, you're no fun!" said Arvisven.
"Guilty about what?" said X warily.
"Unlike us, you're a Maverick," Jakesten said bluntly.
"WHAT!?" thundered X. At least, he tried to thunder, but it came out weakly.
"Your organization, the Reploid Authority System, has not only been arresting Reploids and executing them without a fair trial or even cause, but has recently arrested and executed groups of humans," said Jakesten. This was walking through a minefield, but it had to be done. X had obviously known about OMNI, but he needed to know why it existed.
Mega Man X neither confirmed nor denied, but instead bit his lip and looked doubtful for a moment. "All executions are done by humans," he muttered, staring at the ground. "I'm just ..."
"... the head of the organization," said Jakesten.
"Good, so you don't harm any human beings," said Arvisven in a bored tone of voice. Then he brightened. "But you can pardon 'em all you want, and you don't, so you're through inaction allowing 'em to come to harm, and that's still violating the First Law, which makes you a Maverick. Not only that, but you haven't obeyed any humans lately, have you, so you're also violating the Second Law. And the Third Law of Robotics is pretty much the same as the Third Law of Mavericks: 'Survive.' Uh, did I just strike a nerve?"
"That's what you're best at," said Jakesten dryly, running over to another Maverick with a machinesaber. "Now don't do it again."
Meanwhile, One and Andante were in the thick of it. Andante had the advantage of having been designed specifically to fight One, but now One had a saber of her own and a few tricks. One parried a slash to her left and turned it into a jab. Andante flipped backwards, tried to make a cut across One's legs.
"Who is she?" muttered X.
"Which 'she'?" asked Arvisven, blasting away.
X realized he didn't really know who either of them was. "Both," he said.
"One Alpha was apparently built by Dr. Wily right before the bad doctor built Zero Omega," said Arvisven. "Get it? One Alpha, Zero Omega, never mind. The girl who's surprisingly holding her own is Andante, who was built specifically to fight One about two years after Sigma."
X calmly accepted these stunning revelations in the face of suddenly realizing something else. "The blue Maverick that Garma's unit went after!"
Arvisven raised an eyebrow. It looked somewhat comical. "The ...?"
"Garma's unit released Zero from a capsule when they were investigating a report of a blue Maverick in that area," said X. "I think I have an idea of who that blue Maverick was." He shrugged and swallowed his pride. "Look, as much as you're supposed to hate my guts, as the commander-in-chief of the RAS, I hereby ask for the assistance of vigilante group OMNI in dealing with this Maverick insurrection."
"Done deal," said Jakesten, slicing his opponent in half. "And by the way, it seems the Maverick situation is under control here."
X noted that the only Maverick left was One Alpha. "If she can singlehandedly keep that thing at bay," he said, "then what are you doing here?"
"We've just done it: assist you, get the treaty unofficially made," said Arvisven. "Also, backup."
"What would you do if One Alpha defeats her?" asked X skeptically.
"Most likely, die, given the results of the previous battle," said the bat with a slight bow.
X frowned. "I'm going to stay here in case she does fail."
The force of the battle was increasing. Their strikes were becoming fiercer and more powerful, and each was getting closer to striking the other. Andante was totally engrossed with the battle, had no time for any thoughts about the risks or gains. One Alpha, on the other hand, was beginning to experience something that was almost totally alien to her: worry. All it would take was a twitch, she thought, and the purple blade -- depending on what Andante was doing at the moment -- could cut off her arm again, plunge into her heart and destroy her reactor, slice her cleanly in half, melt her control crystal and annihilate her mind forever ...
Survive! One Alpha knew that, no matter what, she had to defeat Andante.
"Popcorn?" said Arvisven, holding up a bag. Jakesten took it, ate a handful, and dumped the rest of it over the bat's head.
"You don't like him, do you?" said X.
"Never been a requirement in OMNI," said Jakesten, swallowing. "How about the RAS?"
"Watch it," said X.
"As far as that goes, I don't think either of us should appear on the other's home turf," said Jakesten.
"That's a good idea," said X.
The two blades swung. The two blades clashed. There was a terrific crash as if thunder had struck as they impacted each other.
And Andante suddenly saw an opening.
The world seemed to slow down. She drew her blade back and thrust it forward, the beam of plasma melting into the blue and white armor as if a knife through butter. As she did, she felt a sharp, burning, explosive pain in her stomach, and realized that her opponent had done precisely the same thing. She felt a bizzare sensation of nausea, extremely rare for a being of metal and plastic, and fell to the ground. The sky seemed to have an unusual shade of blue ...
"Andante!" She heard someone rush to her side ... Red and white ... dizziness ... A shot ringing out ... Then the world began to fade.
Andante wondered if One Alpha would wake up, one way or another.
"A near thing, that was, but she'll probably live," said Twexty. He looked Jakesten in the eye. "If ye had'n'a come when ye did an' blocked that shot, this one's atoms'd be pushin' up the daisies."
"You know, Twexty," said Arvisven, fiddling with a repair device, "there are times when I'm annoyed that I can't understand you, and times when I'm glad. Like right now."
"'Twas a creative blendin' of metaphors, human and Reploid," said Twexty.
"That particular type of 'blending' being 'puree,' of course," countered Arvisven.
"Oh shut up, both of you," said Jakesten. Andante was still being repaired, and Jakesten was in no mood for jokes. He had no idea why; he was just mad. He hoped that One Alpha wouldn't survive, wherever she was now, but hoped just as much that she had survived so he could ... could ... Whatever it was, he didn't know, but any outside observers would have noted its remarkable resemblance to revenge. Jakesten hated Mavericks, and wanted nothing more now than to destroy One Alpha.
Twexty gave him a quizzical look. The one Arvisven gave him was downright infuriating. "Ah, is that a bit much concern I'm seeing for just friends??"
Jakesten gave Arvisven a look of such hatred that had it been for the bat, he would have probably melted. "If you don't shut up about that right now, dammit, so help me I will take this machinesaber and slice you in half!"
Arvisven could very easily have given him a remark that would have increased his fury, but this would probably involve not living for very long. "Um," he said. "Okay."
"Well I've done all I can," said Twexty. "We only need wait."
"I'll stay here," said Jakesten.
Twexty and Arvisven left the medical wing. The Scottish canine Reploid made sure the door was closed, then turned to the bat and said, "Don't you know bett'r than t' mak' fun o' tha' sort o' thing when they're true?"
