Part XVIII: Whatever Happened To Educational TV Like Underdog And Tennessee Tuxedo?
It was a few days later. X was flipping through the archives looking for something that was interesting, unfortunately though, he couldn't seem to find anything.
The televideo was continuing its spiel.
"More seldom than not, the movies gives us exquisite sex and wholesome violence, that underscores our values. Every two child did. I will-
"I guess you have to ask yourself one question then: do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk-
"We're on a mission from God-
"We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independence Day-
Hearing a sound behind him, X switched off the tube, just as it was getting to a news clip from the day Rock and the others had disappeared.
"Hey, Zero. What's going on? Something wrong?"
"I wonder, X. Blitz fried half the city with a hydrogen flood, but at least he got rid of one Maverick...and now we're stuck cleaning it up."
"Sorry 'bout that. Wanna watch some TV?" he asked, holding up the remote.
"No thanks."
"Okay," X replied, flipping on the news article again. There was a woman reporter on the screen, standing in front of a building with graffiti scrawled on it.
"And now, as the facts develop, we have now discovered renegade scientist Dr. Albert Wily's mutilated corpse, lying beside a computer control terminal in his secret laboratory. Dr. Thomas Light, Wily's former research partner and now the only source of justice against him, has disappeared from the city. His lab was trashed, and a homicide is suspected. In both cases, the same type of energy weaponry seems to have been used. Several beam holes were found scattered throughout Light's building that are identical to the ones found in Wily's body. Plus, this graffiti was reported to have been written shortly after a series of shots was fired from within Wily's lab. Can you zoom in? It says 'Dr. Albert Wily's secret laboratory. Just wait 'til you get a load of this!'"
"This is no good," X said, raising the remote to change channels, but Zero stopped him.
"X, wait."
"Alright."
The newswoman continued. "The damage to the city streets where a massive battle between Dr. Light's prize robots Rock and Proto and a strange new robot of some sort is yet to be repaired. We have some film footage of the battle, and according to this, it looks as if Wily's rebel creation, Bass, joined Rock and Proto to fight the new robot."
Clipping to the shot, Zero saw his past before him. There he was, approaching Rock and Proto with all the intent to do harm in his eyes. Their shots simply bounced off his armor. Before he was about to fire enough weaponry to destroy them all, another blast knocked him into a nearby building.
"And here, it seems like another new robot, which resembles a newer version of Light's designs, comes in to fight back the red robot."
X, likewise, watched in awe as he leapt into the picture to square off against his now-friend, exchanging punches and blows and discharges from plasma cannons. Then, the camera went blank and the newswoman returned to the forefront.
"Unfortunately, our correspondent was not able to record the remainder of the battle. We will be bringing you more updates on this situation as it unfolds..."
X and Zero stared, wide-mouthed and wide-eyed. Porter walked in.
"What's with you guys?" Then she noticed the video screen.
"Oh no, I forgot."
X looked at her. "You knew?!"
"Umm-hmm. Most of us do now. This was found near the ruins of a television station from the city that stood where the original Arcadia was built. All of us were shocked at first, too, because we'd always heard about X and Zero, friends to the bitter end. It was a little weird to see you two fighting like that."
"A little weird?!" Zero exasperated. "That's more than just 'a little' weird!"
"Calm down, you guys. Zero, you were infected with a virus. That's what made you act like that. And X, you were simply trying to defuse more violence from erupting."
That seemed to cool them off, but they still remained a little freaked. And it left Zero with some serious questions.
What if that happens again?
Can it be true that I was under the influence of a virus, or am I really evil like Wily? Or Sigma?
The sun set on another day, bringing on the cool forgiveness of the night.
Bit and Thermal stalked around the middle of the Maverick HQ, trying to figure out how to dispose of those infernal Hunters. They hadn't thought of anything, and since Sigma was back undercover at the Hunter base, they were both at a loss. Then Thermal had an idea.
"There are still a couple of extras back in the containment lab. We could activate them and follow Sigma's orders for the next mission."
"You know, Thermal, aside from that being the most obvious answer, it's brilliant."
Walking back to the lab, they looked out onto the empty suspension capsules. It's high ceiling and circular design made the lab look like a strange science experiment waiting to happen. But in the center of all the empty capsules, there were two that still housed a pair of Mavericks.
Using the levitating platform that was meant to navigate the chamber, Bit and Thermal flew over to the two receptacles. One of the Mavericks frozen there was a cat-like creature, and the other...Well, neither Bit nor Thermal had any idea what that thing was.
Bit read off the containment information.
"Solar Leopard, Strength 25000 dpi, Agility 450000 rpm. That's good."
Looking over to the other storage case, Thermal and Bit exchanged glances.
"What the heck is that thing?" Thermal asked, pointing at the creature inside.
"I dunno, let's see," Bit replied, checking the statistics on it. "Quantum Aris. Strength 150000 dpi, Agility 800000 rpm. This is not possible!"
"What do you mean?"
Bit shot a glance to Thermal, then explained. "These readouts are monstrously high. No normal reploid could sustain them safely. They'd self-destruct."
"Has this thing ever been active? Maybe it was a new design."
"Yes, once. According to this, he was the last Maverick defeated by X before Sigma took him over and assembled Neo-Arcadia. I really dunno how X could have beat him, though. Even I would have my hand full dealing with him, at least, as I am right now. It'd be no problem for me to do away with him in the O Inary form. Of course, I don't know if I could keep up with him. It's not so much the firepower that makes it unstable, cause I've more than that right now, and so does Sigma, but the speed would blow a reploid apart. I can't even reach 500000 rpm at my fastest."
Thermal nodded. "Well, you got any better ideas on how to get rid of them?"
"Nope."
"Then let's crack these eggs and send them out."
"Okay."
Bit struck the large red button on the platform's keyboard panel, reactivating the reploids inside the cases. Aris' eyes began glowing an eerie silver color, followed by a blast erupting his capsule. The Maverick floated out slowly, levitating above the floor of the containment lab, hundreds of feet below. Thermal and Bit couldn't tell what type of animal he was, except for the fact he looked suspiciously human. Certain things, however, dispelled that. His hands were fitted with large claws, and the tail behind him twisted as though it were a serpent. The remainder of the body was covered in a strange energy of some sort, streaming off him and spewing from every crevice of his armor. He was adorned in a robe, so it was hard to distinguish the face underneath, but there was a pair of red, glowing eyes that came from beneath the shroud.
What do you need, Master Bit? the reploid said telepathically, bowing. I am ready to carry out your orders.
"I like him already," Bit said, turning to Thermal, grinning from ear to ear under his faceplate.
"Yes. When I give the order, you will attack Neo-Arcadia. In the meanwhile, make yourself useful in the cleansing of the base."
I shall comply with your commands, and serve you with the utmost care.
In a strange teleportation technique, Aris seemed to seperate in vertical lines as he disappeared. Thermal glanced back to Bit.
"There's something really strange about him. And what is an Aris, anyway?"
The computer began to chirp, and Bit snapped the button once more for the database's explanation.
"Aris: A neurologically altered extradimensional creature, discovered four hundred years ago and never thoroughly researched. Reports of Aris activity on the planet Earth date as far back as 400 B.C. by human calculations. They are not human, animal, or plant in basis, and have tremendous physical and psychological power. The one that was found near Arcadia in 21XX was rumored to have been killed by a cosmic shift, a result of a supernova by a star some 21 light years from this planet. It survives by very basic means, jumping from one dimension to another, sustaining its need for sustenance by ingesting plants and other meats that are toxic to humans and other Earthen creatures. They can speak, but only through telepathy, and usually by analyzing the language of the dominant species of the area through the same telepathic ability. It is thought that the species originated from drastic mutations early in human history, and that, exiled by their peers and able to do so, left the planet in search of others like themselves. Most of this information was compiled from the various Arisian sources interviewed on Earth after the discovery of their deceased comrade. The Aris culture is very mysterious, and the only fact known for sure is that they are supremely technologically advanced in comparison to human beings. They are capable of reproduction with humans, but the offspring is human instead of Aris or half-bred. This leaves them with a very downtrodden, depressed demeanor, something observed from the contact in 21XX. For more information on this event, check the Arcadian news archives."
Thermal sighed. "Well, that was informative."
"Yeah. Well, we'll just see what happens now."
After releasing Solar Leopard, Bit turned around to find Aris before him once more.
I have finished cleaning the base, sir. What shall I do now?
"That's impossible," Bit said, walking toward the doors. "No one could clean..."
He stopped as he swung open the doors to the rest of the base, and sure enough, it was spotless, even down to the microscopic level. He'd never seen speed like that before.
"What are you?" Bit asked. Aris' eyes turned blue from amusement, and Bit sensed that the creature was smiling, even though it didn't have a mouth.
Signas watched as Cirrus walked past once more. The tall white reploid had been pacing back and forth through the HQ for about a half hour now and the Repliforce commander from the Irregular Wars was becoming suspicious of him. Several times over the previous few days, a massive energy source was detected in the jungle south of Neo-Arcadia. Added to that, Cirrus had been accessing documents that were far too outdated by the standards of 26th-century technology to have any relevence anymore. Something was definitely wrong with this picture, and Signas didn't like it. Not one bit.
Cirrus looked around at the edge of the computer room for the eighth time that afternoon, and then walked inside, seeing that no other Hunters were occupying the room. Signas quietly followed him, stopping at the door and observing from a distance.
Cirrus clicked a button on the console's keypad and called up the information on many current Hunters, as well as X, Zero, Alia, Iris, and Signas. He seemed particularly interested in defensive systems and weaponry charges, which elements and frequencies the weapons and shields repelled and produced, brain wave scans, and other partially significant details. Any unsuspecting reploid Hunter would simply assume Cirrus was running a categorizing routine to assign the units together with the most compatible members, but Signas knew better. With all of Cirrus' abnormal behavior lately, he didn't trust him at all. And the fact that he was only focusing on integral pieces of the body structure was almost as if he was attaining information on how to deal blows that would be sure to injure or maim.
Signas moved out of the way when Cirrus thought he heard a noise and spun quickly to catch his eavesdropper offguard, but the reploid commander had already darted from sight.
That was close, Signas thought. But what is he up to?
It was a few days later. X was flipping through the archives looking for something that was interesting, unfortunately though, he couldn't seem to find anything.
The televideo was continuing its spiel.
"More seldom than not, the movies gives us exquisite sex and wholesome violence, that underscores our values. Every two child did. I will-
"I guess you have to ask yourself one question then: do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk-
"We're on a mission from God-
"We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independence Day-
Hearing a sound behind him, X switched off the tube, just as it was getting to a news clip from the day Rock and the others had disappeared.
"Hey, Zero. What's going on? Something wrong?"
"I wonder, X. Blitz fried half the city with a hydrogen flood, but at least he got rid of one Maverick...and now we're stuck cleaning it up."
"Sorry 'bout that. Wanna watch some TV?" he asked, holding up the remote.
"No thanks."
"Okay," X replied, flipping on the news article again. There was a woman reporter on the screen, standing in front of a building with graffiti scrawled on it.
"And now, as the facts develop, we have now discovered renegade scientist Dr. Albert Wily's mutilated corpse, lying beside a computer control terminal in his secret laboratory. Dr. Thomas Light, Wily's former research partner and now the only source of justice against him, has disappeared from the city. His lab was trashed, and a homicide is suspected. In both cases, the same type of energy weaponry seems to have been used. Several beam holes were found scattered throughout Light's building that are identical to the ones found in Wily's body. Plus, this graffiti was reported to have been written shortly after a series of shots was fired from within Wily's lab. Can you zoom in? It says 'Dr. Albert Wily's secret laboratory. Just wait 'til you get a load of this!'"
"This is no good," X said, raising the remote to change channels, but Zero stopped him.
"X, wait."
"Alright."
The newswoman continued. "The damage to the city streets where a massive battle between Dr. Light's prize robots Rock and Proto and a strange new robot of some sort is yet to be repaired. We have some film footage of the battle, and according to this, it looks as if Wily's rebel creation, Bass, joined Rock and Proto to fight the new robot."
Clipping to the shot, Zero saw his past before him. There he was, approaching Rock and Proto with all the intent to do harm in his eyes. Their shots simply bounced off his armor. Before he was about to fire enough weaponry to destroy them all, another blast knocked him into a nearby building.
"And here, it seems like another new robot, which resembles a newer version of Light's designs, comes in to fight back the red robot."
X, likewise, watched in awe as he leapt into the picture to square off against his now-friend, exchanging punches and blows and discharges from plasma cannons. Then, the camera went blank and the newswoman returned to the forefront.
"Unfortunately, our correspondent was not able to record the remainder of the battle. We will be bringing you more updates on this situation as it unfolds..."
X and Zero stared, wide-mouthed and wide-eyed. Porter walked in.
"What's with you guys?" Then she noticed the video screen.
"Oh no, I forgot."
X looked at her. "You knew?!"
"Umm-hmm. Most of us do now. This was found near the ruins of a television station from the city that stood where the original Arcadia was built. All of us were shocked at first, too, because we'd always heard about X and Zero, friends to the bitter end. It was a little weird to see you two fighting like that."
"A little weird?!" Zero exasperated. "That's more than just 'a little' weird!"
"Calm down, you guys. Zero, you were infected with a virus. That's what made you act like that. And X, you were simply trying to defuse more violence from erupting."
That seemed to cool them off, but they still remained a little freaked. And it left Zero with some serious questions.
What if that happens again?
Can it be true that I was under the influence of a virus, or am I really evil like Wily? Or Sigma?
The sun set on another day, bringing on the cool forgiveness of the night.
Bit and Thermal stalked around the middle of the Maverick HQ, trying to figure out how to dispose of those infernal Hunters. They hadn't thought of anything, and since Sigma was back undercover at the Hunter base, they were both at a loss. Then Thermal had an idea.
"There are still a couple of extras back in the containment lab. We could activate them and follow Sigma's orders for the next mission."
"You know, Thermal, aside from that being the most obvious answer, it's brilliant."
Walking back to the lab, they looked out onto the empty suspension capsules. It's high ceiling and circular design made the lab look like a strange science experiment waiting to happen. But in the center of all the empty capsules, there were two that still housed a pair of Mavericks.
Using the levitating platform that was meant to navigate the chamber, Bit and Thermal flew over to the two receptacles. One of the Mavericks frozen there was a cat-like creature, and the other...Well, neither Bit nor Thermal had any idea what that thing was.
Bit read off the containment information.
"Solar Leopard, Strength 25000 dpi, Agility 450000 rpm. That's good."
Looking over to the other storage case, Thermal and Bit exchanged glances.
"What the heck is that thing?" Thermal asked, pointing at the creature inside.
"I dunno, let's see," Bit replied, checking the statistics on it. "Quantum Aris. Strength 150000 dpi, Agility 800000 rpm. This is not possible!"
"What do you mean?"
Bit shot a glance to Thermal, then explained. "These readouts are monstrously high. No normal reploid could sustain them safely. They'd self-destruct."
"Has this thing ever been active? Maybe it was a new design."
"Yes, once. According to this, he was the last Maverick defeated by X before Sigma took him over and assembled Neo-Arcadia. I really dunno how X could have beat him, though. Even I would have my hand full dealing with him, at least, as I am right now. It'd be no problem for me to do away with him in the O Inary form. Of course, I don't know if I could keep up with him. It's not so much the firepower that makes it unstable, cause I've more than that right now, and so does Sigma, but the speed would blow a reploid apart. I can't even reach 500000 rpm at my fastest."
Thermal nodded. "Well, you got any better ideas on how to get rid of them?"
"Nope."
"Then let's crack these eggs and send them out."
"Okay."
Bit struck the large red button on the platform's keyboard panel, reactivating the reploids inside the cases. Aris' eyes began glowing an eerie silver color, followed by a blast erupting his capsule. The Maverick floated out slowly, levitating above the floor of the containment lab, hundreds of feet below. Thermal and Bit couldn't tell what type of animal he was, except for the fact he looked suspiciously human. Certain things, however, dispelled that. His hands were fitted with large claws, and the tail behind him twisted as though it were a serpent. The remainder of the body was covered in a strange energy of some sort, streaming off him and spewing from every crevice of his armor. He was adorned in a robe, so it was hard to distinguish the face underneath, but there was a pair of red, glowing eyes that came from beneath the shroud.
What do you need, Master Bit? the reploid said telepathically, bowing. I am ready to carry out your orders.
"I like him already," Bit said, turning to Thermal, grinning from ear to ear under his faceplate.
"Yes. When I give the order, you will attack Neo-Arcadia. In the meanwhile, make yourself useful in the cleansing of the base."
I shall comply with your commands, and serve you with the utmost care.
In a strange teleportation technique, Aris seemed to seperate in vertical lines as he disappeared. Thermal glanced back to Bit.
"There's something really strange about him. And what is an Aris, anyway?"
The computer began to chirp, and Bit snapped the button once more for the database's explanation.
"Aris: A neurologically altered extradimensional creature, discovered four hundred years ago and never thoroughly researched. Reports of Aris activity on the planet Earth date as far back as 400 B.C. by human calculations. They are not human, animal, or plant in basis, and have tremendous physical and psychological power. The one that was found near Arcadia in 21XX was rumored to have been killed by a cosmic shift, a result of a supernova by a star some 21 light years from this planet. It survives by very basic means, jumping from one dimension to another, sustaining its need for sustenance by ingesting plants and other meats that are toxic to humans and other Earthen creatures. They can speak, but only through telepathy, and usually by analyzing the language of the dominant species of the area through the same telepathic ability. It is thought that the species originated from drastic mutations early in human history, and that, exiled by their peers and able to do so, left the planet in search of others like themselves. Most of this information was compiled from the various Arisian sources interviewed on Earth after the discovery of their deceased comrade. The Aris culture is very mysterious, and the only fact known for sure is that they are supremely technologically advanced in comparison to human beings. They are capable of reproduction with humans, but the offspring is human instead of Aris or half-bred. This leaves them with a very downtrodden, depressed demeanor, something observed from the contact in 21XX. For more information on this event, check the Arcadian news archives."
Thermal sighed. "Well, that was informative."
"Yeah. Well, we'll just see what happens now."
After releasing Solar Leopard, Bit turned around to find Aris before him once more.
I have finished cleaning the base, sir. What shall I do now?
"That's impossible," Bit said, walking toward the doors. "No one could clean..."
He stopped as he swung open the doors to the rest of the base, and sure enough, it was spotless, even down to the microscopic level. He'd never seen speed like that before.
"What are you?" Bit asked. Aris' eyes turned blue from amusement, and Bit sensed that the creature was smiling, even though it didn't have a mouth.
Signas watched as Cirrus walked past once more. The tall white reploid had been pacing back and forth through the HQ for about a half hour now and the Repliforce commander from the Irregular Wars was becoming suspicious of him. Several times over the previous few days, a massive energy source was detected in the jungle south of Neo-Arcadia. Added to that, Cirrus had been accessing documents that were far too outdated by the standards of 26th-century technology to have any relevence anymore. Something was definitely wrong with this picture, and Signas didn't like it. Not one bit.
Cirrus looked around at the edge of the computer room for the eighth time that afternoon, and then walked inside, seeing that no other Hunters were occupying the room. Signas quietly followed him, stopping at the door and observing from a distance.
Cirrus clicked a button on the console's keypad and called up the information on many current Hunters, as well as X, Zero, Alia, Iris, and Signas. He seemed particularly interested in defensive systems and weaponry charges, which elements and frequencies the weapons and shields repelled and produced, brain wave scans, and other partially significant details. Any unsuspecting reploid Hunter would simply assume Cirrus was running a categorizing routine to assign the units together with the most compatible members, but Signas knew better. With all of Cirrus' abnormal behavior lately, he didn't trust him at all. And the fact that he was only focusing on integral pieces of the body structure was almost as if he was attaining information on how to deal blows that would be sure to injure or maim.
Signas moved out of the way when Cirrus thought he heard a noise and spun quickly to catch his eavesdropper offguard, but the reploid commander had already darted from sight.
That was close, Signas thought. But what is he up to?